Bordeaux - Châteaux, Rivers & Wine
France Bike + Barge Tours
A bike and boat tour in France in the famed Bordeaux region
The region of Bordeaux, located in sun-drenched, south-west France is the perfect setting for a bike and boat tour. Set at the confluence of the Garonne River and the Gironde estuary, it is one of the most prolific and famous wine-growing regions in the world. Caressed by Atlantic breezes, the vineyards that cover the rolling hills of the region have for centuries produced France’s most remarkable wines. Appellations such as Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Sauternes, Médoc, and Margaux have made Bordeaux wines world-famous.
At the region’s heart, is the cultural center, the city of Bordeaux. Once known as the Sleeping Beauty, it stretches along the riverbanks, inviting visitors to savor its grand architecture, tempting cafés, and superb museums. This city sleeps no more! Cruise the French Rivers and bike through vineyards on carefully chosen routes and experience the French Joie de Vivre!
On board, you will discover a wide variety of excellent local wines to enjoy during dinner or simply to sample at your leisure. The region's distinct cuisine will feature, prepared with the freshest ingredients.
Highlights:
- Cycle through the world famous Bordeaux wine area
- Historic and cultural Unesco World Heritage Sites
- Sampling of different varieties of Bordeaux Wine
- Architectural gems
Come on board! Sip local wine, sample French cuisine, cycle immersed in culture, and like the French, slow down and savor the good things in life; food, wine, and biking!
Watch a tour preview!
Be sure to view a complete list of bike and barge tours in France.
2020 Dates & Prices
Tour Dates
Saturday to Saturday
Castets-en-Dorthe to Libourne
Low Season: April 18, October 31
Mid Season: May 2, May 16, May 30, June 13, June 27, July 11, July 25, August 8*, August 22, October 3, October 17
High Season: September 5, September 19Libourne to Castets-en-Dorthe
Low Season: April 11, April 25, October 24
Mid Season: May 9*, May 23, June 6*, June 20, July 4*, July 18, August 1, August 15, October 10
High Season: August 29, September 12, September 26Cabin details and pictures can be found here: Bordeaux Boat Page
Cabin Pricing
Low Season
Mid Season
High Season
Twin Cabin, Lower Deck $ 2115 £ 1047 $ 1,829 € 1145 $ 2159 kr 12905 $ 1,304 $ 2670 £ 1321 $ 2,308 € 1445 $ 2725 kr 16287 $ 1,646 $ 2854 £ 1413 $ 2,468 € 1545 $ 2914 kr 17414 $ 1,760 Twin Cabin, Upper Deck $ 2466 £ 1221 $ 2,132 € 1335 $ 2518 kr 15047 $ 1,521 $ 3021 £ 1495 $ 2,612 € 1635 $ 3083 kr 18428 $ 1,862 $ 3205 £ 1587 $ 2,771 € 1735 $ 3272 kr 19555 $ 1,976 Junior Suite, Lower Deck $ 2651 £ 1312 $ 2,292 € 1435 $ 2706 kr 16174 $ 1,635 $ 3205 £ 1587 $ 2,771 € 1735 $ 3272 kr 19555 $ 1,976 $ 3390 £ 1678 $ 2,931 € 1835 $ 3460 kr 20683 $ 2,090 Single Cabin, Upper Deck $ 2854 £ 1413 $ 2,468 € 1545 $ 2914 kr 17414 $ 1,760 $ 3409 £ 1687 $ 2,947 € 1845 $ 3479 kr 20795 $ 2,102 $ 3593 £ 1779 $ 3,107 € 1945 $ 3668 kr 21922 $ 2,215 Single Use Twin, Lower Deck
*limited to 3 per departure
$ 2947 £ 1459 $ 2,548 € 1595 $ 3008 kr 17977 $ 1,817 $ 3501 £ 1733 $ 3,027 € 1895 $ 3574 kr 21359 $ 2,158 $ 3686 £ 1824 $ 3,187 € 1995 $ 3762 kr 22486 $ 2,272 Low Season: April 11 - April 25; October 24, October 31
Mid Season: May 2 - August 22; October 3 - October 17
High Season: August 29 - September 26
Extra Options
Guided Option: $ 277 £ 137 $ 240 € 150 $ 283 kr 1691 $ 171 E-Bike Rental for week: $ 166 £ 82 $ 144 € 90 $ 170 kr 1014 $ 103 Tandem Bike Rental for week per person: $ 18 £ 9 $ 16 € 10 $ 19 kr 113 $ 11 Discount for no transfers: $ 92 £ 46 $ 80 € 50 $ 94 kr 564 $ 57 Bicycle Protection
Hybrid Bike Protection: $ 18 £ 9 $ 16 € 10 $ 19 kr 113 $ 11 E-Bike Protection: $ 37 £ 18 $ 32 € 20 $ 38 kr 225 $ 23 Special Diet Request (Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan): $ 92 £ 46 $ 80 € 50 $ 94 kr 564 $ 57extra options
See option pricing above
please note
Travel insurance
Our tour prices do not include travel insurance. We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance which includes trip cancellation/interruption coverage. You can find more information on our Trip Insurance Page.
Cancellation Policy for Bordeaux Châteaux, Rivers & Wine Tour:
- More than 180 days before the departure date: 20% of the total booking
- Between 179 and 75 days before departure date: 35% of total booking amount
- Between 74 and 30 days before departure date: 75% of total booking amount
- At 29 days or less before departure: 100% of the amount total reservation
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
A non-refundable admin fee of 20 Euros per person is included in the deposit amount.
Information to read before you book.
Travel
Fly to Paris Charles De Gaulle International Airport or Bordeaux International Airport.
From Paris, you can take the TGV train.
TRAIN: There is now a high-speed TGV train with direct route from Paris to Bordeaux and vice versa that runs several times each day. From Paris center (Gare Montparnasse), TGV train is about 2 hours. From CDG airport in Paris to Bordeaux, TGV train is about 3.5 hours. Book tickets in advance, they can sell out. Schedules and pricing can be found on the TGV/SNCF website: https://en.oui.sncf/en/FLY: Flights into Bordeaux are offered by several airlines including low cost Easyjet. If you fly to Bordeaux International Airport, the city is easily accessible via shuttle or bus. The airport shuttle will take you to Gare St Jean train station in 30 minutes for around €7.
Local Travel
BUS TRANSFERS: Included in the tour package is a collective round-trip bus transfer to/from the Gare St Jean train station in Bordeaux and the barge. On arrival day, the transfer leaves the train station at 2 pm and takes you to the barge. On the last day, the return transfer leaves the barge at 9 am and arrives back at Gare St Jean train station around 10 am. If you do not need the transfers, please let us know at the time of booking and there will be a credit of €50. Please note these transfers are highly recommended, especially to/from Castets which is remote and difficult to get to. Price for a taxi from Bordeaux to Castets will cost about €100.
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. A good web site to use to research regional weather conditions is weatherbase.com. Here you will find average high/low temperatures and average rainfall as well.
Remarks
In France, it is not mandatory for adults to wear a helmet, however, we strongly recommend wearing one of those provided on board or bring your own helmet for proper fit and safety. French law now mandates that children under the age of 12 must wear a helmet. Children helmets are NOT available on board, you must bring your own.
DOCUMENTS
Before you travel, please check your country's passport and visa requirements and the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. For US citizens, the US Department of State website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab in the International Travel section provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc. For our other international clients, please be sure that you research your own country's travel requirements. It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure proper documentation.
*Important note: Beginning July 1, 2021, additional documentation from the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.
