Walking in Burgundy's Vineyards

Activity Level

Easy

Activity

Walking & Trekking

Overview

This tour will open up your appetite and invite you to sensory pleasures while visitng the gastronomic and wine capitals of Dijon and Beaune

This tour will open up your appetite and invite you to sensory pleasures. The vines may provide a beautiful setting, but they also produce an excellent wine that can be enjoyed all along this trip.

From Dijon to Beaune the walks provide a wonderful balance of quiet country lanes, vineyard tracks and woodland trails taking in sleepy, unspoilt villages, and majestic vine-clad hills. Sample fine wines in 13th century cellars and enjoy lunch in a selection of medieval towns including world-renowned Nuits-St-Georges. Walk the historic streets of Dijon and Beaune, hunt for truffles, taste local cheese in a rural manufactory, learn about blackcurrant liquor and enjoy a wine tasting at the majestic wine estate Chateau Clos Vougeot.

In this region known for its epicurean finesse, you can really enjoy fine dining. There will be excellent local dishes such as Beef Bourguignon, Oeufs en Meurette, Poulet de Bresse a la Creme, Perche aux Noix and of course exquisite cheeses like the pungent Epoisses de Bourgogne, to pair with the region’s incredible Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.

This tour will stimulate all your senses.

Key Information

Trip Code: W06BN
Ways to Travel: Self-Guided Holidays
Countries: France

What's Included

All breakfast and 3 evening meals
Headwater App
Luggage transfers between hotels
Walking transfers
Welcome briefing

5 days of Walking & Trekking

Day 2: 9 km / 5.6 miles
Day 3: 14 km / 8.7 miles
Day 4: 13 km / 8.1 miles
Day 5: 18 km / 11.2 miles
Day 6: 8 km / 5 miles

Highlights

Visit the gastronomic and wine capitals of Dijon and Beaune
Discover charming, medieval villages and majestic chateaux
Walk through the famous appellations of Burgundy: Gevrey Chambertin, Chambolle Musigny, Vougeot

Itinerary

First Destination: Dijon
Next Destination: Beaune

Meals included:None

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Dijon
Next Destination: Beaune

An emblematic city of gastronomy and lifestyle, Dijon is also the gateway to some of the most prestigious vineyards in France. Stroll in the narrow streets of the old city and feel free to follow the smell of mustard and gingerbread and stop for a tasting.

Dijon is called ‘The town of 100 bells’, because of its beautifully preserved architectural heritage, dating back to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Transfer to Marsannay, a city reputed for its rose wines (unique in the Burgundian region). This village opens the Route des Grands Crus de Bourgogne and offers a landscape of soft curves, where vineyards run in close rows from villages to villages. This is a land where the plots surrounded by old dry stone walls are called clos (enclosures), and where beautiful castles like to leapfrog up the hills. With its double vaulted cellars, Marsannay’s cellar is a good place to start on the route.

Continue towards Fixey and Gevrey-Chambertin. Known worldwide, the small town didn’t let fame change it-it’s still peacefully wrapped around its Romanesque church and medieval castle. To get a look at the town’s panorama, you have to take the high path, just behind the vineyards. It is worth a look!

On your way, possibility to visit a manufacturer of raw milk cheeses with an introduction to the Burgundian favours with various cheese tasting.

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Cross through the Grand Cru vineyards towards Morey Saint Denis. Pass by the village of Chambolle Musigny, and Romanee Conti. You could almost miss this vineyard (and what a shame if you did)! A simple sign in the shape of a crucifix by the side of the road indicates one of the most treasured grape plots in the world, that of the domain Romanee-Conti. It is there, on 1.8 hectares (4.5 acres), that the most expensive and most famous red wines on the planet are born. The secret of this nectar with aromas of rosehips and rose petals? Its climate, its land which enjoys perfect exposure and the work of the winemakers that has improved the wine over the centuries.

