Far more than just a ferry port, St Malo boasts the most impressive walled citadel on France’s northern coast as well as large stretches of sandy beach. The wide, sweeping bay to the east of the town makes a great starting point for our journey.

The afternoon and evening are spent setting up bikes and exploring the beautifully preserved fortified walls and maze of cobbled streets in St Malo’s historic old town, or perhaps taking a refreshing dip in the sea. In the evening, we’ll dine at one of St Malo’s many excellent restaurants, providing the perfect opportunity to catch up, meet your fellow Skedaddlers, and chat about the epic journey ahead.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 770 Metres Approx.

Pedalling right from the hotel door we make our way to the official start on the beach-front, for the obligatory photo posing in front of ‘La Manche’ (The Channel). This morning’s ride takes us out of St Malo and along the stunning coastline towards the former small fishing village of Saint-Benoît-des-Ondes, founded in the 12th century and built on shell deposits. From here, we’ll search for the misty silhouette of Mont Saint-Michel with the iconic abbey often visible on the horizon.

Soon we start pedalling inland, heading south-east through the tranquil roads of rural Normandy and Brittany, weaving our way past golden fields of hay and deep-green pastures. The latter part of today’s stage passes through the town of Fougères with its well-preserved château designed to protect the Duchy of Brittany.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 810 Metres Approx.

Today, we enjoy straight roads linking crests crowned with churches as we ride towards Avrillé, near the city of Angers, which sits on the banks of the Loire.

After stocking up on pain au chocolat we press on due south as we cross from Brittany into the deeply rural Mayenne, then the Loire. We pass through small villages punctuated with occasional market towns such as Craon and Segré. Most settlements are located on top of small rises, their church spires each competing to be the tallest. A series of undulations ensure the next church is a great visual target to lure us south.

Towards the end of the ride we turn south-east and pass through small woodland and pastures before resting up in Avrillé, looking forward to visiting the Loire the next morning.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 600 Metres Approx.

This morning we cross the famous River Loire, France’s longest river at over 1,000km. We follow the great river upstream on the southern bank all day, even cycling along the quiet lanes of one of the river’s many islands. Along the banks of the Loire we pass our first (and not the last!) vineyard of the trip. The Loire is famous for its rosé wine but the local Saumur sparkling (a rival to champagne) is a must before our evening meal.

We ride into Saumur along a long avenue lined with wine cellars, many of which still use ancient caves to store and age their wines.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 545 Metres Approx.

After lingering in the Loire, this is a stage of real pedalling progress as we head due south in two distinct sections. Five kilometres south of the river we pass Fontevraud, famous for its spectacular turreted Abbaye, the largest abbey complex in Europe.

From here, the route winds through the wheat fields and grazing lands of the Thouet Valley to Saint-Loup-sur-Thouet, where the main street spans a key crossing point on the River Thouet and leads past the village’s impressive château. We then continue on to the nearby hamlet of Saint-Loup-Lamairé.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 535 Metres Approx.

Secluded back lanes with flower-studded hedgerows take us through the pastoral landscape east of Parthenay to the more open countryside of the département de la Vienne. We glide past endless fields of sunflowers and farmers bringing in the hay.

Avoiding the city of Poitiers, we stick to quieter routes passing close to the Gallo-Roman site of Sanxay in the Vonne River Valley. Our route continues to the village of Chaunay situated on an ancient Roman road leading south to Périgueux, where we soon arrive at our small country hotel.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 895 Metres Approx.

After setting off from Chaunay, we soon reach the River Charente, which we follow for much of the morning, passing through the many hamlets that dot its valley. Here, we cycle through a landscape of tilled fields and gently rolling hills. Today’s picnic is beside the little Romanesque church of Mouton, after which we leave the Charente and head further south, only to rejoin the river at the end of the day.

In the afternoon, we pause briefly at the Dolmen des Grouges before passing through the hamlet of Brie (not the home of the famous French cheese!) on our way to Angoulême.

Situated at the confluence of the Charente and Touvre rivers, the town is also home to France’s celebrated comic book museum.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 1,070 Metres Approx.

Today we enter the ever popular region of Dordogne famed for its lush rolling hills and languid lifestyle. Here the riding becomes a little more challenging than on previous days, so we may need to rely on our battery power a bit more.

Soon we will reach picture-postcard Brantôme, which is almost an island, surrounded by the River Dronne. We’ll stop here for lunch, making sure to leave time for a stroll around the village.

In the afternoon the riding continues on quiet back lanes and over gently rolling hills. The patchwork landscape of woodlands and pastures make the region famous for truffles and foie gras.

We end our day in the regional capital of Périgueux, famous for its two cathedrals and the Tour de Vésone preserving the remains of a Gallo-Roman temple.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,115 Metres Approx.

