The Dordogne and The Lot Valley
Welcome to Peak Toursโ Dordogne and Lot Valley tour. A most beautiful week of cycling awaits with idyllic scenery in this stunning region of France. We begin from Bergerac and cycle east to Les Eyzies moving on to Sarlat-la-Canรฉda and Gramat before finishing in Cahors. The region is packed with historic sites, amazing natural cliffs and of course, we cross over the beautiful Dordogne and Lot rivers. Exploring this region by bike is truly a lovely way to spend a week’s holiday.
We will stay in both Les Eyzies and Cahors for 2 nights each, so we will not be moving on every day. This allows our itinerary to be flexible, with a choice of cycling or ‘touristing’ on some days.
This beautiful picturesque tour has something for everyone, with short and long routes, and there are some optional rest days if desired. If all of the shortest options are taken you will cover 240 miles / 390km total distance, 16000ft / 4900m total ascent, but there is the possibility of extending 4 of the 6 days, taking the total mileage for taking all of the long options to 327 miles / 526km, with 23,400ft / 7150 m total ascent. It provides another rewarding experience in a similar vein to our other tours, with the โmagic vanโ providing refreshments throughout the week. Your bags will be transported for you each day and we will be having some fantastic lunches whilst we explore this enchantion region. This tour is classed as difficulty level 4 because although average daily distances for the shortest options are below 50 miles, there is also a bit of climbing. Taking all of the longer options would make it more of a grade 5 tour, so similar to our Week in Provence tour (but without any climbs that are anywhere near as long as Mont Ventoux!) but you can feel free to mix and match the days as you desire!
Highlights
– See some fantastic sights, all by bike – the best way to enjoy this wonderful region of France
– Cycle through the stunning Vezere valley, also known as the Valley of Man, where you will find a huge range of prehistoric sites, from the troglodytic dwellings of La Roque St Christophe to the cave paintings of the Grotte de Font-de-Gaume
– Visit the famous Lascaux International Centre for Cave Art – the site of cave paintings and engravings thought to be from 17-18,000 years ago
– See some fantastic towns built into hillsides – Rocamadour and St Cirq Lapopie will take your breath away!
– Enjoy quiet cycleways and roads, with beautiful views
– Stay in the historic centres of Bergerac, Sarlat-la-Canรฉda and Cahors
Duration 7 nights / 6 days cycling
Total distance 240 miles / 390km – 327 miles / 526km (depending on which options you choose)
Total elevation 15,700 ft / 4800m – 23,400ft / 7150m (depending on the options that you choose)
Grade 4 (short options) – 5 (long options)
Practicalities
We will transfer you from Bordeaux or Bergerac airport to Bergerac at the start of the tour and also from Cahors to the airport at the end of the tour on Saturday morning. Bergerac is also accessible directly by train, which can be a really enjoyable way to travel, and takes only around 7-8 hours from London.
Please see the Itinerary page for a more detailed description of the route and the Additional Information page for more information on the logistics.
You can download the trip notes for the tour here Dordogne and Lot Valley Trip Notes
2025 Dates:
Sat 21st โ Sat 28th June 2025 Only 1 male sharing space left and 1 single space left No single sole occ places left
Sat 28th June โ Sat 5th July 2025 Only 10 places left
Sat 5th โ Sat 12th July 2025 Places available
Sat 12th โ Sat 19th July 2025 Places available
Sat 19th โ Sat 26th July 2025 Only 12 places left
Prices for 2025 are ยฃ1595 for a shared twin or double, ยฃ1945 for a single and ยฃ2095 for sole occ of a double.
To go ahead and book this tour please complete the booking form below or if you have any queries then please call us on 01457 851462 or email info@peak-tours.com.
The Dordogne and The Lot Valley Route
This week-long tour, with 6 days of cycling, with some optional shorter or rest days, has been designed to take in many of the highlights of the Dordogne and the Lot Valleys, whilst also allowing time for relaxation and exploration if desired.
We stay in the same hotel in Les Eyzies and Cahors for 2 nights each, so we will not be moving on every day. There are different options on some days, with the short loops being deliberately quite short to allow for some sightseeing. There are some rest day options on the days when we stay in the same place more than once – if you didnโt want to cycle on those days then you could take it easy and enjoy some tourism. It should be noted that it will not always be possible to support those doing the shorter routes with brew and lunch stops โ those doing the longer routes will take priority. There will not be a riding guide on the shorter options. We will of course be on hand and just a phone call away if riders encounter any issues. Alternatively, if you didnโt want to cycle on those days then you can take it easy, enjoy some tourism and cycle every other day if you prefer. The numerous options make this a great tour for friends who perhaps want to come away together on a cycling holiday but have different distances or amounts of climbing that they want to do.
