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Find your tourLevel 1: easy tours, very flat terrain
The duration of the tour
Guided cycling: A tour leader will guide you during the cycling days
There is a very good reason why Northern Burgundy is referred to as “The Land of Good Living”, and if nothing else, once you complete this memorable boat and barge tour, we hope you understand why. If you’ve never seen Northern Burgundy you are in for a sensual overload of beautiful countryside, ancient medieval villages, serene, meandering rivers and of course, some of the best wines, cheeses and ciders the world you will have ever tasted! Burgundy is known throughout the world for its laid-back pace of life, friendliness and mild climate. Both the cultural experiences of visiting wonders such as the gothic cathedral of Sens or the cities of art and culture of Auxerre and Joigny, and the biking itself which alternates between easy …
Monday to Friday
Amsterdam: 08:30 to 22:00
New York: 6:00AM to 7:00PM
There is a very good reason why Northern Burgundy is referred to as “The Land of Good Living”, and if nothing else, once you complete this memorable boat and barge tour, we hope you understand why.
If you’ve never seen Northern Burgundy you are in for a sensual overload of beautiful countryside, ancient medieval villages, serene, meandering rivers and of course, some of the best wines, cheeses and ciders the world you will have ever tasted!
Burgundy is known throughout the world for its laid-back pace of life, friendliness and mild climate. Both the cultural experiences of visiting wonders such as the gothic cathedral of Sens or the cities of art and culture of Auxerre and Joigny, and the biking itself which alternates between easy stretches of free-wheeling alongside the river Yonne and more challenging uphill sections that lead to spectacular views, will leave you feeling enriched, enlightened and recharged.
The ship – Your sailing hotel
In between cycling excursions, you cruise along with the ship, which travels to a new destination every day. You dine, sleep and eat breakfast on board. You’ll receive a packed lunch every day, and you can usually choose between a longer or shorter bike ride. It’s also possible to spend a day on board if you like. E-bikes are available for rent, this tour will be offered as an E-bike only tour.
Fully Guided
Accompanied by a competent, professional and multilingual tour leader, you and the group will visit interesting sights and places on the daily cycling tours. During the bike tour, they will explain the local history and culture behind the things you encounter along the way. You can also choose to ride individually with the help of the Ride with GPS app and our BBT cycling map (available on board).
Our epic tour of Burgundy begins with embarkation and check-in at 2pm. Your captain, crew and tour leader will give you a warm welcome followed by a bike fitting. After a delicious dinner onboard, there is ample time to take a starlit stroll through the beautiful river town of Auxerre with her majestic church spires, streets lined with 16th century timber houses and cathedral of Saint-Etienne, a true masterpiece of Gothic art.
Today you have the option to either stay, relax and take in more of the sights of Auxerre, or begin your cycling adventure with your guide leading you along the Yonne river en route to “Caves be Bailly”. This vineyard is famous for its sparkling Cremant de Bourgogne and limestone caves. The nearby vineyards of St Bris and Irancy are also well worth a visit, as are the paintings of George Hosotte in the Chapelle de Bailly.
Today we strike out north, cycling through the Yonne river valley toward Joigny. If you choose the longer cycling route, you’ll get to see the charming countryside of Brienon-sur Armencon. The shorter option will follow the beautiful river Yonne. In Migennes where the Burgundy canal crosses the river Yonne and where you’ll rejoin your ship for a relaxed afternoon sail to Joigny, a picturesque little town that has a long and storied wine history as well as several historical monuments, ancient churches and townhouses with carved renaissance facades from the 16th and 17th centuries.
What better way to start the day than with a loop through the local vineyards for a tasting of some of Burgundy’s authentic local wines? You’ll return to Joigny for lunch, after which you get back in the saddle for an afternoon ride to the town of Saint-Julien-du-Sault where you can visit the 13th century Saint-Pierre church with its magnificent stained-glass windows. We dock for the night in the lovely, lesser-known French town of Villeneuve where you are free to explore the medieval gate towers and romantic string of gardens as the sun sets over the countryside.
Day five also offers two cycling options – the short option follows the river Yonne, while the longer option takes you into the hills for a rewarding taste of the fine cider produced at the museum ‘de Pomme et de cidre’. Our next stop is Sens, one of the oldest towns in France. The Cathedral of St. Etienne is the first of the great Gothic cathedrals in France and served as an inspiration for many other buildings (guided tour on the next day). There will be plenty of time to shop, stroll through the marketplace or wander around town to acquaint yourself with the many restaurants Sens has to offer as today there is no dinner onboard.