This morning, we head east into the heart of the Dordogne before turning south towards the tiny hamlet of Fleurac in the Périgord Noir and on to Les Eyzies, a small town renowned for the many prehistoric cave paintings found throughout the valley. The area is also famous as the site where Cro-Magnon man, one of our earliest modern human ancestors, was first discovered.

After visiting the caves, a small stretch on the ‘route nationale’ brings us to Sarlat, arguably the jewel in the Dordogne’s crown. Sarlat boasts one of the best-preserved networks of medieval streets in Europe. In fact, it was the first historic town centre in France to be granted protected status.

• Meals: Breakfast

Today is a well-earned rest day. Take the opportunity to wander through Sarlat’s beautifully preserved medieval streets, discovering its many cafés, bars and hidden corners while giving your legs a chance to recover before we set off again tomorrow. For those still keen to spend a little more time in the saddle, there are plenty of lovely Dordogne back roads and quiet lanes to explore.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 845 Metres Approx.

Our day begins on a short stretch of perfectly maintained cycle path, avoiding the tourist traffic and taking us directly to the southern bank of the Dordogne River, where bicycles comfortably outnumber cars. The stretch to Souillac is incredibly popular with locals and cycle tourists alike. Riding the flat tree-lined roads along the banks of one of France’s most famous rivers, it’s easy to see why.

We pass the Grottes de Lacave before turning south-east away from the river for a short climb to the famous village of Rocamadour, made easy work on our e-bikes. The village sits dramatically perched on the cliffside of an abrupt canyon wall, a truly outstanding and audacious location for a village. Since medieval times Rocamadour has been a key site for pilgrims drawn by the apparent healing powers of Rocamadour’s Black Madonna. If you are still feeling energetic, you can climb up the 223 steps to visit her (though perhaps not on your knees as the pilgrims would!). Shortly after leaving Rocamadour behind we arrive in the little town of Gramat.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,040 Metres Approx.

This morning we continue on the quiet lanes of the limestone plateau area known as the Parc Naturel Régional des Causses du Quercy to the busy market town of Figeac on the Célé River. From here we will be tackling a rolling climb past the small villages of St Jean-Mirabel and Montredon before we descend to the River Lot. We will get to know the River Lot well over the next few days as we follow it to its source in the mountains of the Massif Central.

For the second half of the day we stick with the river on a well-maintained but virtually unused minor road that takes us all the way to our hotel in the little town of Grand Vabre.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,130 Metres Approx.

Today we follow the River Lot, passing the medieval bridge of Estaing and riding through three of France’s officially recognised Plus Beaux Villages. We first head to the charming village of Entraygues, with its picture-postcard medieval bridge. The scenery is so stunning that we’ll barely notice the climbing during the early part of the day (although a little battery assistance may be welcome!) For much of the route, we follow the river, only leaving its banks to climb into the wooded hillsides of this peaceful corner of Aveyron.

In the afternoon we’ll climb slowly up above the river valley to then sweep down into the hamlet of Saint-Eulalie-d‘Olt and our accommodation in the next village of Saint-Geniez-d‘Olt.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 1,215 Metres Approx.

A great day as we head to the hills and the town of Mende. A flat opening section gives us the chance to warm up our legs before we begin a gradual climb through Marvejols, watching as the surrounding hills steadily transform into small mountains.

As we enter wolf country, beware the ‘Beast of Gévaudan’ snapping at our heels as we start the Col de Goudard, a 300m (approx.) climb that takes us to our first point above 1,000m on the trip. A steep descent precedes a final cheeky little 2km climb before we reach Mende, the capital of the Lozère département on the northern edge of the Cévennes National Park.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,050 Metres Approx.

A little known region but today’s riding is awesome. We dip into the northern edge of the Cévennes National Park, home to beautiful green, forested mountains and a rich variety of flora and fauna.

One of the hillier days of the trip it includes the Col des Tribes (which at 1,132m is the second highest point on the trip!) and the stunning wooded descent off the Col du Mas de l’Ayre (846m) into Les Vans. Today’s riding is challenging, but with sensible use of our e-bikes, all of the climbs are well within reach.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 890 Metres Approx.

Today we truly reach the south of France, as we descend through the cool pine forest of the Cévennes to the warm valleys of the Ardèche crammed with vineyards and fruit orchards. Our ride takes us past the stunning Pont d’ Arc, an amazing arch that the river has carved through the limestone landscape and the gateway to the Gorges de l’Ardèche. As we enter the gorge, we begin a spectacular 35km ride along its winding roads.

As the road rises and falls alongside, and high above, the gorge, there are plenty of opportunities to stop at spectacular viewpoints overlooking its steep-sided cliffs. Far below, adventurous kayakers can often be seen making their way down the Ardèche River.

