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The Vercors Nature Park by bike

Revel in the joys of cycletouring on this fine mountain route
Quotation Book
  • Duration 8 days
  • Activity Biking
  • Holiday among adults
  • Theme mountain
915€

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 Gorges of the Bourne river
  • the Grotte de Choranche (wonderful cave)
  • the picturesque and even dizzying heights of the roads in the Vercors
  • the welcome cool of the Park in summer

Program : The Vercors Nature Park by bike

  • D1 Arrival at Pont en Royans

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

    Dinner and overnight in a 3* hotel by the river.

  • D2 Around Pont en Royans

    44km stage with total uphill 620 metres. Around 4hrs.

    An initial warm-up through the Drôme hills. The terrain is rounded, contrasting with the sheer cliffs of the Vercors to the east. You'll be able to guess at your leisure which fault will allow you to enter the Vercors massif the next day. Between the the walnut trees that adorn the Royans landscape and the Isère river, take time to escape to the rhythm of the water.

    Dinner and overnight in a 3* hotel by the river.
     

  • D3 From Pont en Royans to Villard de Lans

    25 km stage with total uphill 900 metres. Around 3hrs00 (option grotte de Choranche + 5km and uphill +200 metres).

    Today, you leave Pont en Royans and its famous hanging villas behind. Travel up the Bourne river and its winding meanders, carved out by water several thousand years ago and which have shaped these gorges with their spectacular cliffs. The Choranche cave, which you'll pass along the way, is a fascinating example of the wealth of subterranean geology to be found in this part of the Vercors. You will wind your way through an impressive succession of narrow passages and small tunnels that take you to the Vercors plateau.

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

  • 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 with swimming pool in the heart of the village and free dinner.

  • 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 in a 2* hotel in the village

  • 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 in a 2* hotel in the village

  • D7 From La Chapelle en Vercors to Pont en Royans

    57 km stage (or 42km) with total uphill 850 metres. Around 4hrs.

    Before heading back down to the plains to join the Drôme des Collines, take one last moment to enjoy the scenery all around you. Today, you'll pass two Cols before setting off for the vertiginous Combe-Laval cirque, which is sure to give you a thrill! Return to Saint Jean en Royans and then Saint Eulalie en Royans to finish your adventure in the Vercors.

    Dinner and overnight in a 3* hotel by the river.

  • D8 Departure

    Departure after breakfast.

Tariffs high season

From July to August, departure everyday

In double room

Adult : 955 €
Junior (12 - 17) :  955 €
Baby (0 - 1) : 80 €

In triple room

Adult : 905 €
Junior (12-17) : 905 €
Baby (0 - 1) : 80 €

In single room

1175 €

Solo traveller

1355 €

Tariffs low season

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

In double room

Adult :  915 €
Junior (12 - 17) : 915 €
Baby (0 - 1) : 80 €

In triple room

Adult : 870 €
Junior (12-17) : 870 €
Baby (0-1) : 80 €

In single room

1135 €

Solo traveller

1315 €

What's included?

  • 5 nights in half board in 2* and 3* hotels
  • 2 nights in bed and breakfast in a 3 star hotel with simming pool
  • Detailed road-book and maps.
  • Update GPS tracks.
  • Logistical and technical support.
  • Baggage transport.

Optional

  • Bike rental from :
    • Bike for adult or junior : 135 €
    • 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: 30 - 57 km, between 3 and 4hrs cycling daily at your own pace.
  • Total daily uphill: between 530 and 900 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°8 Saint Nazaire en Royans then Grenoble (D532) and Pont en Royans (D531 and D518).

By air

Lyon St-Exupéry Airport

By train

Romans-Bourg-de-Péage railway station. Then by bus or taxi to the accommodation in Pont en Royans.

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 *