Tour Dates
Castets-en-Dorthe to Libourne
Low Season: April 18, October 31
Mid Season: May 2, May 16, May 30, June 13, June 27, July 11, July 25, August 8, August 22, October 3, October 17
High Season: September 5, September 19
Libourne to Castets-en-Dorthe
Low Season: April 11, April 25, October 24
Mid Season: May 9, May 23, June 6, June 20, July 4, July 18, August 1, August 15, October 10
High Season: August 29, September 12, September 26
Skill Level
This tour is rated easy to moderate with daily cycling distances from 30 to 50 km (18-32 miles). The terrain varies day to day. At times, the route is flat along the river and through the vineyards but there are days with a few long gradual hills as well as some steeper short climbs out of the river valleys. Many cyclists have found an e-bike to be a good option on this tour. The tour is offered self-guided in that the tour leader provides daily briefings of the tour and participants cycle individually at their own pace with bicycle maps and route directions. A guided option is also available for an additional supplement, see pricing. The tour leader will be cycling all tours as well and can be reached on her/his mobile phone in case of questions or problems.
Where You’ll Stay
On board the comfort vessel, the Bordeaux.
What’s Included
- Accommodations on board for 7 nights
- 7 x Breakfasts, 6 x Self-packed Lunches, 7 x Three-Course Dinners
- Round-Trip Bus Transfers from Bordeaux train station to docking location and reverse on arrival/departure days
- 21-gear hybrid bike rental including panniers and map holder
- Helmets for adults (must bring own child helmets)
- Maps and tour information, one set per cabin
- Tour Leader that gives daily route briefings on board and is available by cell phone in case of emergency
- Harbor and lock fees
- Coffee and tea on board from 3-5:30
- Daily cabin cleaning (change of towels on request)
- Welcome drink and presentation
- GPS tracks available on request for pre-download to your own device
- Included in the Guided Option
- English-speaking tour guide who leads the bike ride, shares local history and culture
- 1 wine tasting at a wine shop in Saint-Emilion (free)
- 2-3 chateaux visits (free-€15)
What’s Not Included
- Guided Tour Option: €150 per person (advance reservation required)
- GPS Device with downloaded tracks: €100 deposit that is returned to you at the end of the tour - reserve in advance
- Beverages: The boat will have a large selection of wine from the various regions available for purchase by the glass or by the bottle. If you purchase wine off the boat and wish to drink it on board, there is a corkage fee of €10. Wine is allowed in the lounge, restaurant, and on deck. Wine is NOT allowed in cabins.
- Child Helmets: French law now mandates that children under the age of 12 must wear helmets!
- Entrance fees, excursions, wine tastings
- Gratuities
- Bicycle Protection
- Travel Insurance
| Tour | Bike + Boat |
|---|---|
| Type | Both |
| Skill | Easy–Moderate |
| Length | 8 days |
| From | €1145 Rates |
| Tour Reviews |
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Tour Boats
Day-To-Day Itinerary
Itinerary
Castets-en-Dorthe to Libourne
Day 1 (Saturday): Arrival Day in Castets-en-Dorthe: Bus transfer @2 pm from Bordeaux train station to barge in Castets. Boarding at 3 pm.
Day 2 (Sunday): Castets - Saint Macaire - La Réole round-trip by bike, 19-32 mi. (30-50 km) | Castets - Cadillac by boat
Day 3 (Monday): Loupiac - Entre-Deux-Mers/Graves - Sauternes - Cadillac round-trip by bike, 32 mi. (50 km) | Cadillac - Bordeaux by boat
Day 4 (Tuesday): Heart of Bordeaux by bike, 10 mi. (15 km)
Day 5 (Wednesday): Bordeaux to Lamarque by boat | Lamarque - Margaux (Medoc) round-trip by bike, 28 mi. (45 km) | Lamarque to Bourg by boat
Day 6 (Thursday): Bourg - Blaye round-trip by bike, 23 mi. (37 km) | Bourg - Libourne by boat
Day 7 (Friday): Libourne - Saint Émilion & Pomerol round-trip by bike, 16-28 miles (25-45 km)
Day 8 (Saturday): Disembarkation in Libourne and transfer back to Bordeaux leaves barge @ 9 am, arrives at the train station around 10 am.
To see detailed itineraries for both Castets-en-Dorthe to Libourne and Libourne to Castets-en-Dorthe. Click below.
Day 1 (Saturday): Arrival Day in Castets-en-Dorthe: Bus transfer @2 pm from Bordeaux train station to barge in Castets. Boarding at 3 pm.
Day 2 (Sunday): Castets - Saint Macaire - La Réole round-trip by bike, 19-32 mi. (30-50 km) | Castets - Cadillac by boat
Day 3 (Monday): Loupiac - Entre-Deux-Mers/Graves - Sauternes - Cadillac round-trip by bike, 32 mi. (50 km) | Cadillac - Bordeaux by boat
Day 4 (Tuesday): Heart of Bordeaux by bike, 10 mi. (15 km)
Day 5 (Wednesday): Bordeaux to Lamarque by boat | Lamarque - Margaux (Medoc) round-trip by bike, 28 mi. (45 km) | Lamarque to Bourg by boat
Day 6 (Thursday): Bourg - Blaye round-trip by bike, 23 mi. (37 km) | Bourg - Libourne by boat
Day 7 (Friday): Libourne - Saint Émilion & Pomerol round-trip by bike, 16-28 miles (25-45 km)
Day 8 (Saturday): Disembarkation in Libourne and transfer back to Bordeaux leaves barge @ 9 am, arrives at train station around 10am.
*All distances are approximate.
Day 1 (Saturday): Arrival Day - Bus transfer @ 2 pm from Gare St Jean Train Station in Bordeaux to barge docking location in Castets. Boarding at 3 pm. Optional bike ride around Canal des Deux Mers.
Arrival in Castets-en-Dorthe at the docking location near the Canal des Deux Mers, located in the middle of the Garonne Valley. Embarkation begins at 3 pm. Your bikes will be delivered and you may choose to enjoy a short bike ride around Castets, exploring this flat and fertile region, aptly named "Little Holland" with its walnut trees, kiwi orchards and vegetable fields. Following the bike path along the Canal des Deux Mers (Canal of Two Seas) that links the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, you will discover this lush rural countryside. In the evening, a welcome cocktail awaits you on board, followed by a tour presentation and dinner.
Day 2 (Sunday): Castets-en-Dorthe - Saint Macaire - La Réole - Canal de la Garonne round-trip by bike, 19 - 32 mi. (30-50 km) | Castets-en-Dorthe to Cadillac by boat
After a restful night on board, the first town you will discover by bike is the lovely Saint Macaire with its wonderful gate and walls. You will have an opportunity to visit the former residence of the writer Francois Mauriac, as well as enjoy your first wine tasting at a château. Riding along fields of corn and sunflowers, you reach La Réole, crossing the Garonne river on a bridge designed by Gustave Eiffel. The town has a rich history with and is known for its visit from Richard Lionheart in 1190, who on the way to the Holy Land, dedicated the town hall to thank the locals for their loyalty to the English crown. Explore the town's two castles, impressive church, and narrow cobblestone streets. Continuing on along the Canal de la Garonne, built during the Napolean era, you can either bike directly back to the boat or take a ride to Meihan-sur-Garonne to discover the amazing scenery it offers.
