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The Vercors Nature Park by bike

Revel in the joys of cycletouring on this fine mountain route
  • Duration 8 days
  • Activity Biking
  • Holiday among adults
  • Theme mountain
895€
Quotation Book

Information : The Vercors Nature Park by bike

  • Comfort
  • Difficulty
  • Note
  • Roadbooks French / English

Presentation

The Vercors Natural Park is known among cycle enthusiasts for its spectacular roads. Unique in Europe, the itineraries here are incomparable, with roadways carved out of the limestone mountains at the beginning of the 20th century at the cost of enormous effort and courage. These roads wind through gorges and tunnels carved out of the very rock to bring the traveller onto the plateau of the Vercors. The voyager is then rewarded by the most superb panorama imaginable: limestone corries, forest as far as the eye can see, and cliffs up to 1000 feet! The holiday takes place in what the French modestly call “la moyenne montagne” ("medium-size"), and has the particular interest of being recommended in high summer thanks to relatively moderate temperatures. But perhaps the ideal moment to enjoy this unique experience is in early autumn, when the countryside is full of the most vibrant colours, and the mists down in the valley contrast with frequent blue skies up on the plateau.
 

Looking for a shorter escape? Discover our cycling tour The Vercors Natural Park in 4 days

You'll love

  • having a ride on a hired electric-assist bike!
  • the picturesque and even dizzying heights of the roads in the Vercors
  • the welcome cool of the Park in summer
  • the Gorges of the Bourne river

Program : The Vercors Nature Park by bike

  • D1 Arrival at Saint-Paul-lès-Romans

    Things to see:
    the foothills of the Vercors mountain range. The banks of the river Isère.

    Dinner and night at comfortable guesthouse.

  • D2 Around Saint-Paul-lès-Romans

    40km stage with total uphill 560 metres. Around 3hrs.
    A warm-up day through the 'Drôme des Collines' (hills).
    The countryside is of rounded hills which contrast with the stark cliffs of the Vercors over to the East. Try and guess which fault in the rocks will carry the road that takes you up onto the plateau of the Vercors tomorrow?

    Dinner and night in guesthouse.

  • D3 From St-Paul-lès-Romans to Villard de Lans

    50 km stage with total uphill 970 metres. Around 5hrs00.
    Today you set off northwards in parallel with the Vercors mountain range along relatively level terrain.
    Saint Nazaire en Royans, with its remarkable aquaduct, may tempt you with its agreeable little café terraces before the ascension of the plateau.
    You go steadily up the road to Pont en Royans with its famous houses overhanging the river, then climb through the impressive cliff-lined Gorges of the Bourne. Narrow spectacular passages and short tunnels through the rock bring you to the plateau of the Vercors.

    Night in a 3* hotel and free dinner in the heart of the village.

  • D4 Around Villard de Lans

    38 km stage with total uphill 380 metres. About 3hrs.
    Drive through the plains, between authentic hamlets and small country roads. This magnificent ride on the Vercors plateau without any major difficulty will allow you to have a panoramic view of the Alps mountains above you.

    Night in a 3* hotel and free dinner in the heart of the village.

  • D5 From Villard de Lans to La Chapelle en Vercors

    33 km stage with total uphill 610 metres. About 3hrs.
    After leaving Villard de Lans and its plain with a view of the Alps, you will head towards La Chapelle en Vercors along a small road in the undergrowth. Go up to the Col de Bois Barbu to reach the Drôme and its plateau, and enjoy superb views of the Mecca of the Resistance during the Second World War.

    Dinner and night at a hostelry in a restored former farmhouse.

  • D6 Around La Chapelle en Vercors

    36 km stage with total uphill 370 metres. About 3hrs.
    Today's walk is punctuated by many points of interest. The Grotte de la luire and the Draye Blanche to discover the mysteries under the ground, the Museum of Prehistory if you want to know how men lived on the plateau in the past or the Museum and the Memorial of the Resistance if you want to know the history of this real natural fortress and how the maquisards hid themselves on the Vercors plateau during the Second World War.

    Dinner and night at a hostelry in a restored former farmhouse.

  • D7 From La Chapelle en Vercors to Saint Paul les Romans

    50 km stage with total uphill 520 metres. Around 5hrs.
    Before going back down to the plain and joining the Drôme des Collines, enjoy one last moment of the landscapes that surround you. Today, you will pass two passes before leaving for the vertiginous Combe-Laval cirque which will awaken strong sensations in you! Join Saint Jean en Royans then Saint Nazaire en Royans to finish your beautiful adventure in the Vercors.

