French Alps Classic Cols

The Tour de France is the most iconic race in cycling. Join us for the trip of a lifetime, tackling some of the Tour’s Classic Cols, while exploring some of France’s most spectacular scenery.

We begin in Annecy, finding our climbing legs with an ascent of the Col de Semnoz, before dropping down to the valley for a lap of the beautiful lake. Two shorter climbs on Day 2, the Col de la Forclaz de Montmin and Col de Tamié, continue to warm us up for what is to come: an ascent of the Col de la Madeleine on Day 3. This iconic climb, at an average of 6% for 16 miles / 25km, is a serious test for any rider, but the beautiful woodland, cascading waterfalls, stone bridges and finally the spectacular summit is well worth the effort. Day 4 sees us following in the pedal strokes of riders gone before with the Col du Glandon and the Col de la Croix de Fer, which both featured in the Tour de France as early as 1947. The fourth highest summit of all of the climbs the TdF has ever visited, the Col du Galibier at 2642m awaits on Day 5, after we have made our way over the Col du Télégraphe. We end a superb week with the mighty Alpe d’Huez.

Highlights
– Stunning Alpine scenery
– Cycle 9 Cols / classic climbs over 6 days – Col de Semnoz, Col de la Madeleine, Col de la Forclaz de Montmin, Col de Tamié, Col du Glandon, Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier, Alpe d’Huez
– Enjoy the challenge of some of the most challenging and iconic climbs in cycling history
– Visit typical Alpine villages and towns
– Explore Annecy, famed for its lake and medieval town

Duration 7 nights / 6 days cycling

Total distance 254 miles / 410 km

Total elevation 31800 ft / 9700m

Grade 8

Practicalities
We will transfer you from Geneva airport to Annecy at the start of the tour (Annecy is also accessible directly by train) and also from La Grave to Geneva airport at the end of the tour on Saturday morning. Geneva train station is a short shuttle ride from the airport, from here there are train connections to many places in Europe.

Please see the Itinerary page for a more detailed description of the route and the Additional Information page for more information on the logistics.

Many riders combine this holiday with the Week in Provence tour. If you book both of these tours together so that they are done back to back then you will receive a 10% discount off both tours. If you do this then we will move your bike from the end of one tour to the start of the other and also arrange transport between the two tours.

You can download the trip notes for this tour here: Classic Cols Trip Notes

To see some of the latest photos from this fantastic tour just click here: French Alps Classic Cols Photos

2024 Dates:

Sat 1st – Sat 8th June 2024 Tour Full

Sat 31st Aug– Sat 7th September 2024 Places AvailableNo Single or Sole Occ available

Sat 14th – Sat 21st September 2024 Tour Full No Single or Sole Occ available

Prices for 2024 are £1495 for shared twin or double, £1845 for a single and £1995 for sole occ of a double.

2025 Dates:

Sat 31st May – Sat 7th June 2025 Places available

Sat 30th Aug– Sat 6th September 2025 Places available

Sat 13th – Sat 20th September 2025 Places available

Prices for 2025 are £1595 for shared twin or double, £1945 for a single and £2095 for sole occ of a double.

Many riders combine this holiday with the Week in Provence tour. If you book both of these tours together so that they are done back to back then you will receive a 10% discount off both tours. If you do this then we will move your bike from the end of one tour to the start of the other and also arrange transport for you and your luggage between the two tours.

French Alps Classic Cols Route

This tour is aimed at cyclists who like a challenge but the tour is such that the mileages aren’t too long and generally we only take on one of the major climbs each day, which should allow time for relaxation in the afternoon and should hopefully ensure that the climbs are achievable for most regular cyclists. It should be noted however that these are long, tough climbs and the tour is only suitable for riders who are used to climbing.

Saturday: Arrival Day Non-riding day
Arrive at Geneva and transfer to Annecy. Our guides will set off from our base in Glossop on Thursday with all the bikes and stop a couple of times en route to Dover. A coach will depart from Geneva at 17.00 to arrive in Annecy for 18.00 to allow time to settle in before the first evening meal.

Sunday: Semnoz and Lake Annecy Distance: 32 or 45 miles / 50km or 72km. Elevation Gain: 4653ft /1418m.

Our first ride is a loop which takes you up to the summit of Mount Semnoz which last featured on the penultimate day of the 2013 Tour de France and on a clear day you may be able to make out to Mont Blanc in the distance. Continuing down to the lake for lunch you can take the shorter route back to Annecy or our longer route around the eastern side of the lake. Nestled on the banks of Lake Annecy, with a backdrop of spectacular mountains, Annecy also boasts a perfectly preserved medieval old town which makes a fantastic place to explore after a day of riding.

Monday: Annecy to La Lechere Distance: 49 miles / 78km. Elevation Gain: 4900ft / 1500m.

Travelling alongside the eastern shore of the lake we then climb up over the Col de la Forclaz de Montmin, featured in the 2023 Tour de France. If you choose to, you can miss the climb and continue along the lake to meet back up with the route before the Col de Tamié and the descent down to Albertville. A very gentle climb takes you to La Léchère to be in place to start the climb up the Madeleine tomorrow.

Tuesday: La Léchère to St Jean du Maurienne Distance: 38 miles / 60km. Elevation Gain: 6300ft /1900m.

Not long after leaving La Léchère, and the valley floor, we start to ascend one of the toughest climbs of the tour, the Col de la Madeleine. With over 1500m of climbing over 16 miles, the Madeleine is a serious test for any rider. However, we will be tackling the mountain fresh and not after having already ridden 100 miles as is often the case with the Tour de France. The beauty of the climb through forested woodland, cascading waterfalls, stone bridges and finally the spectacular summit is well worth the effort and amazing sense of achievement when you reach the top. You will also be rewarded with a fantastic descent down to the lovely town of St Jean du Maurienne. You also have the option of riding the Lacets de Montvernier if you want to extend the ride further.

Wednesday: Glandon & Croix de Fer Loop Distance: 39 miles / 62km. Elevation Gain: 7600ft /2300m.
Today we tackle another two of the Tour de France’s most classic climbs with the Col du Glandon and the Croix de Fer. Essentially the Col du Glandon is the beast to conquer with the Croix de Fer only another few miles or so to the summit after the Glandon. This spectacular climb has featured in the TdF many times as far back as 1947. Once again the views are sublime and you have another winding descent back down to the valley below.

