The expedition takes us from West to East on the trail of one of history's most famous conquerors. Join us on this ride of historical proportions as we ride in the footsteps of Napoleon from Paris to Moscow. Divided into 3 stages of 2 weeks each, this tour is an exploratory epic ranging the length of Europe into the heart of Russia following in the footsteps of Napoleon’s near 700,000 strong Grande Armée.

Ride across the Champagne region of France into the picturesque castle clad green hills of southern Germany. Our route then takes us through UNESCO protected medieval villages in Poland to the North Sea. From here we strike east via the great lakes of Poland and The Baltics. We arrive in St Petersburg, a city Napoleon never took, but a must on a Russian odyssey. Then south to Moscow on the all Russian final stage!

Experience total immersion into the landscape, history and culture of the places we visit as we ride this inspirational trail on the road less travelled.

♦ Very advanced cycling level (average 100 km per day): this tour has been designed for the cyclists who like a physical challenge, ride their bike on a weekly basis (minimum 100-160 km a week) and enjoy fast pace for an extended period of time.

 

> Length: 8 days / 7 nights
> Distance: 713 km
> Regions: Ile de France, Champagne-Ardenne, Lorraine, Alsace, Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinatem

Meet for the first stage of your Napoleonic odyssey in the City of Love and Light – Paris! Our warm up ride takes us around the Longchamp hippodrome with the locals then and down the Champs Elysées before a welcome aperitif in the shadow of the Arc de Triomphe. A stunning ride through the heart of one of Europe’s premier cities, along oak-lined canals, is arguably one of the most beautiful city exits we have discovered; and so fabulously French! From here we head east into the beguiling Champagne Ardenne and Lorraine regions before crossing the border into Germany. With increased European integration, the border is not marked but the cultural and scenic differences are immediately apparent as we traverse the famous Rhineland. We toast to the end of week 1 in the lovely town of Heidelberg.

♦ Savour an apéritif next to the Arc de Triomphe and identify the homages to Napoleon and French history.
♦ Ride through the picturesque hills of the Champagne region before sampling their bounty at the day’s end.
♦ Enjoy the road less travelled as we ride through the atmospheric pine forests and riveting ravines of the Rhineland.
♦ Sample the Rhineland speciality of Rheinischer Sauerbraten a marinated beef dish, washed down with a wheat beer, whilst lunching next to the mighty river Rhine.

 

> Length: 7 days / 6 nights
> Distance: 701 km
> Regions: Hesse, Bavaria, Saxony

The grandeur of the Rhine is the perfect launch pad for the sensorial overload that awaits, as we traverse some of Germany’s most dynamic pastoral scenery. From the resplendent ravines, to the dappled majesty of primordial pine forests, week 2 of stage 1 is as inspiring to the eye as it is fantastical to the mind. As our quest takes us through the antiquated towns of these ancient, forested mountains, be prepared to feast - as did warriors of the past - upon the delicacies that abound spectacular Saxony. From its medieval pork knuckles to the exquisite monk beers and Rhineland wine, this week is a bombardment of the senses that is as difficult to describe as it is to forget; simply exquisite!

♦ The gastronomy to be found in the Rhine-side restaurants of Heidelberg are so typically German; the plates and beer steins are made for giants, if not ravenous cyclists!
♦ The Gotzenburg castle - our residence early in the stage and a fantastic place to visit and stay
♦ Historic UNESCO protected Bamberg - an exceptional place to roll down the river into for an afternoon drink!
♦ Olbernau, Plauen and the amazing forested mountains that flank the Czech border... fairy tale stuff!
♦ The Bastei Bridge - A truely specatcular spot to take in the exceptional vistas of Saxony

 

> Length: 8 days / 7 nights
> Distance: 752 km
> Regions: Saxony, Greater Poland, Pomerania

Leaving Germany’s fantastical land of ice smooth bike paths and mountain forests feels a little like emerging into the twilight zone particularly at the border crossing. However once the frontier has become part of our touring history, the beauty of Poland seeps into our cycling cognition as we glide into an almost soporific state amongst the avenues of deciduous giants that line the roads less travelled.

The tree-lined avenues along which we ride are not of the fantasy inspiring variety, their charm may be found in the undulating beauty which makes riding these flatland roads about as relaxing as epic bike riding can be (our hardest task is to be the first to spot the mercurial stork nests dotting the horizon). We meander from quaint village to open farm land, guided always by the magnificent arboreal monsters that line our path. Riding conditions that are perfectly suited to chewing up the kms, lead us into the cobble-lined streets of Poznan and Zamek Gniew, where castles and medieval jousting are just part of the scenery. From the flatlands and lakes to our final destination (the amazing Gdansk), stage 2 of this epic adventure will leave you in awe of a rich culture and one which is suited beautifully to the travelling cyclist.

