Cycle London to Paris

Introduction

This trip takes you between two most iconic capital cities in the world, and between two of the most famous points: Tower Bridge in London, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. On top of that, you'll visit four of the finest cathedral towns in Northern Europe: Canterbury, Abbeville, Amiens, and Beauvais. On your day in Paris, you could round it off with a visit to Notre Dame. This trip is done over four days, varying between 50-70 miles cycling. Our route gives you a shorter first day to break yourself in, and a chance to actually enjoy the ferry ride, rather than doing it at the end of a long day in the saddle.

This is a true personal challenge: to complete a trip from London to Paris in four days of cycling. Day two is longer, but you'll have a break during the ferry ride, and the going's not as flat as many people think. On a bike you feel the wind in your face, and get a real chance to explore some beautiful corners of England and France on the way. Once out of London, you pass through one of the harder sections of the route, as you go through Kent and the North Downs. The countryside is verdant, and remarkably much as it was in past centuries.

From Boulogne, you'll pass down near the coast of Picardy. History will surround you on this ride - a stark reminder of the importance of these lands and of the wars that have been fought there. You'll pass by battlefields from the Hundred Years' War, see First World War cemeteries, and get a taste of the Second World War Siege of Amiens. You'll also pass the spectacular Gothic cathedrals of Abbeville, Amiens, and Beauvais, with their extraordinary white limestone construction, full of tracery and flying buttresses. You'll stay one night each in Canterbury, Abbeville, Beauvais, and Paris. In Paris, you'll have a day to soak up the atmosphere of one of the most romantic cities in the world: its restaurants, cafés, museums, and nightlife.

Credit Banner Image: Remy Sharp via Flickr

Difficulty: Challenging

Duration: long weekend

Quick Facts

Professional cycle guiding

Reasonable distances on cycling days: 80-110km (50-70 miles)

Five day event

Hotel accommodation for four nights

Includes one night and a day in Paris

Typical Itinerary

We normally run this trip over a weekend, Wednesday to Sunday, however if you would like to do this at any other time, including midweek, then please contact us.

A typical itinerary looks like this:

Day	Activity
1	A shorter day to start with. Ride from Tower Bridge to Canterbury. Overnight in Hotel. About 65 miles
2	Breakfast. Ride along small roads from Canterbury to Dover. Take Ferry to Boulogne. Cycle down near to the Normandy coast, passing the battlefield of Crècy and on down to Abbeville. Stay in Abbeville. About 72 miles of riding this day, with a break for the ferry.
3	Set off from Abbeville, pass through Amiens, and continue on from Picardy into Île de France and Beauvais. Stay in Beauvais.
4	An easier day to finish, just over 50 miles. Cycle from Beauvais into Paris. Finish at the Eiffel Tower
5	Day in Paris: yours to do as you like. End of event. Travel back to London.

Please note: This itinerary is a guide only. It can be subject to change dependent upon viability, course members' fitness, weather conditions, hut availability or for any other reason the guide may deem necessary.

Course Requirements

The tour is suitable for most people. To do this trip you need to have a certain level of fitness. The cycling days will cover 50-70 miles and will take around 7-8 hours. There are a few significant hills on the route, particularly on the first day. You should be able to ride several hours a day whilst carrying day kit.

We recommend that you follow a fitness plan in preparation for your challenge, an example of one will be sent to you when you have confirmed your booking.

Although the fitness plan we will send to you has been devised by a fitness professional, this is only provided as a guide and you should seek professional advice before starting your own fitness regime.

Dates - 2012

Weather conditions permit us to run this course anytime from April to October.

Any number (one upwards) can join an open trip, or for 8 or more booking we will run a bespoke trip on dates of your request.

18-22 April	Good availability	Book now
9-13 May	Good availability	Book now
27 June -1 July	Good availability	Book now
29 June - 1 July	Exclusive Event
25-29 July	Good availability	Book now
29 Aug-2 Sept	Good availability	Book now
12-16 September	Good availability	Book now

We have availability throughout the year for bespoke trips. please contact us for more details.

If the date you want is fully booked or not listed please contact us - we may still be able to help!

For 1-7 people on a trip we will advertise the trip here and upon meeting minimum numbers confirm the trip.

For 8-9 people on a trip we will advertise the trip here as a confirmed trip and reserve the right to add additional people on to it.

For 10+ people on a trip we will run an exclusive trip.

All requested dates are unconfirmed until minimum numbers have been booked.

Dates - 2013