Then head to one of the most famous sites of Burgundy, the majestic Chateau de Clos Vougeot.This majestic castle crowned with a roof of glazed tiles, standing like an islet planted in the middle of the vineyards. You can see it from a distance, and approach the awe-inspiring portal of this mythical enclosure with a little thrill. This is the den of the knights of Tastevin, a venerable brotherhood of 12,000 ambassadors of Burgundy all over the world. The old grape presses, the wine cellar and the large cellar set the scene as it was in the 12th century, under the motto: ‘Jamais en vain, toujours en vin’ (‘Never in vain, always in wine’).

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Today’s walk leads you to a farmhouse producing red fruits where a visit and tasting of the local blackcurrant liquor is possible. Burgundy is not just famous for its namesake wines; a small black and shiny berry also takes the spotlight on the Hautes Cotes of Nuits-Saint-Georges. Next to the vineyards, blackcurrant plantations are budding with fragrance in July, at the time of the harvest. Blackcurrant has been cultivated in Burgundy for over four centuries. Associated with an aligote white wine, the blackcurrant liquor produces the famous kir, a 100% Burgundian aperitif.

Today you have several options of visits : on the way back you can visit a winery in Vosne Romanee. Then discover the terroirs and hunt the Burgundy Truffle with the dogs in a local estate. To end perfectly this day why not to stop for a visit and tasting of 5 wines including Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru.

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

After a transfer today’s walk leads you to the Hautes Côtes de Nuits: the landscape is delightful, with beautiful views across the valley. Pass through charming villages and descend into the Côtes de Beaune where you reach other picturesque little villages such as, Aloxe-Corton, famous for white wines like Corton-Charlemagne, one of the best in Burgundy.

Meals included:Breakfast

Enjoy a visit at the ‘Hotel Dieu’ this flamboyant Gothic 15th century former hospital, crowned with polychrome slates, is known worldwide for its 60 hectare (150 acre) vineyard. The wines of Cotes de Nuit, Pouilly-Fuisse and Cotes de Beaune are sold at auction.

Alternatively, walk through the first Premiers Crus vineyards, heading to ‘la montagne de Beaune’ and continue through the forest. Loop back to Beaune for an afternoon of training your taste buds with the possibility of visiting an artisanal chocolaterie followed by wine tasting in one of the wineries.

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Depart Beaune after breakfast.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Call us on 1 844 260 1517

Book Your Flights With Us

Window or aisle? Premium seat with extra legroom? Adding a stopover en route? We’ll sort the flights that fit your plans. With access to thousands of routes - major airlines and regional gems alike, we’ll help you fly from your preferred airport, at times that suit you. Secure your flights and trip together and enjoy peace of mind knowing everything's organized with one team here to help if plans change.

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Accommodation

Hotels

Hotel des Ducs, Dijon
This hotel is located in historic centre of Dijon, listed as a World Heritage site by Unesco, 50 m from The Palace of the Dukes. It offers a bar and free Wi-Fi. Hotel Des Ducs serves a buffet breakfast each morning and guests can relax with a drink on the terrace. Rooms at Hotel Des Ducs are equipped with a telephone, flat-screen TV and private bathroom with bath or shower. The rooms are accessible by lift and some are air-conditioned. Hotel Des Ducs is less than 50 m from the Museum of Fine Arts, the city’s opera house and the city’s shopping area.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.

Hotel Ô Rouge, Gevrey Chambertin
Ô Rouge is located on the famous “Route des Grands Crus,” nestled in the middle of vineyards with views of a medieval castle and a 13th-century church. The two-hotel features 21 rooms, each equipped with modern amenities. The hotel also offers a swimming pool and a spa area, which guests can access for an additional cost.

Hostellerie la Gentilhommiere, Nuits St Georges

This typical Burgundy hotel is housed in a 16th-century hunting lodge. La Gentilhomière offers comfortable rooms and suites with personalised decor and modern amenities including free Wi-Fi internet access, complimentary cakes and pastries, and a coffee machine. When the weather is fine you can enjoy access to the large outdoor swimming pool and open-air tennis courts. There is also a beautiful 13-hectare park crossed by the River Meuzin.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.

