Discover France
Discover France
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About
Discover France is a leader in self-guided cycling tours and active vacations in France & beyond. We have organized self-guided vacations for tens of thousands of people since 1994. So what exactly does it mean to go on a self-guided tour? In a self-guided tour, we book the hotels, provide the bikes and equipment, arrange luggage transfers and provide on-site support. You travel with the people that you book with, and choose your own pace. Navigation is done with a GPS device, and you also have printed roadbooks with maps and turn-by-turn instructions to have complementary navigation options throughout your tour. We provide support services 7/7 days of the week, and can intervene to help with problems anywhere in France. Choosing a self-guided hike or bike tour saves costs while still providing convenience and professional support throughout your trip. Feel free to read the reviews to see what other travelers have most appreciated.
Mauguio, Occitanie, France
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
224 reviews
Excellent
207
Very good
10
Average
3
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Terrible
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thomasmO2405WM
salt lake city, United States4 contributions
Jul 2021
This was my third trip with Discover France. We were DF's first cycling tour of 2021 with the opening of France to the US. We spent 6 days cycling alongside the Alps routes of the Tour de France. Because we love the col rides, we added two additional mountain days to the standard four day TDF Alps rides offered by DF. We rode Col de Galibier and Alps D' Huez on these two days and would highly recommend them. Our guides, Thomas and Sacha, were outstanding: patient, attentive, encouraging and always helpful, leading rides, providing tips, proposing great additional climbs to grab more superb mountain vistas before the end of each day. Accommodations at Les Arcs and Alps D'Huez were excellent with large rooms and great balcony views. We certainly enjoyed our day at the race finish watching pro riders cross the finish line at Tignes, as we were allowed to do several hours before, then stand on the podium to pose for our own meager accomplishments. Finally, Thomas, and Valentina at the DF office, booked both my hotel and train to the Lyon airport prior to departure. They also brought me to a medical office for a mandatory COVID test required to reenter the US. The DF team is passionate about their work and deliver an exceptional customer experience. For cyclists who wish to tackle medium or long rides with a guide and support vehicle, use DF. I will again.
Written July 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Thomas,
It was a real pleasure to accompany you during this stay. Thank you so much for taking the time to send this! Everyone here at Discover France loves to know that our customers enjoy what we do.We’re glad that you loved your experience. We are always trying our best to make your bike trip memorable, and we’re glad that we’ve achieved it!
Thank you again and we’re looking forward to making your experience even better in the future!
Best,
Thomas
The Discover France team
Written August 23, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Justin T
Petoskey, MI4 contributions
Jul 2021
Four days of cycling in the Pyrenees in the days leading up to the TdF as it came through the region...
Absolutely fantastic experience and will DEFINITELY be returning. Discover France has all the connections and logistics (hotels, support vehicle, route knowledge, cycling experience, Tour de France VIP access) to run a top notch and very smooth trip. Evening "briefings" for the next day are tailored to the weather and experience of the riders in the trip. One of the most memorable excursions I have ever been on.
Absolutely fantastic experience and will DEFINITELY be returning. Discover France has all the connections and logistics (hotels, support vehicle, route knowledge, cycling experience, Tour de France VIP access) to run a top notch and very smooth trip. Evening "briefings" for the next day are tailored to the weather and experience of the riders in the trip. One of the most memorable excursions I have ever been on.
Written August 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi,
We pay particular attention to our customer satisfaction to provide a high standards of service. We are always trying our best to make your experience memorable so thank you so much for taking the time to send this review.
Thank you again and we’re looking forward to making your experience even better in the future!
Best,
The Discover France team
Written August 23, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ElizabethF
Mytchett, UK73 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
We booked a four night Loire valley cycle trip (one couple plus a friend) We had two bikes and one ebike and opted for the upgraded hotels. The arrangements in the run up to the trip were first class with our contact, Tatiana, responding to every email and request promptly and efficiently. Upon arrival, we were met at the agreed time and our guide went through everything with us, handing over bikes and equipment and explaining how the app worked. The quality of the hotels and food was also first rate. One traveller sustained an injury, which meant they had to hand back the bike half way through day one. This was also handled very professionally and helpfully. We all enjoyed our trip very much. My tips would be: check carefully that the app is working properly before the guide leaves. We found some phone models didn't work as well as they could. Ask what equipment is provided. Somehow we missed the fact that a cushioned seat and phone holder are part of the deal and so had purchased our own.
