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Calais to Dijon

There are no available dates at this moment, please check back soon.

A fantastic impression of northern France, this tour is the first half of our Calais to Nice ride, allowing you to complete the whole distance in different years (the whole ride is also available). This is generally the flatter half! Highlights include:

The walled town of Montreuil sur Mer
The Somme battlefields
Mediaeval Laon and its magnificent cathedral
Champagne vineyards
Northern Burgundy - a rural delight
Cycling along the upper reaches of the Seine river
Troyes - an unspoilt ancient gem of a city
Dijon

Your Next Adventure Awaits

What you need to know...

Start Location
Calais

Finish Location
Dijon

Country/Region
North East France

Grading
Difficult

Shortest Day
84 km / 53 miles

Longest Day
115 km / 72 miles

Total Days
8

Total Miles
650 km / 406 miles

Departure Dates & Prices

There are no available dates at this moment.
Please choose an alternative Tour or check back soon.

Itinerary

Day 1

We meet in the morning in Calais, give you a pre ride briefing and after leaving Calais head into the benign countryside of the Pas de Calais. This is a fairly gentle day ending in the wonderful town of Montreuil sur Mer, which is not, as its name suggests, on the coast! It is an old citadel town with cobbled streets and old houses and our hotel has a rather good restaurant. (66 miles / 106 km / 526m ascent).

Day 2

From our hotel we ride over gently undulating farmland, passing the site of the Battle of Crecy (if your guide is French you may need to remind her about what happened here). We then start to enter the Somme region and the cemeteries and battlefields for which it is famous, and stay in a pleasant market town for the night. (72 miles / 84 km / 558 ascent).

Day 3

The landscape is now noticeably more rural and the obvious lunchtime stop is in St Quintin, a town which was flattened in World War One but which is now in the heart of the Artois region. It's then an easy run to Laon for the night. This well preserved mediaeval town is off the beaten track and one of the highlights of the journey you are undertaking, with its intact walls and ancient gateways, spectacular cathedral and many old buildings and passageways making it a delight to explore. (62 miles / 100 km / 856m ascent).

Day 4

Laon to Epernay is a more undulating day but employs quiet lanes all the way. With a shorter distance there is plenty of time to enjoy the abbey ruins, underground caves and vineyards before arriving in the heart of the champagne producing region and the chance to visit a ‘cave’ and sample a glass of the bubbly stuff! (53 miles / 84 km / 1,050m ascent).

Day 5

Leaving Epernay our first stop is in the quaint town of Vertus, in the midst of the vines, where a coffee in the square is highly recommended. We then continue through more vineyards along a straightforward and very gentle route, eventually joining the Seine, to Troyes, one of the finest towns in France. You will have plenty of time to explore this mediaeval town. (64 miles / 102 km / 484m ascent).

Day 6

The exit from Troyes tracks the River Seine, and we follow the river valley for a good few miles, before leaving it where the road gets busier and following another smaller tributary. We then pass through the vineyards with a coupe of longer but gentle climbs. This is a day where the pleasure of riding your bike through small villages and unspoilt landscapes reminds you that you are now in the heart of France far away from everyday hustle and bustle! (53 miles / 85 km / 642m ascent).

Day 7

From Chatillon sur Seine there is a gentle climb for the first half of the day – but do not worry, it averages 5.1m per kilometre! Once again, quiet villages and roads are the order of the day as we make our way to Dijon, another of France’s finest cities, where the centre is historic and beautiful with multi-coloured roof tiles and cobbled streets and squares. The capital of the ancient Dukedom of Burgundy, this is a fine place to savour. (57 miles / 91 km / 590m ascent).

Day 8

Departure.

Some Tour Photos...