Hostellerie de la Bretonniere, Beaune
In Beaune, the Hostellerie de Bretonnière is a former coaching inn dating back to the 18th century. With its old stones and its flower-filled courtyard, this traditional building offers all the comfort, and is only 5 minutes walking distance from the historical centre of Beaune. Seat on the terrace and enjoy the calm of the inner courtyard.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.

Essential Information

Activity Level: 1 (Leisurely)
Average daily distance: 11km (7 miles).
No. of days walking: 5
Terrain and route: Walks on this holiday are gentle and flat. There are no tough climbs. Walks are through villages, and vineyards.
Option for longer walk on day 4 of the itinerary.

Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to walk independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodation, provide you with route directions so that you can walk at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next.

It is important that you are happy following route directions, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The routes directions contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local agent is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Families
Self-guided cycling holidays are a perfect option for families as they offer the freedom for you to take your holiday at your own pace. You can stop as and when you want and need, at the cafes and restaurants that suit your family and the sites that interest you. We have suggested the minimum age for this trip is 8yrs as we feel they will be able to ride the bikes we have to offer and complete the route. However our local partner is able to offer child seats for children aged 2-4yrs (max. weight 22 kg, hills will be tricky). These are all subject to availability, and therefore we ask that you enquire about these on booking. Please note due to the size of the bikes and distanced required to cycle, this trip is not appropriate for children aged from 5-7yrs (who are too big for the child seats, but not big enough to ride the children’s bike). As a guide we have suggested that 8yrs is the minimum age for this trip, but as it is self-guided and you will be leading your own family we will ultimately leave this decision up to you. The daily distances are all published in the trip notes along with a description of each days cycling so you have a good idea of what to expect. However, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our experts. The principle idea is that these holidays can be as flexible as you like, with logistical support but no group or leader to dictate the daily activities. Please bear in mind the weather when choosing to book, temperatures can be very high in the middle of summer and the child seats provided do not have any shade. We therefore recommend going either earlier or later on in the season if you have young children.

Flight inclusive
Air-rail prices include our standard flights, onward rail and station transfers
British Airways Heathrow to Paris CDG 07:20/09:35 then rail Paris Lyon to Dijon Ville 12:22/13:57 and transfer to hotel 10 mins. Return: Transfer to station 10 mins then rail Beaune to Paris Lyon via Dijon Ville 08:54/11:04 (Mon-Fri), Beaune to Paris Bercy 09:00/12:37 (Sat) & 09:00/12:24 (Sun) then British Airways Paris CDG to Heathrow 17:40/17:55 (Tues), 18:05/18:20 Sun, Mon & Weds) & 18:50/19:05 (Sat & Thurs).

Business/club/first class seats are available on request.

Land Only
Standard transfers
Transfers can be arranged at a supplement from Dijon Ville train station at 13:57 and back to Beaune train station at 08:30.

Alternative transfers
If you require alternative transfers (because you will be arriving at a different time to our standard flights), then we can usually arrange these for you (there may be an additional charge).

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

France

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter France. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/france
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/france
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/France.html

All breakfasts and 3 evening meals are included.

Burgundy is in short a gold mine for those who have a passion for both fine food and fine wine.

Burgundy is first and foremost a land of excellent wines and so naturally they are omnipresent in the local cuisine. From the traditional beef bourguignon, a wine-based dish bien sûr, to dishes that are “en meurette,” meaning cooked with lardons and red wine. Such dishes include œufs au vin (eggs), coq au vin, as well as charcuterie and jambon persillé (parsleyed ham). All regional dishes are either prepared and/or enjoyed with wine made by one of the marvelous winemakers of Burgundy.

In Burgundy, the summers are comfortable and partly cloudy which makes it ideal for cycling. The winters are very cold, windy, and mostly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from -0°C to 25°C and is rarely below -7°C or above 31°C.

The hottest month is July with daily average temperatures being around 24°C

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We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.