Thursday: St Jean du Maurienne to Le Grave via Col du Galibier Distance: 42 miles / 68km. Elevation Gain: 7800ft /2400m.
This is our longest day in the saddle as we tackle the mighty Galibier. After a flat start we first tackle the Col du Télégraphe through Alpine woodland. The road descends to Valloire before you tackle the mighty Galibier. After lunch at the top of the mountain you have a fantastic descent down to the attractive little village of La Grave, situated in the most spectacular setting.

Friday: Alpe d’Huez Distance: 36 miles / 59km. Elevation Gain: 5300ft / 1600m.

We leave La Grave and continue towards Bourg-d’Oisans cycling past the turquoise blue Lac du Chambon. Just away from Bourg, we start our climb up the Alpe d’Huez, which must be one of the TDF’s most iconic mountains. After your triumphant climb at the top, you will decend back down to Bourg-d’Oisans where you will have lunch and a chance to wonder around this lovely town before your final meal at the hotel.

Saturday: Transfer to Geneva and tour ends Non-riding day

A coach will pick us up at 8.00 to arrive at Geneva airport for 11.00. Meanwhile your bikes will start their journey back home in our back up van and will stop of a couple of times en-route to Derbyshire

What’s Included?

The tour price includes 7 nights accommodation, 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, snacks, tea, coffee, & hot chocolate, full trip support including a tour leader that cycles with the group (on smaller groups there will just be back up vehicles), back up van with spare parts and a few spare bikes, detailed route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, a Peak Tours cycle shirt, certificate, luggage transfer each day, lots of fun!

What’s Not Included?

Evening meals, cycle hire (available for a fee), transport to France, transport from Geneva.

Group Size

The group will be a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 25 people. We feel that this size of group works best as there will always be enough in the group for some good company but there won’t be so many people that it becomes overcrowded.

Accommodation

Accommodation is in clean and comfortable 3 star hotels or top end 2 star hotels when 3 star aren’t available (France has an unusual rating system).  Either sharing a twin or a double room or, if you would like your own space then you can choose the single room option (single or double bed, mostly ensuite but with some shared bathrooms), or sole occupancy of a double (all rooms en-suite). Please see the Booking Conditions section ’14. Accommodation Provisions’ for further information.

Route

Covering approximately 260 miles over 6 days we average around 43 miles a day. This tour really isn’t about mileage but about conquering some truly majestic and iconic mountains. Generally you will have finished cycling by early afternoon with time to relax and explore.

Food

All of your breakfasts and lunches are included in the price of the trip. Lunches will be provided each day in a cafe or restaurant or picnic lunches provided by the guides when the weather is good. Evening meals can be bought at your accommodation or in a nearby pub/restaurant. We also have tea, coffee, fruit, biscuits, cake, nuts etc in the back up van that you are welcome to fill your pockets with at the morning and afternoon ‘brew stops’. We don’t provide gels or powders – only real food.

Back Up

An experienced tour leader will cycle with you each day and be on hand to help with any bike problems that may occur. You will have detailed route notes so that you can go slower or faster than the leader if you prefer or you can cycle with the tour guide at the back so that you don’t have to navigate at all.

A back up van will leap frog the group a number of times each day so that help is never far away. We carry a range of spare parts so that repairs can be made en-route and we will have a couple of spare bikes available in the event that your bike has a serious breakdown.

Bikes

We highly recommend that you use a bike that you are used to and feel comfortable riding. Your bike should be fully serviced and in good condition before you start, this will reduce the risk of mechanical problems and unnecessary stoppages along the way. It should be noted that if you have your bike serviced before the tour then it is a good idea to ride it a few times to allow things to ‘bed in’ before joining the tour. Either a road bike or a touring bike is preferable. We have a range of road and touring bikes available for hire if you don’t have your own bike. We will take your bike over for you if you bring it to us before hand and we will take it back for you at the end of the tour as well. We used to provide this service for free but we now have to charge a small fee of £40 per bike to cover the post Brexit paperwork (ATA carnet) that is required. If we take your bike for you then we would also need to bring it back. We can’t take bikes one way I’m afraid. This is due to the post Brexit paperwork that needs to be completed. Please note that Peak Tours will not be held responsible for any damage cause in the transportation of the bikes, problems are very rare indeed and we have a very safe, tried and tested system. Any bikes with DI gears need to bring their chargers with them for the trip and riders also need to be aware that it may be necessary to remove the saddle and in some cases with DI gears, unplug the cable (although we try to avoid this). We also remove the front wheel of most bikes being transported and place them in wheel bags, if anyone has a wheel that requires a specific tool you would need to provide that too please.

Fitness

This tour is suitable for someone with a good level of fitness and who wants a challenge. If you do plenty of training beforehand you should have no problem completing the ride. We will have a training day in the Peak District available if you would like to join the group before the main event.

It must be stressed that a good amount of training before the ride will make your tour much more enjoyable and ensure that you finish your ride. We are always happy to advise you about training plans in preparation for the ride.

Clothing & Equipment

Clothing for all weathers is recommended so waterproofs are essential. A full recommended kit list is provided and we are always happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Insurance

It is highly recommended that you take out adequate insurance to cover against, personal accident, loss of belongings and cancellation cover. This should cover you in the event that you have to cancel the tour anytime after the final payment has been made as we may be unable to fill your place. There are many insurance companies out there and we prefer not to get involved with recommending a particular company and there are so many policies available depending on your own personal circumstances.

What happens at the start of the tour?

The tour starts in Annecy on the first Saturday. There are two main options for arriving into Annecy:

Train: Annecy can be reached from Paris directly, in just under 4hrs. Paris direct from London St Pancras takes between 2hrs – 3hrs 20 mins on the Eurostar.

Alternatively, you could get the train to Geneva airport from Paris (3hrs 35 mins with one change) and get the transfer from Geneva to Annecy with the people who have arrived by plane. Paris direct from London St Pancras takes between 2hrs – 3hrs 20 mins on the Eurostar.