Panoramic vistas accompany the twists and turns of the road, whilst the scent of herbs and wild goats provides a heady concoction of smells.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 445 Metres Approx.

From Saint-Martin we climb out of the Gorge de l‘Ardèche and soon reach Pont St Esprit on the banks of the great Rhône River. We follow the river south for around 20km passing vineyards, fruit orchards and some industry, all accompanied by the backdrop of the shadowy silhouette of Mont Ventoux.

Shortly after crossing the great river channel of the Rhône we reach the vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The Rhône also marks our arrival in Provence. We may well pause for an afternoon break in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, giving us a chance to explore the caves of this small, but famous wine growing village, before heading onwards, to our accommodation in Monteux.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,090 Metres Approx.

After our morning croissants, we are ready for our first day of riding in Provence. We set of in the direction of Carpentras and pedal through the village of Mazan, cruising past vineyards and the beautiful Provençal countryside. Views of the mighty Mont Ventoux begin to appear as the ‘Géant de Provence’ looms imposingly ahead.

After stopping for our morning coffee in Villes-sur-Auzon we ride up the Gorge de la Nesque, arguably 30km of the best cycling in France. Leaving the vineyards behind, the route winds through the spectacular gorge, climbing at a perfect gradient for cyclists. The stage ends at Sault, the atmospheric old centre of the Provençal lavender trade, at the foot of Mont Ventoux.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 625 Metres Approx.

Leaving Sault we begin our day by tracing a series of minor and virtually traffic-free roads through a series of small Provençal villages and towns as we make our way to Forcalquier. It’s a very pretty route in a region virtually untouched by tourism. The roads are generally undulating, but do have the occasional challenging climb to keep us on our toes!

This stage presents a full range of Provençal scenery, from the countryside above Sault, with the ever-present shape of Ventoux on the horizon, to a long valley filled with rocky outcrops and small pine forests. Greens, golds and blues form the colour palette of the ride, while the air is fragrant with pine and wild herbs.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,025 Metres Approx.

We start the day with a descent into the Durance River valley, which divides Provence in two, before climbing to the Plateau de Valensole. Famous for its lavender production, the plateau unfolds around the town of the same name, offering a patchwork of fields and sweeping views across one of Provence’s most iconic landscapes.

The afternoon is spiced up a little as the route rolls into Riez with a couple of short and punchy ups which, even with power assistance, can be quite taxing on a warm day, but remember we can always stop for an ice cream under the shady trees in Riez. A steady incline takes us out of Riez before a switchback descent to the foot of Moustiers-Ste-Marie which is precariously perched on a cliff face and guarded by a star chained high above town.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,585 Metres Approx.

Today will be one of the most memorable rides of our electric bike tour across France. Although the stage is shorter than average, it features a challenging yet entirely manageable route through the spectacular Gorge du Verdon, one of the country’s most dramatic natural landscapes.

Leaving Moustiers we head for the lake, riding the shoreline for a few km to the entrance of the gorge, where the climbing begins almost immediately. Making the most of our e-bikes we slowly make our way up, enjoying the views along the way. Riding along the southern rim of the gorge offers the most spectacular perspective of this remarkable landscape, with breathtaking views around almost every bend. It is also the least visited side of the Verdon Gorge and has considerably less traffic. We’ll climb steadily for an hour or so, dropping down dramatically and then finally rising again out the gorge.

The road eases as we approach Comps-sur-Artuby, allowing for a more relaxed pace before we descend into the upper reaches of the Gorge du Verdon. Following the River Verdon, we ride beneath towering cliffs, hugging the canyon walls as we enter the heart of this spectacular landscape. We relax for the evening in Castellane with the Chapelle Notre-Dame du Roc dominating the skyline, sat high above the town on its own rock plinth.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 1,280 Metres Approx.

With Castellane nestled at the bottom of a hill, the day starts with a couple of steady climbs. Fortunately, our e-bikes make light work of them, and it is not long before the terrain eases and the last stage of our remarkable journey comes into view.

The route plunges from the high Provençal plateau clinging to cliffs and weaving through arches blasted through the rock to the precariously perched village of Gréolières. We soon reach the Col du Vence before enjoying a sweeping descent of nearly 1,000m down to the Mediterranean at Cagnes-sur-Mer.

We pass from Cagnes into nearby Nice where we ride along the famous ‘Promenade des Anglais’ to dip our wheels in the warm sea and reflect on our epic journey, completing one of the best-loved France cycling routes.

Following a night of celebration in Nice and looking back on 3 weeks of epic cycling, we have a short transfer to Nice airport (NCE) for our onward journeys.