France Bike & River Cruise: Lyon to Nice
Guided Bike & Boat
- Daily Mileage: 9-41 miles|
- Biking: 1-4 hours|
Starting From
11-day Air Package
$7,595
8-day Bike Tour Only
$6,245
Per person, double occupancy
France Bike & River Cruise: Lyon to Nice
Discover the heart of French wine country on this luxurious Bike & Boat vacation. As your ship cruises through three iconic French regions, you’ll find yourself waking up to different sights each morning—a Gothic cathedral one day, followed by an ancient castle shrouded in mist, a charming riverside village, or a peaceful quayside scene on a clear Sunday morning. After breakfast, your well-maintained, fitted VBT bike awaits—along with a pair of local VBT trip leaders to guide you on carefully-curated routes through the famous vineyards of Burgundy and the Côtes du Rhône—culminating in Arles, the southern city that inspired Van Gogh. In the evenings, you’ll enjoy relaxing with your ship’s five-star amenities—including a pool, cinema, on-board putting green, bar, and restaurant serving a full menu of locally-inspired cuisine.
Tour Highlights
- Admire the magnificent vistas of France’s most renowned wine regions by river and by bicycle.
- Enjoy the best of both worlds: an all-inclusive river ship cruise and a VBT Bicycling Vacation.
- Ride among the lush, fertile vineyards of Burgundy and Provence, pausing at your leisure for wine tastings and tours.
- Savor a delicious picnic lunch before learning the history of the magnificent Pont du Gard at the renowned Roman aqueduct and UNESCO World Heritage site’s museum.
- Walk the cobbled and historic streets of Lyon and Avignon as a local guide brings them alive with history and lore.
Positive Impact
VBT is proud to support Wine to Water with a donation on behalf of each guest on this tour. Wine to Water is an international organization providing access to clean drinking water and emergency supplies in water-challenged regions. We believe in giving back to the places that have enriched the lives of our guests. We’re committed to identifying and supporting sustainable initiatives in a variety of areas including education, world health, economic equality, safe drinking water, the environment, and the preservation of cultural traditions.
What to Expect
On Shore: This tour offers easy riverside terrain, with a few climbs to reach riverside towns. Riding is primarily on bike paths of both pavement and packed gravel, with some road riding through both urban and rural areas. Our VBT support shuttle is available every day at designated points for those who need assistance.
On Board Ship: Your group of up to 24 VBT guests will be part of a larger group on board our 132-passenger river cruise ship. Every day will include your choice of exclusive VBT activities and opportunities to join others. While in port, your ship may be docked adjacent to other ships. This means you may walk through other ships while boarding or disembarking, and some views may be obstructed while in port.
- Daily Mileage: 9-41 miles|
- Biking: 1-4 hours|
- Group Size: 24
Cyclists
Support
Average High /
Low Temperature (°F):
May67º/50º
Jun73º/57º
Jul80º/61º
Aug79º/60º
Sep72º/54º
Oct61º/47º
Average
Precipitation:
May3 in
Jun3.1 in
Jul2.6 in
Aug3.1 in
Sep3 in
Oct3.4 in
Air Package |
Tour Only |
|
---|---|---|
Roundtrip international airfare |
||
Airport car service for arrival and departure |
||
One night in Paris and one night in Nice in conveniently located hotels with daily breakfast |
||
7 nights aboard a deluxe river ship |
||
21 meals: 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners |
Step-Through Electric-Assisted Bicycle (E-bike)
See More >Road Bicycle (Carbon frame)
See More >Step-Through (Mixte Hybrid) Comfort Bicycle
See More >Step-Over (Diamond) Comfort Bicycle
See More >Step-Through Electric-Assisted Bicycle (E-bike)
See More >Road Bicycle (Carbon frame)
See More >Step-Through (Mixte Hybrid) Comfort Bicycle
See More >Step-Over (Diamond) Comfort Bicycle
See More >Biking Packages Include:
Custom VBT Bike and Helmet
Two Local, Bilingual Trip Leaders
Support Vehicle
Luggage Transportation
Ride with GPS and Daily Route Notes
Welcome Reception
Facilitated Cultural Experiences
Your Choice of VBT Branded Gear for Your Adventure
Accommodations (Please Note: Days are based on the Air Package Itinerary. Accommodations may vary depending on departure date. )
Enjoy Your Vacation Longer With Low-Cost Trip Extensions
Air Package Only
2025 Pre-Trip Extension - Paris
2 Nights From
$445
per person, double
occupancy
Single Supplement: From $345
- 2 nights at the Hotel Pullman Paris Centre – Bercy
- Airport car service for arrival
- Daily breakfast
- City information
Your vacation is about to begin! Spend your first night aloft and arrive ready for an unforgettable trip.
