Region Overviews: France Travel Guide: Overview
Long considered a global center of art, science, philosophy and sophistication, France boasts incredible diversity in its offerings to travelers.
Biking
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Bordeaux River Cruise Bike Tour
Vineyards & Châteaux of Garonne, Dordogne & Gironde
Couples, Friends & Solos
8 days 7 nights
Activity Level: 1-3
Small Luxury Ship
From: $7,099 - $9,599 pp dbl occ
($3,550 - $9,600 for sgl occ)
Decadent. Sophisticated. Extraordinary. Are we talking about last night’s glass of Bordeaux or your week along the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers? There's no difference when the most coveted wines in the world are at your fingertips. When gorgeous scenery unfolds from the seat of your bike. All making for a river cruise bike tour much like the perfect red: well-balanced and simply intoxicating.
Bordeaux River Cruise Biking
France
Start/End Bordeaux
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Highlights
- Pedal in the romantic realm of vineyards and châteaux: Margaux, Yquem, Rothschild and Angelus
- Ride along the Garonne River, discovering the rolling hills and dramatic terrain of Bordeaux’s wine regions
- Stroll through St-Émilion, a beautiful World Heritage site and epicenter of French wines
- Taste exquisite local specialties—superb wines, fresh oysters, flavorful cheeses and decadent macarons
Ports of call
Bordeaux
Libourne
Blaye
Bourg
Pauillac
Cadillac
Bordeaux
Videos
Itinerary
Accommodations may vary based on departure date.
8 Days Small Luxury Ship
Accommodations may vary based on departure.
Description
DAYS 1-2 Warm up with a leisurely ride beginning in the Margaux region and passing through several picturesque villages | Arrive in enchanting Bordeaux, one of the largest urban World Heritage sites, with more than half the city restored and protected | Get to know St-Émilion’s beautifully restored Romanesque architecture and narrow cobblestone streets | Spin through a bucolic grapevine-laden landscape, home to world-famous wineries and Grand Cru wines | Pedal inland through the French countryside en route to the wine-making town of Libourne, where the Isle and Dordogne Rivers meet.
DAYS 3-5 Cruise the Dordogne River and then hop on the bike to spin through Haut-Médoc’s most celebrated AOCs of Saint Julien, Pauillac, and Saint Estèphe | An oenologist at a wine school offers an initiation into the art of tasting—you'll learn how to recognize Bordeaux vintages by color, smell and flavor | Follow a gorgeous corniche road to the town of Blaye, known for its impressive 17th-century citadel, a World Heritage site | Venture into the rolling hills of the Côtes de Bourg AOC and admire the bounty of the Dordogne River as you ride by stately châteaux | Wine and revelry await you in Bourg | Soak up fairy-tale scenery paired with some of the world's most prestigious vineyards, from Pichon Longueville and Pontet-Canet to Mouton Rothschild.
DAYS 6-8 A beautiful ride takes us into the coastal Sauternes AOC, renowned for its fungus-affected sweet wines | Leave vineyards behind to explore the Atlantic coast, catching sight of the Dune de Pilat, Europe’s tallest sand dune | Discover the golden beaches of Arcachon Bay, a favorite seaside escape of the 19th-century French bourgeoisie | Cap off your adventure with a ferry ride and the chance to sample fresh Cap Ferret oysters | We dock in the heart of Bordeaux, where city lights accompany a memorable meal on our final night aboard the ship.
Accommodations
AmaWaterways Ship
Select a departure date for your ship details
A luxurious custom-designed ship featuring stylish private staterooms, panoramic windows, full balconies, an onboard team of classically trained chefs and inviting areas to socialize with fellow passengers. (pool)
Dates & Prices
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy.
Note: You may only reserve one Stateroom Category at this time. Your stateroom will be assigned based on availability. Please contact us if you are interested in booking multiple Stateroom Categories for your party, selecting a specific stateroom, or Single Supplement pricing.
Looks like you’re traveling with a smaller group
Our Private Trips are best for groups of 6 or more. We suggest joining a scheduled trip.
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Group size is required to show per-person pricing. Your group size can be approximate and can change.
From our Guests
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Activity Level: 1-3
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Daily Route Options
What's Included
Available Bike Options
The key to a stellar day's ride is a bike that's perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Please note that bike requests are subject to availability and prioritized based on the date they're submitted.
Click the arrow to see all bike options.
Backroads Performance Road Bike
Performance Road Bike
Included in your trip price
This custom-designed titanium bike is lightweight and responsive, featuring Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting, 11-speed compact gearing, a premium Mavic Ksyrium Pro wheelset and a full carbon fork.
Backroads Touring Bike
Touring Bike
Included in your trip price
A proven classic, this custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.
Backroads Electric-Assist Bike
Electric-Assist Bike
Included in your trip price
Keep pace or zip ahead, pedaling with an electric boost. This bike provides plenty of power to flatten the hills and more than enough battery range to cover the distance.
Min. age to ride e-bike: 16+
Cannondale Synapse Pro Carbon Bike
Carbon Bike
Ride like a pro with the top-of-the-line carbon Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod Red ETAP AXS. Delivering phenomenal acceleration and handling in a light and powerful package.
$650 rental fee; subject to availability
Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem Bike
Tandem Bike
This hand-built frame features Co-Motion's custom-designed cro-moly steel tubeset, powerful Avid disc brakes, Shimano Ultegra drive train, and a custom, upgraded wheelset. For experienced tandem riders.