Some customers choose to arrive in Annecy a day before the tour starts and have a day to explore and enjoy the various different activities on offer (lots of watersports at the lake!). This can be a great way to extend your holiday at either end to combine tourism with your cycling.

Plane: Geneva airport can be reached from lots of different UK airports.

Whether you arrive at Geneva Airport by train or by plane, we will have a guide to meet you and a coach is booked for 17.00, Geneva to Annecy takes around 45 minutes. If you are arriving earlier then you can leave your bags with our guides if you want to have a look around Geneva (you would need to get from the airport to the city) before the coach arrives at 17.00. If you arrive after this, then you will need to arrange your own transfer from the airport to the accommodation. There is a taxi rank directly outside the airport if you need to use this option. We have a group meal on Saturday night and then the cycling starts on Sunday. We will take your bikes over for you so that you don’t have to take them on the train or plane. You can either drop them off with us in Glossop, Derbyshire beforehand or meet us on the Thursday before the tour starts as we drive down to Dover. We will stop near Birmingham and at South Mimms services on the M25. Alternatively you can post your bike to us and we will take it over for you.

What happens at the end?

After the ascent (and descent) of Alpe d’Huez you have the afternoon free to relax in Bourg-d’Oisins. Meanwhile your tour guides will pack your bikes into our back up van ready to be transported back to the UK. On Saturday morning a coach will arrive to take everyone back to Geneva airport for 11.00 for your train or flight home.

How do I transport my bike?

As always, if you can get your bike to Peak Tours HQ in Derbyshire then we can take it and bring it back for you. There is a charge of £40 for this service.

If you are flying with your bike then you will need to box your bike or put it in a bike bag before you board the plane. If you choose to do this then please be aware that there is only room in the vans for a limited number of soft cases that will fold down. Hard cases are not generally taken as they take up too much room but we have made exceptions for people in the past in mitigating circumstances. If you use a cardboard box for your bike we can easily fold that down and lay it flat on the floor of the van.

If you would like us to post the bike back for you after the trip to your home address the way it works is that the bikes will be boxed (this usually means that they will remove the front wheel, pedals, saddle & turn the handlebars) and posted to your address. The price for this service is available on request. If you would like to use this service please let us know & we will book it in for you.

How difficult is the tour?

The fitter you are and the more training that you do beforehand will add to the enjoyment of your tour and improve your chances of succeeding the challenge. If you need any advice about fitness please contact us and we will be happy to discuss any questions and concerns that you may have.

What mechanical knowledge do I need?

We don’t expect you to be an expert bike mechanic but there are a few simple skills that will be a great benefit to you. The most important skill you need to know is how to fix a puncture. It is quite likely that at some point you will have a puncture or two so it is essential that you carry a puncture repair kit & a spare tube or two with you. It is also helpful if you know how to change your brake pads and adjust your brakes and gears however this isn’t essential. Our guides will help you with any repairs and adjustments en-route.

What are the lunches like?

Lunches will be a mixture of picnic lunches and lunches in cafe’s or restaurants situated in some picturesque places. We will source local specialities and provide plenty of delicious French food every day of your tour, you certainly won’t go hungry. We will have plenty of food available and will cater for any special dietary requirements.

Will I be left behind?

No, a tour leader cycles at the back of the group so that you won’t be left behind if you are worried about cycling too slowly. Throughout the group there will be a mix of abilities and cycling speeds so you will usually be able to cycle with others that cycle at a similar pace. Some people like to cycle fast whilst others prefer to take their time, stop for coffee & cake or stop to take photos etc so whether you are a ‘speed demon’ or more of a ‘tourer’ there usually will be someone to cycle with each day.

What are the groups like?

Obviously each group is different but generally they are a fun, friendly, helpful & adventurous bunch. There will be people of all ages and from all walks of life. We tend to get quite a few older riders although there will always be a few younger riders as well. So far our youngest rider (for the Lands End to John o’Groats tour) was 15 & the oldest (for the Channel to Med Tour) was 82. We think that a group of 20-25 is ideal as there will be plenty of people with similar interests & character without being such a big group that it becomes too much.

Generally the group will be split 50/50 between people travelling alone and people that travel as a pair such as two brothers, two friends, two partners. There will be plenty of people to socialise with throughout the day and in the evening.

Many of the people on this tour will have cycled on a tour with us previously so you may even bump into someone you know!

What happens in the evenings?

Once you have arrived at your accommodation you should have chance for some time to relax, have a shower etc before the evening meal. We usually arrange somewhere to eat for the evening meal so that we can all get together & you won’t be left alone if you would like to eat with others. Quite often will simply arrange a certain pub to meet up & just drift in when you are ready whilst at other places we have a set time to eat – it just depends on the location.

Does the support vehicle follow the group?

No, the back up van doesn’t drive behind the group at all times but the van shouldn’t be too far away if you require assistance. In the morning we have a group brief and set off cycling, meanwhile the backup driver will collect all the luggage from the various B&B’s and hotels. Once all of the luggage has been loaded, the support vehicle will leapfrog the group stopping when necessary. The backup driver will be at the lunch stop should you need anything from the van & in the afternoon will go on ahead to ensure that your luggage is in place before you arrive.

How much luggage can I take?

There is limited space in the back up van to store luggage. We therefore request that you try to keep your luggage size to a minimum and try not to bring too much with you. Washing clothes can be done en-route so you shouldn’t need to bring a clean set of clothes for every day. The ideal size for luggage is 70 x 50 x 30 cm and a weight of 15-18kg (or less).

What training should I do?

The more the better. We will provide a training guide for you so that you can build up your cycling strength and prepare for the ride in the correct way. It is important that you cycle two long days back to back whilst training & also that you cycle on some hills. We hold training weekends at the start of the season so that you can meet with others in the group, ask any questions you may have & also test yourselves amongst the hills of the Peak District.

What bike should I use?

The most suitable bike for this trip is a road bike, however it is entirely up to you what type of bike you use.

Please ensure that your bike is fully serviced and in good working order before the start of the trip.

Tyre inflation & rubber composition is important & a tyre width of 25mm is recommended for this tour. Please ensure that you have hard wearing tyres with plenty of tread.