Calais to Nice

Setting off from Calais to ride to Nice

Calais to Nice

Setting off from Calais to ride to Nice

Calais to Nice

Setting off from Calais to ride to Nice

Calais to Nice

Quiet roads in the north on the way south to Nice

Calais to Nice

Quiet roads in the north on the way south to Nice

Calais to Nice

Quiet roads in the north on the way south to Nice

Calais to Nice

The kitchen garden of the wonderful hotel restaurant on night 1

Calais to Nice

The kitchen garden of the wonderful hotel restaurant on night 1

Calais to Nice

The kitchen garden of the wonderful hotel restaurant on night 1

Calais to Nice

Vimy Ridge is one of our stops on our end to end ride in France

Calais to Nice

Vimy Ridge is one of our stops on our end to end ride in France

Calais to Nice

Vimy Ridge is one of our stops on our end to end ride in France

Calais to Nice

Unexpected delight of a medieval tower by the roadside cycling through France

Calais to Nice

Unexpected delight of a medieval tower by the roadside cycling through France

Calais to Nice

Unexpected delight of a medieval tower by the roadside cycling through France

Calais to Nice

Historic hilltop Laon is a beautiful city, most often seen from a distance from the the motorway

Calais to Nice

Historic hilltop Laon is a beautiful city, most often seen from a distance from the the motorway

Calais to Nice

Historic hilltop Laon is a beautiful city, most often seen from a distance from the the motorway

Calais to Nice

Quiet traffic free roads abound

Calais to Nice

Quiet traffic free roads abound

Calais to Nice

Quiet traffic free roads abound

Calais to Nice

The ancient abbey ruins are a perfect place for a stroll after a piece of cake and refreshments

Calais to Nice

The ancient abbey ruins are a perfect place for a stroll after a piece of cake and refreshments

Calais to Nice

The ancient abbey ruins are a perfect place for a stroll after a piece of cake and refreshments

Calais to Nice

The Chemin des Dames

Calais to Nice

The Chemin des Dames

Calais to Nice

The Chemin des Dames

Calais to Nice

Enjoying the ride!

Calais to Nice

Enjoying the ride!

Calais to Nice

Enjoying the ride!

Calais to Nice

A beautiful village, one of many we pass through

Calais to Nice

A beautiful village, one of many we pass through

Calais to Nice

A beautiful village, one of many we pass through

Calais to Nice

The River Seine is just one of France's major rivers we see on this tour

Calais to Nice

The River Seine is just one of France's major rivers we see on this tour

Calais to Nice

The River Seine is just one of France's major rivers we see on this tour

Calais to Nice

Stopping in a pretty square in Champagne country

Calais to Nice

Stopping in a pretty square in Champagne country

Calais to Nice

Stopping in a pretty square in Champagne country

Calais to Nice

Refreshment stops are a feature of a Green Jersey French Cycling Tour!

Calais to Nice

Refreshment stops are a feature of a Green Jersey French Cycling Tour!

Calais to Nice

Refreshment stops are a feature of a Green Jersey French Cycling Tour!

Calais to Nice

...often near a pretty chateau

Calais to Nice

...often near a pretty chateau

Calais to Nice

...often near a pretty chateau

Calais to Nice

Picnic time

Calais to Nice

Picnic time

Calais to Nice

Picnic time

Calais to Nice

Crossing yet another pretty river

Calais to Nice

Crossing yet another pretty river

Calais to Nice

Crossing yet another pretty river

Calais to Nice

Stopping after a long descent

Calais to Nice

Stopping after a long descent

Calais to Nice

Stopping after a long descent

Calais to Nice

Dijon has style and elegance, and as capital of Burgundy, good food and wine too!

Calais to Nice

Dijon has style and elegance, and as capital of Burgundy, good food and wine too!

Calais to Nice

Dijon has style and elegance, and as capital of Burgundy, good food and wine too!

Calais to Nice

Burgundy vineyards near Beaune

Calais to Nice

Burgundy vineyards near Beaune

Calais to Nice

Burgundy vineyards near Beaune

Calais to Nice

Gazing at the most expensive vineyards in the world

Calais to Nice

Gazing at the most expensive vineyards in the world

Calais to Nice

Gazing at the most expensive vineyards in the world

Calais to Nice

Always time for coffee and cake!