Day 3 (Monday): Loupiac - Entre-Deux-Mers/Graves - Sauternes - Cadillac round-trip by bike, 32 mi. (50 km) | Cadillac - Bordeaux by boat
Today we will discover the Sauternes region, where sweet dessert wines are made. We start with a view from Sainte-Croix du Mont and then follow the route along the winding banks of the Ciron River, whose icy waters flow into the warmer waters of the Garonne. In the autumn, when the climate is warm and dry, the combination of the two different temperatures produce the mist that descends on the vineyards, promoting the perfect conditions for the famous Sauternes wine. You will pass the famous vineyards of Château d'Yquem, Château Guiraud, and Clos Haut Peyraguey. Wine tastings are offered here! Today's route will end in Cadillac, also known as the birthplace of Bordeaux wines. It is a fortified medieval village known as the Bastide in the Entre-Deux-Mers wine region in between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. Once back on board, you will travel along the Garonne River towards the enchanting city of Bordeaux, reaching the region's most prestigious panorama: the Stone Bridge, Place de la Bourse, and Quai des Chartrons.
Day 4 (Tuesday): Bordeaux, 10 mi. (15 km)
The guide will propose a city tour of Bordeaux to discover its architectural gems on two wheels. The short cycling tour, mainly on the new bike paths along the Garonne river, offers beautiful panoramic views of the waterfront city. In the afternoon, enjoy the UNESCO sites of Bordeaux during a walking or cycling tour. Its main attractions are the Cailhau Gate (royal entrance to the city), the Big Bell of Pey Berlan, the Golden Triangle, the Girondins column, the water mirror and Place de la Bourse. Visit historic squares, a hidden garden and quaint locations where you can stop for a tasting of Bordeaux’s renowned “canneles” and coffee or take some fresh oysters and white wine. Be sure to explore the town’s streets and shops where fine wines are still stored in underground cellars carved in stone, do some shopping along the pedestrian-friendly Rue Sainte Catherine or visit the newly opened Cite du Vin.
Day 5 (Wednesday): Bordeaux to Lamarque by boat | Lamarque - Margaux (Médoc) round-trip by bike 28 mi. (45 km) | Lamarque to Bourg by boat
In the morning, the ship cruises from Bordeaux to Lamarque in the Gironde estuary, to start your cycling tour in the famous Médoc wine area. Later, as you wind your way through the vineyards, you will pass some of Margaux’s best wineries including the chateau Palmer, Issan, Lewis Brown, Rauzan Segla, Ferriere, and last but not least, Chateau Margaux. You can stop at one of these great wine estates for a visit or tasting (optional) and learn everything about classifications before returning to the boat. In the late afternoon, the ship will cruise the wide Gironde estuary to the jetty of Bourg, a picturesque little town near the conjunction of the Gironde and Dordogne rivers. The old city center overlooks the Gironde estuary.
Day 6 (Thursday): Bourg - Blaye Fortress and vineyards round-trip by bike, 23 mi. (37 km) | Bourg to Libourne by boat
Today’s cycling will take you through endless vineyards, fairytale chateaux and elegant manor houses. Be enchanted by the ”douceur de vivre” (sweet life), so typical for this wine region. While the wine from this region may be lesser known than some ‘neighbors’ in the St. Emilion, Pomerol and Medoc areas, the quality of the wines produced is second to none. Since the Middle Ages, countless numbers of pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain have passed through this region. In Blaye, you may cycle through or choose to take a tour of the impressive Vauban Fortress citadel (UNESCO World Heritage Site) to admire the military masterwork of the architect of “Sun King’ Louis XIV. Return to Bourg via the ‘Corniche’, a scenic, quiet road along the Gironde estuary where you will pass beautiful riverside homes. You will also see a partially sunken ship from WWII near the caves where the French military would hide weapons and fuel. In the evening you will sail to the town of Libourne on the Dordogne river.
Day 7 (Friday): Libourne - Saint Émilion & Pomerol round-trip by bike, 16-28 miles (25-45 km)
Beginning in Libourne, today’s bike ride will take you through the famous Pomerol and Saint-Émilion wine areas. Pedaling the countryside, laced with vines, you will enjoy the unspoiled UNESCO World Heritage landscape of medieval villages and surrounding vineyards. Following picturesque back roads and paths, you will get a glimpse of Saint Émilion's most famous châteaux and cycle past some of the world’s most famous wine estates, producers of Angelus, Ausone, Cheval Blanc, and Petrus. A true paradise for wine lovers! In Saint Émilion, a true highlight of the week, you may choose to tour an underground monolithic church, climb the King’s Tower for an incredible view of the village, or visit a winery shop for a tasting. Later in the day, you may choose to explore the town of Libourne and it’s city square, lined with buildings dating as far back as the 16th century or enjoy the many cafes and pedestrian-only shopping street Rue Gambetta.
Day 8 (Saturday): Disembarkation in Libourne
Disembarkation after breakfast. Return bus transfer leaves barge @ 9 am and arrives at Gare St Jean train station in Bordeaux around 10 am.
Day 1 (Saturday): Arrival Day in Libourne: Bus transfer @2 pm from Bordeaux train station to barge in Libourne. Boarding at 3 pm. Optional bike ride around Libourne, 7-10 mi. (10-15 km)
Day 2 (Sunday): Libourne - Saint Émilion & Pomerol round-trip by bike, 16 - 28 mi. (25 - 45 km) | Libourne - Bourg, by boat
Day 3 (Monday): Bourg - Blaye round-trip by bike, 23 mi. (37 km)
Day 4 (Tuesday): Bourg - Lamarque by boat | Lamarque - Margaux (Médoc) round-trip by bike, 28 mi (45 km) | Lamarque - Bordeaux by boat
Day 5 (Wednesday): Heart of Bordeaux by bike, 10 mi. (15 km) | Bordeaux - Cadillac by boat
Day 6 (Thursday): Loupiac - Entre-Deux-Mers/Graves - Sauternes - Cadillac round-trip by bike, 32 mi. (50 km) | Cadillac - Castets-en-Dorthe by boat
Day 7 (Friday): Castets-en-Dorthe - Saint Macaire - La Réole - Canal de la Garonne round-trip by bike, 19 - 32 mi. (30 - 50 km)
Day 8 (Saturday): Disembarkation in Castets and transfer back to Bordeaux leaves barge @ 9 am, arrives at the train station around 10am.
Day 1 (Saturday): Arrival Day - Bus transfer @ 2 pm from Gare St Jean Train Station in Bordeaux to barge docking location in Libourne. Boarding at 3 pm. Optional bike ride around Libourne, 7-10 mi. (10-15 km)
Arrival in Libourne at the barge's docking location on the Dordogne river. Embarkation begins at 3 pm. Your bikes will be presented and you may choose to enjoy a short bike ride around Libourne or explore the town on foot. Discover the picturesque city square, lined with buildings dating as far back as the 16th century and enjoy the many cafes or the pedestrian-only shopping street Rue Gambetta. In the evening, a welcome cocktail awaits you on board, followed by a tour presentation and dinner.
Day 2 (Sunday): Libourne - Saint Émilion & Pomerol round-trip by bike, 16 - 28 mi. (25 - 45 km) | Libourne to Bourg, by boat
Beginning in Libourne, today’s bike ride will take you through the famous Pomerol and Saint-Émilion wine areas. Pedaling the countryside, crisscrossed with vines, you will enjoy the unspoiled UNESCO World Heritage landscape of medieval villages and surrounding vineyards. Following picturesque back roads and paths, you will get a glimpse of Saint Émilion's most famous châteaux and cycle past some of the world’s most famous wine estates, producers of Angelus, Ausone, Cheval Blanc, and Petrus. A true paradise for wine lovers! In Saint Émilion, a true highlight of the week, you may choose to tour an underground monolithic church, climb the King’s Tower for an incredible view of the village, or visit a winery shop for a tasting. In the evening, the boat sails for Bourg, located at the conjunction of the Dordogne and the Garonne rivers.