Overall, a fabulous trip and we would recommend this company wholeheartedly.
Overall, a fabulous trip and we would recommend this company wholeheartedly.
Written September 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Elizabeth!
Thank you for your valuable feedback on your Loire valley trip. Your comments about the professionalism are rewarding and make us keep going to provide you quality experiences. We are delighted to have your recommendation!
Your Discover France team :)
Written November 6, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Becky A
1 contribution
Sep 2022
We had an INCREDIBLE and AMAZING trip in Provence all thanks to Gabriel at Discover France! We had given Gabriel very little lead time and literally 2 weeks before our scheduled departure he put together an amazing 7 day itinerary. Unbelievable. He was so available for our every question and every request - Discover France always answers the phone and gives you personal attention with anything that you have going on. We stayed in incredible inns, had incredible meals and the bikes were superb. We chose the road bikes and appreciated the thick tires. They were carbon fiber and very light and easy to ride. Our favorite hotel was le Pines in Bedoin. WE would do this again and again and again! Can't wait for the next time and we SO appreciate Gabriel!!!
Written September 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your feedback and your satisfaction is our best reward. The quality of our bikes is part of a global requirement to deliver the highest quality of service to our customers. Our staff is grateful for your testimony. We look forward to welcoming you soon for new adventures. Your Discover France team :)
Written October 27, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
andkneale
Vienna, VA5 contributions
May 2023
We signed up for the Loire Valley wine tour with another couple (all in our 60s, reasonably fit, though not athletes). We worked with Tatiana to customize our trip, and she was always very responsive and helpful. We enjoyed the hotels that we were booked into as part of the trip, which were all charming and friendly. We chose e-bikes, which worked well. Georgio, the Discover France rep who helped us with our bike set-up, was very helpful. The GPS system worked well, alerting us when we had made a wrong turn. Many of the routes took us along paved bike paths (which are plentiful in the Loire Valley) or on smaller roads or paths which allowed us to get out into the countryside and away from cars and crowds. The wine tastings that Tatiana scheduled for us were all well-chosen, and the itinerary allowed us time to visit many of the chateaux in the region. The luggage transfers all worked smoothly. Tatiana was also quite helpful in arranging restaurant reservations at places which did not have an online reservation system. In summary, we had a great time, and the trip was extremely well organized. We felt that Discover France provided us with very good value for our money, and put together a wonderful trip for us. We would definitely travel with them again!
Written June 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
"Hi!
Being always available to answer your questions and adapt to your wishes is our main concern and we are absolutely delighted to have met your expectations. All these details are very precious for us to continue to improve our tools and services. A huge thank you on behalf of the whole team and we hope to see you soon for new adventures!
Your Discover France team :)
Written June 14, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SuzieQ999_12
7 contributions
Oct 2021
We had an awesome trip! Every detail from the routes to the bikes and hotels were great. Our family of 5 cycled thru Tuscany for my 60th birthday in October and loved every minute of it. The carbon road bikes were the best bikes we have had with any tour company including Back Roads and Trek Travel. We will definitely do another bike trip with Discover France! This trip thru Tuscany is best for serious bikers who can ride 30-35 miles per day with big climbs. Great scenery, food and wine...
Written October 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Feedback from our guests is essential to our operations and your words are the best reward our team could receive. Thank you. Hoping to host you again for more unique experiences...
Your Discover France Team.
Written August 24, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
benfbrown
Raleigh, NC201 contributions
Sep 2021
I had a great experience with Discover France. I had a much longer trip planned for October 2021 and had to cancel it due to personal reasons. As fate would have it, I had a fairly small travel window open up but the catch was that I only had about a week to put something together.
I have done a lot of walks/hikes in Europe over the years but I still have a few in the back of my mind that I want to take. Well, walking through the Burgundy region of France is one of those.
