Seine River Cruise Bike Tour

Paris Lights & the D-Day Sites of Normandy

From $6,299 - $8,299 pp dbl. occ. | 8 days / 7 nights

(+$2,700 to $4,200 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.

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

France

Start/End Paris

Itinerary

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 | 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.

Next: 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.

If you must cancel your reservation, your cancellation fee will be determined according to the policy outlined below. Exceptions to our cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather, terrorism, civil unrest or personal emergencies. There is no refund for arriving late or leaving a trip early. Private room or tent, bike rental and internal air charges are considered part of the total trip cost and are subject to cancellation fees. Percentage charges are calculated on total trip cost.

Cancellation Fees (Per Person)
Days Prior to Trip Start	Scheduled Trips	Private Trips	Custom Trips
126+ days	$200**	$600	30%
95-125	$200**	30%	50%
61-95 days	30%	50%	75%
31-60 days	60%	75%	100%
0-30 days	100%	100%	100%

** Rather than paying the cancellation fees, you may choose to keep your trip deposit ($600) in a holding account to use on a future Backroads trip with no expiration date.

Bike Cancellation Policies: If you are renting a Specialized Roubaix, Ruby, eBike or Co-Motion Tandem, a full cancellation fee will apply in the event you cancel your trip reservation inside 30 days.

Transfers: You may transfer from one trip to another up to 95 days before trip departure without penalty—except Private or Custom Trips.

Release of Liability: Guests are required to provide a signed Release of Liability, Assumption of All Risks, and Arbitration Agreement and a completed Personal Information forms prior to trip departure; you will receive these materials shortly after reserving your trip. You may also complete your forms online. We are unable to allow guests to participate in any aspect of a Backroads trip without a signed release form.

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

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C Classic Dates

Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. Call or email us to reserve your date.

Call for Private Trip Pricing.

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

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2+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 2 or more guests
8+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 8 or more guests
16+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 16 or more guests
Reserved

C Couples, Friends & Solos Tours

2021 June

8+ 6/17–6/24

2021 July

8+ 7/15–7/22

8+ 7/29–8/5

2021 September

8+ 9/9–9/16

8+ 9/23–9/30

View Scheduled Dates

Tell us what your dream trip would be and we'll make it happen! Whether you're looking for a honeymoon trip for 2, a 30-person family reunion or a 100-person corporate trip, we can do it all. A dedicated Custom Trip Consultant will work closely with you to bring your dreams to reality. Call us at 800-462-2848 to speak with your Custom Trip Consultant or click on the button below.

REQUEST YOUR CUSTOM TRIP NOW

Previous: Overview

Dates

C Couples, Friends & Solos Tours

2020
Jun
Jul
Sep
Oct

2021
Jun
Jul
Sep

View Scheduled Dates
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Go Custom

Prices

From $6,299 - $8,299 pp dbl. occ.
8 days / 7 nights

(+$2,700 to $4,200 for sgl. occ.)

Reviews

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Premiere Ship

AmaWaterways Ship

AmaLyra (7 nights)

See Lodging Details

Activity Level

This trip is rated Levels 1-4

See Daily Route Options

What's Included

Services and equipment are included.

See how we include more

Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in Seine River

Find out What sets us apart

More On This Trip

View more photos

Watch videos

Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip

Reviews by Power Reviews ®

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Next: Lodging

Premiere Ship

Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the View Scheduled Dates or Private Dates tabs.

AmaWaterways Ship

AmaLyra (7 nights)

Enjoy views from the french balcony of your elegant private stateroom, relax in the whirlpool, walk a few laps on the track, or join fellow passengers on the Sun Deck or in the welcoming main lounge.

View the deck plans. See Dates & Prices for specific ship, stateroom category availability and embarkation/disembarkation details.

Previous: Reviews

Next: Activity Level

This Trip Is Rated Levels 1-4

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Daily Route Options (drag to see full )

Day	EASYGOING				ACTIVE				AVID
Daily Route Options
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Level 4		Level 5
	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain
1	8*	300	17*	700	25	1100
2	13	500	19	900	30	1400
3	14*	700	24*	1100			36	1900
4	15*	600	23	800
4	Omaha Beach Tour (1.5 Hours)
5	18*	500	25*	1000			45	2000
5	Rouen Walking Tour (1.5 Hours)
6	13*	400	21	1000	30*	1400
7	11*	400	20*	1000	30	1400
8	Disembarkation

Note:

* Includes shuttle.

