Champagne Tour

France Bike + Boat Tour

Paris to Epernay or Epernay to Paris

"Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!" Dom Perignon

Experience the beauty and serenity of France's landscape, delve into the history and culture and explore culinary delicacies as well on  this incredible 8-day tour through Europe's premier Champagne country.  The tour follows the Marne River along numerous vineyards, great Champagne Houses, and miles of underground cellars stocked full of this wonderful, bubbly beverage.

You will learn the wonders of champagne making as you visit each unique village, and see the process taking place firsthand. Though it is said that  champagne and chocolate do not pair well when taken  together, we say, parktake of  them separately! Nestle, known around the world for delicious chocolate, has its headquarters along the Marne and is definitely worth a visit.

History abounds, of course. The majestic ruins of the Castle Thiery can be visited along with the interesting sculpture garden of Dhuys with monuments made from the remains of the Dhuys Bridge. It all began when the ancient aqueduct was bombarded in 1939 and became a workshop for Jacques Servieres - he turned the ruins of the bridge into extrordinary and mysterious works of art.

The Snail Museum is a cultural and culinary  highlight of the tour. You will discover how the French came to accept snail as a culinary masterpiece and can even try one for yourself! And of course, no trip to France would be complete  without exploring Paris, which you’ll get to from the comfort of your bicycle. Don't miss out on what France has to offer, experience Champagne country for yourself!

"Remember gentlemen, it's not just France we are fighting for, it's Champagne!" Winston Churchill

Skill Level

This is a challenging tour with hilly terrain and various roads, mainly quiet, but there will be some traffic to contend with. It is for experienced bikers in good physical condition. However, daily mileage is limited (approximately 31 miles per day) and there is time provided for breaks to visit little villages and places of interest.

Where You’ll Stay

On the beautiful Elodie!

What’s Included

• 7 nights accommodations on board
• Multi-lingual tour guide
• Air- conditioned ship
• Breakfast, packed lunch and six dinners
• Coffee and tea on board
• Daily cleaning service
• Twenty-four gears hybrid bicycle
• Water bottle and saddle bag
• Ferry fares on route

What’s Not Included

• Laundry service available
• Admittance fees to museums, attractions etc
• Dinner on Saturday
• Drinks other than those mentioned

Tour Dates

• Paris to Epernay: June 17, 2012
• Epernay to Paris: June 24, 2012

Tour Boats

• Elodie

Day-To-Day Itinerary

1. Paris,  9 miles (15 km)
2. Paris - Lagny sur Marne, 24 miles (39 km)
3. Lagny sur Marne - Meaux,  26 miles (42 km)
4. Meaux - La Ferte sur Marne, 28 miles (40 km)
5. La Ferte - Chateau Thiery, 28 miles (40 km)
6. Chateau Thiery (Dormans) - Cumiere,  32 miles (51 km)
7. Cumiere - Epernay, 6 miles (10 km)
8. Cumiere

*All distances are approximate. The above planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc.

One some days, a shorter tour is optional however those days' highlights would also be missed.

SUNDAY: Paris; 9 miles (15 km)
Upon arrival on board the Elodie, the crew will welcome you with a nice cup of coffee or tea. There will be a short program about the rules of the ship, introduction of the crew, and explanation of the trip. Afterwards, the group will make use of Paris' beautiful cycling paths by taking a short ride around the city. This will give you time to get comfortable with your bike and make adjustments as needed. Paris is a bustling city, but it might surprise you to know that you can experience a relaxing bicycle ride without being bothered by much traffic.

MONDAY: Paris - Lagny sur Marne, 24 miles (39 km)
You will meander along lanes and parks leaving Paris to get to the river Marne. You will cycle along the banks of the river towards Lagny sur Marne. The "Nestle Building", famous for producing excellent chocolate, is located along this route. It's headquarters is definitely worth a visit. Continuing on, you can admire the outskirts of Paris, with its beautiful houses and green surroundings. The night will be spent in Lagny sur Marne, a gorgeous little town on the river Marne.

TUESDAY: Lagny sur Marne - Meaux, 26 miles (42 km)
Although today is one of the more challenging cycling days, the various climbs are worth the panoramic view you will witness in the end along with the relief of the decent. Afterwards, you will visit the beautiful sculpture garden of Dhuys. These monuments are made of the remains of the Dhuys bridge that was bombed during the Second World War. The city of Meaux has a nice atmosphere and is famous for its cheese and mustard. The chef on board will give you a taste of the culinary highlights of this region. There is also a magnificent cathedral that you can visit during an evening stroll along the river Marne.

WEDNESDAY: Meaux - La Ferte sur Marne, 28 miles (40 km)
Today, you will cycle right into the great vineyards that produce the finest champagnes in the world. There are Abbeys and Chateaux along the road; one of them being built by Catherine the Medicis. This influential family also created the Abbey of Youarre, with its 7th century crypt dedicated to St. Paul. You will pay a visit to the ruins of Chateau des Reines as well as "La Ferme de la Valiere" to taste some of the local products. 

THURSDAY: La Ferte - Chateau Thiery, 28 miles (40 km)
Today will be another day of cycling through the amazing grapevines of Champagne. You will ride to the monument of Hill 204, a symbol of the gratitude the French expressed to the Americans for their support in WWI. In the spring of 1918, American troops took part in the second battle of the Marne to stop German forces from advancing to Paris. They succeeded in stopping them and the battle is now considered a turning point in the Great War. After the visit to this monument, you will continue to Chateau Thiery, the city of the great French poet Jean de la Fontaine. In the evening, you can take a walk around the ruins of the Castle Thiery.  

FRIDAY: Chateau Thiery (Dormans) - Cumiere, 32 miles (51 km)
Today, you will get to visit a small Champagne farmer in the village of Courcelles. The small scale of which the champagne is produced will give you a better insight of the production process of this extraordinary beverage. To fully understand the French culinary mind, you will visit the snail museum. As one of the few countries in the world that enjoy the taste of snail, they have dedicated this unique museum to the snail and you will even get to try a piece of this delicacy.

SATURDAY: Cumiere - Epernay, 6 miles (10 km)
The Elodie will stay in Cumiere for the day as you cycle to the town of Epernay. You are now in the heart of champagne country, where the great Champagne Houses are situated. One of the most famous houses produces 'Dom Perigion'. Underneath this interesting town, there are 16 miles of wine cellars that contain thousands of bottles of Champagne waiting for consumption. You will have lots of time to spend in this town exploring the houses, shopping, and eating in local restaurants.

SUNDAY: Cumiere
Departure after breakfast.

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Questions? Call us! 877-965-2064 or e-mail us