You are going to cycle 260 miles so it is important that your bike won’t let you down. You may want to fit new brake blocks, tyres & inner tubes before you start the ride and also bring 3-4 spare inner tubes, pump, puncture repair kit and multi-tool to carry with you each day. It is essential that you are able to fix a puncture.

It is also advisable to have lights from & rear lights on your bikes and try to be a visible as possible.

Can I hire a bike from you?

It is advisable to use your own bike if possible however we realise that it is not always possible to use your own steed so you may wish to hire one. We have two types of road bike and three types of hybrid/touring bikes bike available. Details of these bikes can be found by clicking on the ‘Tour Extras’ tab.

All of our hire bikes come fitted with cycle computer, pump, 2 water bottle cages, bell and front and rear lights. There is also a small saddle bag with a spare tube, multi-tool, puncture repair kit and tyre levers. We can also provide a helmet for you at no extra cost.

What gear should I take?

We provide a suggested kit list so please contact us if you would like a copy sending to you.

What is the male / female ratio?

This varies with each group. There are usually more guys than gals but an average would be about 1/4 ladies and 3/4s gents.

Why France?

France is a wide and diverse country which contains a variety of different and changing landscapes. France is also 1/4 as densely populated as the UK and much more rural so the roads are quieter and cyclists are treated with much more respect.

France is the cultural home of cycling and everyone has heard of the Tour de France. We will cycle through some of the iconic landscapes that you will have seen whilst watching the tour.

France enjoys much better weather than the UK so chances of a dry and sunny tour is much more likely than if tackling LEJOG although it must also be noted that it can get very hot in the summer months.

France is also well known for it’s gastronomy and also fine wines and we will do out best to ensure that you sample plenty of the delights on offer. Added to that a rich culture, medieval villages and stunning architecture all of which makes France an ideal place for a long distance cycle tour.

These Booking Conditions, together with our Privacy Policy and where your holiday is booked via our website or over the phone, our Website Terms of Use, together with any other written information we brought to your attention before we confirmed your booking, form the basis of your contract with Peak Tours Ltd, company number 07992506, of 38 Storth Meadow Road, Glossop, Derbyshire, SK13 6UZ ("we", "us", "our"). Please read them carefully as they set out our respective rights and obligations. In these Booking Conditions references to "you" and "your" include the first named person on the booking and all persons on whose behalf a booking is made or any other person to whom a booking is added or transferred.

By making a booking, the first named person on the booking agrees on behalf of all persons detailed on the booking that:

  1. he/she has read these Booking Conditions and has the authority to and does agree to be bound by them;
  2. he/she consents to our use of personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and is authorised on behalf of all persons named on the booking to disclose their personal details to us, including where applicable special categories of data (such as information on health conditions or disabilities and dietary requirements);
  3. he/she is over 18 years of age and, where placing an order for services with age restrictions, declares that he/she and all members of the party are of the appropriate age to purchase those services;
  4. he/she accepts financial responsibility for payment of the booking on behalf of all persons detailed on the booking.
  5. he/she has key rights under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 - Standard Information Form on Travellers Rights when Booking a Package Holiday.

1. Booking & Paying For Your Arrangements

A booking is made with us when you pay us a deposit (or full payment if you are booking within 60 days of departure) and we issue you with a booking confirmation. All bookings are made subject to the eligibility requirements listed at section 2 below. We reserve the right to return your deposit and decline to issue a booking confirmation at our absolute discretion. A binding contract will come into existence between you and us as soon as we have issued you with a booking confirmation that will confirm the details of your booking and will be sent to you. The accommodation provisions included at section 14 will also apply to your booking.

Upon receipt, if you believe that any details on booking confirmation or any other document are wrong you must advise us immediately as changes cannot be made later and it may harm your rights if we are not notified of any inaccuracies in any document within ten days of our sending it out.

The balance of the cost of your arrangements (including any applicable surcharge) is due not less than 60 days prior to scheduled departure. You will receive a payment reminder from us prior to your balance becoming due. If we do not receive this balance in full and on time, we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled by you in which case we shall retain your deposit.

2. Eligibility Requirements

In booking with Peak Tours you understand that there are certain risks and dangers inherent in taking part in a cycling holiday and that by the very nature of the activities you will participate in these may be hazardous to you, including cycling on uneven surfaces, cycling in inclement weather, cycling in close proximity to vehicular traffic and any other activities involving inherently dangerous risks, and you acknowledge that you will be exposed to an element of personal risk. These include the risk of personal injury and death and loss of or damage to your property. You are under a duty to mitigate any risks to yourself as far as is practicable, by taking all reasonable steps to comply with all instructions of your tour leader and the instructions included in your route map, and taking all reasonable steps to ensure your own safety whilst taking part in the holiday.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are at a sufficient level of fitness to take part in your chosen holiday (please also see section 13 - Disabilities and Medical Problems). You will generally be at a sufficient level of fitness if you are able to complete your day's cycling within a reasonable timescale (which shall be set by your tour leader, and in respect of most holidays shall mean completing the day's cycling by 18:30 hours local time at the latest). If you finish your day's cycling beyond this time period, it shall be at the tour leader's absolute discretion as to whether you are at a sufficient level of fitness to continue with your chosen holiday. You are required to follow any safety advice or other instructions provided to you by your tour leader, and wear a cycle helmet and appropriate clothing at all times whilst cycling.

If you are using your own bike, it must be suitable for use for the duration of the route of your chosen holiday. It is your responsibility to arrange for your bike to be transported to the holiday. Your bike must be insured for the duration of your holiday, and your insurance should cover loss or damage to your bike that may occur during your holiday. Peak Tours take great care to ensure that your bike is safe at all times. However, Peak Tours cannot accept any responsibility for any damage to your bike or loss of your bike, including if your bike is stolen during the holiday. This includes times when your bikes are being transported in one of the vans. If a van was stolen containing your bike then you would need to have an adequate insurance policy in place to cover this.

Bike hire is available to be booked at any time up to the start of your holiday, subject to availability. If you choose the bike hire option, your bike will be provided at the beginning of the holiday and returned to ground staff at the end of your holiday.