Choosing all of the longer options would make it more of a grade 5 tour, so similar to our Week in Provence tour (but without any climbs that are anywhere near as long as Mont Ventoux!)
Saturday: Arrival Day Non-riding day
Arrival day โ welcome to the tour!
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 to pick up bikes.
A coach will depart from Bordeaux airport at 16:30 to arrive in Bergerac for 18:30 to allow time to settle in before the first evening meal.
For those arriving into Bergerac by train or plane, the city is just a short taxi ride away from the airport so you can arrive and have time to explore the winding streets and the history of the town.
Sunday: Bergerac to Les Eyzies Distance: 47 miles / 76 km Elevation: 2350 ft / 950 m
A lovely bike path along the river takes us out of Bergerac and into the heart of the Dordogne region. We make our way to the amazing Cadouin Abbey, which was once a major pilgrimage site, before passing by Limeuil, classified as โone of the most beautiful villages in France.โ With its winding streets built on a hillside over the river, itโs easy to see why! The final part of the day sees us finishing in Les Eyzies, a village dominated by the amazing once-inhabited caves which sit above.
Monday: Les Eyzies โValley of Manโ loops Short loop: 34 miles/ 55km Elevation: 1740ft / 650m, Medium loop: 52 miles / 83km Elevation: 3600ft / 1100m ascent, Long loop: 63 miles / 101km Elevation: 4300ft / 1300m
Today we have 3 loops, all of which pass by some famous sites in the โValley of Manโ – so named because of the volume of pre-historic sites found here. The shorter loop is 34 miles / 55 km, designed to allow for some โtourisme ร vรฉlo.โ For those who wish to go a bit further, there are the options of the medium loop at 52 miles / 83km (3600ft / 1100m ascent) or the long loop at 63 miles / 101km (4300ft / 1300m ascent). Whichever route you choose, we pass by the famous Troglodytic Fort and City of La Roque Saint Christophe, before arriving into Montignac-Lascaux, which sits pretty on the Vezere river. For those who wish to stop at the Lascaux International Center for Cave Art for a tour of the replica caves and the museum, there is an opportunity to do so (2hr visit – this is to be booked before you arrived). On the return to Les Eyzies there is the Grotte de Font-de-Gaume, another site of Paleolithic era cave paintings, which this time offers tours of the caves themselves.
Of course for those who would prefer to have a day off exploring, then the Grotte de Font-de-Gaume is a short walk from the hotel and the French National Museum of Prehistory is also situated in the village itself!
You can choose to end your day with some optional wine tasting at our lovely hotel.
Tuesday: Les Eyzies to Sarlat-la-Canรฉda Short route: Distance: 41 miles/ 65 km, Elevation: 3200 ft / 950 m, Long route: Distance: 62 miles/ 100km, Elevation: 5500 ft /1700 m
Leaving Les Eyzies behind, but by no means leaving the history behind, we continue our journey along the Dordogne river, crossing it a few times as we pass by the impressive Chรขteau de Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, and through the fortified town of Domme, sometimes known as the โAcropolis of the Pรฉrigord.โ Finally we pass by the stunning village of La Roque Gageac, a town built into the rock, perched above the Dordogne. We end our day in Sarlat-la-Canรฉda, a medieval town with an abundance of cobbled streets to explore. For those who wish to extend their ride, there is an extra 20 mile loop which takes in some more typical Dordogne scenery and villages.
Wednesday: Sarlat-la-Canรฉda to Gramat Short route: Distance: 43 miles / 72 km Elevation: 3600ft / 1100 m, Long route: Distance: 61 miles / 94km, Elevation: 5300ft / 1600m
Leaving Sarlat, we take a traffic-free โVoie Verte,โ which winds its way through lovely quiet farmland before we cross the river and make our way towards hillier terrain. The hills are worth it as we find ourselves cycling towards Rocamadour, a famous cliff-side pilgrimage town, also known for its goats cheese. We finish the day in Gramat, which is again on the โPilgrimโs Trail.โ Again, there is a longer route which takes in the beautiful Autoire gorge road.
