The Heart of the Tarn River Valley

France Bike Tours

A cycling holiday in ancient rural France

Welcome to your next adventure. You will be accommodated at the magnificent Les Magnolias Hotel for the duration of your stay in the quaint village of Plaisance. You can enjoy a self-guided or supported tour (minimum of 6) in this idyllic environment of the Aveyron and Tarn region in rural southern France.
Your itinerary will be uniquely designed to suit your needs and you can choose from high-quality road, hybrid, or electric bikes as well as customized maps of over 15 routes of varying degrees of difficulty.
Combined with your cycling holiday is a true local gourmet experience, as well as other activities, such as walking, canoeing, or historic site-seeing. Relax at the end of your active day on one of hotel terraces shaded by giant Magnolias trees and enjoy the outdoor covered and heated swimming pool, not to mention, a newly built Pétanque course on the terraced gardens . Bring your family and friends!
This tour is offered as supported with transfers or self-guided with no transfers. The supported tour offers a daily support vehicle that follows the group during the entire cycling itinerary.
Highlights:
- Rural France
- Roquefort Cheese Caves
- Brousse-Le-Chateau
- Millau
- Cordes-sur-Ciel
- Albi
- Culinary experience at Les Magnolias
We have many other bike tours in France for you to explore!
2018 Prices
Fully supported with back up vehicle(minimum of 6 people):
Airport transfers included:
Twin/double room: £ 1245 $ 2,134 € 1434 NOK 14938 kr 13788 $ 1,793 Single room: £ 1331 $ 2,281 € 1533 NOK 15969 kr 14740 $ 1,916 Airport transfers not included:
Twin/double: £ 1109 $ 1,902 € 1278 NOK 13313 kr 12288 $ 1,598 Single: £ 1260 $ 2,161 € 1452 NOK 15125 kr 13962 $ 1,815 Self guided with two days of touring and limited support on demand:
Airport transfers included:
Twin/double £ 1122 $ 1,923 € 1292 NOK 13458 kr 12423 $ 1,615 Single: £ 1230 $ 2,109 € 1417 NOK 14760 kr 13625 $ 1,771 Airport transfers not included:
Twin/double £ 978 $ 1,677 € 1127 NOK 11740 kr 10837 $ 1,409 Single: £ 1102 $ 1,890 € 1270 NOK 13229 kr 12212 $ 1,588
please note
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Information to read before you book.
We recommend purchasing bike trip insurance.
† Currency exchange rate set 90 days before travel.
Please see our FAQ.
Travel
Closest airport is Toulouse Blagnac airport. Airport transfers from this airport are included. It is also possible to arrive in Toulouse via TGV from Paris or other cities. The travelling time on the TGV from Paris to Toulouse is between 5.5 hours and 7.5 hours. The cost of the TGV varies between approximately Euro 50 and Euro 120 each way.
Local Travel
We suggest taking advantage of the airport transfers. If you are driving to the hotel, please ask us for driving directions. It is also possible to travel to Albi or St. Sernin by bus from Toulouse. The bus stops at Albi and St Sernin, just 8 km from Plaisance, where transfer to the hotel is easily arranged.
Climate
Please check local conditions before you arrival. A good website to explore regional weather including average high/low temperatures, average rainfall, and more is weatherbase.com.

Skill Level

This unique self-guided or supported cycling vacation offers routes of varying difficulty so it is hard to give this tour an overall difficulty level. The supported option is designed for groups with a minimum of 6 people with a medium level of fitness but can be adjusted to suit different fitness profiles. If you select the self-guided option, you will be assisted in planning daily itineraries that are perfect for you and you will have a recovery support vehicle at your disposal if necessary. Included in the self-guided option are two touring and cycling days to the towns of Albi or Cordes-sur-Ciel and Millau.

Where You’ll Stay

Les Magnolias, a delightful hotel designed in a classic traditional style based on stone and French oak. The restaurant delights its guests by offering semi-gastronomic dishes based on the rich and varied local produce.

What’s Included

Supported:
Airport transfers from/to Toulouse Blagnac airport
7 Nights at the beautiful Les Magnolias with breakfast included every day
High-quality road, mountain or electric bicycles with water bottles, helmets and standard pedals
5 Cycling Days with support vehicle
2 cycling and touring day trips to the UNESCO town of Albi/Cordes-sur-Ciel and Millau
7 special meals that include at least 2 gourmet dinners at Les Magnolias
Complimentary transfer to local evening markets and villages
Self-Guided
Toulouse-Blagnac Airport
7 Nights at the beautiful Les Magnolias with breakfast included every day
High-quality road, mountain or electric bicycles with water bottles, helmets and standard pedals
2 Days with support vehicle to visit the UNESCO town of Albi/Cordes-sur-Ciel and Millau
7 special meals that include at least 2 local gourmet dinners at Les Magnolias
Complimentary transfer to local evening markets and villages

What’s Not Included

Drinks
Coffee stops, picnics and other lunches and dinners
Canoeing

Tour	Bike
Type	Both
Skill	Moderate
Length	8 days
From	€1127 Rates
	Client Reviews

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Tour Dates

2018 Dates
Self Guided: Daily arrivals are possible from April 1 to October 31, 2018
Supported: Dates on request, possible from April 1 to October 31, 2018

Day-To-Day Itinerary

*Below is itinerary for Supported Tour. This can also be used a guideline for a self-guided tour.