Learn more about how we determine our activity level and fully support a range of abilities and interests.

Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies and other external factors.

Previous: Lodging

Next: What's Included

Meals

All breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners

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! Read on for your available bike options for this trip.

Backroads Titanium Bikes (Included in your trip price)

Our custom-built titanium bikes are specially designed for you—and we offer different models for varied terrain so your bike is ideally suited to the region. Our custom-made bikes are included in your trip price.

Touring Bike (Included)

Performance Road Bike (Included)

Backroads Custom Electric-Assist Bike (Included in your trip price– Available until 4/1/20)

Wishing for a little extra assistance up those hills? Our custom Backroads Electric-Assist Bike lets you experience the thrill of exploring on two wheels while providing a boost when you want it. We've modified a selection of our great Titanium Bikes with the intuitive BionX "pedal-assist" system.

Backroads Custom Electric-Assist Bike (Included)

NEW! Backroads Custom Electric-Assist Bike (Included in your trip price – Available beginning 4/1 in North America, 5/1 in Europe and 11/1 outside of Europe and NA.)

Our newly redesigned Titanium Electric-Assist Bike is a lightweight yet powerful machine unique in the world of eBikes. It provides plenty of power (and then some!) to flatten the hills and more than enough battery range to cover the distance. Other outstanding features include the same comfort as our Touring Bikes and lower top tubes for easier mounting and dismounting.

Backroads Custom Electric-Assist Bike (Included)

Cannondale Pro Carbon Upgrade ($400 rental fee)

Delivering phenomenal acceleration and handling in a light and powerful package, the Cannondale 2020 Synapse Hi-MOD pro carbon upgrade is built for experienced cyclists, men and women alike, who are looking for a high-performance bike that doesn’t sacrifice comfort.

Cannondale 2020 Synapse Hi-MOD

Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem ($400 rental fee)

Do you prefer to spin in tandem with your partner? You'll love the Co-Motion Periscope Torpedo tandem on your Backroads trip. You can upgrade to a Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem on your trip.

Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem (Upgrade)

Also Included

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

Previous: Activity Level

Next: Straight Talk

Next: Why Backroads

Get the Straight Talk about This Trip

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 40 Backroads guests. Occasionally there may be more than one Backroads group on board and you may cross paths with the other group on some routes or at restaurants. For instance, we may have a group of 20 hikers and another group of 20 bikers. When this occurs, each group will have their own dedicated onboard Backroads leaders. On shore, you'll have up to three additional land-based leaders to support your group, offering the same high ratio of Backroads Trip Leaders to guests as you'll find on our hotel trips.

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.

Previous: What's Included

Next: Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in Seine River

We Reinvented the River Cruise

Backroads pioneered the active river trip, partnering with AmaWaterways, the leader in river cruising, to create a new kind of travel experience featuring biking and walking explorations from an elegant floating hotel. Read more about this ideal way to discover the heart of a region.

More Leaders to Support You

On our Seine River trips we have an extra leader supporting you along the road—for a total of three, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.

Great Bikes Included

Our custom-designed titanium bikes are best in class. From avid cyclists to easygoing riders, we believe that everyone deserves a seriously great bike to match their riding style. Learn more about our bike fleet.

A Second Van When You Need It

Backroads is the only active travel company providing two support vans in Seine River—because we know it's essential to ensure a truly great travel experience. It doubles our ability to be there when you need us to offer hydration, lighten your load or give you a lift if it's time to take a break. Read more on why two vans make all the difference.

Our Cultural Roots Run Deep

Thanks to our extensive connections in Seine River, Backroads takes you off the beaten track and deep into the region's culture in ways that traditional travel can never hope to do. We know the people and their customs, the legacy of art and architecture, the complex history and politic—and if we're not sure, our amazing local experts can fill in the blanks.

Previous: Straight Talk

Previous: What's Included

Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip

Backroads Photo Gallery

Eiffel Tower at Night - Seine River Cruise Bike Tour

Pool on AmaWaterways Ship - Seine River Cruise Bike Tour

Bar on AmaWaterways ship - Seine River Cruise Bike Tour

Guest Photo Gallery

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.

Seine River Cruise Bike Tour