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Burgundy's Vineyards by Bike

From Mâcon to Beaune
Gastronomic journey | Cycle through a region renowned for its wines and cuisine.
Cultural exploration | Discover the rich history and charm of Burgundy.
Wine experience | Enjoy a tasting at a famous, atmospheric wine cellar.
Comfortable stays | Relax in high-quality, character-filled hotels.
Leisurely cycling | Expect canal towpaths, vineyards, and former railway cycle paths.
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 3 dinners
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • high-quality bicycle
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • wine tour & tasting
  • Burgundy's Vineyards by Bike
    From Mâcon to Beaune
  • Cycle through vineyards
  • gastronomic Burgundy
  • Aeriel view of Cluny Abbey
  • Cycle through quaint villages
  • Sample local wines
  • Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, Dijon
  • Delicious boeuf bourguignon
  • easy cycling on waymarked paths
  • Stop for wine tasting opportunities
  • Chalon sur Sâone
  • celebrated wines of Burgundy
  • Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise vineyard
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 3 dinners
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • high-quality bicycle
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • wine tour & tasting

Holiday information

A cycling holiday in Burgundy

Puligny-Montrachet, Rully, Mercurey, Meursault, Nuits St Georges…the route that this indulgent cycling holiday takes through the world-renowned vineyards of Burgundy, from Mâcon in the south to handsome Beaune in the north, reads like a ‘who’s who’ of famous wines and finishes, very fittingly, with an included visit to the historic Patriarche Cellars. Here any questions you may have about Grand and Premier Cru labels, and that all-important concept of terroir, will be answered before you sample some of the exceptional vintages.
While Burgundy’s wines and regional gastronomy – considered to be one of the best in France – are a veritable treat for the palate, the scenery and architectural treasures are a feast for the eyes. The routes lead past all manner of architectural gems, from frescoed churches and majestic abbeys to Renaissance châteaux and fortified mansions, and, even allowing for ad-hoc wine-tastings, there is plenty of time for cultural visits along the way. Equally pleasing to the eye are the timeless views which stretch towards the mountains of the Jura and which inspired one of France’s greatest 19th-century poets, Alphonse de Lamartine.

To top it all off, sunny Burgundy is a very bike-friendly region, with an excellent network of cycle trails along disused railway lines and canal towpaths. Fine wine, good food, history, sunshine, and designated trails…this region has it all.


Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on almost any day, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 7 9 12 16 19 23 26 27 23 18 11 8
    mm 64 61 58 79 90 70 61 65 73 82 86 77
  • Arrival in Mâcon
    Night 1: at Hotel d’Europe et d’Angleterre (where you stay one night).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of cycling.
  • Mâcon to Cluny: 30km, 230m ascent / 160m descent
    Cycle first along the banks of one of France’s arterial rivers, the Saône, before taking an easily navigable route out of Mâcon. You follow France’s first voie verte, a cycle track following a disused railway line, into the Lamartine Valley (named after the 19th-century French poet), passing via Berzé-la-Ville, an attractive old village perched atop a hill with an 11th-century chapel with some delightful medieval frescoes. The last leg takes you through a tunnel*, beyond which is Cluny, where you spend one night at either the Hotel de Bourgogne or Le Potin Gourmand.

    *Please note: the tunnel is closed during the winter months to allow bats to nest and re-opens in mid-April. During this time, a well-signed, but hilly, detour is in place.
    Mâcon to Cluny: 30km
    Berzé-la-Ville near Cluny
  • Cluny to Dracy-le-Fort: 46.5km, 170m ascent / 200m descent
    Leaving Cluny, you head northwards on the voie verte once more. You pass by Cormatin, which boasts a bicycle museum, a church with some remarkable works of religious art, and a beautifully restored 17th-century château complete with a splendid Louis XIII-style interior, a grand staircase and an English garden. You then join the River Grosne before skirting the edge of the famed Côte Chalonnaise vineyards. It is worth pausing in both Saint-Gengoux-le-National – characterised by fortified houses, towers and winding staircases – and Buxy, a wine-growing town with a museum devoted to viticulture. Your destination is Dracy-le-Fort, and Hotel Le Dracy.
    Cluny to Dracy-le-Fort: 46.5km
    Pass through Buxy
  • Choice of routes from Dracy-le-Fort: 8km or 33km, 210m ascent/descent

    Circular route from Dracy-le-Fort: 33km
    Head to the nearby Château de Germolles (see shorter option below) before striking out through the vineyard-clad Côte Chalonnaise to two famous wine villages: Mercurey, the appellation's most important village (it produces more wines than any other village in the area); and Rully, home of the sparkling Crémant de Bourgogne.

