London to Paris Charity Bike Ride

Trip Highlights

Your expedition begins in bustling London city where you will meet the rest of your group and navigate your way through England’s capital and out into the leafy suburbs. You will head towards Godstone and then off on relatively traffic free roads to Newhaven. You then cross by ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe where you can rest after a long day and a great cycling experience. Your second day is slightly less arduous and affords you the time to get to know your group and form a real team spirit as you journey through the beautiful French countryside. The penultimate day of your challenge pushes your stamina with 79miles (127kms) of cycling to the French capital and to the foot of the Eiffel Tower. It is here you can celebrate in style with a glass of champagne overlooking the magnificent Seine and under the shade of Paris’s most famous landmark. You will then return home the following afternoon with some well earned comfort on the Eurostar.

Price Details

Price

From: GBP150 per person (4 Days)

Price Includes

• All internal transfers
• Return Eurostar ticket
• All meals unless otherwise stated in the itinerary
• All accommodation
• Group first aid supplies
• English speaking expedition leader and full local support team (assistant, drivers, mechanic, medic)
• Relevant back-up facilities (lead car and support truck)
• US$20 to a local community project

Price Excludes

• The following items are not included in your expedition and will be at your own expense: tips for the local support team, activities not mentioned in the itinerary, entrance fees to monuments & museums etc visited in your own time, personal spending money and travel to and from UK meeting point in London.

Departure Dates

Friday 21 August 2009 - Monday 24 August 2009

self funder minimum sponsorship
expedition cost = deposit + balance deposit+minimum sponsorship travel insurance
£790 £150 +£ 640 £150 + £1200 £29

Friday 28 August 2009 - Monday 31 August 2009

self funder minimum sponsorship
expedition cost = deposit + balance deposit+minimum sponsorship travel insurance
£790 £150 +£ 640 £150 + £1200 £29

Friday 30 July 2010 - Monday 02 August 2010

self funder minimum sponsorship
expedition cost = deposit + balance deposit+minimum sponsorship travel insurance
£883 £175 + £ 708 £175 + £1350 £32

Friday 27 August 2010 - Monday 30 August 2010

self funder minimum sponsorship
expedition cost = deposit + balance deposit+minimum sponsorship travel insurance
£883 £175 + £ 708 £175 + £1350 £32

Itinerary

Day 1: Friday
Tower Bridge to Newhaven - 69miles / 110kms
Your challenge begins today in London. This morning you will meet at Tower Bridge for an introduction to your expedition leader, support team and the rest of your group and receive your introductory briefing. Once all your bikes are set and ready to go you will begin your ride, heading south towards Crystal Palace through Beckenham and Hayes. This is one of the faster routes out of the city and within 2-3hrs you will be in the beautiful British countryside of Godstone, stopping for a late lunch after 38miles at Turners Hill, Surrey. The late afternoon route winds through the South Downs past Haywards Heath and traversing Ditchling Beakon before dropping down into Newhaven. In Newhaven you will load your bikes into the support van before having an evening meal together close to the ferry port before catching the ferry to France. This is a long, tough first day with a mixture of heavy traffic riding out of London in the morning and some large ascents. All cyclists are treated as foot passengers and are required to ‘walk’ onto the ferry. Your bikes will be in the support van for the ferry journey. The overnight ferry crossing takes approximately 4hrs arriving early on the Saturday morning. Once in Dieppe, you will be taken by coach to your accommodation as it will be just after 0330hrs local time. Here you can go straight to your hotel beds for a well deserved night’s rest and a late start for the following day.

Day 2: Saturday
Dieppe to Gournay - 54miles / 86kms
This morning you can enjoy a lie in after your achievements yesterday. Due to the previous days ride and late finish, departure is not until later today. Heading inland on undulating quiet roads, passing through small villages and a bison farm, the ride today is a great opportunity for you to relax and settle into the whole weekend and get to know the rest of your group. After 35miles (53kms) you will stop for a leisurely lunch in the town of Saint-Saens with it’s traditional church. After lunch you will enjoy a rolling afternoon through some very picturesque French countryside. The roads are smoother, the traffic far quieter, and there are no big towns to go through. It is quite simply a fantastic day’s riding for those who want to stretch out a little or simply cruise along taking it all in. You will arrive late afternoon, at your hotel and will have the evening to relax at leisure as tomorrow is a tough day. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Gournay.

Day 3: Sunday
Gournay to the Eiffel Tower, Paris - 79miles / 127kms
This morning you will make an early start heading southwest through more spectacular French countryside. The ride until lunchtime is particularly challenging with several major climbs to overcome over 52miles (83kms). Once at lunch in Boisemont you are already on the outskirts of Paris with only 25miles (40kms) remaining. The ride into town is fairly technical through the suburbs and busy streets with numerous junctions to overcome along with negotiating the traffic. From Bois de Boulogne for the final 3.5mile (5.6kms) leg, the lead car will lead you in as one group. You will cycle down and then back up the famous Avenue Des Champs Elysees, around the Arc De Triomph and finish at the Trocadero Gardens with a fantastic view of the Eiffel Tower. You will arrive at the Eiffel Tower late afternoon where you can celebrate the pinnacle of your challenge at France’s most infamous landmark. You then have a 1mile ride to your hotel where your bikes will be loaded onto the support truck to return to London tomorrow. You can then check in and spruce yourself up before the final night’s celebratory meal after which, the evening is yours to spend at leisure in Paris enjoying the nightlife of this fascinating city! Overnight hotel in Paris.

Day 4: Monday
Paris to London
This morning is free for you to wander around Paris or simply lie-in after your celebrations the night before! The support truck leaves early this morning with your bikes and bike equipment for you to collect later today from St Pancreas. Just after lunchtime you will transfer by coach to Gare du Nord Eurostar station for your journey back to London St Pancreas. Your challenge ends at St Pancreas where your bikes will be waiting for you in the Despatch Centre.

Other Info