    Dinner and night at the guesthouse.

  • D8 Departure

    Departure after breakfast.

Tariffs high season

From July to August, departure everyday

In double room

Adult : 925 €
Junior (12 - 17) :  925 €
Baby (0 - 1) : 80 €

In triple room

Adult : 880 €
Junior (12-17) : 880 €
Baby (0 - 1) : 80 €

In single room

1135 €

Solo traveller

1315 €

Tariffs low season

From April to June and from september to october, departure everyday

In double room

Adult :  895 €
Junior (12 - 17) : 895 €
Baby (0 - 1) : 80 €

In triple room

Adult : 850 €
Junior (12-17) : 850 €
Baby (0-1) : 80 €

In single room

1105 €

Solo traveller

1285 €

What's included?

  • 2 nights in bed and breakfast in a 3 star hotel and 5 nights in half board in Guest houses with 2 or 3 "épis" and 2.
  • Detailed road-book and maps.
  • Update GPS tracks.
  • Logistical and technical support.
  • Baggage transport.

Optional

  • Bike rental from :
    • Bike for adult or junior : 120 €
    • Bike cart for child : 70 €
    • Child seat : 10 €
    • Electric power bike rental for adult or junior: 195 €

What's not included?

  • Dinners on days 3 and 4
  • Beverage and extra
  • Return transfer from Home to the first accomodation
  • Facultative cancellation and repatriation insurance

Characteristics of circuits

  • Place-to-place cycling, without accompaniment.
  • Daily stages: 35 - 63 km, between 3 and 6hrs cycling daily at your own pace.
  • Total daily uphill: between 520 and 1190 metres.
  • Altitudes from 150 to 1400 metres.
  • You need to be in good physical shape to enjoy this holiday.
  • Routes generally along narrow tarred roads
  • Suitable for road and trail bikes

Organisation

  • These outings are more about exploration than athletic performance. We transfer your luggage from lodging to lodging, and a roadbook will guide you from beginning to end. We provide the logistical and technical support necessary.
  • On longer holidays you change accommodation every other day, which gives you the chance to better explore your surroundings or simply take your time and relax...
  • Accommodation is in either 2 or 3 "épis" guest houses and hotels chosen for their atmosphere, warm welcome and environmental and architectural setting.
    Holiday includes half board accommodation. Picnics are extra and may be ordered at reservation.

N.B : the accommodation described above is given as an indication and may have to be modified according to availability at the moment when final reservation is confirmed.

Access

By car

Highway A49, exit N°7 La Beaume d’Hostun and then direction St Paul lès Romans via Eymeux.

By air

Lyon St-Exupéry Airport

By train

Romans-Bourg-de-Péage railway station. Then by bus or taxi to the accommodation in St Paul-lès-Romans.

Comments

Global note
4.6

  • Breathtaking scenery, a sporting holiday in a region steeped in history and emotion.

    Translate from french

  • Always very well organized. Safran Tours perfectly knows its job. Excellent quality of bikes.

  • Well organized and after a nice bike tour you are often welcomed in a friendly place to stay at the end of the day !

  • Une belle façon de découvrir le Vercors et ses beautés.

  • Circuler à vélo dans ces paysages magnifiques permet de hûmer les odeurs, de s'arrêter pour parler aux gens rencontrés, de remarquer les fleurs, les papillons, de se hâter ou de ralentir au gré des envies et des lumières. Ce n'est pas une course ou un exploit, c'est juste prendre le temps de vivre et d'apprécier.

  • Une très bonne semaine dans une région magnifique, météo idéale. Rien à redire pour l'intendance.

  • Very beautiful bike rambles with friendlies accommodation. You have to climb but it's well worth it!

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The Vercors Nature Park by bike
I agree to receive newsletters from Safran Tours
The General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR, or RGPD in French - is the new regulation that determines how businesses may handle customers’ computerised personal data. In accordance with the provisions of French legislation, namely Act No. 78-17 of 6th January 1978 as amended variously up to, we inform you that the personal data you provide will be computerized and treated with the utmost confidentiality. Only authorized persons may access your data and this for strictly internal purposes. You have the right to access, correct or delete information about yourself by simply contacting us at reservations@safrantours.com *