Day 1: Auxerre
Embarkation and check-in at 2 pm. After the welcome by the captain, crew and tour guide, the bikes will be assigned. After dinner on board you can stroll through Auxerre, probably the most beautiful city on this trip. Many church spires dominate the city panorama and the streets are lined with 16th century half-timbered houses. A magnificent sight is the Saint-Étienne Cathedral, a true masterpiece of Gothic art.
Day 2: Auxerre round trip, approx. 30 - 44 km
Today you have several options. If you want to relax, stay in Auxerre and take a discovery tour of this beautiful city with the Abbey of St. Germain, the Cathedral of Saint-Étienne and the Bell Tower. Do you feel like a first bike tour? Then you can explore the surroundings of Auxerre with your guide. Ride along the Yonne River and visit the "Caves de Bailly" vineyard, known for its sparkling Cremant de Bourgogne and the dramatic entrance to the quaint caves beneath the limestone slopes. St. Bris and Irancy, also famous wine-growing areas, are on the hills nearby. You can also admire the paintings of George Hosott, a well-known painter in France, at the Chapelle de Bailly. Just stroll down the small street by the church and enjoy the view of the lush countryside in this region.
Day 3: Auxerre – Joigny, approx. 28 - 43 km
Your bike tour will take you in a northerly direction through the valley of the Yonne. On the longer bike tour you will later leave the valley and cycle through the charming landscape to Brienon-sur-Armencon. From there you cycle along the beautiful Canal de Bourgogne. Finally, you will reach Migennes. The former center of the shipping industry is located where the Canal de Bourgogne and the Yonne meet. Near Migennes, the ship awaits you for an afternoon cruise to Joigny. This picturesque town can look back on a long and successful wine-growing history. Here you can expect historical monuments, old churches and unique, 16th-17th century townhouses decorated with carved Renaissance facades.
Day 4: Joigny – Villeneuve sur Yonne, approx. 23 - 46 km.
Today’s bike tour starts with a round through the surrounding vineyards. The guide will show you some places where you can taste the noble Burgundy wines. Around noon you will be back in Joigny. For lunch you will return to Joigny and in the afternoon you will cycle to Saint-Julien-du-Sault. Your day ends in the lovely town of Villeneuve on the banks of the Yonne, still untouched by tourism. In this beautiful town you will discover medieval gate towers and many romantic gardens.
Day 5: Villeneuve sur Yonne – Sens, approx. 28 - 52 km
From Villeneuve there are again 2 cycling options. The shorter route stays closer to the river, while the longer one takes you through the hills to the museum "Musée de la Pomme et du Cidre". Try the delicious cider that is produced here! Near Sens, your destination today, you will find the beautiful Parc du Moulin a Tan. Sens is one of the oldest towns in France. You’ll have time to shop, stroll through the local market hall, or walk around town. There is no dinner on board today so you can enjoy one of Sens’ many restaurants.
Day 6: Sens – Pont sur Yonne, approx. 20 - 42 km
Before heading out, we will spend some time in Sens, where you will visit the first of France’s great Gothic cathedrals, Saint-Etienne Cathedral, with a local guide. Today you will again have the option of following the river valley on a shorter bike ride or taking a longer tour through the beautiful valley of the Oreuse, a truly fantastic bike ride. If you choose the short option, you can spend some more time in Sens before starting your bike tour. Your destination today is the friendly, riverside town of Pont-sur-Yonne.
Day 7: Pont sur Yonne – Montereau – Moret, approx. 33 km - 40 km
On your last day of cycling, you will take the road to Montereau-fault-Yonne. This town is located at the point where the Yonne flows into the Seine. Here, the collegiate church of Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Loup, built between the 12th and 14th centuries, is worth a visit. Reboard at Montereau for a dinner cruise to your final destination, Moret-sur-Loin. In this charming medieval fortified town, strategically located on the banks of the Loing River, the painter Sisley found inspiration for his beautiful Impressionist paintings.
Day 8: Moret-sur-Loing
Departure after breakfast, disembarkation by 9.30 am.