Overview
This varied and exciting route begins at St Pauls Cathedral in London, through Southern England and to the port of Dover. Here we’ll cross the English Channel to Calais then cycle to our hotel for the evening. The following day we’ll begin a further three days through France, Belgium & The Netherlands before crossing the German border, ending our ride at the foot of a Gothic masterpiece – Cologne Cathedral.
You’ll have a full day to explore this fascinating city before returning to the UK on a flight to London to Heathrow in the early evening. Here the trip comes to an end.
Highlights
- Riding through Kent, the Garden of England
- Picturesque Flemish villages and landscapes of Belgium
- Cycling to the river Rhine
- Arriving at Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- A full day to explore the fascinating city of Cologne, Germany’s fourth largest city
Our Star Ratings
Here is an explanation of our cycling trip grades. Please bear in mind that total ascent, wind, rain and general riding conditions can play as important factors as the daily distances involved. Whilst we have stated some example distances, the overall difficulty assigned to each trip will encompass a range of these factors. If you are at all unsure of whether you think the trip is suitable, please contact us.
Easy: Suitable for those new to cycling seeking an introductory and very relaxed yet active experience on two wheels. Easy riding on short, flat and/or gently undulating routes. Approx 20 – 40 miles a day
Relaxed: Undulating terrain with occasional minor undulations for semi-regular novices who wish to develop fitness and ability. May include a few short steep climbs. Approx 40 – 50 miles a day
Moderate: Designed for cyclists with a good level of riding experience and fitness, and are comfortable riding for full days in the saddle. Routes will include some steep and/or sustained climbs. Not for those completely new to cycling. Approx 50 – 80 miles a day
Challenging: Routes with multiple steep and sustained climbs and technical descents and/or long distances. Riders need to be have a high level of fitness and stamina in addition to experience in riding over extended distances and/or tackling long ascents and descents. Approx 70 – 110 miles a day
Advanced: Designed for experienced cyclists with an excellent level of fitness and stamina. Routes are consistently long with multiple serious and steep ascents and descents throughout. High altitude ascents may be undertaken followed by technically demanding descents. Approx 80 – 120 miles a day
Itinerary
Day 1: St Pauls Cathedral – Dover – Calais (82 miles & ↑4000 feet)
We meet in front of an icon of London, St Pauls Cathedral. After a trip briefing, photos and loading luggage onto the support vehicle, we’ll begin our ride southeast out of the city. We’ll soon reach the outskirts of the city and enter Kent where the roads open up and we can enjoy the Garden of England as we approach Dover. We’ll catch a ferry from Dover to Dunkirk where a further 10 miles takes us to our overnight hotel.
Day 2: Calais – Aalst (110 miles & ↑1100 feet)
We begin our second day following the coast on flat roads northeast of Calais. The route shortly crosses the border into Belgium and into the pretty town square of Veurne. From here our route continues along Belgian roads and cycle lanes to our overnight stop in Aalst on the banks of the Dender River. This quaint Belgian town has an ancient textile industry which still thrives today.
Day 3: Aalst – Elsloo (91 miles & ↑2000 feet)
Our route today begins by skirting around Brussels then onto Leuven, the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant to the east. Here we’ll stop for coffee at the impressive Gothic town hall before continuing through quaint Belgian villages and farmland to cycle along the Albert Canal. We cross our third border into The Netherlands to our overnight stop at Elsloo on the banks of the River Meuse.
Day 4: Elsloo – Cologne (69 miles & ↑1700 feet)
We leave The Netherlands behind today as we cross the border into Germany and to the town of Geilenkirchen, just 20km north of Aachen. Continuing east, we cross the river Rur through the town of Linnich. We soon reach the outskirts of Cologne, the fourth largest city in Germany, where we’ll head to the river Rhine before navigating our way to the double-spires of the impressive cathedral. From here it’s a short ride to our hotel for the evening where we’ll have a celebratory meal and explore the sights of the city.
Day 5: Cologne – London
Your bicycles and luggage will be driven back to the UK so you have a full day to explore Cologne. A thorough exploration of the cathedral is a must, along with a visit to one of the many museums in the city before your evening flight back to London Heathrow. Here you’ll be met by the More Adventure team who will hand back your bicycles and luggage and the trip comes to an end.
This itinerary is a guide only and can sometimes be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. Whilst we endeavour to uphold the proposed daily mileages, this cannot be guaranteed due to changes to hotel bookings.
Map
Includes
- Cycle leader(s) and support driver(s)
- 4 x night’s hotel accommodation
- 4 x breakfasts
- 4 x buffet-style lunches
- Ferry from Dover to Calais
- Bicycle mechanical support
- First Aid cover
- All luggage transported during your trip
- Bicycle and main luggage transfer back to London Heathrow
- GPX files of the route (if requested)
Not Included
- Bicycle and Helmet
- Transfers to Cologne Airport
- Flights from Cologne to London Heathrow (approx £45 – £70)
- Evening meals, drinks and snacks
- European Health Card (www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/home.do)
- Insurance
FAQs
Are there many hills on this trip?
The hardest day is almost certainly the first. Once you're over into France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany, it gets far flatter.
What time does the trip start from St Pauls?
We meet at 06:15 at St Pauls.
What's our time back at Heathrow on day 5?
Your estimated arrival time back into Heathrow will be between 6pm & 8pm. If you wish to fly earlier (with your bike and luggage) then this is not a problem, but the More Adventure team are driving back so this is the earliest they can get back to Heathrow with bikes and luggage to meet the group.
How many people do you need to confirm the trip or put on a bespoke date?
The minimum number for this trip is 10. We can put on bespoke trips for groups of 10 or more.
Are riders expected to stick together or do mini groups occur with riders of similar speeds/abilities?
All of our rides are lead by a cycle guide who maintains an average speed that the group are comfortable with. There will inevitably be different abilities throughout the group so mini groups do tend to form. We actually encourage this from a safety perspective anyway as it allows cars to overtake groups if riders are in smaller pods rather than one long line.
What deposit is required and the balance payment?
We require a 40% deposit payment to secure your place on the trip. The remaining amount is due no later than 6 weeks before the trip begins.
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