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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Seine River Cruise Bike Tour
Paris Lights & the D-Day Sites of Normandy
Couples, Friends & Solos
8 days 7 nights
Activity Level: 1-3
Small Luxury Ship
From: $6,999 - $9,599 pp dbl occ
($3,500 - $9,600 for sgl occ)
This is a new perspective. It's Monet's quiet Seine. Joan of Arc's last moments. Richard the Lionheart's medieval château. And an American soldier's Omaha Beach. Every turn of the Seine reveals another story, another piece of history, another impressionist's impression. It's not just another trip to France.
Seine River Cruise Biking
France
Start/End Paris
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Highlights
- Frolic in the historic playground for Paris's royalty with a ride along the Grand Canal in the gardens of Versailles
- Journey to Honfleur, Rouen and Giverny, scenes brilliantly captured by Monet and van Gogh, among other luminary artists
- Witness the famous Bayeux Tapestry, with its endless battles scenes laboriously stitched by hand
- Bike among hallowed D-Day hedgerows and take a private tour of the American Military Cemetery at Omaha beach
Ports of call
Paris
Vernon
Les Andelys
Le Havre
Caudebec-en-Caux
Rouen
Vernon
Conflans
Paris
Videos
Itinerary
Accommodations may vary based on departure date.
8 Days Small Luxury Ship
Accommodations may vary based on departure.
Description
DAY 1 Ride to the palace of the Sun King in Versailles | Wander through the castle's majestic gardens with our local guide | Spin to St. Cloud, peering at the City of Light from above | Pedal into Paris and to your floating luxury hotel for the week.
DAY 2 Roll through rural Normandy to Les Andelys | Hike to Château Gaillard for impressive vistas of the village and Seine Valley below | The ruins of this medieval fortress beckon to visit | Meet our local friends and try their homemade Normandy produce | Enjoy views of the Seine as we sail this afternoon.
DAYS 3-4 Pedal through the lush landscape and thatched-roof cottages of Marais Vernier | Stroll in colorful Honfleur | Delight in fresh seafood and local delicacies in this picture-perfect town | Join a local historian for a private tour of the American Military Cemetery | Bike along Omaha Beach and amid World War II battlefields | Visit beautifully preserved Bayeux and its 11th-century tapestry.
DAYS 5-6 Explore vibrant medieval Rouen on foot | On a private tour, see where Joan of Arc was sent to the stake and admire Notre Dame Cathedral, painted by Monet in the 1890s | Wonder at the Romanesque remains of Jumièges Abbey, known as the most beautiful ruin in France | Visit impressionist master Monet's home, gardens and water lily ponds at Giverny | Ride along the Seine to Château de La Roche-Guyon.
DAYS 7-8 Bike to Auvers-sur-Oise, home to Cézanne, Pissarro and van Gogh | Cruise back to Paris, enjoying views of the Seine.
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.
May 2023
May 25 - Jun 1
Sold out
June 2023
Jun 10 - Jun 17
Sold out
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Our Private Trips are best for groups of 6 or more. We suggest joining a scheduled trip.
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From our Guests
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#MyBackroadsTrip
Share your adventure #MyBackroadsTrip
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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