Day 3 (Monday): Bourg - Blaye and Fortress round-trip by bike, 23 mi. (37 km)
Today’s cycling will take you through endless vineyards, fairytale chateaux, and elegant manor houses. Be enchanted by the ”douceur de vivre” (sweet life), so typical for this wine region. While the wine from this region may be lesser known than some ‘neighbors’ in the St. Emilion, Pomerol and Medoc areas, the quality of the wines produced is second to none. Since the Middle Ages, countless numbers of pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain have passed through this region. In Blaye, you may choose to take a tour of the impressive Vauban Fortress citadel (UNESCO World Heritage Site) to admire the military masterwork of the architect of “Sun King’ Louis XIV. Return to Bourg via the ‘Corniche’, a scenic, quiet road along the Gironde estuary where you will pass beautiful riverside homes. You will also see a partially sunken ship from WWII near the caves where the French military would hide weapons and fuel.
Day 4 (Tuesday): Bourg to Lamarque by boat | Lamarque - Margaux (Médoc) round-trip by bike, 28 mi (45 km) | Lamarque to Bordeaux by boat
In the morning, you will enjoy breakfast while sailing the wide Gironde estuary to the jetty of Lamarque. Later, as you bike your way through the vineyards, you will pass some of Margaux’s best wineries including the Chateau Palmer, Issan, Lewis Brown, Rauzan Segla, Ferriere, and last but not least, Chateau Margaux. You will have the opportunity to stop at one of these great wine estates for a visit or tasting (optional). In the late afternoon, the MS Bordeaux will sail along the Garonne River towards the enchanting city of Bordeaux. The ship will berth for the night in the city center where you will see the region’s most prestigious panorama: the Stone Bridge, Place de la Bourse and Quai des Chartrons.
Day 5 (Wednesday): Heart of Bordeaux, 10 mi. (15 km) | Bordeaux- Cadillac by boat
The guide will propose a city tour of Bordeaux to discover its architectural gems on two wheels. The short cycling tour, mainly on the new bike paths along the Garonne River, offers beautiful panoramic views of the waterfront city. In the afternoon, enjoy the UNESCO sites of Bordeaux during a walking or cycling tour. Its main attractions are the Cailhau Gate (royal entrance to the city), the Big Bell of Pey Berlan, and the Golden Triangle, the Girondins column, the water mirror and Place de la Bourse. Visit historic squares, a hidden garden and quaint locations where you can stop for a tasting of Bordeaux’s renowned “cannels” and coffee or take some fresh oysters and white wine. Be sure to explore the town’s streets and shops where fine wines are still stored in underground cellars carved in stone, do some shopping along the pedestrian-friendly Rue Sainte Catherine or visit the newly opened Cite du Vin. After dinner, the boat will cruise along the Garonne River to Cadillac.
Day 6 (Thursday): Loupiac - Entre-Deux-Mers/Graves - Sauternes - Cadillac round-trip by bike, 32 mi. (50 km) | Cadillac to Castets-en-Dorthe by boat
Today we will discover the Sauternes region, where sweet dessert wines are made. We start with a view from Sainte-Croix du Mont and then follow the route along the winding banks of the Ciron River, whose icy waters flow into the warmer waters of the Garonne. In the autumn, when the climate is warm and dry, the combination of the two different temperatures produce the mist that descends on the vineyards, promoting the perfect conditions for the famous Sauternes wine. You will pass the famous vineyards of Château d'Yquem, Château Guiraud, and Clos Haut Peyraguey. Wine tastings are offered here! Today's route will end in Cadillac, also known as the birthplace of Bordeaux wines. It is a fortified medieval village known as the Bastide in the Entre-Deux-Mers wine region in between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. In the evening, cruise further upstream to the scenic village of Castets-en-Dorthe, the end of the navigable part of the Garonne River.
Day 7 (Friday): Castets-en-Dorthe - Saint Macaire - La Réole - Canal de la Garonne round-trip by bike, 19 - 32 mi. (30-50 km)
After a restful night on board, the first town you will discover by bike is the lovely Saint Macaire with its wonderful gate and walls. You will have an opportunity to visit the former residence of the writer Francois Mauriac, as well as enjoy your first wine tasting at a château. Riding along fields of corn and sunflowers, you reach La Réole, crossing the Garonne river on a bridge designed by Gustave Eiffel. The town has a rich history with and is known for it's visit from Richard Lionheart in 1190, who on the way to the Holy Land, dedicated the town hall to thank the locals for their loyalty to the English crown. Explore the town's two castles, impressive church, and narrow cobblestone streets. Continuing on along the Canal de la Garonne, built during the Napolean era, you can either bike directly back to the boat or take a ride to Meihan-sur-Garonne to discover the amazing scenery it offers. Enjoy your last dinner on board here in Castets-en-Dorthe.
Day 8 (Saturday): Disembarkation in Castets and transfer back to Bordeaux
Disembarkation after breakfast. Return bus transfer leaves barge @ 9 am and arrives at Gare St Jean train station in Bordeaux around 10 am.
**Important**: The Garonne and Dordogne Rivers are part of a tidal river system that results in changing water levels (daily changes of up to 6 meters / 20 ft.) in the region. Every effort is made to follow the scheduled itinerary, however, based on tides it may be amended or modified as required.
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This tour is run by PB Aquitaine Cruises.
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Bordeaux - Châteaux, Rivers & Wine Boats + Barges
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| From | €939 |
Maastricht to Paris Netherlands, Belgium, France 2020 Maastricht to Paris: Thursday, May 21, 2020 … This bike and boat tour in Holland, Belgium, and France is epic in every sense of the word. You will discover the gorgeous old landscapes and the most …
| Tour | Bike + Boat |
|---|---|
| Type | Guided |
| Skill | Easy–Moderate |
| Length | 18 days |
| From | €2685 |
Tour Reviews
Paula H. 3 months ago Verified Reviewer
Our guide was wonderful. It made our bike riding less stressful. Meet some great people from different countries. Enjoyed our dinner every night. The staff was helpful.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Celeste N. 3 months ago Verified Reviewer
The trip was as we expected -- enjoyed both the biking & wine tours. Thanks for the ebikes.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Don B. 3 months ago Verified Reviewer
Not moving and sitting next to a mud bank and a muddy river made the first couple of days disappointing. The rest of the trip was very good with Bordeaux and St. Emilion being the highlight of the trip. The staff and food was exceptional!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Carol H. 3 months ago Verified Reviewer
The bike routes were good and some of the stops at vineyards were excellent but other vineyards were not really interested in providing tastings even when they had been pre-arranged by the boat company. The old bikes were in bad shape but the new bikes were of excellent quality. The e-bikes were a godsend to riders that struggled with the hills on the second day. Unless you are are a fairly strong rider the e-bikes were needed on 2 of the days. The bike mechanic was great and the GPS was helpful when it worked but it was not reliable. Paper maps were needed as a back-up. The rooms on the ship were cramped but OK overall. Our biggest concern was that the food was really BAD. We could not eat several dishes and they sometimes ran out of the main course.
Overall, given the steep price, we would not recommend this tour. Other barge and bike tours are much better value.
Boat: Bordeaux
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William A. 3 months ago Verified Reviewer
Biking in the Bordeaux region was memorable as well as the food and wine on our barge. The staff was welcoming too.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Elliot A. 3 months ago Verified Reviewer
The trip was fantastic, especially the other people on the tour. My recommendation to newbies is to definitely sign up for e-bikes and the guided tour.
