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Alsace Bike Tour

Road Cycling in France with DuVine Adventures

Highlights

  • DuVine's trip leaders take you far beyond regular travel experiences to show you the real country
  • Top of the line bicycles ride like a dream and are tailored to your needs
  • Stay at the best hotels, indulge in gourmet cuisine and taste world-class wines

Full Description

Our Alsace bike tour has it all.

Do you love visiting castles? Alsace boasts Europe's highest concentration of feudal castles, bearing witness to its turbulent history. Without a doubt the most famous of these is the Haut Koenigsbourg castle that happens to be right along the route on our bicycle tour. And a long ride just wouldn't be complete without a tasty meal at an Alsatian inn, including a valley pie together with a green salad, Munster cheese, fromage blanc tart, bilberry or apple pie. And Sundays would be bland and boring without baeckeoffe (vegetable and meat stew) or traditional Alsatian-style choucroute (sauerkraut).Several gastronomic trails invite you to discover this rich culinary heritage. 

Due to their tumultuous past, Alsatians are extremely proud to be French and take great offense in being mistaken for Germans. You will see more French flags on the streets here than in any other inland French city.  The Alsatian Vineyard Route is a veritable rite-of-passage for the discerning wine buff, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to taste the Alsatians’ craft throughout the week on your cycling vacation.  Come and stay in charming inns, discover the beauty of the sloping vineyards, visit many historical villages and monuments that have been the heart of many border feuds.

Includes:

  • All accommodations in deluxe hotels, charming country lodges and manors
  • All accommodations provide the finest rooms with luxuries such as deluxe baths, gardens, and pools
  • Aluminum hybrid bicycle, handlebar bag, rear carrier rack, lock, patch kit with spare tube, pump, lock
  • DuVine water bottle, toe straps option
  • A review with your guide each morning at breakfast to go over the day’s exciting route
  • Highlighted regional maps with background on each sight and plenty of options to try along the way
  • All entrance fees to historic sites, museums and parks, and all other exclusive-access events featuring guest experts
  • Support vehicle that sweeps the day's route distributing refreshments, picking up your purchases, and offering lifts to the hotel.
  • All gourmet breakfasts, two lunches, four gourmet dinners with wine
  • Bilingual guides who look after your every little need
  • All transportation from rendezvous to final drop-off
  • All gratuities for baggage, porters, and hotel service
  • All baggage transport
  • Exceptional customer service
  • DuVine Adventures t-shirt, water bottle, luggage tag

 

Excludes:

  • Airfare to/from the departure point
  • Gratuities to local guides

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1

Les Vosges-Your guides will greet you in the train station in Mulhouse to transfer you to Jungholtz, the starting point of your DuVine adventure, nestled in the foothills of the Vosges Mountains. After a delicious welcome of Alsatian cremant-a sparkler that can put more than a few champagnes to shame–and a bike fitting, you'll roll down to the town of Guebwiller for a tasting and a visit to the Abbeye de Murbach, founded in 727. Afterwards, you'll meander back to your hotel to relax in the pool, or maybe melt under the hands of a trained masseuse. In the evening, you'll dine at a winstub, a restaurant that serves traditional Alsatian cuisine like choucroute or coq au vin with Riesling. Meal: Dinner. Destinations visited: Jungholtz, Guebwiller. Distance cycled: 19 km/12 miles.

Day 2

Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Oh My!-Say goodbye to your forested sanctuary because it's out into the vines! You'll pass through the towns of Orschwihr, Bergholtzzell, Soultzmatt- if you can't pronounce the names; you'll still be able to enjoy their wines! You've probably heard the word terroir; after this morning's tasting you'll know exactly what a difference it makes. Enjoy lunch with the locals in the town of Soultzmatt. A climb into the wooded foothills of the Vosges will get you ready for an exhilarating descent. Our final miles will wind at the base of the foothills until we reach our next home away from home, Le Chambard in Kaysersberg. Take a swim, stroll the town or simply enjoy the view; but be prepared for dinner, a feast created by Olivier Nasti, France's best chef of 2007! Meal: Breakfast/Dinner. Destinations visited: Orschwihr, Bergholtzzell, Soultzmatt, Kayersberg. Distance cycled: 48 km/30 miles

Day 3

In and around Colmar-A bracing morning ride finds you in the hill-top town of Les Trois-Epis. From this medieval pilgrimage site, you'll descend into the earthly, vinous pleasures of Niedermorschwihr. Your palate, having distinguished the smokiness of a pinot gris from the gunflint of a grand cru Riesling, might desire some more solid foods, so pause for a delicious meal at a rustic table in Ammerschwihr. Even on a full stomach, it's not far to your hotel. The afternoon and evening are yours, relax at Le Chambard or your guides will drive you to Colmar for shopping and dinner in this historic town, a Unesco World Heritage site. Meal: Breakfast/Lunch. Destinations visited: Les Trois-Epis, Niedermorschwihr, Ammerschwihr, Colmar. Distance cycled: 48 km/30 miles

