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A bike vacation with other gay cyclists offers the perfect way to explore France: from walls of golden stone to the blue waters of a secluded lake.
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Few regions in the world offer such a diversity of natural scenery, fine cuisine, and history as does the ancient kingdom of Burgundy. Join a small, friendly gay group to bike through a slice of history.
We begin in Beaune, a town dating back to the Caesars. Here, under the arched stone ceiling of a long cellar, sample some of Burgundy's world-famous wines.
The next day, we bike through vineyards to the wine village of Pommard and an unexpected stop: a stone dolmen (dwelling) dating from the dawn of history, on an out-of-the-way road. Burgundy is filled with such reminders of its long past, many of which don't appear in guidebooks. Finding such spots is part of what makes this trip an adventure.
In the afternoon, we bike out of a forest to see another historic sight ahead: the feudal castle at Chateauneuf, rising among the cow-filled pastures.
Another day's biking brings us to the fortified town of Semur-en-Auxois. Perched high on a bend in the Armancon river, this medieval site seems frozen in time. Inside the town walls, cobblestone streets are still lined with tiny bakeries and butcher shops. Burgundy is synonymous with fine red wine, but this evening, as an orange sun sets over the valley, we'll sit outdoors to sample the white wines of the region as well.
And so the week continues, an invigorating mix of quiet biking roads, villages lost in history, time-outs for hiking and skinny-dipping, encounters with the people of Burgundy, and of course, the food and wine for which Burgundy is known.
Burgundy would be magical under any circumstances. As you'll discover, the magic is even greater in the company of a lively gay group..
- Roam Beaune's sprawling Hotel Dieu, a masterpiece of Flemish architecture and the site of a world-famous wine auction.
- Follow a quiet, tree-lined trail alongside the locks and barges of the Burgundy Canal.
- Step over the Seine River, near its source in the heart of the Bourgognian forest.
- Discover the gastronomic delights of a region known for its cheeses, wines, sausages, wild mushrooms, and creative chefs.
- Visit the haunting ruins of the 13th-century Abbey of Ste. Marguerite, and the beautifully restored grounds of the abbeys at Fontenay and Bussiere.
- Pedal through a quiet village, onto a solitary forest road, then emerge from the trees to see the feudal castle of Chateauneuf looming ahead beyond the pastures.
- Explore the old streets of medieval Semur-en-Auxois, perched high over a loop on the Armancon river.
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The terrain on this trip is as varied as it is colorful. Our biking days range from 25 to 40 miles, on roads that range from flat to rolling, with several hills on one otherwise short day. To fully enjoy this trip, you should be able to comfortably bike 35 miles over rolling countryside.
"Had a great time! Wonderful group, beautiful scenery, great food and wine."— Jerry Penso, Encinitas, Calif.
"A fantasy trip come true with a group of people who I hope to travel with again."— Susan Rogers, New York, N.Y.
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We don't offer every trip every year, and no departures are currently scheduled for this trip. Our home page will make it easy to locate forthcoming departures of interest.
Prices are per-person, based on double occupancy. Tours often fill up months before departure. We regularly update our travel schedule to show the status of this and other trips.
So are most of the people who travel with us. You do not need to pay extra to travel by yourself. Prices are per-person, and the single supplement applies only if you'd like a room by yourself. For selected trips, including cruises, we will charge half the single supplement if you request a roommate but we can't match you with someone.
Begins and ends in Beaune, just south of Dijon, France.
Comfortable hotels each night;
Services of two tour guides;
All breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 4 dinners with wine included;
Transportation to get luggage (and tired riders!) to destination;
Use of bike;
Two wine-tastings;
Map, guidebook, and routes.
Transportation to and from starting location;
3 lunches; 3 dinners;
Souvenirs, snacks, admissions
Gratuities for guides.
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