The tour itinerary is based on a Portsmouth - St Malo, Caen - Portsmouth crossing (see travel choice)

Thursday 20th June: today you make your way to Portsmouth to catch the Brittany Ferries 2015hrs crossing to St.Malo. The evening sailing allows you to travel down on the day, and meet your fellow riders and guides before boarding. Included in your crossing is a en-suite cabin (for two persons), but we leave you to make your own dining arrangements.  

Friday 21st June: (235 miles) an early ferry arrival soon gets us under way on our cross country route along the banks of the Loire and past some of the fantastic Chateaux of the region. Your hotel tonight is located on the outskirts of a lovely medieval town in the Loire valley. On arrival, you can relax and enjoy a swim in the hotel’s pool, or maybe take a walk into this lovely historic town.  Time to enjoy a drink on the hotel terrace before sitting down to our evening meal. 4 star hotel, Dinner, B&B.

Saturday 22nd June (250 miles) : Choice of routes today, for those that have not previously visited it, there is the opportunity to visit the village of Oradour-sur-Glane. This village was the site of one of the greatest atrocities of the Second World War, when occupying SS troops massacred the entire population in reprisal for French resistance. The village has since been preserved exactly as it was then, and is well worth a visit.  Alternatively, you can take a scenic cross country route through the Correze region to enter the Cantal's from the north. Either way, our day finishes at a 3 star hotel in a small rural town under the shadow of the Cantal Mountains. The hotel does not have a dining room so we leave you to make your own dinner arrangements at one of the many nearby restaurants. 3 star hotel, B&B, Garage parking.

Sunday 23rd June (160 miles): Some great roads today as we ride south through the Parc Grand Causses and Parc Haut-Languedoc regions to our next overnight stop in the hilltop town of Carcassone. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, La Cite at Carcassonne is a painstakingly restored medieval walled city on a hill by the Aude River. With 53 towers, barbicans, moat and even its own drawbridge, its well worth a visit. Most of the hotels are in the modern part of the city, however I am pleased to say that we have secured accommodation within easy walking distance of the La Cite entrance. The hotel has a lovely outside pool, terrace area and enclosed private carpark. We take the opportunity to dine out within the city walls. 4 star hotel, B&B, parking.

Monday 24th June (140 miles):  Today we enter Spain via the Pyrenees. Some 275 miles long, the Pyrenees form one of the world’s great mountain chains, stretching from the Catalan Mediterranean in the south, to the Basque Atlantic in the north. We enter via the roads of the Parc regional des Pyrenees, again choices of route, including one will take you via the tax free state of Andorra. Your accommodation for the next two nights' is at a 3 star hotel set in the Cerdanya valley, with fantastic mountain views and great facilities. 3 star hotel,Dinner, B&B & Garage.

Tuesday 25th June (free day): Our two night stop gives you a free day to explore this unique part of the Pyrenees. Widest and brightest of the Pyrenees valleys, Cerdanya it is said to be shaped like the "handprint of God" and is in area that enjoys over 3000 hours of sunshine per year. Fought over for many years, the Valley was eventually divided between France and Spain in 1659, however inhabitants on both sides of the border consider themselves Catalans.

If you want a peaceful day the hotels boast a fitness centre, spa, sauna, inside and beautiful inside/outside swimming pool. If even that sounds like hard work, time to relax in the solarium or on the hotel terrace, admiring the stunning mountain views over a glass or two of wine. For those that wish, retail therapy is available in the form of the tax free Principality of Andorra, just a short ride away. The rider is not forgotten, as to the south lay the mountains of the Serra de Cadi offering challenging roads and fantastic mountain scenery. Or why not visit three countries in the day? As you take a circular route through Andorra, France and back into Spain again. 3 star hotel Dinner, B&B.

Wednesday 26th June (168 miles): Our journey continues as we take a leisurely ride westwards along the N260 as it twists and turns past Sort and up to road to the Bonaigua Pass(6,800ft) from where you get tremendous views. Passing Vielha, the capital of Vall d’ Aran we pass through the Tunnel de Vielha to enter Aragon. Our day finishes at one of our favourite hotels, set in a rural setting and offering lovely mountain views. 3 star hotel, Dinner, B&B

Thursday 27th June (free day): The central or Aragonese Pyrenees are the highest, wildest and most spectacular section of the range boasting the peaks of Monte Perido (3355m) and Aneto (3404m) amongst others. Between these are valleys whose inhabitants were so isolated that they had their own distinct traditions and dialects and, indeed, saw no form of motor transport until the late 20th century. Surrounded by three national parks we are not short of places to visit, however, we suggest a ride-out to the best known of them all, the Ordesa National Park. Created in 1918 the park is not only known for its spectacular scenery and stunning natural beauty, but being an area rich in woodlands, lakes, waterfalls and abundant wildlife.  Should you fancy a day off the bikes there is a fascinating medieval town close by, or perhaps you would prefer a swim in one of the two hotel pools and a beer or glass of wine on the hotel's panoramic terrace. 3 star hotel, Dinner, B&B

Friday 28th June (220 miles): Multiple choices today as we ride back over the Pyrenees and into France. You can take the Col du Somport, scenic Col du Pourtalet or maybe the iconic Col du Tourmalet, much favoured by the Tour de France. Either way all routes will take you to our next hotel situated in its own grounds close to the Garonne river. The hotel as an outside pool and lovely wooded terrace, just the place to enjoy a drink or two before sitting down to an evening meal. 3 star hotel,Dinner, B&B.

Saturday 29th June (279 miles): Using predominantly N roads we take a cross country route to our final destination Le Mans. This 4 star hotel as recently been refurbished and its wellness centre includes a new indoor swimming pool. 4 star hotel, Dinner, B&B.  

Sunday 30th June (110 miles): An easy run today takes us back to Caen to catch the 1630hrs ferry back to Portsmouth. There should be plenty of time to visit the Pegasus Bridge, originally called the Bénouville Bridge after the neighbouring village, it is now a war memorial and is the centrepiece of the Memorial Pegasus museum at nearby Ranville.Our ferry docks at 2130hrs, where we bid our farewells.