Hop on a bike and pedal your way through some of the most beautiful cycling paths in Europe—Voie Verte and Vote Bleue, lovely greenways going through Burgundy. This 6-day tour will have you cycling through the landscapes of the Côte Chalonnaise on an old railway, passing quaint villages, historic castles, and Romanesque abbeys. You will cruise along the banks of Saône and discover the historically significant Cluny (and lots of other villages and towns!). This is a self-guided adventure, meaning that you have the freedom to move at your own pace, but you also get the perks of already arranged accommodation, luggage transfers, routes and maps. There’s nothing stopping you from spending your next vacation in Burgundy, cycling through the French countryside and tasting the world-famous cuisine.
Make sure to reach Mâcon in Burgundy by afternoon. Settle into your hotel and use the rest of the day to explore this elegant town. Once a frontier between the French realm and the Holy German Empire (from 843 to 1600), it’s a wonderful city to explore.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel, B&B, or guesthouse
After a hearty breakfast, leave Mâcon via the Voie Bleue path. It follows the Saône river to Fleurville and the historic castles of Marigny and Marfontaine. Quiet roads and paths will lead you to the beautiful Tournus, a town dating back to the Romans. The city is wonderful to explore on foot, as you can take in the unique atmosphere of its quiet streets and traboules (hidden passages that cross buildings and connect streets to each other). The Romanesque Church of St. Philibert is also a must-see!
Distance: 40 km / 25 miles
Accommodation: 4-star hotel, B&B, or guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast
Start your day by cycling along the Saône river before moving away from the calm waters to pass through Gigny. You’ll ride through the flood plain between the Saône and Grosne once you exit the town. Pedal some more and you’ll come to Saint-Loup-de-Varennes, where the inventor of photography, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, lived. Once at St Rémy, you’ll get back to the bank of the Saône river until you reach Chalon-sur-Saône for the night. This beautiful town presents a great opportunity for an evening stroll, either along the river or through the heart of the town filled with medieval houses and a cathedral.
Distance: 30 km / 18.6 miles
Accommodation: 4-star hotel, B&B, or guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast
Get ready for the longest day of your journey! Follow the Voie Verte cycling path northwest towards Givry. Continue the journey towards southwest, and you’ll end up in the enchanting fortified town of Buxy, nestled amidst picturesque vineyards of Cote Chalonnaise in the Burgundy region. Here is where you’ll find the wine appellations like Mercurey and Givry.
The path through this celebrated vineyard landscape will soon lead you through the historic towns of St. Boll and St. Gengoux le National, marked by their medieval charm. Next up is Cormatin, where you can explore a magnificent 17th-century castle, an intricate maze, and an ancient vegetable garden. The Voie Verte then takes you to Taize (a monastic community) and to the beautiful Benedictine abbey of Cluny, built in 910. Back in 1080, it was considered the most important monastic complex of Christianity.
Distance: 52 km / 32.3 miles
Accommodation: 3-star hotel, B&B, or guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast
Use your morning to explore Cluny if you haven’t had the chance the day before—it’s a lovely town with a world-famous abbey. Today’s ride will let you immerse yourself in the poetic romanticism of Alphonse de Lamartine—he spent his formative years amidst these captivating landscapes, where the harmonious blend of natures, clastles, and monuments undoubtedly left an imprint on his literary works.
Along the way you will cross the longest cycling tunnel in Europe, which leads to the castle of Berzé le Chatel. An ascent here will reward you with a wonderful view over the Mâconnais vineyard district. Enjoy your final evening of the tour in Mâcon.
Distance: 28 km / 17.4 miles
Accommodation: 3-star hotel, B&B, or guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast
Once you’re done with a hearty breakfast at your hotel, it’s time to check out and leave. Depart home or feel free to ask your guiding company for further recommendations in the area!
Meals: Breakfast
Sometimes it is necessary to modify the indicated itinerary. This might be due to the organizational aspect of it (closed-off trails, fully booked lodgings, weather conditions, etc.). These modifications are always made in your interest, for your safety and comfort.
