| Break away from the tourist hordes and enjoy a different side of France from the comfort of your saddle. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. July 9, 2019: As employees walked out of the Louvre because of overcrowding at the end of May and a new study classifies Paris as a top city in need of managing its visitor momentum, France — most visited country in the world — is bursting at its tourism seams, yet still tops many travelers’ bucket lists. There are lots of ways to help combat overtourism, and Saddle Skedaddle, a world-class cycling operator with nearly 25 years of experience, is here to whisk you from the well-beaten path onto quieter back roads to explore the more unseen parts of France with a view from your saddle, not a bus window. Just as the 2019 Tour de France kicks off, check out Saddle Skedaddle’s top picks for France cycling tours that won’t add to the country’s tourist strain:  NEW – Cycle Versailles to Mont Saint Michel While most people visit the French palace of Versailles on a rushed day trip from Paris, this 9-day self-guided leisure cycling tour takes you away from the busy crowds as you cycle the Veloscenic route from Versailles to Mont Saint Michel, visiting iconic UNESCO world heritage sites and quaint villages at your own pace. Pedal west from Versailles, through the Chevreuse and Perche Natural Parks, into the Normandy region, enjoying an evening in the thermal spa town of Bagnoles de l’Orne and exploring the medieval town of Domfront by bike, not tour bus. Trade the countryside for the rocky coast when you reach the region of Brittany, stretching your legs on rocky northern beaches and visiting the renowned Mont Saint Michel before enjoying your final evening with French cuisine and secluded tranquility. Departure dates through Oct. 2019; priced from $1,700 per person.  Explore hidden pockets of Provence Provence is no stranger to tourism, what with its rolling green landscapes, Roman architecture, cobble-stoned villages, and — oh, yes — tantalizing wine. On this 8-day self-guided leisure tour of Provence, cycle on quiet backroads, through orchards and vineyards, and past fields upon fields of lavender as you pedal through — instead of passing by — the area that inspired Van Gogh’s classics. Visit architectural marvels like Avignon’s Roman monuments, the Palace of the Popes, and Pont du Gard before the day-trippers arrive, then enjoy hours free to explore the surrounding backroads, stopping in at wineries and pedalling through small towns to pick up a fresh baguette and Banon goat cheese. Cap off your journey spotting wildlife and soaking in the Mediterranean sun in the Camargue Delta and Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer before starting your journey home from Arles. Departure dates through Oct. 2019; priced from $1,280 per person.  Roam the countryside from coast to coast Truly disconnect from tourist crowds at urban centers and discover the heart of rural France on this 15-day guided road cycling tour from the English Channel to the Mediterranean. Visit the walled city of St Malo and the island fortification of Mont St Michel before leaving other tourists behind for the quiet back lanes of Brittany and Normandy. Cycle through small fishing ports on the jagged northern coast before venturing into greener pastures, following the Loire river through the vineyards, fields, and villages of Normandy. Stay in small hotels dotting the countryside as you make your way through the rolling hills of Dordogne, past Rhône valley, and into Provence, visiting Medieval bridges, Cévennes National Park, and Pont d’ Arc along the way and resting your legs at local wineries. After a final push of challenging, twisting rides, descend into Nice to dip your wheels into the Mediterranean (a Skedaddle tradition!) and bask in the sunshine — you earned it. Departs Sept. 7, 2019; priced from $3,850 per person. For more information on Saddle Skedaddle and to view current offerings, visit www.skedaddle.com/us. |
