Cycle Paris to Geneva

About & Details

This trip takes you between two of the most iconic cities in the world, and between two of the most famous points: The Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Jet d’Eau in Geneva. The going is not as flat as many people think, but you do pass through classic Burgundy countryside south west of Paris and onto the foothills of the Northern Alps

You’ll stay one night each in Paris, Sens, Avallon, Chalon-Sur-Saone, and Saint-Claude before arriving into Geneva. In Geneva, you can take time to soak up the atmosphere in its many restaurants and cafés or walk along the shore of Lac Leman where you witness the amazing Jet d’Eau fountain, or start your journey back to the UK.

Inclusions

Five nights’ accommodation in comfortable hotels based on twin rooms en-suite with breakfast
Qualified and experienced cycle leader(s)
Support vehicle
All luggage and equipment transfers on cycle days
Bicycle transfer to and from London St Pancras in support vehicle (fixed pick up and drop off times)
Expert local knowledge and 24 hour emergency assistance during your trip
Professional event organisation
Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders
Financial Protection: in the unlikely event of insolvency, all our trips are protected in accordance with the 1992 Package Travel Regulations

Exclusions

Travel to the start point and journey home from the finish point of the trip
Bike as luggage on the flights
Lunches and evening meals
You will need to bring or buy snacks and drinks for the cycling days
Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects)
Bike and bike equipment

Optional Extras

Single Room Supplement £55 per person per night (subject to availability)
Extra night in Paris prior to departure £75 per person per night for twin accommodation (requires two people)
Extra night in Paris prior to departure £120 per night for single room accommodation
Extra night in Geneva at end of event £75 per person per night for twin accommodation (requires two people)
Extra night in Geneva at end of event £120 per night for single room accommodation

Please select from Optional Extras at checkout.

Departures

We run the Paris 2 Geneva Cycle as an open or bespoke event.

Our open events normally runs Sunday to Friday, from May to September. For bookings of 10 people or more, we also run this as an exclusive event on the dates of your choosing.

To book any number of participants on to an event, simply select the date in the calendar and follow the booking procedure. You will then receive an automated confirmation and full details will follow from our office in due course.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Paris to Sens

Make your own travel arrangements to arrive in Paris the day before the start. Relax and enjoy this amazing city.

Typically we meet at 07:30am from the famous Trocadero Gardens in Paris which has a great view of the Eiffel Tower. Our route takes us out of the city on cycle-ways and quiet roads and follows the course of the River Seine. We climb gently and gradually out of the Paris basin to arrive at the historic city of Sens. The countryside around Sens is known as Burgundy’s granary: cereals and orchards predominate. The town grew up on the River Yonne and has the Cathedral St-Etienne at its centre.

94 miles (151km)

Day 2 - Sens to Avallon

After breakfast we continue cycling towards the foothills of the Alps and deeper into the Burgundy Region. The route heads out into the country on minor roads and cycle-ways, passing through wooded countryside which has a real backwoods feel at times. We usually choose to have a cafe lunch in the historic town of Auxerre before riding deeper into the Burgundy countryside to finish at the old town of Avalon. Placed centrally in Burgundy, Avallon has been important strategically in history. This fortified town lies between two ravines and from the ramparts you can look across the rooftops to the Valley of the Cousin.
76 miles (122km)

Day 3 - Avallon to Chalon-sur-Saone

The day starts with a ride through the town centre, then out into rolling countryside and forest on quiet D- and minor-roads. We pass through traditional French towns and villages and there are opportunities to enjoy typical French cafes. The last 20-miles is flat and passes through vineyards and along canalside cycle-ways to finish in the centre of Chalon-sur-Saone. Chalon is in the wine growing area and is famous for wines such as Mercurey, Givry, Montagny and Rully.
91 miles (146km)

Day 4 - Chalon-sur-Saone to Saint-Claude

The morning section is on easy flat terrain using minor roads and cycle-ways to reach the regional resort of Lons-le-Saunier. In the afternoon we meet the first hills of the Haut Jura Nature Reserve where we climb through pine forests before descending into the town of Saint Claude. Here you can sample the famous Vin Jaune de Jura and local mountain cuisine. It’s a small town surrounded by mountains and rivers- the perfect place to relax in the clear air following your day in the saddle! The 2017 Tour de France passed through this town.
84 miles (135km)

Day 5 - Saint-Claude to Geneva

Starting at around 400m we climb steadily for over two hours to reach the Col de Magnard at 1172m. The gradient is mostly between 3% and 5% with sections of 8% at the start. We usually stop at 2 to 3 places along the climb to take in the stunning scenery and regroup. There is a descent before the village of Mijoux where we often stop at a cafe before another, shorter climb to the Col de la Faucille at 1323m. We then descend this category 2 climb to reach our final destination, the Jet d’Eau at Geneva – the trip ends here. Either stay a night in Geneva or return late afternoon or evening to the UK.
41 miles (66km)

Disclaimer

Please note: This itinerary is a guide only. It can be subject to change dependent upon viability, course members’ fitness, weather conditions, accommodation availability, or for any other reason the guide may deem necessary. All timings are approximate and for guidance purpose only.

The Route

Charity Information

How to take part for Charity
To do this challenge for a charity there is a non-refundable registration fee, payable to Maximum Adventure at the time of booking. You can then choose between the two different options below.

Self-Funding
Pay a registration fee at the time of booking then the balance due 10-weeks before departure. With the self-funding option, you personally cover the full cost of the challenge. This option means that there is no minimum sponsorship target due, but we encourage you to raise as much money as you can for the charity.

Minimum Sponsorship Pledge
Pay a registration fee at the time of booking and confirm with your charity their minimum fundraising requirements for the balance. This will typically be double the cost of the adventure, less the registration fee. With the minimum sponsorship pledge option, you must submit 80% of your fundraising target to the charity 10 weeks before the departure date.

For more details of how fundraising works please read our step by step guide here or contact us for help.

Why book with us

We know you have a choice of companies providing trips for your next adventures. Here are some of the reasons you should choose to travel with Maximum Adventure:

We are an established adventure travel business
We have been trading since 2002
We are financially protected in accordance with the 1992 travel regulation
Knowledgeable and available office staff
Qualified leaders and guides with ascents ranging from Ben Nevis to Mount Everest
All activities are risk assessed
We will provide you with the best service available
We are aware this is your holiday/your challenge and will do our best to make it an enjoyable and rewarding experience
We have many repeat clients stretching back over a number of years

20+ years adventure organisation experience

Full liability & financial protection

Leading provider of high quality adventure challenges

Great team of staff to support you

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