3. Accuracy

We endeavour to ensure that all the information and prices contained in our advertising material are accurate, however occasionally changes and errors occur and we reserve the right to correct prices and other details in such circumstances. You must check the current price and all other details relating to the arrangements that you wish to book before you make your booking.

4.Insurance

Adequate travel insurance is a condition of your contract with us. You must be satisfied that your insurance fully covers all your personal requirements including pre-existing medical conditions, cancellation charges, medical expenses and repatriation in the event of accident or illness. If you choose to travel without adequate insurance cover, we will not be liable for any losses howsoever arising, in respect of which insurance cover would otherwise have been available.

5. Pricing

We reserve the right to amend the price of unsold holidays at any time and correct errors in the prices of confirmed holidays. We also reserve the right to increase the price of confirmed holidays solely to allow for increases which are a direct consequence of changes in:

  1. the price of the carriage of passengers resulting from the cost of fuel or other power sources;
  2. the level of taxes or fees chargeable for services applicable to the holiday imposed by third parties not directly involved in the performance of the holiday, including tourist taxes, landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports; and
  3. the exchange rates relevant to the package.

Such variations could include but are not limited to cost changes which are part of our contracts with accommodation suppliers (and their agents), transfer operators and any other transport providers.

You will be charged for the amount of any increase in accordance with this clause. However, if this means that you have to pay an increase of more than 8% of the price of your confirmed holiday (excluding any insurance premiums, amendment charges and/or additional services or travel arrangements), you will have the option of accepting a change to another holiday if we are able to offer one (if this is of lower price you will be refunded the difference in price), or cancelling and receiving a full refund of all monies paid to us, except for any insurance premiums and any amendment charges and/or additional services or travel arrangements. Should you decide to cancel for this reason, you must exercise your right to do so within 7 days from the issue date printed on your final invoice. We will consider an appropriate refund of insurance premiums paid if you can show that you are unable to transfer or reuse your policy.

Should the price of your holiday go down due to the changes mentioned above, then any refund due will be paid to you less an administrative fee of £10. However, please note that travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your travel due to contractual and other protection in place.

There will be no change made to the price of your confirmed holiday within 20 days of your departure nor will refunds be paid during this period.

6. Jurisdiction and Applicable Law

These Booking Conditions and any agreement to which they apply are governed in all respects by English law. We both agree that any dispute, claim or other matter which arises between us out of or in connection with your contract or booking will be dealt with by the Courts of England and Wales only. You may however, choose the law and jurisdiction of Scotland or Northern Ireland if you live in those places and if you wish to do so.

7.Cutting your holiday short

If you are forced to return home early, we cannot refund the cost of any travel arrangements you have not used. If you cut short your holiday and return home early in circumstances where you have no reasonable cause for complaint about the standard of accommodation and services provided, we will not offer you any refund for that part of your holiday not completed, or be liable for any associated costs you may incur. Depending on the circumstances, your travel insurance may offer cover for curtailment and we suggest that any claim is made directly with them.

8. If You Change Your Booking & Transfers of Bookings

If you wish to change any part of your booking after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you must inform us in writing (which includes by email) as soon as possible. This should be done by the first named person on the booking. Whilst we will do our best to assist, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to meet your requested change. Where we can meet a request, all changes will be subject to payment of any costs and charges incurred by us and/or incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers in making this change. You should be aware that these costs could increase the closer to the departure date that changes are made and you should contact us as soon as possible. Where we are unable to assist you and you do not wish to proceed with the original booking we will treat this as a cancellation by you. A cancellation fee may be payable in accordance with clause 9.

Transfer of Booking:

If you or any member of your party is prevented from travelling, that person(s) may transfer their place to someone else, subject to the following conditions:

  1. that person is introduced by you and satisfies all the conditions applicable to the holiday;
  2. we are notified not less than 7 days before departure;
  3. you pay any fees, charges or other costs arising from the transfer; and
  4. the transferee agrees to these booking conditions and all other terms of the contract between us.

You and the transferee remain jointly and severally liable for payment of all sums. If you are unable to find a replacement, cancellation charges as set out in clause 9 will apply in order to cover our estimated costs. Otherwise, no refunds will be given for passengers not travelling or for unused services.

Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended or transferred after they have been confirmed and any alteration could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.

9. If You Cancel Your Booking Before Departure

If you or any other member of your party decides to cancel your confirmed booking you must notify us in writing (which includes by email). Your notice of cancellation will only take effect when it is received in writing by us at our offices and will be effective from the date on which we receive it.

Since we incur costs in cancelling your arrangements, you will have to pay the cancellation charges as follows:

Cancellation Charge
More than 60 days before start date Deposit
60 - 0 days 100%

Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended after they have been confirmed and any alteration or cancellation could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements in addition to the charge above.

If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges.

Where possible, we will deduct the cancellation charge(s) from any monies you have already paid to us.

10. If We Change or Cancel

As we plan your holiday arrangements many months in advance we may occasionally have to make changes or cancel your booking and we reserve the right to do so at any time.

Changes: If we make a minor change to your holiday, we will make reasonable efforts to inform you as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before your departure but we will have no liability to you. An example of a minor change would include change of accommodation to another of the same or higher standard.

Occasionally we may have to make a significant change to your confirmed arrangements. Examples of "significant changes" include the following, when made before departure:

  1. A change of accommodation area for the whole or a significant part of your time away.
  2. A change of accommodation to that of a lower standard or classification for the whole or a significant part of your time away.
  3. A change of outward departure time or overall length of your arrangements by more than 12 hours.
  4. A significant change to your itinerary, missing out one or more destination entirely.

Cancellation: We will not cancel your travel arrangements less than 60 days before your departure date, except for reasons of Events Beyond Our Control or failure by you to pay the final balance. We may cancel your holiday before this date if, e.g., the minimum number of clients required for a particular travel arrangement is not reached.

If we have to make a significant change or cancel, we will tell you as soon as possible and if there is time to do so before departure, we will offer you the choice of:

  1. (for significant major changes) accepting the changed arrangements; or
  2. having a refund of all monies paid; or
  3. if available and where we offer one, accepting an offer of an alternative holiday (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value).