Before we start cycling we will spent some time in Sens. Here you’ll visit the first of the greater gothic cathedrals in France, Cathedral Saint-Etienne with a local guide. If you decide to brave the longer cycle route, it leads through the beautiful valley of the Oreuse. However, the shorter option affords you more time to explore Sens at your leisure before you cycle through to Pont-sur-Yonne, a charming riverside town.
On our final day’s biking, you’ll venture away from the river for a ride through a forest. The final stretch brings us to Moret-sur-Loing, a quaint medieval town known for its simple charm. The famous painter Sisley once found inspiration here. Explore its historic streets and the 12th-century Church of Notre-Dame – a pleasant ending to our cycling journey.
You bid your captain, crew, tour guide and fellow passengers a fond farewell as we enjoy one last breakfast together while disembarkation continues until 9:30am.
The first day of your tour begins with embarkation and check-in at 2 p.m. After a warm welcome by the captain, crew and tour leader, you’ll be fitted with a bike for the tour. Dinner will be served onboard, after which you can enjoy a moonlit stroll through Moret-sur-Loing, a charming medieval fortified town, situated on the banks of the Loing, where the painter Sisley found inspiration for his beautiful impressionist paintings.
Day two begins with a leisurely breakfast while sailing to the town of Montereau-fault-Yonne, situated at the confluence of the Yonne and the Seine rivers. In Montereau you’ll have an opportunity to take a look at the Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Loup collegiate church. Built between the 12th and 14th centuries, this church has been officially classified as a Historic Monument.
From Montereau you will bike to Montmachoux. Destination for today is Pont-sur-Yonne, a quaint, friendly town where we will dock for the night.
Today you have the option to follow the river valley to the town of Sens or take a longer ride into the countryside. Sens is one of the oldest towns in France, here you’ll visit the first of the greater gothic cathedrals in France, Cathedral Saint-Etienne. There will be plenty of time afterward to shop, stroll through the marketplace or wander around town.
Near the town you’ll find the 10-hectare Parc du moulin a Tan, through which the Vanne and the Lingue run. The Parc du moulin a Tan is a precursor of the town’s project for a green belt, which should ultimately go right around Sens. It’s named after an obscure type of mill that dates back to 1887 and was used to grind oak bark to make tanbark, a powder used in leather tanning. The Parc du moulin a Tan includes a rose garden, an animal enclosure, an arboretum, and a playground. Today there is no dinner on board, so you are free to choose one of the local restaurants for dinner.
Once more, your day begins with two cycling options. The shorter one stays closer to the river, where the longer one takes you through the hills to the museum ‘de Pomme et de cidre’ where you’ll be rewarded with a taste of the fine cider they produce here. We dock for the night in the lovely, lesser-known French town of Villeneuve where you are free to explore the medieval gate towers and romantic string of gardens as the sun sets over the countryside.
Today you’ll start the morning with a beautiful bike tour along the river to the town of Saint-Julien-du-Sault where you can visit the 13th century Saint-Pierre church with its magnificent stained-glass windows. You’ll then continue to Joigny where you’ll follow a lazy loop through the local vineyards in the afternoon sunshine. Then (one of the highlights of the tour for wine-lovers!) the tour leader will will take you for a tasting of some authentic local Burgundy wines.
Joigny, a picturesque little town with a very long and successful wine history, has several sights worth visiting, including numerous historical monuments, unique townhouses from the 16th-17th centuries, with carved renaissance facades, and ancient churches.
Another leisurely breakfast aboard as we sail to Migennes at the junction of the Burgundy canal, once a center of shipping industry. You’ll hop back on your bike at Migennes to follow the beautiful river Yonne again while you head south to Auxerre with her majestic church spires, streets lined with 16th century timber houses and cathedral of Saint-Etienne, a true masterpiece of Gothic art. You can also stroll along the old port or visit the 15th century clock tower.
On day seven of your tour, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding how to spend your day. If you’d like to spend a lazy day strolling around Auxerre, feel free to enjoy this beautiful city however you choose!
If you’re itching to get back in the saddle, then explore the area of Auxerre together with your guide. Cycle along the Yonne to visit ‘Caves be Bailly’, a vineyard is famous for its sparkling Cremant de Bourgogne and limestone caves. The nearby vineyards of St Bris and Irancy are also well worth a visit, as are the paintings of George Hosotte in the Chapelle de Bailly.
The final day of this memorable trip begins with a farewell breakfast onboard after which disembarkation continues until 9:30am.