The only bad thing was that the noise level in the dining area was painfully loud. My ears are still ringing! They really need to install some acoustical tile or something.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Ellen K. 3 months ago Verified Reviewer
Loved moving to a new spot in France every day and biking the country side. Exercise, vacationing with friends, drinking great wine - was wonderful. Fun to have so many options to enjoy the countryside - ebikes, guided, self guided, etc. easy to customize the trip for your desires.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Rick M. 3 months ago Verified Reviewer
The boat was quite old and noisy. Due to either river conditions or dock accommodations, the skipper had to move the boat off the dock multiple times during the days and at night, disrupting sleep for many of the guests. Air conditioning did not work in several of the cabins, and the crew was very slow to repair. At our "welcome aboard" briefing, we were told that there were 130 life vests on board the vessel, and that was the extent of the safety briefing - nothing about where they were located or how to don them. No word about where fire extinguishers were located. Nothing about how to get off the boat in an emergency. If there was an AED on board, it was well hidden!
Several of the young ladies in the crew were very friendly and helpful to the passengers, but others were not very helpful at all - The Captain could best be described as an old Curmudgeon. Time for him to retire! The bikes were Read more… old and somewhat worn out. Very little help from the crew with getting them set up and ready to roll each day. The first day of "bike fitting" was pandemonium, with 80+ people all trying to get their bikes at once. Probably could have been a little better organized - as could several other aspects of the trip. Our guide was trying very hard to do the best he could, but he was handicapped by a lack of experience and local area knowledge. His regular job was working in the office for the boat company, and I suspect he was pressed into service as a guide, probably because so many people requested the guided option.
The food was generally good, but there was no choice during evening meals. If you happened not to like duck, too bad!
While the crew and the company had no control over the weather, it rained almost every day, and to top it all off, I found I really prefer California/Washington wines to any we tasted in the Bordeaux region.
While this was our first barge experience, we have taken many other cycling trips, with other companies. In general, they have all been far more organized an better executed than this trip. The bikes were always better in quality and better maintained by the crew. The tour leaders were far more informed and informative about the areas we were riding in.
Bottom line: I will not take another bike/barge trip through your company, nor can I recommend your trips to others.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Kevin M. 3 months ago Verified Reviewer
Cycling through the vineyards and countryside of France, Bordeaux area and spending time in France with friends.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Gina T. 3 months ago Verified Reviewer
The biking and the tour guides, Alex and Bill, were amazing! Beautiful scenery and quaint towns with many fabulous wineries to check out along the way. Also saw kiwis, wicker and corn fields and enjoyed the most amazing fragrances of the flowers blooming as we traveled. This was our first boat/bike trip, so we have no comparison point. The boat is aging and we rarely had internet. The rooms are extremely small, but we didn’t stay in our room much. The food was fantastic and having lunch makings every day was very handy! If you are adventurous, I’d definitely recommend this tour!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Mary U. 3 months ago Verified Reviewer
The scenery and biking in this region is fantastic. The quaint villages and all the wineries make great stops along the way. The e- bike's were so much fun and having a guided tour made it easy to just enjoy the beauty of the area.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Jaclyn B. 3 months ago Verified Reviewer
It was the last week of the season and only 18 bikers joined the tour! This was so nice to have an intimate group and flexibility of activities. It was so helpful to have evening informing sessions on what to expect the next day along the route. It was absolutely necessary to have a GPS device to keep us on the correct route. The trip was a good value.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Jon F. 3 months ago Verified Reviewer
The bike ride is what this trip was all about. Great rides with great friends! We had 60 or so people from the same town on this trip, Fort Collins Colorado so there was many good groups to ride with! Food was good beverages could be upgraded eg: more beer choices and better quality wine, by the end of the week I was tired of the choices. The trip was very organized and I would recommend it to anyone who wants see France in this unique way.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Kevin M. 4 months ago Verified Reviewer
A great chance to ride different areas of the French country side and taste different wines in the Bordeaux region. The difficulty of the daily routes is easy to moderate and the barge staff was very friendly and accommodating. If you like to bike and love wine, this tour is for you.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Margaret E. 4 months ago Verified Reviewer
The beautiful scenery and great bike routes planned for us. Only difficulty with the routes was navigating Libourne the last Friday in rush hour afternoon traffic. Perhaps a longer route, going around Libourne, could be investigated
Boat: Bordeaux
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Shelly B. 4 months ago Verified Reviewer
My friends and I had a wonderful time on the Bordeaux Bike and Boat Tour! The bike rides were like riding in a postcard! The boat was very comfortable. The meals were delicious and based on the region! There was a wide variety of wine available at a very reasonable price! The crew were all extremely polite, pleasant, and helpful! I would highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to do a boat and bike tour!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Diane F. 5 months ago Verified Reviewer
So the food was very disappointing for the price we paid for this trip. The food servers were very friendly and worked hard to please. The bike mechanic was great and solved any issues we had with the bikes. The captain of MS Bordeaux was always impatient and gruff with passengers as we disembarked each day. On the Danube trip, the staff ensured the bikes were on land for us each day. The GPS's in Bordeaux did not work most of the time and the maps in the books need updating - this is a comment that has been in the Bordeaux reviews for several years now. A team discussion and group effort allowed us to find our way.
The most disappointing aspect of the trip is that my concerns were expressed to Tripsite and left unanswered for over a month until I called Tripsite back, and nothing was resolved for me. Just be sure to evaluate if the quality of food and customer service are an important part of your trip - otherwise, enjoy the great rides!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Michel D. 5 months ago Verified Reviewer
This was our second experience with Tripsite. Our first was in the Netherlands and the second in France. Everything has been positive from the time of booking to the end of the trip. Great food, great cycling, comfortable ship, scenery and most importantly, the other guests on the trip. We have already booked our third trip for May of 2020!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Wynn Washle 6 months ago Verified Reviewer
Where to start? What an amazing adventure! Wendy at Tripsite was so gracious and easy to work with. We reserved the entire boat and she was always so responsive to our questions and needs. Pascal and her staff on the Bordeaux were first rate. Within one day, most of her staff knew everyone's first name! This was our second Tripsite bike and boat trip (Danube). The food was excellent, the bikes were newer (loved the e-bikes) and the Bordeaux region was gorgeous. We loved packing a lunch and sharing a bottle of wine in a park or overlooking a vineyard. There are some hills, so be prepared if you don't have an e-bike. GPS was also very helpful. We were never lost, but sometimes "temporarily misplaced"...but that is part of the fun of a cycling trip. Highly recommend this trip.
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Lou O. 7 months ago Verified Reviewer
Guides were absolutely world-class in all respects: knowledgeable, safe, proactive and TOTALLY guest-oriented. Is there a description more favorable that "FANTASTIC?!"
Boat: Bordeaux
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Julie W. 9 months ago Verified Reviewer
A wonderful travel experience for our first time on a barge. The staff were helpful, friendly and fun to be with, the food was first rate and the scenery and biking experiences were fabulous!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Inga M. 9 months ago Verified Reviewer
Boat: Bordeaux
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Beth M. 1 year ago Verified Reviewer
I am commenting on the Bordeaux tour which I decided to go on last minute. If I had done my research on the boat & room size I wouldn’t have gone. My husband is 6’6” and the cabin was too small & very uncomfortable. I don’t know how it gets the Comfort Plus rating, all of the cabins on the lower level with the exception of one were all very small, & from other fellow pax comments, the upper level was not much better. This was our third trip with TripSite, we thoroughly enjoyed the 2 prior trips. We are sorry to say that the Bordeaux trip was underwhelming as far as scenery & bike routes.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Wendy from Tripsite 11 months ago Staff
Hi Beth,
I'm sorry that you found the boat not up to the comfort plus standards you are used to from your other tours. Yes, the cabins on this boat are smaller than other boats in this class. To clarify the classification...in the past, boats that offered air conditioned cabins were automatically placed in the comfort plus category which is why this boat was in that class. However, we have recently reconfigured our boat classification system and now rate the Bordeaux boat in the comfort class. I personally think the scenery doesn't get much better than this beautiful region of France!