You must notify us of your choice within 7 days of our offer. If we do not hear from you within 7 days, we will contact you again to request notification of your choice. If you fail to respond again, we will assume that you have chosen to accept the change or alternative booking arrangements.

Compensation

In addition to a full refund of all monies paid by you, we will pay you compensation as detailed below, in the following circumstances:

  1. If, where we make a significant change, you do not accept the changed arrangements and cancel your booking;
  2. If we cancel your booking and no alternative arrangements are available and/or we do not offer one.

The compensation that we offer does not exclude you from claiming more if you are entitled to do so.

Period before departure in which we notify you Amount you will receive from us*
More than 60 days £0
60-43 days £10
42-29 days £20
28-15 days £30
14-0 days £40

*IMPORTANT NOTE: We will not pay you compensation in the following circumstances:

  1. where we make a minor change;
  2. where we make a significant change or cancel your arrangements more than 60 days before departure;
  3. where we make a significant change and you accept those changed arrangements or you accept an offer of alternative travel arrangements;
  4. where we have to cancel your arrangements as a result of your failure to make full payment on time;
  5. where the change or cancellation by us arises out of alterations to the confirmed booking requested by you;
  6. where we are forced to cancel or change your arrangements due to Events Beyond Our Control (see clause 11).

If we become unable to provide a significant proportion of the arrangements that you have booked with us after you have departed, we will, if possible, make alternative arrangements for you at no extra charge and where those alternative arrangements are of a lower standard, provide you with an appropriate price reduction.

11. Events Beyond Our Control

Except where otherwise expressly stated in these Booking Conditions we will not be liable or pay you compensation if our contractual obligations to you are affected by "Events Beyond Our Control". For the purposes of these Booking Conditions, Events Beyond Our Control means any event beyond our or our supplier's control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Examples include warfare and acts of terrorism (and threat thereof), civil strife, significant risks to human health such as the outbreak of serious disease at the travel destination or natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes or weather conditions which make it impossible to travel safely to the travel destination or remain at the travel destination, the act of any government or other national or local authority including port or river authorities, industrial dispute, labour strikes, lock closure, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, chemical or biological disaster, unavoidable technical problems with transport and all similar events outside our or the supplier(s) concerned's control.

Brexit Implications: please note that certain travel arrangements may be affected as a result of the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union. Please rest assured that this is something we will continue to monitor and will advise our customers as soon as possible if we become aware of any confirmed bookings that will be affected. However, since this is something which is completely unprecedented and outside our control, we would treat any such changes as Events Beyond Our Control, and whilst we will endeavour to provide suitable alternative arrangements or refunds where possible, we will not be liable to pay you any compensation.

12. Special Requests

Any special requests must be advised to us at the time of booking e.g. diet, room location, a particular facility at a hotel etc. You should then confirm your requests in writing. Whilst every effort will be made by us to try and arrange your reasonable special requests, we cannot guarantee that they will be fulfilled. The fact that a special request has been noted on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation or that it has been passed on to the supplier is not confirmation that the request will be met. Failure to meet any special request will not be a breach of contract on our part unless the request has been specifically confirmed by us. We do not accept bookings that are conditional upon any special request being met.

13. Disabilities and Medical Problems

We are not a specialist disabled holiday company, but we will do our utmost to cater for any special requirements you may have. If you or any member of your party has any medical problem or disability which may affect your booking, please provide us with full details before you make your booking so that we can try to advise you as to the suitability of your chosen arrangements. We may require you to produce a doctor's certificate certifying that you are fit to participate. Acting reasonably, if we are unable to properly accommodate the needs of the person(s) concerned, we will not confirm your booking or if you did not give us full details at the time of booking, we will cancel it and impose applicable cancellation charges when we become aware of these details. If, during your holiday, we become aware of a medical problem or disability which may affect your health and safety or the health and safety of others, which you did not disclose at the time of booking, we reserve the right to postpone, restrict or cancel your involvement in any cycling activities, at the tour leader's sole discretion.

14. Accommodation Provisions

B&B OPTION & DOUBLE OR TWIN/TRIPLE

If you choose the B&B only option you will stay in a mixture of B&B's, hotels and country pubs. If you are travelling with a friend then you will be roomed together in a twin or if you're with your partner then you will be in a double room (or a twin if you prefer). If you are travelling alone then you will be roomed with another member of the group in a twin or triple room (same sex). The actual stopovers may change from the advertised accommodation providers, if this happens then an equivalent standard of accommodation will be used nearby. The majority of the rooms you stay in will be en-suite however you may stay in a couple of rooms that are not en-suite.

SINGLE ROOM OPTION

If you choose the single room option, you will have your own room for the duration of the holiday. This will be in either a single room or single occupancy of a double room in a mixture of en-suite and non en-suite rooms.

SOLE USE OF A DOUBLE ROOM OPTION

If you choose this option, you will have a guaranteed double room to yourself throughout the tour. You will always have an en-suite each night of your holiday. There may be an exceptionally rare occasion when you have a separate bathroom but this is very unlikely. Occasionally you may have a twin room to yourself if a double room isn't available but again, this is rare.

YHA (YOUTH HOSTEL) OPTION

This option is only available for the fourteen day LEJOG tour. If you choose the YHA option you will stay in a mixture of hostels, hotels & B&B's staying in dormitory rooms, single rooms, twin rooms & triples.

15. Complaints

We make every effort to ensure that your holiday arrangements run smoothly but if you do have a problem during your holiday, please inform the relevant supplier (e.g. your hotelier) and your tour leader immediately who will endeavour to put things right. If your complaint is not resolved locally, please contact 07495 023 022 or 01457851462.

If the problem cannot be resolved and you wish to complain further, you must send formal written notice of your complaint to us at our office, ideally within 28 days of the end of your stay, giving your booking reference and all other relevant information. Please keep your letter concise and to the point. This will assist us to quickly identify your concerns and speed up our response to you. Failure to follow the procedure set out in this clause may affect ours and the applicable supplier's ability to investigate your complaint, and will affect your rights under this contract.

You can access the European Commission Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform at http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/. This ODR platform is a means of registering your complaint with us; it will not determine how your complaint should be resolved. Please Note: the ODR platform is unlikely to be available for use by UK consumers at such a point that the UK ceases to be a member of the European Union.

