Geneva to Lyon on the River Rhone Cycle Path

Arrive during the day to Geneva and check into your hotel. You must take time to discover this beautiful city of Switzerland, also known as the “capital of peace” with its humanitarian tradition, it will for certain seduce you with its international charm. Its old town offers a wide choice of delicious restaurants. Also, you can enjoy a pleasant stroll beside Lake Geneva.

Your first bike ride today will take you from Switzerland and into France along the Rhone, you will discover the “Défilé de l’Écluse” and then the first vineyards between mountains and valleys while keeping in view the sumptuous mountains of the Alps. This part of the trip will be on some busier roads (which are unavoidable), but the rest of the week will be much quieter. You will spend the night in the charming little town of Seyssel, on the banks of the river. You can also take the train if you wish to avoid this slightly busier roads.

Today you shall leave Seyssel by bike and cycle between ridges and plateau on both banks of the Rhone. You shall soon reach Chanaz, also called “La Petite Venise Savoyarde”, where you can enjoy a pleasant break in one of the charming restaurants along the canal of Savières. Then you continue to cycle on towards Culoz and Belley which are peaceful small towns with a rich heritage. The last section of today’s route will take you through lovely landscapes to arrive in the region of Champagneux.

If you like cakes then today you have a treat, hopefully, by now you have worked off some calories so today you can be naughty! You pass through Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers, which is famous for the brioche pralines, a French Cake and rather delicious! Further along the cycle route, you can take a little detour towards the village of Glandieu which will allow you to refresh yourself in a majestic waterfall, a true wonder of nature. Then you pass through Morestel where you can stroll through the narrow streets of the old town. This is a town of painters, flower and home of poets. Now a lovely greenway links “La Vallée Bleue” to Villebois, this is where you’ll stay overnight.

This Via Rhôna stage takes you through the unspoilt countryside of Burgey above the Rhône. You will pass lovely villages in the morning, such as Saint-Sorlin-en-Bugey and Sault-Brénaz and the more secretive La Balme-les-Grottes, with its great caves and picturesque old centre. Your cycle destination today will soon be in sight as you approach the hilltop medieval village of Pérouges which is one of the most beautiful villages in France.

Today is the last day of cycling as you enter Lyon on a lovely cycle path which cleverly links the parks and lakes of Greater Lyon, including at Le Grand Large and Miribel-Jonage. Then enjoy the magnificent cycle route through central Lyon, along with the Rhône’s banks. At the Rhône’s confluence with the Saône, you come to a brand-new quarter marked by contemporary architecture, the most striking building being the Musée des Confluences. Your options for the rest of the day are endless but you can also reward your soul of the cyclist with a delicious meal in a “petit bouchon”, a typical restaurant in the city.

End of your trip after breakfast. We advise you to extend your stay in order to take the time to visit the beautiful city of Lyon. Follow on tour – Lyon to Orange