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Nicola F. 1 year ago Verified Reviewer
Bike guides were wonderful. Also, walking tour of Bordeaux.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Brian M. 1 year ago Verified Reviewer
Who knew that pomegranates grew in Bordeaux or the Romans built a coliseum there? Great guides make the trip as you are exposed to knowledge and places you would have overlooked.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Jennifer S. 1 year ago Verified Reviewer
Excellent trip, well organized and lots of fun.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Kimberly F. 1 year ago Verified Reviewer
The Bordeaux Wine Country trip was absolutely the best vacation ever! The guides were wonderful, full of interesting information and fun. Doing the guided tour allowed us to take in the scenery without having to worry about where to turn next. The scenery was so amazing. Every other word was "oh my" or "Wow"! A simple review cannot begin to convey how fantastic this trip was. We are already planning another trip with you. Thanks for the wonderful vacation.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Sergio G. 1 year ago Verified Reviewer
The scenery and staff on board were the most memorable parts of the trip. Although the tour says easy to moderate, there are 2 to 3 days that there are a few steep hills. You need to be bike ready. Or as an alternative rent an E Bike. As long as you just want to enjoy the scenery, places, vineyards, and not in a hurry, look at the guided portion for the extra cost. The guide we had was wonderful in explaining any questions we had. There are many things said that you would not get by self guided. If you are a wine fan and history and culture, this tour is for you. Stay in the city of Bordeaux also a couple days before or after. Very vibrant city with great restaurants and things to do in the city centre. Enjoy!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Charlie A. 1 year ago Verified Reviewer
Amazing scenery and locale. The biking maps leave a lot to be desired. Some riders had a trail app and they were lifesavers for those who were left to just the paper map booklet. Very difficult to follow. Maybe more tour guides to help out.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Doreen S. 1 year ago Verified Reviewer
Bourg / Blaye was a wonderful ride with minimal traffic and enough gradient to make it interesting. The fortified town at Blaye was an interesting diversion from vineyards. In all a well organized tour with excellent staff. The bikes were a little heavy but that gave me an excuse for an extra creme brûlée!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Sam 1 year ago Verified Reviewer
A GREAT experience on a bike & barge trip! I LOVE Bordeaux and the bike routes were beautiful !!! absolutely amazing from the start to the end.
The staff members were superb and we had fun !!!
I highly recommend this trip !!!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Steve & Ginny B. 1 year ago Verified Reviewer
We cannot tell you enough good about MS Bordeaux, the Captain and his crew. It was so enjoyable to arrive on board, unpack for eight days, and relax. On other bike rides, we unpacked every night and repacked every morning. I think another bike/barge is in order. Tim LaMonte and I are researching next year’s ride already!
The food was exceptional (except for one night when the chef was off. My red mullet was raw and not cooked. Can you spell Y-U-C-K?). Every day, we packed our lunches (except when we did our walking tour of Bordeaux with Sebastian, see below.) Desserts were yummy!
The bike rides were great and we discovered fantastic wines!
There were 84 passengers on-board. A large group was from Australia, some from Canada, Switzerland and the USA. Even though those of on the non-guided ride tour rode at different speeds, we continuously found each, and other helped each other find our way Read more… and found places of interest. The camaraderie with other riders was phenomenal.
I had an e-bike. Ginny had a regular bike. On the last day, she traded it in for an e-bike! She will get one for the next tour! Tim also traded his bike for an e-bike on the last day.
In the middle of the week, we could ride our bikes on a short bike path or take a walking tour of Bordeaux, or both. We decided to have a relaxing day and took the walking tour.
Sebastian, the bartender, had the day off. We asked why he did the free walking tour on his day off. His response was simple. He loved to tell people about his country and take them on tour of his hometown, Bordeaux.
A total delight was our interaction with 19-year old Dorrian (sp?). He was the highlight of the trip. He gave the welcome briefing, the evening briefings on what to expect the next day, and was always available.
1. Dee LaMonte had a flat tire. We called Dorrian and he was there within 15 minutes
2. Dorrian was on different roads where the non-guided riders were, and always got us on the right track.
3. Every time we were not sure of where we should be, Dorrian showed up like magic!
4. Another flat tire, a telephone call, and Dorrian found us again. He took Dee LaMonte and her bike in a van to MS Bordeaux. Dorrian also offered a ride to the rest of us, however, we declined and rode the rest of the way back.
The final night on board, was the Captains Dinner, a party and lots wine flowing and lot of dancing! A perfect way to celebrate the end of our adventure!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Lee F. 1 year ago Verified Reviewer
It was an altogether pleasant experience; the highlight was the lovely little village of Saint-Émilion.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Jeff K. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
Beautiful chateaus. Great wine. Not allowed to drink in cabin. Cabin extremely small. Shower barely fit one person. Guide excellent. No sauna or hot tub. I would recommend this trip but not this boat (the Bordeaux).
Boat: Bordeaux
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Neil M. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
Most Memorable Part: The accommodations, the staff and of course cycling through all the beautiful country side.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Nelson G. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
We had a great time riding through Bordeaux’s beautiful wine country. Our trip was enjoyable for our entire group of varying cycling abilities. The E-bikes made it easy for those that needed them. The staff was excellent and very personable. We were treated as art of the family. We are looking forward to our next cycling adventure.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Paul K. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
Having a guide for this trip was very beneficial. For the first 3 days our guided group consisted of 30+ people. This was too large of a group and was pretty much a pain. We eventually broke into a group of 8 riders with Dorian as our guide, that was perfect. We were able to travel at a much more leisurely pace, visit many wineries, tasting rooms, small villages and churches.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Jehiel from Tripsite 2 years ago Staff
Hi Paul,
Thanks for this feedback. I agree two guides are better than one with big groups. That way you can have two different riding paces and everyone is content. I will share this feedback with our local partner! Thanks again.
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Raine P. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
The routes were described well before each ride and usually easy to follow, however at least one person in your group should have a GPS. The guide and scenery were exceptional. The food was great but it was difficult getting vegetarian food for dinner even though I had requested vegetarian when I signed up.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Judy C. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
The boat, with just our family plus another couple, was terrific. We got to know the crew quite well-- actually, all on the boat became one big family. It was the trip of a life-time for all 15 of us. Everyday a grandchild would come up to me and say, "Mema, this is the best trip I've ever been on. I am having so much fun." From the youngest, at age 12, to the oldest at 78, we are left with memories that will never Read more… be forgotten.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Georgia M. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
Travelling on the boat with a small group of international people is such a great way to experience the world - and the bike tours are brilliant.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Jenny & Ted Miles Johnson 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
Another great experience on a bike & barge trip!
Some suggestions:
We should have known in advance, that appointments were necessary to visit a winery. A daily visit to a winery would have been nice, where the staff of the boat could have made the appointments.
In the write up for this particular bike & barge (Bordeaux), it would have been nice for the write up to let people know, that there are a few hills (12-15%) to ride up daily.
Even bicyclist in decent shape had a tough time riding up these 12-15% grades, due to the heavy bicycles. Maybe, letting people know, that it’s advisable to get an ebike, can resolve the uphill climbs issue.
Also, for not getting lost on the daily bike routes; The availability of the gps was a big plus and a necessary piece of equipment, for a successful & pleasant daily bike trip.
Overall, the staff & owner of the barge were very helpful & were there for you, Read more… when you were in need of something!