♦ Our first taste of Polish Palacs; Weiclice! The majesty and charm of the renovated palace - that once housed the officers of Napoleon’s army and thereafter the Hitler Gestapo during WWII - run by Ziggy, the friendliest Pole in the country, is second to none. If the historical ambience is not enough, the gymnasiums, massage parlours and amazing swimming facilities (including bucket drop saunas) should fill any gaps!
♦ Gdansk (and Sopoto) is undoubtedly one of the most amazing cities to visit. White sand beaches and bikes!
♦ Counting storks! Spotting stork nests in the most amazing locations was fun whilst driving; how many spottings will there be from the saddle?

 

> Length: 7 days / 6 nights
> Distance: 660 km
> Regions: Pomerania, Kashubia, Warmia, Masuria (Poland) and Dzukija (Lithuania)

From the sequestered port of Sopoto - with its seaside forest paths and white sand beaches - to the pelagic magic of the pristine Polish Lakes, the second week of stage 2 of our Napoleon epic is a feast of the cordon bleu genre! The ambience found in one of Europe’s eminent seaside towns is a delightful way to spend the stage changeover, before embarking upon the journey into the heart of the former Eastern Block and the springboard for Napoleon’s assault on the great Russian Empire.

If our senses are not sufficiently piqued by the Gdanskian sojourn, the peninsulars, antiquated ferries and medieval castles that follow, will undoubtedly unlock the sensors. Kaunas’ magnificent monastery and the rustic Reszel castle come close to taking out the accommodation prize, while the forest paths and stunning lakes systems that abound, provide the perfect balm to the (‘hump stage’s’) mid tour aches and pains. To arrive at Lake Trakai, one of the region’s most famous attractions, is as good as it gets and our ‘courtside seats’ need but a Pimms and a Lemonade to toast the sun setting upon stage two!

♦ Swimming in Sopoto or sipping a Polish beverage on white sandy beaches are hard to beat!
♦ Reszel castle is as rustically beautiful as they come and the back drop and adjoining church is a splendour to behold!
♦ Lakes, upon lakes! We are constantly traversing waterways which invite us in for swims!
♦ Lake Trakai, with its fairytale castle and medieval turrets surrounded by the world’s biggest moat!
♦ Dining in the courtyard of Castle Reszel, renown for its ghostly inhabitants!

 

> Length: 8 days / 7 nights
> Distance: 800 km
> Countries: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Russia

Leading up to this most auspicious frontier crossing is a stage of growing immensity, as our days in the saddle soar! Thankfully, the topographical features (or lack thereof) in the Baltic states, finds us circumnavigating huge inland seas as opposed to scaling mountain ranges. With four weeks of hardened muscles behind us and gorgeous views abundant, the Baltic states provides the perfect flatland cycling scape. As Lithuania slides into Latvia and morphs eventually into Estonia, the Baltic ambience will leave an indelible mark. With the disco lights from Jekobpils illuminating our journey, we finally pierce the Russian armour and glide into the jewel that is known as Saint Petersburg; from whence our final drive to Russia’s capital will be orchestrated!

♦ Four countries in one week - Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Russia!
♦ One of the continent’s biggest inland lakes ‘Peipsi Jarv’, provides a perfect cycling route with swimming options galore and a plethora of pelagic villages in which to enjoy the view with a coffee or a beer.
♦ The Narva crossing from Estonia into Russia! We just can’t wait to cruise across on our binary rollers!
♦ Saint Petersburg - the former imperial capital of Russia and one of the world’s great cities.

 

> Length: 7 days / 6 nights
> Distance: 598 km
> Countries: North Western and Central

From the former imperial capital to the current heartbeat of immense Russia, this journey into an awe inspiring world is a pinball ride - from magnificence to significance and everything in between. From munching Pozharsky chicken cutlets, to toasting with Russia’s finest bubbly at the Borodino battlefield, this final leg of our epic delivers a cultural kaleidoscope of Russia’s amazing history and tantalising traditions. Tolstoy’s world comes to life as we near the immense magnet of Moscow. As did Napoleon 200 years ago, we view our destination from the Vorobievy hills and relish the task of descending upon the capital. In a fitting ‘coup de grace’ to this record breaking bicycle adventure, we cruise along a bike-path’d river all the way to the capital’s centre; entering the red square as the world’s inaugural Napoleon epic survivors! A toast to the famous square (and to ourselves), before we head into our Kremlin overlooking hotel; from whence our celebration in full Russian splendour can well and truly begin! You are now part of cycle touring legend! Well done!!!

♦ The former imperial capital of Russia and one of the most beautiful cities in the world - Saint Petersburg
♦ Historic ‘Pozharsky chicken cutlets’ a national favourite since the early 19th century!
♦ UNESCO heritage listed Veliky Novgorod (Great Novgorod) one of Russia’s oldest cities with more than just a chicken dinner to delight!
♦ Riding through the picturesque roads and villages where writer Fedor Dostoevsky and poet Alexander Puskin lived
♦ The battle site of Borodino - Napoleon’s most terrible battle where it is estimated 2 men died every second and upon which the famous Tolstoyan hero was lost, most grapihically amongst the booms and spray cannon warfare!
♦ The grand finale - riding right into Moscow’s Red Square and on to our hotel which overlooks the Kremlin!