Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrive in Strasbourg. This city has easy rail access from Paris with the newly opened TGV line. Rail access from Frankfurt is also possible. Transfer from Strasbourg to Andlau. Orientation at 6pm at the hotel. Overnight in Andlau. To visit in Barr (2km): Historical center with cobbled streets and half-timbered houses; or Carved stone porches and courtyards with their wooden galleries, and the Romanesque tower of Saint Martin's church. Superior 3 star hotel with dinner included. (D)

Day 2 | Start your tour by riding around Barr. Discover the many
castles and vineyards in the surroundings. Cycle on to the Mont Saint Odile with a monastery/convent at its top. Return to your hotel and overnight. Distance: 39 km with some hills. Return to same hotel, dinner included. (B,D)
To visit: Mont Saint Odile monastery: during the Merovingian periods, Saint Odile, daughter of the Duke Adalric, founded a monastery here, which flourished. In the Middle Ages, the monastery was destroyed, then rebuilt by Herrade of Landsberg.

Day 3 | Barr to Riquewihr: Today you will cycle to Riquewihr, a medieval town right in the heart of the Alsatian vineyards, classified among the «Most Beautiful Villages in France». For centuries this magnificent town has managed to combine the quality of its architecture with the quality of its world-famous wines, from where it gets its nickname «The Gem of the Alsace Vineyards». Nice 3 star hotel in the old town, dinner on your own. Cycling 48 km. (B)

Day 4 | Loop tour around Riquewihr: You can either take a day off or do a loop tour to discover the surrounding region of Riquewihr. Today's itinerary includes one of France's most visited site: Château du Haut Koenigsburg. You will first cycle to Ribeauville, where you can spend some time discovering the many sites of this charming town. Then, you'll head to the castle, on top of which you have a breathtaking view over the Alsacian plains. Return to your hotel and dinner on your own. (B)

Day 5 | Riquewihr-Munster
Ride from Riquewihr to Munster, famous for its cheese! Legend has it that it was invented by the monks of the Benedictine Abbey of Munster (the Monastery). This cheese was one of the contributions that farmers had to provide to the Munster convent or to other lords of the land. On your way to Munster, you will stop in Kayserberg, a former imperial town. The village boasts an impressive range of architectural heritage sites with its ancient houses, its castle ruins, its fortified bridge and its church. You will spend the night in a charming 3* hotel, dinner included. Distance: 37 km. (B,D)

Day 6 | Munster to Colmar: Ride to Colmar via Turckheim. Turckheim is a former fortified town. You can still see the remparts, which are exceptionnally well preserved. The village also has several half-timbered houses, typical of the region. You will then reach Colmar, home town of sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi (best known for the Statue of Liberty). The well-preserved old city center houses several, sometimes large-scale buildings in German Gothic and early Renaissance style, as well as a number of old churches, among which the collégiale Saint-Martin (13th-16th century) is the largest and most noteworthy. You spend the night in a charming 3* hotel in the center of the city. Dinner on your own. Distance: 35 km. (B)

Day 7 | Departure Day;You have easy rail access from Colmar to Strasbourg, from where you can catch a train back to Paris or Frankfurt. (B)

Details

The trip includes: [Virtual Hotel Tour] 3 star superior hotels of charm with private shower and bathroom, 3 gourmet dinners and breakfast daily, baggage transfer from hotel to hotel, orientation upon arrival, detailed guide maps and cue sheets, tourist information, and local technical and emergency support. We also offer travel planning to add Paris hotels, car rentals, France hotels, trains, airport transfers, and more. Hotels can be upgraded to 3 star or 4 star for supplemental rates.

Bike Rentals: [Click for image] 105 euros
105 euros: Scott Sportster P3 hybrids; see link for full details and picture. Helmets and add on materials included.

Scott Sporters P3 hybrid rentals - brand new - AGAIN - and the best rental bike available in the region for 2008, certainly so for self-guided travelers!

Additional Night Strasbourg/Colmar: please contact us for a quote

You are important to us; so we make you thoroughly prepared and include:
Pre-trip travel documents: you will receive extensive information as a customer prior to your departure. Upon confirmation we will send you some general information about preparations including passport info, training tips, and reading lists. As a customer you can also Purchase product from Hammer Nutrition, get 2 FREE issues to Velo News, and much more!

Upon final payment, we will send to you a complete list of documentation by email including Hotel List, contact numbers, itineraries, sites to see and information about sites and culture of the region. We include road signs, packing lists, travel tips, language phrases, holiday info, tour details, culture and customs tips, and much, much more!

Optional Services:
Travel insurance, Paris museum & metro passes, Paris day tours, Lido shows, and other services. Cell phone rental and luggage storage services. Note: prices subject to change based upon currency fluctuations. See Booking Terms and Conditions.