FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Boat Bike Tours is launching two new e-bike and boat tours in France in 2027 that make exploring the rivers surrounding Paris and south of Lyon active yet effortless. The Paris & the Heart of Northern France and Provence & the Rhône Valley itineraries bring together scenic cycling, authentic culture, regional cuisine and small-ship comfort. Eased by guided e-bike excursions and the need to unpack only once, visit artistic and château-filled France just beyond the City of Light or the celebrated vineyards and Roman monuments of the country’s sunlit south.
“Many travelers want to experience Europe in a way that feels active and immersive, but also comfortable and easy,” said Laurens Winkel, CEO of Boat Bike Tours. “These new tours in France bring that balance to life – guests will cycle through landscapes shaped by centuries of history, artists and winemakers on e-bikes, then return each evening to the comfort of a small floating hotel that follows their route. They answer a growing demand for experiential, small-scale travel where the journey is the destination.”
Aristocratic, Artistic Northern France
The Paris & the Heart of Northern France tour takes in riverside towns, elegant castles, royal forests and landscapes that inspired artists along the Marne, Seine and Oise rivers between Lagny-sur-Marne and Soissons.
Cruise past the Eiffel Tower in Paris and bike quiet paths through leafy suburbs and rural fields to the Île des Impressionnistes, the village where Van Gogh spent his final days, the shaded Forest of Compiègne, the Château de Champs-sur-Marne’s formal gardens, the Château de Chantilly’s equestrian heritage and the Château de Pierrefonds’ fairytale towers.
The eight-day tour starts at €1,919 per person based on double occupancy.
Sunlit Scenery of Southern France
The Provence & the Rhône Valley tour between Lyon and Arles passes through classic scenery of the sunlit south of France like vineyards, olive groves, lavender fields and Roman monuments.
Bike sections of the ViaRhôna cycling route and countryside roads to hilltop villages, Avignon’s UNESCO-listed old town and Palais des Papes, the Pont du Gard aqueduct, the monastery where Van Gogh painted some of his most famous works and opportunities to savor the food and wine traditions of the region.
The eight-day tour starts at €1,999 per person based on double occupancy.
Intimate, Comfortable Ships
Comfortable small ships serve as floating hotels along both tour routes, with welcoming crews that provide a more personal experience.
On the Paris & the Heart of Northern France tour, the Clair d’Etoile barge offers 12 cozy cabins, a salon, small bar and lounge, dining area and spacious sundeck.
The MS Provence on the Provence & the Rhône Valley tour offers 23 spacious suites and an inviting sundeck, lounge and bar with panoramic windows, and dining room.
Enjoy breakfast before rides, a packed lunch, dinner after an active day and a relaxing atmosphere to unwind in.
