FIVE COUNTRIES 2025
France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland
Dunkirk to Basel, 26 May - 7 June 2025
Just one female sharing place left!
New for 2025, an epic 13 day, 700 mile/1150 kilometre ride from the Channel to the Alps, averaging 55 miles/90 kilometres each day, via Ypres, Luxembourg City, Strasbourg, the Black Forest and down into Switzerland (and with plenty of interesting places and a few hills in-between!), mostly on quiet roads and staying in small hotels. A great ride, suiting the reasonably fit, sociable and confident rider who enjoys cycling in a group at a steady pace.
The details:
26 May: 1200 Ferry from Dover to Dunkirk (included in price), then 35m/60k to Ypres
27 May: 63m/101k Ypres to Valenciennes, via Lille (with a planned stop at a WW1 cemetery)
28 May: 52m/85k into Belgium, staying at the village of Couvin overnight
29 May: 65m/105 k, back into France, through Alsace over deep rolling countryside to the town of Neufchateau.
30 May: 50m/80k into Luxembourg, arriving in Luxembourg City mid-afternoon with time to explore
31 May: 56m/90k from Luxembourg City, across the Moselle at Schengen (!) and into Germany towards Saarlouis
1 June May: 62m/100k, back into France through attractive rolling country (now with some hills) to the pretty resort town of La Petite Pierre
2 June: 36m/60k into Strasbourg for a half day
3 June: 52m/85k across the mighty Rhine back into Germany and the Black Forest, and our first proper climb (22k steadily uphill) to Freudenstadt
4 June: 50m/80k with long ups and long downs through the Black Forest to nearby Triberg (home of the cuckoo clock)
5 June: 53m/86k, with more hills but finishing with a spectacular 20k descent to the Rhine and into Switzerland
6 June: 45m/75k along the Rhine (flat!), arriving at our destination in the great city of Basel in good time to look around and perhaps to swim in the Rhine!
7 June: Back to UK, for most via Basel Airport (4 direct flights to London currently listed, and only 5m/8k from the centre).
Returning by train is possible but more complicated, and usually involves some dismantling (wheels, handlebars, pedals) and packing in a bike bag. I am always ready to advise on options.
Prices:
£1989 per person, sharing accommodation
£2449 per person, single accommodation
Prices include: all bed and breakfasts, picnic lunches and dinners, the ferry to Dunkirk, and a tour leader throughout
The only things you have to pay for in addition are booze, drinks in cafes, and travel back from Basel.