Via Rhona: Geneva to Lyon

Sunday: Arrive in Geneva
After checking into your hotel, you may spend your first day strolling around the beautiful Geneva Lake, one of the largest lakes in Western Europe with incredible surrounding scenery. Despite being a lively and one of the most important European cities, Geneva can also offer you an afternoon of tranquility in its Botanical Gardens, renowned for its botanical conservation. Stroll through the rock gardens and greenhouses which house species from all over the world before taking a sunset cruise on the lake.

Monday: Geneva – Seyssel: (56 km – just less than 35 miles, 650 meters of climbing)
Following breakfast, you will be met by our guide at your hotel, at 9am, who will brief you on your itinerary and give you all the necessary equipment for your trip. The highlights of your route include cycling along the infamous Rhone River, admiring the heart-warming views over the charming wine-making villages of Dardagny and Satigny, and frolicking around intimidating forts. Conquer the westernmost point of Switzerland by bike at the village of Chancy and then cross the border into France. Unmissable here is the Fort de l’Ecluse, founded by a Duke of Savoy, which is an elevated fort, built out of a striking rock formation and a natural entrance of the Rhone Valley into France between the Vuache hills and the Jura. Your home for the night is in Seyssel, a small “double-town” in both the Haut-Savoie (Upper Savoy) and the Ain departments on the Rhone River located between two dams.

Tuesday: Seyssel – Belley (approx. 37 km or 23 miles)
En route to your daily destination, you can enjoy lunch by the Canal de Savieres in the chocolate-box village of Chanaz, nicknamed the Little Venice of Savoie, or you can enjoy a short cruise along the canal, ending up at the Lac du Bourget, France's largest and deepest lake surrounded by mountains, before heading back to Chanaz and continuing on your trip. Finally, you will arrive in Belley, a Roman town where you can try its famous homemade cheeses with names that sound as lush as the forests.

Wednesday: Belley – Les Avenieres (approx. 40 km or 25 miles)
Make a stop in the village of Saint Genix sur Guiers, where you can discover the legend of the bandit Captain Louis Mandrin, the French version Robin Hood, who waged war on the unpopular Farmers General tax collectors and gained support from the local people in the region. When you arrive to your destination, the village of Les Avenieres, you can visit the Walibi Aquitaine Park where you can enjoy some lovely water based theme rides before then go canoeing along the river.

Thursday: Les Avenieres– Vertrieu/La Balme-les-Grottes (approx. 50 km or 31 miles)
Small community of Balme-les-Grottes, with its fantastic underground grottoes where you will be enchanted by the this site which has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The caves were used as a sacrificial altar and later made into a chapel by Francois I. You will find a lake, several pools, rock formations, a 35 meter high porch and a dinosaur exhibition. You will later visit the historically rich village of Vertrieu and see its 12th Century fortified house, and imagine that you too, were one of its guardsmen watching the boatmen bringing stone along the river to Lyon. You will also visit the stunning 18th Century castle settled on the banks of the Rhone.

Friday: Vertrieu – Villemoirieu (approx. 30 km or 18 miles)
In the small town of Villemoirieu, you can see the interesting and impressive 15th Century fortified house in its beautiful neo-gothic architecture. You can also stop off to visit a goat farm and local producers such as snail breeders which will surely add an exotic twist to your French tales! Here you will be staying in the guesthouse La Bicyclette Fleurie, which has been renovated from an old farmhouse using only local materials, uses a heating system using only granulated wood and serves only organic or fair trade products from neighbouring villages. Their eco-friendly ways have earned them the “Ecogite” label from Gites de France.

Saturday: Villemoirieu/Jonage – Lyon (approx. 50 km or 31 miles)
Jonage is home to the magnificent Miribel-Jonage Park, home to 2,200 hectacres of protected nature, and a 350 hectacre lake, which is one of the largest peri-urban parks in Europe. Here you can take part in various sports activities such as kayaking, canoeing, horseriding or relax on the 9-hole golf course with views over the lake, or go shopping in the various fresh local produce markets.
After your final day of cycling, you will finish your trip in the great city of Lyon, a UNESCO world heritage site since 1998, once famed for silk weaving. Here you can stop at the Parc de la Tete d'Or (The Golden Head Park), which is France's largest urban park and whose zoo you can visit. Later, take the cable car ride up to visit the Notre-Dame de Fourviere basilica on the hill, with spectacular views of the city. Then walk down to see the Medieval cathedral and thriving old town.

Sunday: Departure
After breakfast, depart at the time of your choice.