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Lisa S. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
We traveled on the ship Bordeaux in France. The bike routes were beautiful, but the instructions provided by not so great. No worries, we had maps and a GPS, we made each day into an adventure!!!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Stephen M. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
Visiting Arles was particularly memorable, but we very much enjoyed the trip itinerary.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Brent M. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
Most Memorable Part: The friendly relaxed and welcoming atmosphere of the barge and staff.
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Jacqueline T. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
Get an ebike if you have any doubts about your ability to do the biking. I am not a biker but was able to do the hills around Bordeaux because of the ebike. Most memorable moments was just the ride through the vineyards themselves, past the chateauxs.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Sarita L. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
Everything was great. Just did not like the room and bathroom size.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Susan M. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
We enjoyed St Emilion which we explored on our own. We should have been told what there was unusual to see in all of the ports that we were in at the beginning of the trip so that if reservations were necessary at sights that interested us we could have made them. Sebastian worked very hard at making sure that we had a great time on the boat. We were part of a learning experience and work in progress for Pascal.
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Wendy from Tripsite 2 years ago Staff
Thanks for your feedback Susan! Yes, information should definitely be shared at the beginning of the tour and typically is but we do apologize as the regular tour guide for this tour was not on board the week of your departure so there was some lack of details. St Emilion is also my favorite!
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Linda R. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
The scenery was wonderful. Biking around the French countryside — what could be bad? HOWEVER, this trip should not be taken unless the client is assured that the barge has replaced their current bikes (as they say they will for 2018) with lighter bikes in perfect working order. They should make sure that there are bikes of all sizes, so that a small person (I am 5’) will get a properly fitted bike. I biked the entire week on a 6-speed rusty heavy old bike. Even the bell and kickstand didn’t work.
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Wendy from Tripsite 2 years ago Staff
Thanks Linda and we agree! As you mention, new bikes (smaller and lighter frames in particular) will be purchased for 2018!
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Tama L. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
Most Memorable Part: St. Emilion and the disco party on the boat the last night
Boat: Bordeaux
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Ronnie L. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
Bordeaux is an exquisite area of France. Exploring it on a bike made it that much more enjoyable. The scenery and visiting wine Chateaus that have been in business for generation was quite spectacular. The city of Bordeaux may be my favorite city of all the European cities I've visited. It's very easy to use the public transportation, there is much to see, explore and experience there. For future listings, I would rate this trip as at least moderate in cycling difficulty. There was one flat day, one day of rolling cycling, and 3 day of pretty challenging hills, especially on heavy hybrid bikes. On any future tour I will definitely consider using an ebike. Many if not all of the European women used them. I met many interesting and lovely people from other countries on this tour. It was delightful!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Andrea S. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
We really enjoyed the bike rides in the country side, and visiting the wineries, especially the day Viktor took us to Clos de Bigos. Staff on the boat was great. Boat is older and can get very damp in the lower cabins. The cabin did have air conditioning which is very nice. The areas we visited were beautiful, and we were surprised at how beautiful Bordeaux is.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Veronica H. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
Bordeaux the best city on trip for us. Trip is not easy because of traffic and hills---scary!!!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Wendy from Tripsite 2 years ago Staff
This tour is a mix of days with flat/easy riding and days with occasional hills/moderate riding hence the rating easy/moderate. It is important to keep in mind that our ratings are based on riders who ride often and are accustomed to riding on varied paths and terrain. There are times that you will be on shared roads and depending on the time of day, you may encounter some traffic so we recommend a vest like our reflective one.
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Richard O. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
We were on the 9-16 Sep sailing on the Bordeaux from Castets-en-Dorthe to Libourne. The provided daily road maps were difficult to follow and easily confusing; most folks saved the $200 euro apiece, and did the self-guided rides -- and folks were going off trail everywhere. Luckily, I had downloaded Ulmon maps, so I could always find my way back to the trail. They did offer 3 bike computers with pre-loaded maps which were very helpful. You state they can be rented for $15 euro, actually, they are available for free, with a $100 euro refundable deposit, unless it is lost or stolen.
Otherwise, the trip was a delight, and great kudos to the bike guide Victor, the ship's owner Pascale, and her fine crew.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Karry & Brent M. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
Besides the beautiful scenery, the staff on the boat were so friendly and helpful. They worked as a team, and the relationship with the guests was wonderful. We made many new friends, and had such a good time. Leaving, we had tears in our eyes. We loved the wineries and tasting many new wines. Although we understand the purpose of corkage fees, we thought they were too high, as we came back with one or two new ones every day! Loved the trip!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Vivian C. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
The routing in Bordeaux was great. Amazing scenery, passing through little towns and managing our way through a city or two made for an amazing adventure. One day I had a big problem with my bike and with a phone call I had a young man show up and fix it. He was my hero.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Lori C. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
Loved the beauty of the rolling hills, vineyards and chateaus. Due to the hills, I would rate 2 of the days more moderate to difficult, leaning more to moderate. The maps and booklets are hard to follow, definitely have 1 person in your group get the GPS, it should be mandatory with all the turns. There is only a deposit required.
The staff were attentive, hard working and fun! The food was exceptional. We highly recommend this tour!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Jim S. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
The scenery , chateaus and winery were beautiful.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Nancy P. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
The food was very tasty, esp. the dinners. Great young chef.
One thing which bothered us was that we were told not to bring any wine aboard the boat - we were to only purchase wine that was available on the boat via the token machine. Odd, since we were traveling and bicycling in Bordeaux WINE country, visiting chateaus daily!! We think that there should be another arrangement in that area. It's apparently a financial situation although it was explained that they didn't want wine spills in the cabin. A damage deposit could be arranged if that's really the issue.
Otherwise, the staff, bikes and experience was great. This was our 3rd Read more… Bike/Barge trip with TripSite. Gladly recommend it often to others. We especially enjoyed St. Emilion (tour of monolithic church was amazing!) and riding to/from Blaye and touring the Citadel.
Boat: Bordeaux
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wendy 3 years ago Staff
Thanks so much for your feedback Nancy, it is so helpful to us and others interested in the tour! For the 2017 season, all routes, maps, descriptions and presentations are being redone and will be much improved! The wine policy has also been updated and clients will be able to drink wine on board in the lounge, restaurant and on deck, but not in the cabins. Clients will also, with a corkage fee, be able to drink their own wine purchased off the boat. St. Emilion and the citadel in Blaye were the highlights for me as well, so glad you enjoyed it!
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Pat R. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
Would have liked more time biking. 2 days had less than 10 miles. We were in the guided group and were told the group would decide how much to bike on those days-we were never asked as a group-the guide decided himself we would do the shorter distance. Barge "purser"-a woman-not very friendly or helpful or available. Trip booked as a Bordeaux start and end, but the location of start and end of trip changed and we had to pay extra to get ourselves to Cadillac and back to Bordeaux from Libourne. The boat company should have provided that transfer free of charge. The 2 wine tasting charges should have been included in the trip charge. The boat charged 20 euros for a bottle of wine in the wine country of Bordeaux and we were not allowed to bring on any wine from the outside. You could buy a nice bottle of wine for less than $10.00 in town. Disappointed that we had twin beds-expected a double in the suite room.
Boat: Bordeaux
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wendy 3 years ago Staff
Thank you for your feedback Pat! I am sorry for any confusion regarding the stop and start locations of the tour. On the tour page, it was always listed as Libourne and Castets-en-Dorthe, the only thing that had changed was that the dock in Castets was not completed and the boat would be docking in Cadillac instead. For the majority of tours, clients are responsible for individual travel to the barge locations so the offer of the bus transfers for this tour is extremely helpful and does save clients time and money. Also, the wine policy has been updated for the 2017 season and clients will be able to enjoy their own wine on board, paying a corkage fee, which is common on many boats. Information and pictures of the cabins is always posted on the boat page which is important to check out, I am sorry for any misunderstanding you had regarding the beds.