$400 rental fee
Also Included
- All breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners
- Expert Backroads Trip Leaders, on ship and on shore
- Off-the-beaten path exploration
- Access to all ship amenities
- Impeccable and personalized service from ship staff and Backroads Leaders
- Exclusive activities that amplify your appreciation and understanding of the local culture
- Exclusive biking routes with multiple options at varied paces
- Gratuities on ship and on shore handled by your Backroads Leaders
- Exploring lesser known routes away from busy ports
- Dedicated support vans
- Custom Titanium bike
- Easy-to-use route directions so you're free to explore independently
- Private walking tours with expert guides
- Exceptional dining experiences
- Access to all ship activities and excursions
- Private cocktail/wine receptions
- Wine included with all onboard meals
- Off-ship lunches in genuine settings
Straight talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Ships
The ships we sail on are like floating luxury hotels, so you can visit a new destination each day without touching your suitcase once you've settled in. Our ships are custom‐designed with a variety of inviting spaces that offer plenty of room for both relaxing and socializing. These ships are vastly smaller than most cruise ships, with up to just 150 passengers on our river trips and up to only 250 on our ocean trips.
Backroads Support on Board and on Shore
We sail with up to 30 Backroads guests per group. Occasionally there may be more than one Backroads group onboard and you may cross paths with the other group on routes or at restaurants. When this occurs, each group will have their own dedicated onboard Backroads leaders.
Backroads Cruising Life
If you're new to Backroads active cruise trips, there are a few things you need to know. Our cruises are smaller, and much more intimate than a typical cruise. They are also quite lively, social experiences, shaped by both our Backroads group and the larger ship community. Additionally, even with an itinerary subject to fixed nautical schedules that may occasionally limit our time on shore, we get out and explore far beyond the cruise norm. If you love meeting new people, enjoy the ease of unpacking once, and don't mind a set schedule of port departure times, you'll love our approach to active river and ocean cruising. Nobody does it like we do.
Meals
On our active cruises, we seek out diversity by including regionally authentic and inventive meals for onshore lunches, picnics and the occasional onshore dinner. On-ship meals, though delightful, are meant to appeal to a wide cross section of passengers and may at times feel more conventional for some, and less reflective of the region than on Backroads hotel trips.
Itinerary Flexibility: Going with the Flow
Every river has its own unique temperament and for centuries water levels have shifted due to rain, temperature and agriculture. High water levels may mean the ship cannot pass under a bridge, low water levels result in slower sailing, and a disabled lock can also lead to some extra cruising time. Should any unforeseen change happen during your river cruise, we will work closely with AmaWaterways' Captain and staff, who are very experienced in going with the flow.
Stateroom Categories
In contrast to our usual land-based trips, which have similar room categories, the AmaWaterways ships offer a wide range of stateroom categories. The top-tier staterooms often fill fast so book as early as possible if this is important to you.
Double-Docking
Most port conditions require that ships tie up alongside each other, in which case you may need to walk through another ship to access our ship. This is a part of river cruising due to its popularity. You may experience obstructed views from your stateroom when the ship is double-docked, but rest assured that as soon as we set sail again your beautiful views will be restored.
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Ships
The ships we sail on are like floating luxury hotels, so you can visit a new destination each day without touching your suitcase once you've settled in. Our ships are custom‐designed with a variety of inviting spaces that offer plenty of room for both relaxing and socializing. These ships are vastly smaller than most cruise ships, with up to just 150 passengers on our river trips and up to only 250 on our ocean trips.
Backroads Support on Board and on Shore
We sail with up to 30 Backroads guests per group. Occasionally there may be more than one Backroads group onboard and you may cross paths with the other group on routes or at restaurants. When this occurs, each group will have their own dedicated onboard Backroads leaders.
Backroads Cruising Life
If you're new to Backroads active cruise trips, there are a few things you need to know. Our cruises are smaller, and much more intimate than a typical cruise. They are also quite lively, social experiences, shaped by both our Backroads group and the larger ship community. Additionally, even with an itinerary subject to fixed nautical schedules that may occasionally limit our time on shore, we get out and explore far beyond the cruise norm. If you love meeting new people, enjoy the ease of unpacking once, and don't mind a set schedule of port departure times, you'll love our approach to active river and ocean cruising. Nobody does it like we do.
Meals
On our active cruises, we seek out diversity by including regionally authentic and inventive meals for onshore lunches, picnics and the occasional onshore dinner. On-ship meals, though delightful, are meant to appeal to a wide cross section of passengers and may at times feel more conventional for some, and less reflective of the region than on Backroads hotel trips.
Itinerary Flexibility: Going with the Flow
Every river has its own unique temperament and for centuries water levels have shifted due to rain, temperature and agriculture. High water levels may mean the ship cannot pass under a bridge, low water levels result in slower sailing, and a disabled lock can also lead to some extra cruising time. Should any unforeseen change happen during your river cruise, we will work closely with AmaWaterways' Captain and staff, who are very experienced in going with the flow.
Stateroom Categories
In contrast to our usual land-based trips, which have similar room categories, the AmaWaterways ships offer a wide range of stateroom categories. The top-tier staterooms often fill fast so book as early as possible if this is important to you.
Double-Docking
Most port conditions require that ships tie up alongside each other, in which case you may need to walk through another ship to access our ship. This is a part of river cruising due to its popularity. You may experience obstructed views from your stateroom when the ship is double-docked, but rest assured that as soon as we set sail again your beautiful views will be restored.
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