Please note that accommodations are subject to availability and it may not be possible to book the exact accommodations listed day-by-day in the itinerary (in case there is a detailed list). In case rooms are no longer available, accommodation in dormitory might be booked instead.
Also note that your chosen dates for the tour are not guaranteed until confirmed by the guide. If the guide is unable to secure your preferred dates/accommodation, you’ll get a full refund!
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
Optional:
*Please note that accommodations are subject to availability and it may not be possible to book the exact accommodations listed day-by-day in the itinerary (in case there is a detailed list). In case rooms are no longer available, accommodation in dormitory might be booked instead.
If you’re looking for a carefree holiday, there’s nothing better than this. Your guiding company thought of everything: the route, the accommodation, luggage transfers, and breakfasts, so all that’s left to do is enjoy the journey. Cycle at your own pace, stop whenever you want to, and marvel at serene landscapes surrounding you as long as you’d like.
Prior to the start of the Burgundy bike tour, you will receive a digital travel pack with documents sent by email (in German, French, or English) as well as access to your phone travel app for routes and maps. The app is in English only. If you wish to have a printed version with you (with paper roadbook in German, French, or English + maps), let us know upon booking (there is an additional cost). The printed travel pack will be given to you at the first accommodation of the tour.
If you join this Burgundy bike tour, you can expect easy to moderate cycling. You will mostly follow walking/cycling paths on an old railway, rolling hills, and shared-use lanes on quiet roads.
Daily distances will range between 28 and 52 km (17.5-32 miles) with easy to moderate ascents in elevation throughout the rides.
Please no cotton hiking or cycling clothing! Synthetic clothing is very efficient in drying quickly. Merino wool material clothing is also efficient in drying quickly, it’s comfortable to wear, and has the advantage of not developing a bad odor after use.
Clothing checklist (required for the trip, think layers!)
Gear checklist
Optional items
First aid kit
Anything can happen and it’s best to carry your own personal first aid kit. What you need may not be available in the destination you are visiting, so we recommend being well prepared. Here’s a basic list of what makes a good personal travel first aid kit:
Indeed you can! If you choose to rent a bike (hybrid bikes and e-bikes offered), it will be delivered at your first hotel of the itinerary. You will be asked to give a deposit to hold during the rental. At the end of the tour, you will leave the rental bike at last night’s hotel.
All bikes are equipped with a side stand, a mudguard, a pannier rack, and lights. They also come with a bike lock, a toolkit (inner tube, pump, and basic tools), a helmet, and saddlebags.
If you choose to bring your own bike, make sure you’re aware of (flight) transport costs and that everything is working well before setting off.
You will only have to carry the essential things for the day, such as your packed lunch, water, and other personal items. For this, you will need a saddle bag (comes with the rental). If you don’t have one, bring a 30-40L backpack with a waist strap to carry what you need for the day. A small backpack is always recommended for visiting attractions along the route.
The rest of your travel luggage will be transported for you from hotel to hotel each day—it will be there in the evening. Please limit your luggage to a maximum of 20 kg / 44 lbs per person. One piece of luggage per person allowed.
Accommodation will be arranged for you, so all you’ve got to do is show up. You will be staying in double / twin bedrooms in B&B, in 3-star and 4-star hotels or in guesthouses with the same level of comfort. Single rooms are subject to availability and require a supplement fee.
Please note that in Europe, more and more hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses are refusing to take part in the star-rating system. This doesn’t mean that they are of a lesser quality, in fact far from it. If your guiding company indicates that an accommodation is ‘3-star or equivalent to’, this means that the establishment may have chosen not to receive an official classification, but they believe the level of comfort provided is equal to that of a traditional 3-star establishment.
Group sizes and prices:
Burgundy bike tours can be arranged for bigger groups. Contact us prior to booking.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
Your Burgundy bike tour begins in Mâcon, France. If you’re flying in, the closest airport is Lyon Airport Saint-Exupéry (LYS), and then an additional hour or two, depending on the mode of transport (car or bus). Another option is the Geneva Airport (GVA), 2-2.5 hours away from Mâcon.
There’s also the possibility of using a train or a car if you’re already in Europe!
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more.
Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. For more information on travel recommendations and restrictions in France, please refer to France foreign travel advice.
If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!