A VBT representative will greet you at the airport to start your adventure off right. a complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming city at your leisure.
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.
Included Meals: Breakfast
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hotel Pullman Paris Centre – Bercy
The four-star Hotel Pullman Paris Centre – Bercy lies at the heart of the Bercy Village pedestrian complex of Paris, near the Grande Bibliothèque and Palais Omnisport stadium and the Bastille and Marais districts. Air-conditioned guest rooms feature plush contemporary décor. Indulge in contemporary French cuisine made with regional produce in the hotel’s restaurant L’Esprit du 12ième, as well as an extensive wine cellar at the Vinoteca. Enjoy a drink in Le Point Bar or on the bar’s patio. And relax in the sauna and fitness center.
Air Package Only
2024 Pre-Trip Extension - Paris
2 Nights From
$495
per person, double
occupancy
Single Supplement: From $445
- 2 nights at the Hotel Pullman Paris Centre – Bercy
- Airport car service for arrival
- Daily breakfast
- City information
Your vacation is about to begin! Spend your first night aloft and arrive ready for an unforgettable trip.
A VBT representative will greet you at the airport to start your adventure off right. a complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming city at your leisure.
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.
Included Meals: Breakfast
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hotel Pullman Paris Centre – Bercy
The four-star Hotel Pullman Paris Centre – Bercy lies at the heart of the Bercy Village pedestrian complex of Paris, near the Grande Bibliothèque and Palais Omnisport stadium and the Bastille and Marais districts. Air-conditioned guest rooms feature plush contemporary décor. Indulge in contemporary French cuisine made with regional produce in the hotel’s restaurant L’Esprit du 12ième, as well as an extensive wine cellar at the Vinoteca. Enjoy a drink in Le Point Bar or on the bar’s patio. And relax in the sauna and fitness center.
Air Package Only
2025 Post-Trip Extension - Nice
2 Nights From
$295
per person, double
occupancy
Single Supplement: From $245
- 2 nights at the Hotel Massena Nice
- Airport car service for departure
- Daily breakfast
- City information
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.
Included Meals: Breakfast
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.
Included Meals: Breakfast
After an included breakfast this morning, complimentary transportation to the Nice airport will be provided (an approximately 20-minute drive, depending on traffic) for your departing flight.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hotel Massena
A fixture of the city’s hotel scene for more than a century, the Hotel Massena Nice is steeped in a rich hotelier tradition and in the welcoming culture of the French Riviera. Its distinctive character and famous Belle Epoque façade strike a dramatic pose, while the reception and main staircase pay homage to the stars of cinema and music. Settle into your air-conditioned room, entirely renovated and redesigned with a Pop Art theme. Stroll to fine restaurants, museums, and shops. Or walk just two blocks for a morning walk on the famous Promenade des Anglais.
Air Package Only
2024 Post-Trip Extension - Nice
2 Nights From
$295
per person, double
occupancy
Single Supplement: From $245
- 2 nights at the Hotel Massena Nice
- Airport car service for departure
- Daily breakfast
- City information
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.
Included Meals: Breakfast
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.
Included Meals: Breakfast
After an included breakfast this morning, complimentary transportation to the Nice airport will be provided (an approximately 20-minute drive, depending on traffic) for your departing flight.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hotel Massena
A fixture of the city’s hotel scene for more than a century, the Hotel Massena Nice is steeped in a rich hotelier tradition and in the welcoming culture of the French Riviera. Its distinctive character and famous Belle Epoque façade strike a dramatic pose, while the reception and main staircase pay homage to the stars of cinema and music. Settle into your air-conditioned room, entirely renovated and redesigned with a Pop Art theme. Stroll to fine restaurants, museums, and shops. Or walk just two blocks for a morning walk on the famous Promenade des Anglais.
I want to rate this trip as 4.5 but that option is not available. The biking was great - loved the e-bike! Visiting the towns/villages along the route was a highlight. There were advantages and disadvantages to the river cruise; being a small part of the larger group of cruise passengers made it difficult to form a cohesive biking group. But staying in one place for the duration of the bike trip was a plus. Recommend the trip for those who enjoy biking as well as visiting historical towns and villages.
France Bike and River Cruise 2023
Perfect trip included spectacular scenery and weather, awesome group of cyclists, perfect accommodations, and wonderful VBT leaders…thank you Sophie and Bruno.
Exceptional Trip
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