16. Your Behaviour

All our customers are expected to conduct themselves in an orderly and acceptable manner and not to disrupt the enjoyment of others. If in our opinion or in the opinion of any hotel manager, tour leader or any other person in authority, your behaviour or that of any member of your party is causing or is likely to cause distress, danger or annoyance to any other customers or any third party, or damage to property, or to cause a delay or diversion to transportation, we reserve the right to terminate your booking with us immediately. In the event of such termination our liability to you and/or your party will cease and you and/or your party will be required to leave your accommodation or other arrangements immediately. We will have no further obligations to you and/or your party. No refunds for lost accommodation or any other arrangements will be made and we will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of termination. You and/or your party may also be required to pay for loss and/or damage caused by your actions and we will hold you and each member of your party jointly and individually liable for any damage or losses caused by you or any member of your party. Full payment for any such damage or losses must be paid directly to the hotel manager or other supplier prior to departure. If you fail to make payment, you will be responsible for meeting any claims (including legal costs) subsequently made against us as a result of your actions together with all costs we incur in pursuing any claim against you. We cannot be held responsible for the actions or behaviour of other guests or individuals who have no connection with your booking arrangements or with us.

17. Our Responsibilities

  1. We will accept responsibility for the arrangements we agree to provide or arrange for you as an "organiser" under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, as set out below and as such, we are responsible for the proper provision of all travel services included in your package, as set out in your confirmation invoice. Subject to these Booking Conditions, if we or our suppliers negligently perform or arrange those services and we don't remedy or resolve your complaint within a reasonable period of time, and this has affected the enjoyment of your package holiday you may be entitled to an appropriate price reduction or compensation or both. You must inform us without undue delay of any failure to perform or improper performance of the travel services included in this package. The level of any such price reduction or compensation will be calculated taking into consideration all relevant factors such as but not limited to: following the complaints procedure as described in these Booking Conditions and the extent to which ours or our employees' or suppliers' negligence affected the overall enjoyment of your holiday. Please note that it is your responsibility to show that we or our supplier(s) have been negligent if you wish to make a claim against us.
  2. We will not be responsible or pay you compensation for any injury, illness, death, loss, damage, expense, cost or other claim of any description if it results from:
    1. the acts and/or omissions of the person affected; or
    2. the acts and/or omissions of a third party unconnected with the provision of the services contracted for and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable; or
    3. Events Beyond Our Control (as defined in clause 11).
  3. We limit the amount of compensation we may have to pay you if we are found liable under this clause:
    1. loss of and/or damage to any luggage or personal possessions and money: the maximum amount we will have to pay you in respect of these claims is an amount equivalent to the excess on your insurance policy which applies to this type of loss per person in total because you are required to have adequate insurance in place to cover any losses of this kind.
    2. Claims not falling under (a) above and which don't involve injury, illness or death: the maximum amount we will have to pay you in respect of these claims is up to three times the price paid by or on behalf of the person(s) affected in total. This maximum amount will only be payable where everything has gone wrong and you or your party has not received any benefit at all from your booking.
    3. Claims in respect of international travel by sea and rail, or any stay in a hotel:
      1. The extent of our liability will in all cases be limited as if we were carriers under the appropriate Conventions, which include The Athens Convention (with respect to sea travel); The Berne/Cotif Convention (with respect to rail travel) and The Paris Convention (with respect to hotel arrangements). You can ask for copies of these Conventions from our offices. Please contact us. In addition, you agree that the operating carrier or transport company's own 'Conditions of Carriage' will apply to you on that journey. When arranging transportation for you, we rely on the terms and conditions contained within these international conventions and those 'Conditions of Carriage'. You acknowledge that all of the terms and conditions contained in those 'Conditions of Carriage' form part of your contract with us, as well as with the transport company and that those 'Conditions of Carriage' shall be deemed to be included by reference into this contract.
      2. When making any payment, we are entitled to deduct any money which you have received or are entitled to receive from the transport provider or hotelier for the complaint or claim in question.
  4. It is a condition of our acceptance of liability under this clause that you notify any claim to us and our supplier(s) strictly in accordance with the complaints procedure set out in these conditions.
  5. Where any payment is made, the person(s) receiving it (and their parent or guardian if under 18 years) must also assign to us or our insurers any rights they may have to pursue any third party and must provide ourselves and our insurers with all assistance we may reasonably require.
  6. Please note, we cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss or expense or other sum(s) of any description:
    1. which on the basis of the information given to us by you concerning your booking prior to our accepting it, we could not have foreseen you would suffer or incur if we breached our contract with you;
    2. relate to any business;
    3. indirect or consequential loss of any kind.
  7. We will not accept responsibility for services or facilities which do not form part of our agreement or where they are not advertised on our website. . For example any excursion you book whilst away, or any service or facility which your hotel or any other supplier agrees to provide for you.
  8. Where it is impossible for you to return to your departure point as per the agreed return date of your package, due to "unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances", we shall provide you with any necessary accommodation (where possible, of a comparable standard) for a period not exceeding three nights per person. Please note that the 3 night cap does not apply to persons with reduced mobility, pregnant women or unaccompanied minors, nor to persons needing specific medical assistance, provided we have been notified of these particular needs at least 48 hours before the start of your holiday. For the purposes of this clause, "unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances" mean warfare, acts of terrorism, significant risks to human health such as the outbreak of serious disease at the travel destination or natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes or weather conditions which make it impossible to travel safely back to your departure point.

18. Excursions

Excursions or other tours that you may choose to book or pay for whilst you are on holiday are not part of your contracted arrangements with us. For any excursion or other tour that you book, your contract will be with the operator of the excursion or tour and not with us. We are not responsible for the provision of the excursion or tour or for anything that happens during the course of its provision by the operator.

19. Insolvency Protection

In accordance with the requirements of the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, we provide full financial protection for all package holidays that we sell, by way of a separate account held by HSBC.

If you book arrangements other than package holiday from us, your monies will not be financially protected. Please ask us for further details.