Thursday: Gramat to Cahors Distance: 41 miles/ 66 km Elevation: 3000ft / 900m
The scenery changes as the cave dwellings and cliffs become more sparse, and we take in more pastoral France. Quiet roads lead us through small rural villages, as we head towards the river Lot. We end with a stunning cycle along the river to see the Pont Valentrรฉ, a bridge built in the 14th century, which has now become the symbol of Cahors.
Friday: Cahors Loop: St-Cirq-Lapopie and the Lot river Short loop distance: 41 miles/ 66 km Elevation: 2500ft / 750m, Long loop distance: 52 miles / 83km, Elevation: 3600ft / 1100m
The final day of riding of our tour finishes with a visit to one of the highlights of the Dordogne and Lot regions: St-Cirq-Lapopie. Built into a sheer cliff, it seems an improbable place to build a town, but the maze of streets and impressive church give some insight into St-Cirq-Lapopieโs historical significance. The two loops allow for some flexibility, as the routes split after lunch, so if youโre feeling like you have some energy left for the end of the tour you could tackle some extra climbing on quiet roads into hidden valleys, before descending to rejoin the short loop.
Saturday: Transfer to Bordeaux and Bergerac Airports and Tour Ends
Transfers will be arranged to the transport hubs of the region (Bordeaux or Bergerac) for your trains or flights home. 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 from the back up van, 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). A 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, cycle shirt, luggage transfer each day, lots of fun!
What’s Not Included?
Evening meals, cycle hire (available for a fee), Garmin hire (available for a fee), transport to and from France.
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 wonโt be so many people that it becomes overcrowded.
Accommodation
Accommodation is in clean and comfortable 3 and 4 star hotels. 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 โ14. Accommodation Provisionsโ for further information.
Route
This route is easier than many of our other tours however there are still a number of hills throughout the tour. There are a few days with options for rest days to enjoy some sightseeing, so there should be something to suit everyone.
Take a look at the Itinerary section, and if you need any advice please contact us and we will be happy to discuss any questions and concerns that you may have.
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 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 and gpx files 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 donโt 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 donโt 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 – there is a small fee of ยฃ60 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 unfortunately. 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 caused 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.
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 recommended however it is expected that the weather will be hot and sunny on the whole so please pack accordingly. A full recommended kit list is provided and we are always happy to answer any questions that you may have.
Insurance
It is compulsory 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. If you don’t already have a policy in place then you can try Yellow Jersey who specialise in providing insurance for cyclists. You can see further details here: Yellow Jersey
What happens at the start of the tour?
The tour starts in Bergerac on the first Saturday. Train or plane are two main options for arriving into Bergerac, with the airport being just 3 miles from the arrival day hotel.
Alternatively, you could get the train to Bordeaux Airport, and take advantage of our transfer service from there:
Train: Bergerac is directly accessible by train and has good rail links to Paris. London St Pancras to Bergerac usually takes around 7-8 hrs, with a change in Paris, and then Bordeaux.
Plane: There are direct flights to Bergerac and Bordeaux from various different UK airports. However, from some airports you will need to fly via other hubs such as Amsterdam, so the train may be a quicker option. We will provide a transfer service from the airports. From Bordeaux this will be booked for 16:30. Bordeaux to Bergerac takes around 1hr30 mins by road.
Some customers choose to arrive in Bergerac a day before the tour starts, and then stay in Cahors for an extra day at the end of the tour. This can be a great way to extend your holiday at either end to combine tourism with your cycling.
Whether you arrive at Bordeaux Airport by train or by plane, we will have a guide to meet you and a coach booked for 16:30, Bordeaux to Bergerac which takes around 1hr30 mins by road. If you arrive after 16:30 then you will need to arrange your own transport from the airport to your accommodation in Bergerac. There is a taxi rank immediately outside the airport should 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 donโt 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 (this may change according to the requirements of each individual group). Alternatively you can post your bike to us and we will take it over for you.
What happens at the end?
The final day’s riding is on Friday and a coach will arrive on Saturday morning at 8:00 to take you back to Bergerac for approx 10:00 or Bordeaux for 11.45 for your trains or flight home. One of the guides will drive a van with all of your bikes in back to England and you can either meet them on Sunday as they are driving north, pick up your bike from us in Glossop at some point (no charge) or alternatively we can box your bike and post it back to you – The price for this courier service is available on request.