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Deborah O. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
Barge, service, guide, food, comfort, weather and on and on...all great.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Joyce K. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
We really enjoyed the trip but the self-guided instructions could have been better. We relied on Google maps more than we should have had to; would have been quite lost without it.
We were a very small group and we all got along very well and became friends throughout the week.
Boat: Bordeaux
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wendy 3 years ago Staff
Thanks for you feedback Joyce! For the 2017 season, all routes, maps and descriptions have been redone which will greatly help those doing the self-guided option. So glad you made some new friends, a great perk to a bike and boat tour!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Richard A. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
My companion and I broke from the main group and visited a small vineyard and were given a complete tour including a tasting by the owner
Boat: Bordeaux
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Lisa S. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
I would rather recommend a trip to Germany or the Netherlands, but that's just my preference. The staff on the Bourdeaux was very nice.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Patsy V. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
I would recommend the trip if the operator makes improvements to the selfguided route finding; the narrative, GPS, and detail maps were inconsistent with each other and recommended routes were sometimes difficult to find. We had large area maps that allowed us to navigate and a crew member who helped but especially during the first couple days it was a bit challenging. The route narrative should include more information on sites to visit or note along the way. The bikes were heavy in comparison to other trips we have booked.
I really enjoyed the scenery and sites; it is a lovely area to visit and bike, especially during late September. Grapes were cascading from the vines, just pre-harvest. The vineyards, wine tasting,chateaux, churches, fortresses, medieval towns, history and landscapes were wonderful along the routes. Experiencing the tidal surf (the mascaret) was also quite interesting.
Boat: Bordeaux
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wendy 3 years ago Staff
Hi Patsy,
Thank you for your feedback! All routes, maps, descriptions and biking presentations have been completely revamped for the 2017 season and we expect those improvements to fix any issues that occurred last season.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Barb M. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
Lovely being in the area at this time near harvest but the routes, route preparation in the evening and historical information that might enhance the experience were severely lacking. The GPS devices were difficult to work with and virtually no help was given as to how to correctly operate them.
Boat: Bordeaux
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carla 3 years ago Staff
Thanks for your feedback, Barb. We agree! We have totally redone our routes, descriptions, and presentations for 2017. They have been prepared by professional local guides and we do not anticipate any problems for the upcoming season.
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Annette A. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
It was a fun week celebrating my birthday in the heart of Bordeaux with ten friends!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Richard M. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
It was fun. I would recommend more bike trails away from the highways. The drivers were very courteous but we did not like riding on the side of highways. It felt dangerous and there was smell of exhaust.
Also, the charge for wine was at least double of what it should have been.
Boat: Bordeaux
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wendy 3 years ago Staff
Hi Richard, thanks for your feedback! We agree and that's why for the 2017 season, all routes, maps, and descriptions have been completely re-worked to provide a better biking experience for everyone!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Susan D. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
This trip was truly amazing. We cycled through beautiful countryside and visited spectacular vineyards. The only comment we have is that we didn't like using tokens for our drinks on board the ship. Would rather use a credit card. Also would like to have a choice of meals ie fish, meat or veggie rather than only one choice. Food was great but choice is important.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Barb M. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
It was lovely being in the area at this time near harvest but the routes, route preparation in the evening and historical information that might enhance the experience were severely lacking. The GPS devices were difficult to work with and virtually no help was given as to how to correctly operate them.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Reid H. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
The staff on the boat were terrific, especially Sebastian. The breakfasts were the same every day which really got old quickly. Their new bikes had terrible shifters and were really heavy. The route descriptions led us to be lost on many days and we finally had to rely on Google maps.
The scenery was great and when we got on less well-traveled roads, the riding was great. Unfortunately we spent too much time (IMHO) on roads with a lot of traffic.
Boat: Bordeaux
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carla 3 years ago Staff
Thank you for your feedback, Reid. We have totally redone our routes and route descriptions for the 2017 season. We guarantee them to be much easier to follow and avoid traffic as much possible.
The menus have also been redone and a new shipment of bikes came in. We anticipate the 2017 season to be the best it can be!
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Gordon M. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
The most memorable part of my trip was seeing the brilliant lights on the fabulous architecture of the historic buildings of Bordeaux. I was so impressed with these images against the skyline and the reflecting "mirror" pool in front of the buildings. We spent an evening walking along the boardwalk by the Garonne River and we could enjoy this breathtaking scenery.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Joanne M. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
The most memorable part of my trip was being asked to push the large domino to start the "domino effect" which was a practice run for the "FAB Festival in Bordeaux". One evening, we walked by the colourful "Water Mirror", which is a famous kind of fountain in Bordeaux, and we stopped to examine one of the large dominoes which was made out of a white limestone substance. One of the organizers of the "FAB Festival" invited me to start the dominoes. I was thrilled to have such an honour. Everyone cheered. I will never forget it!
Boat: Bordeaux
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Amy M. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
Boat: Bordeaux
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Wendy 3 years ago Staff
Thank you for your feedback! Unfortunately there were a lot of glitches to the Bordeaux's first year of bike and boat tours some of which I also encountered during my trip. However we are confident we have fixed the problems and look forward to a great 2017 season!
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Elaine C 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
The scenery in the Bordeaux region was lovely, as were the people we encountered along the way. Some of the staff were extremely helpful and added to our overall enjoyment of the trip.
We thoroughly enjoyed our days of cycling, despite the many problems my husband experienced with his bicycle (locked brakes, flat tires, a pump that didn't work, loose bearings in the pedals...)
More accurate written descriptions and an updated GPS would have helped with the navigation on the our self-guided routes.
Asking for a dinner without red meat resulted in being served an omelette on more than one occasion (not a great alternative).
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable trip!
Boat: Bordeaux
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carla 3 years ago Staff
We agree Elaine! We're happy to say the routes, descriptions and GPS tracks have totally been redone by professionals for the 2017 season.
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Leonidas R. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
The guide, Scott, is a very nice person and tried extremely hard to help everyone but the maps and supplied route instructions are poor. Need a lot of work to become usable for everyone. No problem for me as I had a GPS unit with me. All of the time the routes include highways and roads. There are NO dedicated bike paths and that should be made clear on the trip description so people come in full knowledge of that issue. Such roads are likely to be unsafe for many ""first time"" riders. For that reason I would not recommend this trip to others. There are far safer bike routes in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, with just as nice and memorable scenery and Read more… more ""lived in"" towns with cafes and bier gardens than this tour had to offer. After the first 20 Chateaux one gets easily bored seeing another Chateaux for the next 5 days. Generally the scenery was ok but having to dodge traffic is not fun at any time. Also spending 2 or 3 nights at Cadillac at the end is really a poor location and very little to do there. This trip is not quite ready yet.
I will be riding again next year with Tripsite but we will go back to the countries mentioned above.
Boat: Bordeaux
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L.G. Germishuys 4 years ago Verified Reviewer
Really impressed by the effort and kindness of the staff on the boat.
Boat: Bordeaux
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C. Machado 4 years ago Verified Reviewer
Try and offer more non-meat entrees for dinner. Too much meat. Also, try and incorporate rail trails( voies ferrees) when possible. They provide relaxed cycling without worrying about constant traffic.
Very friendly staff and good display of professionalism. Bikes were easy to ride! And, it was hard to have to drink only what the boat offered. Can we have more choice, especially in wine country like Bordeaux? Thanks for everything.
Boat: Bordeaux
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Wendy 3 years ago Staff
Thanks for your response Craig. The bar is restocked for the 2017 season and we think everyone will be pleased with the varied selections.
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