20. Passport, Visa and Immigration Requirements & Health Formalities

It is your responsibility to check and fulfill the passport, visa, health and immigration requirements applicable to your itinerary. We can only provide general information about this. You must check requirements for your own specific circumstances with the relevant Embassies and/or Consulates and your own doctor as applicable. Requirements do change and you must check the up to date position in good time before departure.

Most countries now require passports to be valid for at least 6 months after your return date. If your passport is in its final year, you should check with the Embassy of the country you are visiting. For further information contact the Passport Office on 0870 5210410 or visit https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship/passports.

Special conditions apply for travel to the USA, and all passengers must have individual machine readable passports. Please check https://uk.usembassy.gov. For European holidays you should obtain a completed and issued form EHIC prior to departure.

Up to date travel advice can be obtained from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, visit https://www.gov.uk/travelaware.

Non British passport holders, including other EU nationals, should obtain up to date advice on passport and visa requirements from the Embassy, High Commission or Consulate of your destination or country(ies) through which you are travelling.

We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel, or incur any other loss because you have not complied with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities. You agree to reimburse us in relation to any fines or other losses which we incur as a result of your failure to comply with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities.

21. Conditions of Suppliers

Many of the services which make up your holiday are provided by independent suppliers. Those suppliers provide these services in accordance with their own terms and conditions which will form part of your contract with us. Some of these terms and conditions may limit or exclude the supplier's liability to you, usually in accordance with applicable International Conventions. Copies of the relevant parts of these terms and conditions are available on request from us or the supplier concerned.

22. Prompt Assistance

If, whilst you are on holiday, you find yourself in difficulty for any reason, we will offer you such prompt assistance as is appropriate in the circumstances. In particular, we will provide you with appropriate information on health services, local authorities and consular assistance, and assistance with distance communications and finding alternative travel arrangements. Where you require assistance which is not owing to any failure by us, our employees or sub-contractors we will not be liable for the costs of any alternative travel arrangements or other such assistance you require. Any supplier or transport supplier may however pay for or provide refreshments and/or appropriate accommodation and you should make a claim directly to them. Subject to the other terms of these Booking Conditions, we will not be liable for any costs, fees or charges you incur in the above circumstances, if you fail to obtain our prior authorisation before making your own travel arrangements. Furthermore, we reserve the right to charge you a fee for our assistance in the event that the difficulty is caused intentionally by you or a member of your party, or otherwise through your or your party's negligence.

23. Delays, Missed Transport Arrangements and other Travel Information

If you or any member of your party misses a transport arrangement, it is cancelled or you are subject to a delay of over 3 hours for any reason, you must contact us and the transport supplier concerned immediately.

We cannot accept liability for any delay which is due to any of the reasons set out in clause 11 of these Booking Conditions.

24. Foreign Office Advice

You are responsible for making yourself aware of Foreign Office advice in regard to the safety of the countries and areas in which you will be travelling and to make your decisions accordingly. Advice from the Foreign Office to avoid or leave a particular country may constitute Events Beyond Our Control. (See clause 11).

Company Details

Peak Tours Limited
38 Storth Meadow Road, Glossop, Derbyshire, SK13 6UZ.
Registered in England 7992506
VAT No 130935822

 

The leader and guides were excellent. They worked well as a team. They gave us the space to enjoy our holiday, but were always there when needed.
This trip was everything I hoped for. I would certainly use Peak Tours again.

John Hartley, French Alps Classic Cols - September 2022

This is my first time ever doing a multi-day bike tour with a tour company. It was everything I imagined, and more! I was also impressed by the value — the price for the tour was very reasonable given everything we were provided. I am a very satisfied customer and will recommend “Peak Tours” to my friends.

John Hanson, French Alps Classic Cols - June 2022

This has been the only thing like this I’ve ever done. My expectations were met and exceeded. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the Peak Team!
Tour of a life time. Peak Tours enabled me to truly enjoy my dream by offering the right amount of support. More support would have been too much, less would have been upsetting. It felt to me that they were proving just the right amount to each type of rider in order to help us achieve our own personal goals. I don’t know if this was so, but it sure felt like something “individual” was going on for each of us. Very nice job.

Dan Snyder, French Alps Classic Cols - June 2022

Very well thought out route the entire week. Spectacular last day amendment to do the Balcony Road – it was awesome!

Very good lunch stops. Outstanding brew van.

All round great organisation before and after the tour.

We had an absolutely fantastic week, I won’t hesitate to recommend to friends!

Beth Evans Aug/Sept 2018, -

The tour leader/backup was ‘Par excellence’

Challenging routes, excellent support and good company – surely this cannot be improved.

Mark Foster Aug/Sept 2018, -

Loved every minute (of the route)

I enjoyed every day of the tour. It was suitably challenging and hugely rewarding. Many thanks.

Mark Bottomley Aug/Sept 2018, -

The alpine Cols tour is magnificent. Thank you.

Special mention to the guides and particularly Tony who has real leadership and man management abilities.

He brought out the best in Hamish and Graham as well, a great team.

Hold on to him if you can.

Dave and Jennie Buckler Aug/Sept 2018, -

The accommodation provided were very cycle friendly places.  I felt bikes were safely locked up.

The route was well planned. Clear advice and GPX ahead of time was really helpful.

The food was superb – well timed. It was always looked forward to and enjoyed.

Jennie Buckler Aug/Sept 2018, -

Each day on the route seemed to build on the previous day – so we were gradually stretched. I had only been riding for three weeks after a back op, so I was a little nervous about what I’d be able to do. A bit anxious before Semnoz, but by the time we got to Galibier I knew it was doable if I just kept grinding on. And the views and descents were wonderful rewards.

Peter Briggs Aug/Sept 2018, -

The route was ABSOLIUTLEY FANTASTIC!

Gary and Lisa Eato, -
Page 1 of 2

From: £1,495.00

Shared Double Room

Shared Twin Room

Single Room

Sole Occupancy Double Room

Bike Transfer and Return – UK to Europe

Would you like us to transport your bike from Glossop, Derbyshire to Europe and back? (Please select number of bikes, select 0 if not required)

Would you like us to transport your bike from Glossop, Derbyshire to Europe and back? (Please select number of bikes, select 0 if not required)

Pay a deposit of £250.00 per person

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