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. Alternatively we can meet you at a motorway service station as we drive south from Glossop to Dover. The guides will drive down on the Thursday before the tour starts and will take the ferry from Dover to Calais then drice to the start of the tour so that they will be in Bergerac the Friday evening before the tour starts. There is a charge of ยฃ60 for this service, to cover post-Brexit paperwork.
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 and 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 and we will book it in for you.
Whatever arrangements you make, we will be happy to help.
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. The tour is slightly easier than most of our tours, as there are options for rest days. Take a look at the Itinerary section, and 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 donโt 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 possible 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 isnโt essential. Our guides will help you with any repairs and adjustments en-route.
What are the lunches like?
Lunches will be a mostly picnic lunches with a few being in local restaurants and cafรฉs. 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 wonโt 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 at a fast pace whilst others prefer to take their time, stop for coffee and cake or stop to take photos etc so whether you are a โspeed demonโ or more of a โtourerโ 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. The average age for our riders is people in their 50’s and 60’s. We think that a group of 20-25 is ideal as there will be plenty of people with similar interests and 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 other tours 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 wonโt be left alone if you would like to eat with others. Quite often will simply arrange a certain restaurant to meet up and just drift in when you are ready whilst at other places we have a set time to eat โ it just depends on the location.
Does the support vehicle follow the group?
No, the back up van doesnโt drive behind the group at all times but the van shouldnโt be too far away if you require assistance. Usually we have two vans on each tour. This way we can ensure that the luggage is delivered in time for the faster riders whilst another van stays out to provide refreshments and assistance for riders who prefer to take their time.
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 shouldnโt 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 days back to back whilst training and also that you cycle on some hills. The more training that you do, the more enjoyable you will find the tour.
What bike should I use?
The most suitable bike for this trip is a road or hybrid 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 over 240 miles so it is important that your bike wonโt 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 front & 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. Our road bikes are Cannondale Synapse bikes and our touring bikes are Dawes Galaxy. Details of these bikes can be found by clicking on the ‘Tour Extras’ tab.
All of our hire bikes come fitted with pump, 2 water bottle cages, 2 water bottles, bell and front and rear lights. There is also a small saddle bag with a spare tube, multi-tool, puncture repair kit & tyre leavers. We can also provide a helmet for you at no extra cost (if you would like a helmet providing then please mention this on the booking form).
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 1/3ย to 1/2 ladies & 1/2 to 2/3rdsย 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. However, it must also be noted that it can get very hot in the summer months.
France is also well known for its gastronomy and also fine wines and we will do our 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:
- he/she has read these Booking Conditions and has the authority to and does agree to be bound by them;
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- he/she accepts financial responsibility for payment of the booking on behalf of all persons detailed on the booking.
- 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:
- the price of the carriage of passengers resulting from the cost of fuel or other power sources;
- 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
- 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 ยฃ10. 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:
- that person is introduced by you and satisfies all the conditions applicable to the holiday;
- we are notified not less than 7 days before departure;
- you pay any fees, charges or other costs arising from the transfer; and
- 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:
- A change of accommodation area for the whole or a significant part of your time away.
- A change of accommodation to that of a lower standard or classification for the whole or a significant part of your time away.
- A change of outward departure time or overall length of your arrangements by more than 12 hours.
- 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:
- (for significant major changes) accepting the changed arrangements; or
- having a refund of all monies paid; or
- 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:
- If, where we make a significant change, you do not accept the changed arrangements and cancel your booking;
- 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 | ยฃ0 |
60-43 days | ยฃ10 |
42-29 days | ยฃ20 |
28-15 days | ยฃ30 |
14-0 days | ยฃ40 |
*IMPORTANT NOTE: We will not pay you compensation in the following circumstances:
- where we make a minor change;
- where we make a significant change or cancel your arrangements more than 60 days before departure;
- where we make a significant change and you accept those changed arrangements or you accept an offer of alternative travel arrangements;
- where we have to cancel your arrangements as a result of your failure to make full payment on time;
- where the change or cancellation by us arises out of alterations to the confirmed booking requested by you;
- 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
- 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.
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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:
- the acts and/or omissions of the person affected; or
- 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
- Events Beyond Our Control (as defined in clause 11).
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We limit the amount of compensation we may have to pay you if we are found liable under this clause:
- 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.
- 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.
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Claims in respect of international travel by sea and rail, or any stay in a hotel:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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Please note, we cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss or expense or other sum(s) of any description:
- 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;
- relate to any business;
- indirect or consequential loss of any kind.
- 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.
- 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
From: £1,595.00