Day 1: Coupiac, 11 mi., 18 km
Day 2: Ambialet, 25 mi., 40 km
Day 3: Brousse, 36 mi./52 km
Day 4: Albi, 28 or 56 mi., 45 or 90 km
Day 5: Belmont, 31 or 44 mi./50 or 70 km
Day 6: St Affrique, Millau Bridge, and Roquefort Cheese Cave, 25 or 45 km
Day 7: Free day
Day 8: Departure

Day 1: Coupiac, 11 mi./18 km
After your arrival in Toulouse, an airport pickup can be arranged to your accommodations for the duration of your tour, Les Magnolias. Lunch is not included today but you can enjoy a meal at your expense on the Les Magnolias terrace after a refreshing swim.

Optional: late afternoon bike ride of 10 mi. (16 km) to Coupiac on the Green route (slight climb on a mountain and forest road). Your evening will conclude with a gourmet dinner at Les Magnolias.

Included Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Ambialet, 25 mi./40 km
You will cycle once again on the green route toward Ambialet (a forest, mountain and Tarn River ride), showcasing stunning views of the Tarn River. The historic village of Ambialet is the perfect place for a coffee stop and is dominated by an ancient Franciscan monastery and Roman church. The Celts were the first to settle in Ambialet around the 6th century BC. They were followed by the Gauls, and the Romans, who set up a frontier post in this important strategic position. Your return ride to Les Magnolias is also along the Tarn river. Special lunch stop will be at La Chanterelle in the village of Trebas. Here, all meat is cooked over an open hearth in the restaurant and the portion sizes are generous. Wines are exceptionally reasonable and good quality, especially the local wines. Upon arrival once again at the hotel, we suggest a lovely swim before dinner before dining at once again in the renowned restaurant, on your own, under the direction of the popular and aspiring young chef.

Included Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Day 3: Brousse-Le-Chateau, 36 mi./52 km
After a delicious breakfast at Les Magnolias you can depart for Brousse through forest and mountain trails, along the Tarn River. You will encounter a short but steep climb en route. You can enjoy a short coffee stop at the Chateau House in beautiful Lincou Village or at Brousee Le Chateau, categorized as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France”. Lunch will be on your own. Perhaps you would enjoy a picnic lunch along the Tarn River or a light salad or Roquefort omelette at Brousse-Le-Chateau. Return ride via the flat Tarn route or mountain route. The special Meal this evening will be at Les Magnolias or a nearby selected village restaurant.

Included Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 4: Albi, 28 or 56 mi., 45 or 90 km
Today you will enjoy a mountain, forest, and river ride. After a coffee stop at Ambialet’s Hotel Du Pont, you will continue on one of most picturesque rides of all, past rural farmhouses, through forest and river scenery. Lunch will be on your own at Albi’s ancient village center. Visit Albi World Heritage Site attractions: Albi Cathedral, Toulouse-Lautrec museum, Berbie Palace gardens. Walking and shopping along the cobbled streets of old Albi town. Return to Plaisance by support vehicle or you can opt to return by bike. Dinner this evening will be either at a carefully selected nearby village restaurant or at Les Magnolias.

Included Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 5: Belmont, 31 or 44 mi./50 or 70 km
After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, you will cycle on the Yellow route ride to Belmont via the characterful village of Combret, through beautiful forest scenery. You will enjoy a variety of terrain! You can enjoy a coffee stop at Belmont and then return to Combret for special lunch. Optional return ride to Plaisance or you can decide to hop on the support vehicle (for those that have booked the guided tour) for return to the hotel. Dinner will be on your own this evening at Les Magnolias or a nearby village restaurant.

Included Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Day 6: Cycling and Touring day: St Affrique, Millau Bridge, and Roquefort Cheese Caves, 25 or 45 km
There will be a morning transfer with bikes to St Affrique’s charming fresh produce market. Ride 35 km from St Afrique to the troglodyte village of Peyre, via the stunning St Rome Sur Tarn. It is a beautiful ride along the Tarn River, past quaint old farmhouses, and lively local rural activity. Lunch will be on your own in Peyre with its incredible view of the tallest cable-stayed bridge in the world. Roquefort cheese caves are next on the agenda with an optional tour of the caves. Return to Plaisance. Special dinner at Les Magnolias.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 7: Free day
Today is all yours! Relax at the hotel, swim, play pétanque, cycle, walk or go canoeing. It is up to you! Your gourmet dinner at Les Magnolias is included this evening!

Included Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 8: Departure

Breakfast at Les Magnolias. Depart for Toulouse Blagnac airport.

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