Montargis to Paris

From: € 2210

8 Days / 7 Nights
Type: Guided
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Imagine Yourself…

Cruising through the tranquil French countryside toward the vibrant city of Paris
Cycling past vineyards, forests, and picturesque villages along peaceful waterways
Exploring medieval towns, royal palaces, and charming riverside communities
Following in the footsteps of the Impressionist masters through inspiring landscapes
Ending your journey in the romantic heart of Paris

Overview

This 8-day bike & barge tour begins in the picturesque canal town of Montargis and gradually leads you through the beautiful French countryside toward the vibrant city of Paris. Cycle along peaceful canals, through forests, charming villages, and historic towns such as Château-Landon, Ferrières-en-Gâtinais, Moret-sur-Loing, and the artists’ village of Barbizon. Visit the magnificent Château de Fontainebleau, discover the landscapes that inspired the Impressionist painters, and end your journey in the heart of one of the world’s most iconic cities.

Daily Itinerary

Welcome to Montargis! Embarkation and check-in begin at 2:00 PM. After a warm welcome from the captain, crew, and tour leader, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin, be fitted for your bicycle, and enjoy a short test ride.

After dinner, join your tour leader for a stroll through the charming canals of Montargis, often called the Venice of the Gâtinais. Colorful flower displays, picturesque bridges, and tranquil waterways give this historic town its unique character. Although much of the former royal residence was destroyed by fire in the 16th century, Montargis has retained its charm and is a delightful place to begin your cycling adventure.
After breakfast, your first cycling day begins with a scenic ride to the charming town of Château-Renard, where you can explore the ruins of a 10th-century castle overlooking the village.

Along the way, you’ll visit a fascinating Living Beekeeping Museum, where you’ll learn about the world of bees, watch beekeepers at work, and enjoy a tasting of locally produced honey.

The return ride follows the peaceful Ouanne River, leading you back to the flower-filled canals of Montargis for another evening on board.
Enjoy breakfast as the barge sails to the lock of Cepoy, where today’s cycling adventure begins. Follow the peaceful Loing River to the beautifully preserved medieval town of Ferrières-en-Gâtinais, known for its charming old streets and its impressive abbey.

Continue to Égreville, a village that has been an important trading center for centuries. Here you’ll visit the beautiful Jardin Bourdelle, an open-air sculpture garden featuring more than 50 monumental bronze sculptures by the renowned French artist Antoine Bourdelle.

From Égreville, cycle through the quiet French countryside to the rural village of Néronville, where your barge awaits for the night.
Today’s ride takes you through a beautiful countryside that has been inhabited since Gallo-Roman times. Your first stop is the picturesque hilltop town of Château-Landon, a former Gallic stronghold with medieval streets and the impressive Abbey of Saint-Séverin.

Continue cycling through the scenic landscape to Nemours, where you’ll rejoin the Fleur. This charming riverside town is home to a 12th-century castle, now housing a museum dedicated to the prehistoric history of the Île-de-France region. Enjoy some time to explore its historic center before returning to the barge for the evening.
Cycle through the beautiful Loing Valley, a region that has inspired artists for generations. Your first stop is Grez-sur-Loing, a picturesque village that became a favorite gathering place for painters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Continue to Bourron-Marlotte, where the town hall displays a collection of beautiful Impressionist paintings. The day ends in the charming medieval town of Moret-sur-Loing, beautifully situated on the banks of the Loing River. This picturesque village was home to Impressionist painter Alfred Sisley, who captured its bridges, streets, and riverside scenery in many of his most celebrated works.
Cycle through the beautiful Forest of Fontainebleau, one of France’s largest and most scenic woodlands. Your first stop is the elegant town of Fontainebleau, home to the magnificent Château de Fontainebleau, a favorite residence of French kings and emperors for centuries. The palace also houses a museum dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte, while the town itself is perfect for a leisurely stroll or some shopping.

Continue to the charming artists’ village of Barbizon, where many landscape painters settled during the 19th century and founded the famous Barbizon School. Visit the local museum or simply enjoy the village’s artistic atmosphere before cycling on to Melun.

Known as the “Domain of the White Queens,” Melun was once the residence of the widows of French kings. This evening, dinner is not served on board, giving you the opportunity to choose one of the town’s inviting local restaurants.
As you make your way toward Paris, the scenery gradually changes from peaceful countryside to the lively outskirts of the French capital. Enjoy a short morning ride along the banks of the Seine River to the lock at Évry, where you’ll rejoin the Fleur.

From here, relax on board as the barge cruises into the heart of Paris while you enjoy lunch. Your mooring is conveniently located in the city center, just a short walk from Notre-Dame Cathedral and many of Paris’ iconic sights.

After dinner, you’re invited to join the tour leader for an evening walk through the City of Light.

Dates & Prices

Green = Open | Yellow = Limited | Red = Full

Prices are in Euros and includes E-Bike rental

2027

Departures	Barge	Twin	Twin for Single use (1 per departure)
June 14	Fleur	€ 2590	€ 3720	Book here
June 28	Fleur	€ 2590	€ 3720	Book here
July 12	Fleur	€ 2210	€ 3210	Book here
July 26	Fleur	€ 2210	€ 3210	Book here

- 8 days/7 nights
- 7 x breakfast
- Packed lunches
- 6 x 3-course dinner
- Coffee and tea on board
- Welcome drink
- Use of bed linen and towels
- Daily cleaning of the cabin
- Climate-controlled cabin
- Daily briefings
- Fully guided cycling tours (from 18 guests: 2 tour leaders, 2 groups)
- Some short walking tours
- GPS tracks
- E-Bike, helmet, pannier bag, water bottle
- Fees for ferries
- Entrance garden Bourdelle
- Entrance Apiculture’s Living Museum
- Visit town hall Bourron-Marlotte
- Guided visit Chateau-Landon
This tour is offered exclusively with electric bikes. The E-bikes are included in the tour price.

E-Bike of the brand Gudereit EC-4 with 8-gear, handbrakes.

The E-bike comes with:
- Lock
- Pannier bag
- Bike helmets
- Water bottle
The cook prepares all meals: a substantial breakfast and a three-course dinner of very good quality. A packed lunch may be prepared after breakfast. Tea and coffee will be ready when you arrive on board in the afternoon. There’s a bar on board with reasonably-priced beer, wine, and soft drinks.

If you have special meal requirements, please mention this when booking. In the case of a Gluten free and lactose free diet there is an additional charge of €70 per week.

Unfortunately, we cannot offer vegan meals. This is because the kitchens in our ships are not large enough to guarantee that the food can be prepared completely vegan. The available space on board is limited, so the chefs cannot store the necessary tools and supplies to prepare vegan food.
- Airfare
- 1x dinner
- Drinks
- Personal insurances
- Gratuities (at your discretion)
- Entrance fees and excursions (not mentioned under included)
- Transfers to/from the docking place
- Cycling route distances in the travel program are approximate.
- On some days you can choose between a longer and a shorter cycling route. Please note that on the shorter routes you may not be able to visit all the highlights mentioned.
- If you prefer not to cycle on a particular day, you’re welcome to stay on board and relax while the ship cruises to the next landing place.
- The tour itinerary and route are subject to possible changes due to nautical, technical or meteorological reasons, or other unforeseen events.
- On the arrival day, you can leave your luggage on board the ship from 11.00 am.
- A detailed cycling map and a GPS app are available for guests who wish to cycle individually and at their own pace. The tour guide is always available via cell phone in case of questions, breakdowns or emergencies.

Accommodations

The accommodations listed below are examples of those usually used on the tour. Depending on availability, you may be booked in a different accommodation of equal quality.