There were several companies that offered a Burgundy walking tour but I chose Discover France instead of a couple of others that I have used previously because I knew that they have a focus on France (hence the name) and since I only had a week to get this together, I thought they would be the best choice.
And they were. I contacted Betty with Discover France and she was able to put everything together for me in just a couple of days.
The trip went off without any problems or issues. The walking routes were excellent, the hotels were as described, and there were no logistic issues. In addition, Betty contacted me during the trip to make sure all was well which I have to say has never happened during any of my other self-guided trips that were set up by other companies.
With regard to the Burgundy walking tour, I absolutely recommend it if you love food, wine, and, of course, walking! The walks are generally around 10 miles a day so it isn't anything terribly strenuous but they are long enough to be enjoyable.
So, I had nothing but a positive experience with Discover France and I can recommend them without hesitation. In fact, I am already planning to have them set up a walking trip in the Dordogne next year.
I have done a lot of walks/hikes in Europe over the years but I still have a few in the back of my mind that I want to take. Well, walking through the Burgundy region of France is one of those.
There were several companies that offered a Burgundy walking tour but I chose Discover France instead of a couple of others that I have used previously because I knew that they have a focus on France (hence the name) and since I only had a week to get this together, I thought they would be the best choice.
And they were. I contacted Betty with Discover France and she was able to put everything together for me in just a couple of days.
The trip went off without any problems or issues. The walking routes were excellent, the hotels were as described, and there were no logistic issues. In addition, Betty contacted me during the trip to make sure all was well which I have to say has never happened during any of my other self-guided trips that were set up by other companies.
With regard to the Burgundy walking tour, I absolutely recommend it if you love food, wine, and, of course, walking! The walks are generally around 10 miles a day so it isn't anything terribly strenuous but they are long enough to be enjoyable.
So, I had nothing but a positive experience with Discover France and I can recommend them without hesitation. In fact, I am already planning to have them set up a walking trip in the Dordogne next year.
Written October 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your personal testimony. Customer feedback and the exchanges that are had with our team before, during and after a tour are the tools that we use to continuosly improve our services and deliver unique experiences for our guests. We look forward to hosting you again in the future.
Your Discover France Team.
Written August 24, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Meghan O
2 contributions
Jul 2022
We had an amazing experience doing the tour de france cycling challenge! I would highly recommend this to anyone who is a passionate cyclist. Thomas and Darko were INCREDIBLE guides. I cannot emphasize enough how much it was a pleasure to get to know them and how they made the trip perfect - amazing routes, support in the van, meals, accommodations etc. These 5 days with Discover France were the highlight of our 2 weeks of vacation in France. I loved seeing gorgeous rural parts of the country I typically wouldn't see and learning more about the culture from our local guides. I was at a much more novice skill level than my husband and my friend and Thomas and Darko were extremely accommodating and kind. It was also incredible to have VIP access to the Tour De France race viewing - a trueonce in a lifetime adventure! I can't wait for our next authentic and special experience with Discover France!
Written July 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Meghan. Wow. Thank you so much for your review which outlines pefectly these 5 days that were as fantastic for us as they were for you. Your feedback is a wonderful reward for Thomas, Darko and the whole team. It is very encouraging and helps us to remain passionate in our jobs because France is simply fantastic by bike!!!
Written August 24, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Peter M
Sarasota, FL8 contributions
Jul 2022
We enjoyed everything about our trip: the countryside, food, bikes, rides, hotels, the people we met, and the support we received. It was good to know that there was someone behind the scenes to provide help, when it was needed.
There were 2 of us, seniors in early seventies, and we were very pleased with the prompt and efficient service we received before and during the trip. We requested and received Garmin files for each day and they were flawless. We used our Garmins exclusively and we do not know if the provided Road Books would have been any better. What a pleasure it was to ride in a foreign country being confident that we had accurate turn-by turn directions and the support only a phone call away.
Our bikes were recent models of very good quality. A mechanic from a local bike shop delivered the bikes at our hotel and helped us get properly fitted.