Calais to Nice

Always time for coffee and cake!

Calais to Nice

Always time for coffee and cake!

Calais to Nice

The halfway point

Calais to Nice

The halfway point

Calais to Nice

The halfway point

Calais to Nice

Cote Roti vineyards south of Lyon

Calais to Nice

Cote Roti vineyards south of Lyon

Calais to Nice

Cote Roti vineyards south of Lyon

Calais to Nice

Another name you may recognise, Pouilly Fuissee is a pretty village in southern Burgundy

Calais to Nice

Another name you may recognise, Pouilly Fuissee is a pretty village in southern Burgundy

Calais to Nice

Another name you may recognise, Pouilly Fuissee is a pretty village in southern Burgundy

Calais to Nice

Pouilly Fuissee village in southern Burgundy

Calais to Nice

Pouilly Fuissee village in southern Burgundy

Calais to Nice

Pouilly Fuissee village in southern Burgundy

Calais to Nice

Cycling along the Rhone river

Calais to Nice

Cycling along the Rhone river

Calais to Nice

Cycling along the Rhone river

Calais to Nice

Lunch in a square in Provence. It doesn't get much better than that!

Calais to Nice

Lunch in a square in Provence. It doesn't get much better than that!

Calais to Nice

Lunch in a square in Provence. It doesn't get much better than that!

Calais to Nice

Biking through the beautiful Provence countryside

Calais to Nice

Biking through the beautiful Provence countryside

Calais to Nice

Biking through the beautiful Provence countryside

Calais to Nice

Hilltop Gordes is one of the most famous of Provence villages and it's easy to see why

Calais to Nice

Hilltop Gordes is one of the most famous of Provence villages and it's easy to see why

Calais to Nice

Hilltop Gordes is one of the most famous of Provence villages and it's easy to see why

Calais to Nice

Cooling down

Calais to Nice

Cooling down

Calais to Nice

Cooling down

Calais to Nice

Fine views

Calais to Nice

Fine views

Calais to Nice

Fine views

Calais to Nice

Fine views

Calais to Nice

Fine views

Calais to Nice

Fine views

Calais to Nice

Fine views

Calais to Nice

Fine views

Calais to Nice

Fine views

Calais to Nice

Dinner outside in a beautiful hilltop village

Calais to Nice

Dinner outside in a beautiful hilltop village

Calais to Nice

Dinner outside in a beautiful hilltop village

Calais to Nice

Gorges de Verdon - a stunning landscape

Calais to Nice

Gorges de Verdon - a stunning landscape

Calais to Nice

Gorges de Verdon - a stunning landscape

Calais to Nice

The lake at the entrance to the Gorges de Verdon

Calais to Nice

The lake at the entrance to the Gorges de Verdon

Calais to Nice

The lake at the entrance to the Gorges de Verdon

Calais to Nice

Amazing scenery in the hills behind Nice

Calais to Nice

Amazing scenery in the hills behind Nice

Calais to Nice

Amazing scenery in the hills behind Nice

Calais to Nice

Arrival in Nice, having cycled all the way from Calais

Calais to Nice

Arrival in Nice, having cycled all the way from Calais

Calais to Nice

Arrival in Nice, having cycled all the way from Calais

Calais to Nice

Arrival in Nice

Calais to Nice

Arrival in Nice

Calais to Nice

Arrival in Nice

Calais to Nice

Nice, after 15 days and an experience you won't forget!

Calais to Nice

Nice, after 15 days and an experience you won't forget!

Calais to Nice

Nice, after 15 days and an experience you won't forget!

Champagne grapes all around

Champagne vineyards

The champagne vineyards

Champagne vineyards

The champagne vineyards

Champagne vineyards

The champagne vineyards

Travel Information

Travel to Calais is straightforward either by ferry or Eurostar. For the return, we recommend the train back from Dijon changing in either Paris (change of station required) or Lille (change of platform only, but only limited services make this stop)

Click here for our Travel Information page.