About this trip
The Black Forest is a mountainous region in southwest Germany, bordering France. Known for its dense, evergreen forests and picturesque villages, it is often associated with the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. It's renowned for its spas and the cuckoo clocks produced in the region since the 1700s. The region’s largest town, Freiburg, is filled with Gothic buildings and surrounded by vineyards.
Steeped in mystery and myth, the Black Forest is a place in Baden-Württemberg that so many Germans choose when they vacation in their own country. It is a bucket-list destination in Germany, with its inspirational medieval castles and charming villages set against dramatic lakes or mountains covered in thick coniferous forests, the Schwarzwald always answers to calls for adventure. After all, it’s Germany’s largest nature park.
Beyond the picturesque mountain trails, you can hunt for an authentic Black Forest treasure like a cuckoo clock or traditional wooden doll in Schönwald. After souvenir hunting, settle down for a slice of an original Black Forest gateau in Triberg. A pint at a canalside beer garden in Freiburg is sure to evoke memories, too.
The Vosges mountains staddle the regions of Lorraine and Alsace in north-eastern France, close to where France meets Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland. Its an unspoilt, undiscovered corner of France to cycle.
The High Vosges (Massif des Hautes Vosges) reaches peaks of up to 1400m. It's a sparsely populated area, with an abundance of natural beauty, and its peaceful and quiet roads make it an ideal region for active holidays in both winter and summer.
In the Massif des Vosges, you'll find soft round forms ('ballons') that characterise the landscape, with valleys, pine forests and lakes on gentle slopes of the Lorraine side, and steeper terrain on the Alsatian side, where you'll also find vineyards and traditional timber-framed buildings in villages and towns both large and small
Accommodation & Food
This is a small hotel/B&B based holiday. Prices are based on sharing in twin rooms.
Single Supplement for this tour is £450. If opting to share, this must be with a friend or partner. If no one else is prepared to share with someone wanting a twin room, then the single supplement is payable. Ideally you should sign up with a friend to enable you to share a twin room. ACT is reluctant to allow strangers to share a twin room.
The Route
Obviously I have to do the reccy yet, but the idea is to fly into Strasbourg, and cycle into, then south through the Black Forest.
There are lots of small villages and towns, seeped in history, nestled in the woodlands.
Cycling into and staying in Frieburg, then west into the Vouges, and north, back to Strasbourg.
Its a beautiful and peaceful part of the world.
Quick Details
• DISTANCE – Approximately 380 miles (approximately 38,000 ft of climbing)
• BIKES – Ride your own bike ! Collection and delivery can be arranged, door to door, and back, for an extra £60 each way
• FULLY SUPPORTED TOUR, with 6 days cycling, averaging approximately 60 miles a day. 7 nights accommodation. Cycling leader plus support vehicle carrying luggage.
• ACTIVITY LEVEL – 7/10 – challenging.
• FLIGHTS – Fly into Strasbourg, Saturday 12th July (or earlier). Fly out of Strasbourg, Saturday 19th July (or later).
Bike Transport
We believe your tour experience will be enhanced if you are able to ride a bike you are comfortable on, and familiar with. So, with that in mind, we will transport your bike to and from the start/finish of a tour.
Our support vehicles are adapted to carry bikes in a safe and secure manner which gives you the peace of mind that you will be ready to get cycling on day one without any major rebuilding of bikes required. Just the front wheel will need to be put back on.
Your bike can be collected and delivered back to your door for £60 each way.
If you would prefer, we can arrange bike hire. This cost covers transport and customs documentation
And Finally
DOCUMENTS
You will require a passport to visit France
You are also required to have travel insurance for the duration of the holiday.
WEATHER
The weather in France can be changeable, but hopefully warm and sunny at the end of June.
PAYMENT
Click on ‘Book Now’, and go through the site to pay the deposit. Balance invoiced out 10 weeks before the tour
What’s included
- All AccommodationHotels during the tour are all paid for by ACT
- Daytime foodAll breakfasts and lunches/snacks on cycling days
- RouteGPX files available for garmins/wahoos etc.
- LeaderCycling Leader who will stay close to the back of the group
- Luggage TransferLuggage will be transferred by the support vehicle between hotels. Its the clients responsibilty to make sure luggage is put onto the van each morning.
- Airport TransfersTransfer from the designated airport to the starting hotel
What’s not included
- Rail Station transfers
- InsuranceNeither bike insurance or travel insurance are included. You are highly recommended to have both for the tour.
- Bike TransportBike transport to the start of the tour, and back to the UK is not included, but can be purchased as an option (£60 each way). Covering transport and customs costs post Brexit.
- Air/train/road TravelYou have to make your own way to and from the designated airports at the beginning and the end of the tour.
Available Packages
This price is per person, for those sharing either a double room, or a twin room.
Available options
This option covers the cost of collecting your bike, plus the cost of the customs documentation needed to export it.
This option covers the cost of delivering your bike back to the UK, plus the cost of the customs documentation needed to re-import it.
Extra cost for a single room