Alsace, France: Road Bike Tour

Situated on the eastern edge of France and bordering Germany, our Alsace Bike Tour is a trip that will introduce you to a region steeped in history and contrasts. Alsace is well known for its role in both World War I and II, but also for being one of the finest wine producing regions in France. What many people do not know however is that Alsace is also a terrific destination for cycling. Just beyond the famous wine road lies the Vosges Mountains, home to a seemingly endless supply of cols and sinuous forested roads. This is not your average bike tour in Alsace, riding from winery to winery along the vineyards. This is In Situ’s challenging bike tour of Alsace. We’ll not only take in the rolling hills covered with grapes, but we’ll tackle the routes that the Tour de France visits.

BIKE TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Cycling through vineyards, famous for their Gewurtztraminer and Riesling grapes
- Summiting many of the cols of Alsace, including the Grand Ballon
- Savoring Alsatian wines
- Enjoying the wonderful mix of flavors this region’s cuisine holds
- Exploring the picture perfect, brightly colored villages

QUICK FACTS
- Challenging cycling routes for avid cyclists
- 100% GPS routes (bike GPS provided for your use during trip).
- Four Star Accommodations
- Most Meals Included (breakfast every day, some lunches, and most dinners)
- Fully supported / guided tour with van and trip leader(s)
- No shuttling required to/from the ride. You can always ride door to door if you wish. Van support always an option too.
- Small groups (max 10) for a more personalized experience
- Maximum flexibility of when you travel. You pick the dates you'd like to go and we arrange it for you.

BIKE TOUR OVERVIEW AND DAILY ITINERARY
Our Alsace Bike Tour captures so many of the best qualities of France and french cycling. Firstly, there is the wine. Alsace is known around the world as one of the best regions in France for wine. Secondly, the cuisine. Alsace is home to some of the finest restaurants in the entire country, but also to local Winstubs (Wine Taverns). The regional food blends the French and German cultures in a unique way. Third, there are the villages. The hills seemed dotted with colorful, half timbered houses as far as you can see. Each one more picturesque than the previous. Lastly, but certainly not least is the cycling. Alsace has an abundance of small, forested roads that climb away from the vineyards to distant peaks. One meandering road leads to another beautiful descent. It’s a cyclist’s dream.

Day 1
You’ll meet your trip leaders in Strasbourg, before a private shuttle to our hotel in Ribeauvillé. After assembling your bikes, we’ll take a ride through the vineyards and forest to get ready for the week ahead. There will be an evening cocktail reception at which you’ll meet your fellow travelers and discuss the trip itinerary. We’ll then sit down to dinner as a group. Ride: 30 km

Day 2
For the first full day of riding, we summit one of the best known peaks in the region, the Grand Ballon d’Alsace. The day’s route will also include numerous small villages, such as Munster (famous for their cheese!), Eguisheim and Riquewihr. Perhaps at the end of today’s ride you’ll like to celebrate with another local specialty: Alsatian beer! Tonight’s dinner will be as a group in town. Ride: 123 km (76 miles) with 2000 m (6,562 feet) of climbing.

Day 3
A wonderful loop, to the north is our ride today. We loosen up our legs from yesterday’s effort with a relatively flat initial 45 km (28 miles) to the town of Obernai. Here is a great place to stop and grab a coffee at corner cafe. After Obernai, we ride westward into the Vosges mountains, on a series of small roads and through forests. The latter half of the ride seems to be always ascending or descending. Once back in town, you’ll have free time to explore, before joining the group for dinner. Ride: 120 km (75 miles) with 2121 m (6959 feet) of climbing.

Day 4
Today’s route is slightly shorter, but still challenging. We head south, over truly some of the smaller, lesser traveled routes in the area. There are four distinct cols included in the days itinerary, so your legs will have their work cut out for them. That will make the post ride rewards that much sweeter. Perhaps today is the perfect day to do some wine tasting after your ride? Tonight you’ll be free to dine on your own at a restaurant of your choosing. Ride: 99 km (61 miles) with 2125 m (6972 feet) of climbing.

Day 5
It’s your last full day in the saddle, but there’s still plenty of good climbing in store. There are no less than six cols awaiting you and over 3100 meters(10,170 feet) of elevation gain . In addition you’ll pass numerous small lakes and ride through parts of neighboring Lorraine, a region so often associated with Alsace (e.g. Alsace-Lorraine). Once back in Ribeauvillé, there’s time to relax before our final dinner together tonight at the hotel. Ride: 125 km (78 miles) with 3100 m (10,170 feet) of climbing.

Day 6
After breakfast, we’ll say “au revoir” and shuttle back to Strasbourg.

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