France - Montargis to Paris Bicycle Tour 2021 Guided and Self-Guided 8 days / 7 nights

Cycling on quiet roads and through a rolling landscape, this tour blends history, poetry, and natural beauty. We find traces of the Gallo-Roman era and the famous Château Fontainbleu, as we follow the steps of Joan d’Arc through the beautiful countryside that inspired the impressionists’ painters. A land of forests, legends, medieval castles and flower filled canals in a voyage leading to Paris. This area is famous for its easy pace of life, a mild climate and its friendliness. It has a rich history and is well-known for excellent its cider and cheeses. We will explore historic towns, castles and villages and you’ll enjoy excellent food and wines both on board and in cozy towns along the way.

OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. - 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 – Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 www.okcycletours.com Toll Free 1-888-621-6818 Local 613-702-5350

Itinerary Day to Day

Day 1: Montargis Meeting point at 5 p.m. in Montargis where we will stay for two nights. Upon your arrival enjoy a welcome speech and drink as you are briefed on the upcoming week. In the evening you can visit the town.

Day 2: Montargis 45 km Montargis, with its 15,000 inhabitants, is the biggest town of the after Orléans. This former royal residence was destroyed by fire in the 16th century but its beautiful flower decorated canals still remain. Our Sunday round bike tour start and ends here. Following the river L’ we cycle to Château-Renard, where you can visit the ruins of the castle dating from the 10th century, the house of Joan d’Arc and the Apiculture’s Living Museum. There you can see beekeepers and their bees at work, and you’ll be able to sample their delicious honey.

Day 3: Montargis – Néronville 45 km Today’s route starts through a large forest with old oaks and beeches on the outskirts of Montargis. Further on our ride to the north, the medieval town of Ferrière en Gâtinais, here we visit the hamlet and the abbey.

Day 4: Ferrière en Gâtinais – Nemours 40 km We cycle to Château Landon, a beautifully situated fortified town on a rock with its old Abbey of St. Severin dating back to the 13th century. Nearby several Gallo-Roman traces can be found (Caesar occupied Gaul, now , between 58 and 52 BC.). Along nice country roads and crossing the magnificent forest we arrive to the town of Nemours. Here you may visit the castle or the prehistoric museum of the Ile-de-France region.

OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. - 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 – Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 www.okcycletours.com Toll Free 1-888-621-6818 Local 613-702-5350

Day 5: Nemours – Moret-sur- 45 km The Loing is the narrow river, which gives its name to the parallel canal. On our way to there we will see some famous rock formations in the area. In the valley of the Loing a guided visit to a cheese factory and tasting. We stay overnight in Moret-sur-Loing, a charming medieval fortified town, strategically situated on the banks of the Loing, where painter Sisley found inspiration for his beautiful impressionist paintings.

Day 6: Moret-sur-Loing – Melun 25 km Today we cycle through the wonderful forests of Fontainebleau. Our first destination is the city of Fontainebleau, with its palace, favorite among the French kings, because of its hunting grounds and the surrounding forests. In the castle itself, there is a museum dedicated to Napoleon. After this, continue your tour to the artistic village of Barbizon where, in the first half of the 19th century, a group of landscape painters formed the ‘school of Barbizon’. Our final destination today is Melun, a town known as ‘le domaine des reines blanches’, because in former years it used to be the domain of the widows of the French kings.

Day 7: Melun – Paris 35 km From Melun we visit the Castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte, another fine example of French castle that escaped his garden in its own style. Through small streets and villages, biking across enchanted forest we approach the big city. Sailing into Paris is the best and most pleasant way to close our bike journey. A stroll in the city is a must! The Feniks is moored in the Port d’Arsenal, not far from Nôtre Dame.

Day 8: Paris After breakfast end of services

OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. - 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 – Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 www.okcycletours.com Toll Free 1-888-621-6818 Local 613-702-5350

Route

Technical Characteristics: Route Profile: Easy. The average distance is 25 km a day. The route follows asphalted secondary roads and here and there field paths. There are some hilly stretches which you can also walk. You will ride through forest landscapes, following rivers and canals with their many locks and (former) lock-keepers houses.

Distance: 235 km

Travel Season: Self-Guided: Saturdays March 20 to October 23

Guided Departures: July 3; July 10; July 78; August 7; August 14 and August 21, 2021

OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. - 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 – Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 www.okcycletours.com Toll Free 1-888-621-6818 Local 613-702-5350

Price per Person: Double Occupancy Self guided € 1080.00 Double Occupancy guided € 1745.00 Bike Rental € 154.00 E-Bike Rental € 294.00 Single Room Supp € 315.00 Half board (Guided only) € 266.00 Solo traveler (Guided only) € 256.00

Included:

• Accommodation in good 3* hotels • 7 x breakfast • 6 dinners (drinks not included) • One multilingual speaking tour leader on bike • Tourist information and informative material • Technical assistance • Luggage transport

Not included:

• Travel to/from the start/end of the tour • Drinks • Entrance fees to museums • Taxes and fees • Anything not specified in the entry “The price per person includes”

Bikes

Ladies Bike

Men’s Bike

Assisting people in realizing their touring dreams worldwide is our passion. www.okcycletours.com

THIS IS A PARTNER TOUR FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 – Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 Toll Free 1-888-621-6818 Local 613-702-5350 TICO Ontario Registration No: 50022848