    Out-and-back route to Château de Germolles: 8km (4km each way)
    Alternatively, if you fancy a day largely out of the saddle, you could cycle no further than Château de Germolles, which is well worth a visit. Once home to the Duke of Burgundy, Philippe le Hardi (Philip The Bold) and his wife Marguerite de Flandre (Margaret of Flanders), Germolles is the best-preserved chateau from the time of the Dukes of Burgundy. Visits are guided only and include a tour of the cellar, lower chapel and great reception room, plus the ducal apartments which contain the only known surviving examples of heraldic frescoes from this period. Tour times vary and the chateau is closed on Mondays except in July and August.
    Circular route from Dracy-le-Fort: 33km
    Chateau de Germolles
  • Dracy-le-Fort to Beaune: 46km, 260m ascent / 250m descent
    You're not in the saddle long before you reach Chalon-sur-Saône, birthplace of the inventor of photography, Nicéphore Niepce, where the charming old town clusters around the Gothic cathedral. You can visit the fascinating old pharmacy and the museum of photography before following the Canal du Centre past eight locks and the pleasant town of Chagny with its watch tower and Romanesque church. The last leg of the day takes you through premier cru vineyards and the town of Meursault, whose town hall is adorned with the coloured and varnished roof tiles so typical of the region. From here, you rise to the village of Volnay, where you can enjoy the views across the plain of the Saône towards the Jura Mountains, before descending through more vineyards to Beaune. Your final two nights are spent at the Hotel de la Poste or you can upgrade to the very special Hotel le Cep.
    Dracy-le-Fort to Beaune: 46km
    Puligny-Montrachet
  • Circular route from Beaune: 44km, 220m ascent/descent
    Our suggested circular route weaves northwards through the villages and vineyards whose bottles proudly bear the celebrated Nuits-Saint-Georges name. Your target is Nuits-Saint-Georges itself, a lively town which makes a good lunch stop.

    On your return to Beaune, take time to explore: stroll along the ramparts, marvel at the intricately patterned roof and arcaded walkways of the 15th-century hospice, and indulge in a final wine tasting (see below).
    Circular route from Beaune: 44km
    View of Beaune
  • Patriarche Cellars, Beaune
    As a fitting finale to your holiday in Burgundy, we include a visit to the famous Patriarche Cellars in the centre of Beaune. The tour is by audioguide (available in English), meaning you can go round the historic vaulted cellars at your own pace, learning about the region's most famous export and the history and traditions which surround it, before finishing with a tasting of some of its superlative wines.

Accommodation

You stay in four high-quality hotels of great character, with the option of upgrading your final hotel for a very indulgent ending to your holiday.

In Cluny we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. Both are hand-picked by us and, unless there is a price implication (in which case we will contact you to discuss your options), we will tell you which one we have booked for you on your booking confirmation.
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 6 nights: 14 April 2025 - 30 September 2025 & 14 April 2026 - 30 September 2026

    Start Saturday to Wednesday | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price
    23 Jul - 24 Sep 2025 £1628
    14 - 30 Apr 2026 £1693
    1 May - 24 Sep 2026 £1758

    Includes accommodation, meals, bike hire, luggage transfers and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus cycling notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Electric bikes available: pricing confirmed at time of booking

