Overview
A carefully-crafted circuit, cycling in Burgundy over six days on an easy to moderate adventure, made even easier if you opt for an e-bike. Starting and finishing in Dijon, cycle between 30km and 45km per day through some of the country’s most heavenly winelands and Grand Cru vineyards. With plenty of opportunities to pop a bottle in your pannier at places like the prestigious vineyards of the Nuits-Saint-Georges, Santenay and Beaune. Staying in a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses, this tour is also easily accessible by train if you can get to France without flying. Meaning that you also aren’t as restricted in terms of the liquids you can take home!
- Burgundy Wine Region
- Beaune
- Canal du Centre
- Dijon
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Dijon
Arrive in Dijon, the capital of Burgundy. Explore the Old Town, the neighbourhood of the Palais de Justice, and the beautiful Palais des Ducs et des Etats de Bourgogne (Palace of the Dukes and States of Burgundy), which houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts).
- Accommodation: Hotel Wilson or similar
Day 2: Dijon – Beaune | 40-45km
Today’s route involves a full day of cycling, however, the final day of the tour is much shorter, allowing plenty of time to explore Dijon. Leaving the city, follow the route south and head through vineyards, including those of the prestigious Vougeot and Vosne Romanée. End the day in the walled town of Beaune, famous for its annual wine auction. The auction is held at Hospices de Beaune (also known as Hôtel-Dieu), a 15th-century former hospital building with a distinctive geometric tiled roof, and it is open to visitors as a museum.
- Cycling for the day: option 1: 40km, ↑200m or option 2: 45km, ↑450m
- Accommodation: Hostellerie de Bretonnière or similar
Day 3: Beaune – Chagny | 30km
Spend the morning exploring Beaune, since today’s stage is relatively short. The town is known for its historic cellars, which stretch for dozens of kilometres under the town’s streets, dating back several centuries. After leaving Beaune and heading south, the route passes a succession of Grand Cru vineyards and several villages, including Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet, before descending into the valley towards the village of Santenay. The route then follows the banks of the Canal du Centre to Chagny, where today’s ride ends.
- Cycling for the day: 30km, ↑200m
- Accommodation: Logis Hôtel le Chagny or similar
Day 4: Chagny – Nolay | 30-35km
From Chagny, notice the difference in the scenery, leaving behind the vineyards for landscapes of farmland and idyllic pastoral terrain. Cycle west and head down into the Dheune Valley, passing several villages along the way. Cycle around the limestone ridge of Côte de Beaune, taking in views of dramatic limestone cliffs, woodland and fields. End today’s ride in the medieval town of Nolay and pay a visit to the town square to see the impressive 14th-century outdoor market area, with its intricate timber-framed roof.
- Cycling for the day: option 1: 30km, ↑350m or option 2: 35km, ↑450m
- Accommodation: Hotel de la Halle or similar
Day 5: Nolay – La Bussière-sur-Ouche | 35-45km
Leave Nolay behind and head north towards the banks of the River Ouche, a tributary of the Saône. The route follows an old towpath that has been converted into a cycle path along bridges, offering views of the valley and locks. Cycle along the Burgundy canal for a few kilometres, which brings you to the listed village of Châteauneuf, where we recommend to take some time to visit its magnificent castle overlooking the canal, before heading to the evening’s accommodation in La Bussière-sur-Ouche.
- Cycling for the day: option 1: 35km, ↑350m or option 2: 45km, ↑600m
- Accommodation: local guesthouse/family-run hotel
Day 6: La Bussière-sur-Ouche – Dijon | 30km
Start the day with a descent, following the route down into Ouche Valley. Pass through the many villages dotted along the valley, such as Thorey-sur-Ouche and Gissey-sur-Ouche. Arrive in Dijon and head to the city’s green spaces, such as Jardin de l’Arquebuse, Parc de la Colombière or Jardin Darcy, or relax by the water at Lac Kir. Be sure to visit the impressive Palais des Ducs et des États de Bourgogne, the 15th-century former ducal residence, which is now home to the town hall, a fine art museum and the tourist office.
Our services end at the luggage or bike drop-off point in Dijon, at around 16.00. We can organise additional nights in Dijon on request.
- Cycling for the day: 30km
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view sample hotels
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on days 2-6. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area. A half-board (five dinners) supplement can be added to your booking upon request.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated easy to moderate and is suitable for both beginners and more experienced cyclists. A good level of fitness is required to get the most out of this tour. The daily cycling distances vary between 30km and 45km, and on most days it is possible to shorten or extend the ride. The routes follow mostly secondary country roads, with limited traffic. It is possible to rent an e-bike, thus making the tour more accessible to those with less cycling experience (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you to only follow marked paths and never try to shorten the route through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with a detailed roadbook and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from the beginning of April until the end of October. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, meaning you can start your trip on any date during the season.
The months with the most pleasant weather for cycling are between May and September, when the weather in this region is generally good, with maximum average daily temperatures of 20-25C, increasing to 27C in July and August. For more information, see our blog on the Best time to go to France.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
For this tour, the recommended airports are the Paris airports (CDG or ORY) or Lyon Airport (LYS).
By train or bus
Arrival in Dijon:
- If you are able to travel to France without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with a railway station in Dijon. From the UK, take the Eurostar from London St-Pancras International to Paris (Gard du Nord), change there for Gare de Lyon via the RER or metro and then take a direct train to Dijon (1h 40mins). For more information, please see SNCF Connect or use the Omio planner above
- From Paris (CDG): from the airport, take the RER B into Paris, changing to the RER D for Gare de Lyon in Paris (45mins), take a direct train from there to Dijon (1h 40mins). Alternatively, take the TGV to Dijon from CDG airport (5h, with one change). For more information, please see SNCF Connect or use the Omio planner above
- From Paris (ORY): from the airport, take the OrlyVal shuttle, connecting to RER B at Antony and then changing to RER A for Gare de Lyon in Paris (45mins), take a direct train from there to Dijon (1h 40mins). For more information, please see SNCF Connect or use the Omio planner above
- From Lyon Airport to Dijon: take the bus to Lyon Perrache (50mins) and a direct train from there to Dijon (2h 10mins). For more information, please see SNCF Connect or use the Omio planner above
Departure from Dijon:
- To Paris: take the direct train from Dijon to Gare de Lyon in Paris (1h 40mins), take public transport to the airport (CDG or ORY), as outlined above
- To Lyon: take the direct train from Dijon to Lyon Perrache (2h 10mins), take the bus from there to the airport (50mins), as outlined above
Inclusions
Included
- 5 nights accommodation
- 5 breakfasts
- Luggage transfers (one piece, up to 20kg per person)
- Detailed digital tour materials: roadbook containing maps and step-by-step route descriptions, GPS tracks and a smartphone navigation app (including full tour itinerary, tour maps, route profiles, access to the list of booked accommodations and services). Please note, that the information pack for this tour is digital only and will be emailed to you prior to departure. Physical documents are not able to be mailed or provided locally
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Arrival transportation to the meeting point
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Any additional travel-related changes in the programme due to bad weather
- Entrance fees for attractions and museums
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically listed as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- We regret that this tour is not open to solo travellers
- Extra nights before, during or after the tour are available
- Bike rental (standard or e-bike)
- Half-board supplement (five dinners)
Bike rental
Both hybrid and e-bikes are available to rent on this tour. All bikes are equipped with mudguards, a rear rack, a handlebar bag, a bike lock and a puncture repair kit.