The rental bikes on our ships are unisex bicycles with a low bar and a comfortable upright sitting position. These are stable and dependable bikes, good for miles in the saddle. Decide which kind of bike you want to rent and simply fill in your preference with your reservation. We’ll make sure you get the right bike for you. On most of our tours, the bike rental cost is not included in the tour’s price.
Every Boat Bike Tour rental bike is well equipped. The bikes consist of a lightweight aluminum frame and have highly-responsive handbrakes, at least seven speeds, an adjustable gel seat, normal flat pedals (no clips), an easy-to-use lock attached to the frame, and special puncture-resistant tires. All told, this is a light, stable and reliable bike, very suitable for touring long distances pleasantly.
Our e-bikes also have at least seven speeds and handbrakes. The motor runs on a 400Wh battery and offers three levels of power-assistance. The e-bikes include comfortable gel seats that can be adjusted for height, have a lock attached to the frame, and sport anti-puncture tires. Note that some of the ships have their own bikes on board. They may look a bit different, but qualitatively they are equal to Boat Bike Tours’s e-bikes.
Bicycle helmets
The use of bicycle helmets is not required in the Netherlands, but for safety’s sake they are suggested. If you wish to rent one, you can do so during the booking process. If you book a premium tour and rent a bike or e-bike, then the helmet and a “limit of liability for damage or loss” for your bike or e-bike is included in the rental price.
Other rental items
Other items such as children’s bikes, tandems, family tandems (child & adult), tag-along, trailers to carry toddlers and child seats are available on request.
Taking your own bike or e-bike?
The fee for parking your own bicycle is €10 per week. For an e-bike the fee is €25 to cover parking and charging the battery. For safety reasons it is not always possible to charge your e-bike batteries in your cabin. The crew will tell you where you can charge the battery on board the ship. Neither the crew nor Boat Bike tours is responsible in any way for any damage, loss or theft of a guest’s own bike or e-bike or its accessories. Note: not all the ships are suitable or have enough room for extra bikes, so make sure you check with us well ahead of travel.
Our e-bikes also have highly-responsive handbrakes and a minimum of seven speeds. The motor runs on a 400Wh battery and offers three levels of power-assistance. The e-bikes include comfortable gel seats that can be adjusted for height, have a lock attached to the frame and special anti-puncture tires.
Bringing your own bike/e-bike is not possible, due to lack of space on deck. Exceptions will be made for special bikes, but only after they have been notified and confirmed in advance.
2027:
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Explore our Loyalty Discount!
After your tour, you’ll receive an exclusive discount code:
Check your post-tour email for details. You can combine this discount with other promotions for additional savings. Join us again for another adventure by boat and bike!
Ride through Burgundy’s vineyards, Provence’s lavender fields, or along the Seine to Paris and beyond, and discover more tours in France.
| 5 star | 36 (80%) | |
| 4 star | 7 (16%) | |
| 3 star | 1 (2%) | |
| 2 star | 1 (2%) | |
| 1 star | 0 (0%) |
I thoroughly enjoyed biking through the countryside, our fabulous tour guides, and delicious meals. It was all I had expected and hoped for. There was initially some confusion about where to be to start the tour, and information from emails and the webpage did not match. The only other disappointment I had was having enough time to explore some of the towns along the way. By the end of the tour I was bowing out of planned activities so I could look around longer.
the experience on the Fleur was exceptional. The Crew and guides are coordinated, develop rapport of with guests and met our needs individually and as a group of people who came together for this trip of biking and boating experience .
Great boat, good guides, great food, interesting rides.
Thank you for your review. It s nice to hear you enjoyed the cycling as well as the time on board. We hope to welcome you on board again in the future. Kind regards, Boat Bike Tours
This was my third experience with Boat Bike Tours! All trips have been memorable! Our group of ten was able to bike together since we had two guides for the boat. Prior to our trip I had emailed the company to see if our group of 10 could bunk on the same side of the boat. This request was not honored. Two passengers became ill at the beginning of our trip. They did not wear masks and continued to dine with the rest of us. I would strongly suggest for Boat Bike Tours to have a policy in place for ill passengers. I was told that there is no policy in place.
Thank you for your review. We re glad to hear that this was your third experience with Boat Bike Tours and that all of your trips have been memorable. It s great that your group was able to enjoy biking together with the support of two guides. We appreciate your feedback regarding your cabin request and the handling of illness on board. We re sorry that your request couldn t be accommodated and understand your concern about the lack of a health policy. Your comments are important to us, and we will take them into consideration as we continue to improve the experience for all our guests. We hope to welcome you again on board in the future. Kind regards, Boat Bike Tours
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