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Biking
vacation FAQs (Frequently-Asked Questions)
Other gay bike holidays
in France and elsewhere
Become a bike
guide! We have openings; you must speak French (or Italian)
and have good bike skills.
We also offer sites
for gay men and lesbians interested in scuba
diving, hiking,
rock climbing,
and white-water rafting.
About
this site
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France
is a friendly country with a rich history, beautiful landscapes, and
hundreds of small towns where time seems to have frozen in the past.
The French abolished their sodomy laws back in Napoleon's time, and
most French people take the attitude that whether you're gay or straight
is none of their business.
Yet
as charming as they are, most of the villages and towns outside Paris
have little or no active gay community. A gay man or lesbian who wants
to tour France, and to see more than the large cities, may easily feel
isolated.
We've
got a solution: Cycle to some of France's most picturesque and historic
sites, with a gay and lesbian group. Explore corners of France that
many visitors never see, and do it with a friendly group.
Alyson
Adventures, which specializes in active vacations around the world for
gay men, lesbians, and friends, offers a number of bike holidays in
France, including these regions:
The
Provencal: In Provence, we'll bike to the old Roman capital of Arles where
a 2000-year-old arena towers over the site of Van Gogh's Cafe de
Nuit; and on into the Luberon towns of A Year in Provence.
The
Mistral: takes us north from Avignon, to the picturesque old
duchy of Uzes, and then along the rim of the Ardeche Gorges, a
thousand feet above kayakers battling the whitewater below.
The
Colors of Burgundy:
Rightly famous for its red wines, the old duchy of Burgundy has much
more to offer cyclists. The Colors of Burgundy bike tour takes us along quiet roads that wind through
forest and hillsides, haunting monastic ruins dating back almost a
millennium, the spring that provides the source of Paris's Seine river;
gourmet foods ... and a white wine that's as memorable as those Burgundian
reds.
Valley
of the Chateaux: Travel to the better homes and gardens of the ancient
French royalty, each with its own personality. On the 5-day tour , we'll bike to elegant Azay-le-Rideau, a compact
jewel surrounded by moat; Usse, in the middle of Chinon Forest, where
the legend of Sleeping Beauty was born; Chenonceau, leapfrogging over
the Cher river; and the sturdy ruins of Chinon, where Joan of Arc
entered the history books. Try our optional 2 day extension!
Big
Loire, Little Loir: Or try our more idiosyncratic tour in
the same chateaux filled region of France. A 5-day holiday taking us deep into French
culture and history, and well off the usual tourist routes.
Truffles,
Castles and Caves: Our bike tour through Dordogne.
A ride through the verdant hills and along the peaceful rivers of the Dordogne valley, join us for which crosses back and forth across the river which once divided the fortresses and chateaux of the British and the French.
Atlantique: Our
newest French bike tour starts in the Loire River port city of
Nantes, then winds through picturesque woodlands to the coast of
southern Brittany. Rivers, islands and the Atlantic Ocean form the
backdrop for our invigorating ride. We'll also explore quaint
villages and seaside towns as we ride through history on our way to
La Rochelle, where we finish our journey. Along the way, we can stop
to admire chateaux, monuments, cathedrals and stunning vistas.
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