We were very happy with all of the hotels, their rooms, locations, service, and the breakfasts were very good.
We were very pleasantly surprised at the quality of the included dinners. They were outstanding! One of them was listed in the Michelin guide and the other one should have been as well. The food and wine in general was off the charts!
During the trip, the staff of Discover France checked with us from time to time to see if we needed anything and to make sure we were fine.
We do not hesitate to give this trip 5 stars and to recommend Discover France to our friends and families.
There were 2 of us, seniors in early seventies, and we were very pleased with the prompt and efficient service we received before and during the trip. We requested and received Garmin files for each day and they were flawless. We used our Garmins exclusively and we do not know if the provided Road Books would have been any better. What a pleasure it was to ride in a foreign country being confident that we had accurate turn-by turn directions and the support only a phone call away.
Our bikes were recent models of very good quality. A mechanic from a local bike shop delivered the bikes at our hotel and helped us get properly fitted.
We were very happy with all of the hotels, their rooms, locations, service, and the breakfasts were very good.
We were very pleasantly surprised at the quality of the included dinners. They were outstanding! One of them was listed in the Michelin guide and the other one should have been as well. The food and wine in general was off the charts!
During the trip, the staff of Discover France checked with us from time to time to see if we needed anything and to make sure we were fine.
We do not hesitate to give this trip 5 stars and to recommend Discover France to our friends and families.
Written December 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Peter,
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience and for the helpful feedback. Our team is very happy to know that we were able to create a wonderful vacation for you.
It's great to read you enjoyed the food and wine during your tour, it's always an important part of your French experience !
Thank you again for taking the time to write your review, Peter. We do look forward to planning another adventure for you in the future. Your Discover France Team :)
Written December 23, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michael E
2 contributions
Jul 2022 • Solo
The good: went on a lovely journey along coastal France. The scenery and the people were great. Discover France did a great job assisting me with a new route when mine became untenable due to the fires.
The Meh: They charged me $1000 over the base rate and put me in mediocre hotels claiming it was hard to find nice hotels last minute. One hotel for my original tour was in an industrial park by the highway. I looked and there were several nicer hotels with availability. They can definitely improve their hotel selection especially when they charge you almost double the base rate.
They do have a cool app to guide you with GPS but it needs updating as turns weren’t always indicated and some roads were closed.
The Meh: They charged me $1000 over the base rate and put me in mediocre hotels claiming it was hard to find nice hotels last minute. One hotel for my original tour was in an industrial park by the highway. I looked and there were several nicer hotels with availability. They can definitely improve their hotel selection especially when they charge you almost double the base rate.
They do have a cool app to guide you with GPS but it needs updating as turns weren’t always indicated and some roads were closed.
Written July 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Michael,
Thank you very much for taking the time to share about your experience and for the constructive feedback. We take each of these reviews very seriously, both good and bad, and we are always looking at ways to improve and to learn. Your sharing information about the hotel on your original tour helped us to realize that we do indeed need to find some better alternatives nearby, so thank you. Thankfully you did not have to experience that hotel as things turned out.
We want to point out that the $1000 charge you mention is due to the fact that you were travelling alone, and all of our tours are priced for a minimum of two people. These charges were comprised of the single supplement for you solo room, as well as baggage transfer costs that are normally shared by two people.
Thank you again for taking the time to write your review, Michael. We do look forward to planning another adventure again for you in the future.
Your Discover France Team.
Written September 9, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My husband and I are in our 60's and do prefer bike paths if possible in Itay, Spain but mostly France, Provence to be exact. What tours would you recommend, we are considering May and prefer a location easy to access from Paris, thanks.
Written December 27, 2019
We did the Amsterdam to Brugge trip last year and loved it. We added a day and biked to Ghent. Not in France mind you but lots of bike paths and in countries that respect bicyclists. So many of the paths were along lovely waterways. Peter, the local guide in Amsterdam, was terrific and was very responsive to our needs as I experienced an injury and had to take a day off. We recommend this company and will be taking our fourth self-guided trip with them next fall - the Istria Coast of Croatia. We are in our 60's too.
Written December 28, 2019
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