Burgundy Bike and Barge

On arrival in Auxerre, make your way to the boat to check-in at 2pm. Your captain, crew and tour leader will give you a warm welcome, followed by a bike fitting. After dinner on board, there is ample time to stroll through the beautiful river town of Auxerre with its majestic church spires, streets lined with 16th century timber houses and the cathedral of Saint-Etienne, a masterpiece of Gothic art.

This morning you can either stay, relax and take in more of the sights of Auxerre, or begin your cycling adventure with your guide leading you along the Yonne river en route to “Caves de Bailly”. This vineyard is famous for its sparkling Cremant de Bourgogne and limestone caves. The nearby vineyards of St Bris and Irancy are also well worth a visit, as are the paintings by George Hosotte in the Chapelle de Bailly.

Today's cycle route heads north through the Yonne river valley toward Joigny. If you choose the longer route, you’ll get to see the charming countryside of Brienon-sur Armencon. The shorter option follows the beautiful Yonne river. In Migennes, where the Burgundy canal crosses the river Yonne, we'll rejoin the boat for a relaxed afternoon cruise to Joigny, a picturesque little town with a long and storied wine history as well as several historical monuments, ancient churches and townhouses with carved renaissance facades from the 16th and 17th centuries.

A great start to the day with a loop ride through the local vineyards for a tasting of some of Burgundy’s finest wines. We return to Joigny for lunch then it's back in the saddle for an afternoon ride to the town of Saint-Julien-du-Sault. Here you can visit the 13th century Saint-Pierre church with its magnificent stained-glass windows. We dock for the night in the lovely town of Villeneuve-sur-Yonne where you are free to explore the medieval gate towers and romantic gardens as the sun sets over the countryside.

Today there are two cycling options – the short option follows the river Yonne, while the longer option takes you into the hills for a rewarding taste of the fine cider produced at the museum ‘de Pomme et de cidre’. Our next stop is Sens, one of the oldest towns in France, where you can visit the Cathedral Saint-Etienne, regarded as the first of the great Gothic cathedrals in France. There will be plenty of time to stroll through the marketplace and wander around town. There is no dinner onboard tonight, you can choose one of the many restaurants Sens has to offer.

After breakfast we spend some time in Sens and visit the cathedral with a local guide. Today again has two cycling options. The longer route leads through the beautiful valley of the Oreuse, the shorter option allows you more time to explore Sens before riding to Pont-sur-Yonne, a charming riverside town.

On our final day’s biking we venture away from the river and ride through a forest. The final stretch brings us to Moret-sur-Loing, a quaint medieval town known for its simple charm. The Impressionist painter Sisley found inspiration here. You can explore the historic streets and 12th century Church of Notre Dame - a pleasant ending to your cycle journey.

Bid your captain, crew, tour guide and fellow passengers a fond farewell over breakfast, with disembarkation by 9:30am.