Day 4

The Queen Stage-Departing from Le Chambard, you'll make you way through Grand Cru vineyards on quiet lanes, passing the picturesque villages of Riquewihr and Hunawihr. Fortify yourself in the wine center of Ribeauvillé, munching a freshly baked bretzel accompanied by a glass of unassuming sylvaner. Then, you return to the quiet roads of a forest that only opens to reveal breathtaking views and quiet villages. Your end point is Haut-Koenigsbourg, a castle first mentioned in 1147, its commanding view will leave you speechless. Take a tour of this fortress and then we’ll drive you and your bikes to Ottrott and the wonderful Hostellerie et Chateau. Meal: Breakfast/Dinner. Destinations visited: Riquewihr, Hunawihr, Ribeauvillé, Kintzwiller, Ottrott Distance cycled: 48 km/30 miles.

Day 5

The Capital of Europe-Say goodbye to the countryside today, enjoy one more tasting and a gentle ride across the Rhine Valley and enter the heart of Europe, Strasbourg. Home of the European Parliament, birthplace of “La Marseillaise,” and a 2000-year-old crossroads of culture, Strasbourg will open its arms for us. Enjoy a Raphael or Botticelli at the Musée de Beaux-Arts or a simple cafe in the shadow of Strasbourg's Cathedral for a few hours before we gather together for one last amazing feast. Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner. Destinations visited: Strasbourg Distance cycled: TBD.

Day 6

Stroll the quiet streets of medieval Strasbourg to watch sunlight reveal a statue's smile, or awaken later for a relaxed breakfast. Your guides will see you to the train station as you head to your next destination. New friends, new achievements, new wines, new stories, just a few of your new memories after visiting the Alsace with DuVine Adventures!

About The Operator:

DuVine Adventures

Headquarters:

Somerville, MA

Each season over 25% of our guests are repeat DuVine Travelers. It is an honor to be selected as the bike tour operator of choice by seasoned and experienced travelers like you. Everything we do-from selecting the most beautiful destinations, to providing the high level of hospitality you crave-results in a truly outstanding travel experience. With DuVine you'll bike though beautiful landscapes at your own pace, indulge in gourmet regional cuisine, sample world-class wines, and rest in charming luxury hotels. Bike, eat, drink and sleep, while our guides handle every detail, so all you have to do is enjoy your vacation DuVine style.

Exceeding Expectations

At DuVine, we have a keen eye for detail. But we aren't the type of people to settle for basics. Our guests are special, and we pride ourselves on pampering our travelers each and every day. Over the years, DuVine Adventures has forged relationships with local innkeepers and restaurateurs in the regions we travel. Our friends, the vintners, chocolate makers, and colorful locals, love to share their stories and knowledge with DuVine travelers.

Experienced and Friendly Guides

We are particularly proud of our guides whose outstanding knowledge and efforts allow us to provide first-rate adventures. Your two dedicated DuVine guides will tirelessly work to make sure your experience is nothing short of exceptional.

Our guides are seasoned travelers who are fluent in the local language and customs and experts in wine, cuisine, art, and history. If you need help reading your menu, simply ask your guide. Want to know the best place to get gifts for family back home? Our guides can advise.

Our DuVine guides will anticipate your every need on and off the bike. They will
clean your bike, offer you a fresh towel or give you cool water before you even realize you're thirsty. Don't be surprised if you see one of your guides zipping off to orchestrate a gourmet picnic in the vineyard.

Our guides are passionate about creating whimsical memories. They love to see you smile and will ensure that you are totally satisfied! Their goal is to deliver the vacation of a lifetime, which is always DuVine!

Van Support

All guided tours are fully supported by a van that sweeps the day's route. As you bike along, our support vehicle is never far off to collect your purchases, distribute refreshments or offer a ride back to the hotel.

Bikes Included

Get ready to roll as DuVine includes bikes on all of its trips. We supply top-of-the-line hybrid bicycles with just the right combination of features. Our unique handlebar bag is the perfect size to hold a sweater, wallet, camera, and other personal items. Our bikes come in five sizes for a superior fit and ultimate riding confidence and comfort. All have light aluminum frames, a wide gear range with easy shifting, and comfortable saddles for effortless riding. If you prefer your own trusty steed, feel free to bring it along.

Wine Included with Dinner

DuVine Adventures is proud of the itinerary upgrades we make each season, which are always based upon the feedback of our guests. We include savory local wines with all dinners to provide maximum enjoyment at each meal.