If you’re looking for a healthy and active holiday, then look no further than a biking holiday in Gascony. Beautiful landscapes, very little traffic, enticing refreshment stops and plenty of easy options for all abilities and interests thanks to our two biking Working Partners, Gascogne Bike Hire and e-Velo Gers…
With the colder winter months on the horizon, now’s the perfect time to plan something to look forward to in 2023. Gascony is the perfect place for a relaxing break where you can truly unwind. Of course, we’re slightly biased (!) but with so many picturesque landscapes, fantastic culture and delicious food and drink, (not to mention our stunning selection of holiday retreats) what’s not to love?
Perhaps one of Gascony’s key selling points is its scope for active holidays. Depending on which times of year you choose to visit, there’s masses of options, and you can take it entirely at your own pace, doing as much or as little as you like. The area benefits from a generally year-round agreeable climate, with mild autumns and springs. So, if you enjoy being in the great outdoors, for the majority of the year it’s very enjoyable. Of course, the outdoor activities don’t cease in the winter. During the colder season, you’ve got the added benefit of the Pyrenees on your doorstep providing not only a glorious snow-capped backdrop, but a great place to ski - and more affordable alternative than the Alps!
To help our guests really get the most out of their time in Gascony, we’ve teamed up with a wide-ranging and ever-growing group of Working Partners, who are local businesses run by experts in their chosen area. Each can offer our guests an authentic taste of life in the area. Find out more about all our Working Partners here in order to help you decide which activities you may want to try while staying with us in Gascony. We will introduce you to the Working Partners of your choice, and then you will deal directly with them.
Biking holidays in this part of the world are outstanding, with some incredible trails and scenery. There couldn’t be a better and more relevant way to get around this particularly unpolluted and sparsely populated region in light of the current climate issues that the planet is facing, promoting a healthy, sustainable and enjoyable way of seeing Gascony as its best. Slow tourism in its purest form. (Unless of course you’re a very quick cyclist!)
While you can simply pitch up, get biking and you’ll still be guaranteed to have a fantastic time – there are also some slightly more tried and tested routes available. We’ve rounded up a few of the most popular:
Popular biking routes in Gascony
· The Green Way of Armagnac – Lying between the towns of Condom and Lagraulet-du-Gers, a former railway line has been ‘refurbished’ to offer visitors a wonderful biking route with all the amenities needed for a family bike trip including parking, reliable directions, picnic tables, and toilets. Departing from the episcopal city of Condom, this greenway allows you to discover the vines and valleys of one of Gascony’s best-known products: Armagnac.
· The Baïse valley bike-route – by entering the Gers near Condom and biking part of the Armagnac greenway, you will discover the town of Vic-Fezensac. On this route you will traverse beautiful countryside before arriving at the Hautes-Pyrénées. This route is often referred to as the ‘Mill Bike Route’ as it runs along the river Baïse, offering wonderful views of the watermills that line it. You will also catch sight of some beautiful locks, the most remarkable of which is the Graziac double lock.
· The French Divide and the pilgrim routes to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostela – this long-distance mountain bike race is one for the more intrepid bikers, inspired by the American Great Divide.
While you can bring your own bikes with you on holiday to Gascony, an easier alternative would be to get in touch with our fantastic Working Partners, Gascogne Bike Hire or e-Velo Gers. Gascogne Bike Hire specialises in organising some incredible day tours around local points of interest and vineyards, while e-Velo Gers provides electric bike hire from your rental property. Both Working Partners take the hassle out of transporting bikes on holiday with you, can point you in the best directions and make hiring a breeze. More information on both our bike Working Partners below:
Adam and Bee Fitch have lived in Gascony since 2008 and set up e-Velo Gers in 2021, in response to the Covid pandemic.
e-Velo Gers was set up with the compelling principle that the business would have a number of bike-hire bases across Le Gers, and eventually across Occitanie. For 2023, e-Velo Gers guarantee that they will deliver your chosen electric bikes to your rental property, ready for you to use, and then collect them when you have finished.
It doesn’t make environmental or economic sense to transport electric bikes long distances in a diesel van so that people can bike short distances while on holiday! So Bee and Adam have created a business that provides pleasure and exercise to many people, and also helps preserve the rural beauty of Gascony whilst promoting the ethos of slow tourism.
You will deal directly with e-Velo – we will simply provide you with the introduction.
Bee Fitch
+33610455638
Dave and Tracey Jones have been living and biking in Gascony for 20 years. As Gascogne Bike Hire they offer guests staying in Simply Gascony rental properties a variety of bicycle based services, including:
Bike Hire. You can explore this beautiful area on your own. They have conventional bikes, e-bikes and children's bikes and Trailers. You can also hire pannier bags, phone holders, and child seats.
Self-Guided Day Tours. Day Tours with different Points of Interest. A day tour usually starts at their depot at 9am. Your tour can then be downloaded to your phone for full GPS guidance. Tour options include the Historical tour, the Wine & Armagnac Tour and the Gastronomic Tour. Gascogne Bike Hire can also provide you with a gourmet Picnic lunch (vegetarian/vegan options available) so you can stop when you choose and go at your own pace. You can also choose the distance for your day tour, e.g. 20km 30km etc.
You will deal directly with Gascogne Bike Hire– we will simply provide you with the introduction.
David & Tracey Jones
0033 627722894
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