The Black Forest is a mountainous region in southwest Germany, bordering France. Known for its dense, evergreen forests and picturesque villages, it is often associated with the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. It's renowned for its spas and the cuckoo clocks produced in the region since the 1700s. The region’s largest town, Freiburg, is filled with Gothic buildings and surrounded by vineyards.

Steeped in mystery and myth, the Black Forest is a place in Baden-Württemberg that so many Germans choose when they vacation in their own country. It is a bucket-list destination in Germany, with its inspirational medieval castles and charming villages set against dramatic lakes or mountains covered in thick coniferous forests, the Schwarzwald always answers to calls for adventure. After all, it’s Germany’s largest nature park.

Beyond the picturesque mountain trails, you can hunt for an authentic Black Forest treasure like a cuckoo clock or traditional wooden doll in Schönwald. After souvenir hunting, settle down for a slice of an original Black Forest gateau in Triberg. A pint at a canalside beer garden in Freiburg is sure to evoke memories, too.

The Vosges mountains staddle the regions of Lorraine and Alsace in north-eastern France, close to where France meets Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland. Its an unspoilt, undiscovered corner of France to cycle.

The High Vosges (Massif des Hautes Vosges) reaches peaks of up to 1400m. It's a sparsely populated area, with an abundance of natural beauty, and its peaceful and quiet roads make it an ideal region for active holidays in both winter and summer.

In the Massif des Vosges, you'll find soft round forms ('ballons') that characterise the landscape, with valleys, pine forests and lakes on gentle slopes of the Lorraine side, and steeper terrain on the Alsatian side, where you'll also find vineyards and traditional timber-framed buildings in villages and towns both large and small

This is a small hotel/B&B based holiday. Prices are based on sharing in twin rooms.
Single Supplement for this tour is £450. If opting to share, this must be with a friend or partner. If no one else is prepared to share with someone wanting a twin room, then the single supplement is payable. Ideally you should sign up with a friend to enable you to share a twin room. ACT is reluctant to allow strangers to share a twin room.

330 miles, with 32,000 ft of climbing.

Starting on the edge of the Black Forest in Achern, we immediately cycle up into the forest. Its an amazing landscape, with picture book villages and quiet roads. There are lots of small villages and towns, seeped in history, nestled in the woodlands.

Cycling south through the forest, we stay three nights deep within it, passing the larger town of Frieburg.

Eventually we leave the Black forest, and cross the mighty Rhine, making our way into the Vogues Mountains. Here its very similar to the towns and villages of the Black Forest, as Alsace used to be a part of Germany once.

We pass many vineyards as we dip in and out of the mountains, making our way north. Passing through more amazing small towns, we end our tour with two nights in Obernai. Obernai is situated 25km from Strasbourg in the heart of Alsace, on the Wine Route, at the foot of Mont Sainte-Odile, on the doorstep of the farms and cabbage fields of the Alsatian plain. It is one of the 100 Plus Beaux Détours de France, an association of smaller towns with exceptional but relatively undiscovered tourist appeal. Obernai is tranquil and unspoilt.

Its a beautiful and peaceful part of the world.

• DISTANCE – Approximately 380 miles (approximately 38,000 ft of climbing)
• BIKES – Ride your own bike ! Collection and delivery can be arranged, door to door, and back, for an extra £60 each way
• FULLY SUPPORTED TOUR, with 6 days cycling, averaging approximately 60  miles a day. 7 nights accommodation. Cycling leader plus support vehicle carrying luggage.
• ACTIVITY LEVEL – 7/10 – challenging.
• FLIGHTS – Fly into Strasbourg, Saturday 12th July (or earlier). Fly out of Strasbourg, Saturday 19th July (or later). 

We believe your tour experience will be enhanced if you are able to ride a bike you are comfortable on, and familiar with. So, with that in mind, we will transport your bike to and from the start/finish of a tour.

Our support vehicles are adapted to carry bikes in a safe and secure manner which gives you the peace of mind that you will be ready to get cycling on day one without any major rebuilding of bikes required. Just the front wheel will need to be put back on.

Your bike can be collected and delivered back to your door for £60 each way.

If you would prefer, we can arrange bike hire. This cost covers transport and customs documentation

 DOCUMENTS
You will require a passport to visit France

You are also required to have travel insurance for the duration of the holiday.

WEATHER
The weather in France can be changeable, but hopefully warm and sunny at the end of June.

PAYMENT

Click on ‘Book Now’, and go through the site to pay the deposit. Balance invoiced out 10 weeks before the tour