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Lyon
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed below To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Paris CDG Air France,  KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Paris CDG Air France,  KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Paris CDG Air France,  easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Lyon easyJet 
    Edinburgh - Lyon (via Paris) Air France 
    Edinburgh - Paris CDG Air France,  easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Paris CDG easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Paris CDG jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Paris CDG easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Lyon easyJet 
    Gatwick - Paris CDG easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Lyon British Airways 
    Heathrow - Lyon (via Paris) Air France 
    Heathrow - Paris CDG British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Lyon easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    London Southend - Paris CDG easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Lyon easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Lyon (via Paris) Air France 
    Manchester - Paris CDG Air France,  easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Lyon (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Newcastle - Lyon (via Paris) Air France 
    Newcastle - Paris CDG Air France,  KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Southampton - Lyon (via Paris) Air France 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed below To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

    Where a price range is given, the price you pay depends on your date of travel.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Paris CDG

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Paris CDG to Paris Gare de Lyon (1h15), rail Paris Gare de Lyon to Macon Loche (1h45), taxi Macon Loche to hotel (0h15) £105-£109 1530
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Dijon Ville (0h45), rail Dijon Ville to Paris Gare de Lyon (1h45), rail Paris Gare de Lyon to Paris CDG (1h15) £150-£160 1630

    Connecting travel options - flying via Lyon

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Lyon Part-Dieu to Mâcon Ville (0h50), taxi or bus Mâcon Ville to hotel (0h10, pay locally) £18-£19 1700
    taxi Lyon airport to hotel (1h10) £126-£135 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Lyon airport (1h45) £235-£245 flexible
    taxi hotel to Beaune station (0h10, pay locally), rail Beaune to Lyon Part Dieu (1h45) £32-£33 1300
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 4 reviews
  • Paul & Kerry G
    13 September 2023

    Recommended - very leisurely cycling with ample opportunity to sample some amazing wine and food. Don't be put off by the distances per day, you follow a valley through the area so pretty much flat all the way. It's also an established 'path' - the "velo vertes" is fantastic. Highlights were the food at Hotel Dracy's restaurant, the many stop off's at various 'Caves' for tasting (!), seeing the pickers harvesting the grapes and the upgraded room in Beaune. Given you're eating out most evenings, watch out for closures of recommended restaurants and places to visit in the notes, luck of the draw depending on your dates of travel, but you can easily find alternative places and the hotel staff were also very helpful.

  • Anon
    26 July 2023

    I booked with Inntravel after recommendations from friends.  I'm not convinced I want to pay good money in future with the threat of poor hotel rooms or poorly maintained kit. Not a great first experience with Inntravel.

    Inntravel
    response

    We appreciate the feedback, particularly where we have made recent changes to a holiday as in this instance, with the aim of improving the experience. We do offer an upgrade hotel in Beaune for anyone looking for a 5* finish to the holiday.

  • Mrs M Forkgen
    Tonbridge
    11 July 2023

    Book directly with Active Tours.  There is no point in using Inntravel for this holiday.

    I'm sure you won't put this on your website, but you probably should as it's an accurate description.

    Inntravel
    response

    We're very sorry to hear that you didn't feel it worth booking the holiday with us. We appreciate your very detailed feedback sent to us directly, to which we have also responded.

  • Libby and Susan
    05 September 2022

    The GPX maps were an excellent source.  Hotel choices were excellent as was bike route.

    Our personal highlight was le Montrachet...we hope it remains on future itineraries.

    Great value, great tour, love Inntravel.

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • Our chosen bike rental shop will provide you with a hybrid bike with 27 gears; a waterproof map case on handlebars; pannier/saddlebag; pump; puncture repair kit; and a lock. Electric bikes are available as an upgrade (see price panel), subject to availability, and must be requested at the time of booking.
  • While we would always recommend that you take your own well-fitting helmet, they can be hired locally for a small fee. Please let us know at the time of booking if you would like to hire a helmet.
  • Yes, we will provide GPX tracks for this holiday prior to departure so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. (We also provide maps and our tried-and-tested route notes, which remain the principal means of navigation).
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. On mornings when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation so that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our cycling holidays in Europe page.
  • You are responsible for damage to or loss of the rental bike while it is hired to you. Always be careful to lock it up, ideally to an immovable object, and remove all easy-to-steal accessories whenever you leave it unattended.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to France, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The official language is French. The currency is the Euro. French time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Price from
£1,628pp | 6 nights
Burgundy's Vineyards by Bike. 6 nights
Price from
£1,628pp
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