Peronne, France to Paris
Bike & Barge

This bike and barge has it all!

Our eclectic biking tour travels from Perrone(France)→Noyan →Compiegne→Creil→Auvers-sur-L’Oise→Conflans Boui gival (non bike) →Paris.

Paris, the city of love, is one of the most fascinating, enchanting cities in the world! You have not really lived fully until you have walked down the romantic Champ De Elysee. Beauty, sophistication and culture surround you. This charming city awakes all the senses!

Then our travels will take us from Paris to the Normandy region of France to see the WWII Normandy beaches, towns, memorials, cemeteries and WWII museums with one day spent in the famous Mont Saint-Michel. This trip will be just days before our US Memorial Day on May 28th, a great time to visit the area of Normandy. Our group will end this trip by going to our Paris hotel and then fly home the next day.

LODGING

The first-night stay in a Perrone 3-star hotel (Hotel Saint Claude) includes breakfast. Barge 7-night stay includes breakfast daily and 6 3-course dinners. Daily cleaning services of cabins on the barge. Three (3) night stay in 3-star Bayeux Hotel Le Lion d'Or, with breakfast, 1-night stay in Paris 4-star hotel (Mercure Tour Eiffel), includes breakfast.

DAILY SCHEDULE ON THE BARGE MS ZWAANTJE

Tour Details from Peronne to Paris – MS Zwaantje

May 19 (Sat): Peronne
Today the barge will stay in Péronne. The MS Zwaantje will be moored just outside this charming town with its intimate square and church as well as a castle and the fascinating Grande Guerre museum.

May 20 (Sun): Peronne – Noyon (Bike tour: about 30 miles)
Today we have to get on the bikes in time for a long ride through gently rolling, open countryside, the art deco town of Ham and along the river Somme and the picturesque villages. Destination is Noyon with its imposing cathedral.

May 21 (Mon): Noyon – Compiègne (Bike tour: about 24 - 36 miles)
From Noyon we set course for Compiègne. Compiègne owes its magnificent buildings to the proximity of Paris and the great woods, where the French kings loved to stay. Worth a visit are the beautiful gardens of the Château. The cycling goes through the forest of Ourscamp, crosses the river Aisne and in the forest of Compiegne at the other side is the “Clairière de l’Armistice,” the place where the French and German generals signed for the end of WWI. You can visit the small but interesting museum over there. From there you can head for Compiègne or make an extra loop and pass by the castle of Pierrefonds. Entrance Clairière de l’Armistice is included.

May 22 (Tue): Compiègne – Creil (Bike tour: about 27 - 36 miles)
Today we cycle first through the forest south of Compiègne after which we follow the valley of the Oise further downstream into the direction of Creil. Right before Pont-Ste-Maxence we pass by the abbey of Moncel, founded in 1309 by King Philip the Fair. Pont-Ste-Maxence owes its name to the fact that very early on there was a bridge across the Oise. Pont-Ste-Maxence became a place to spend the night for merchants and kings, who were on their way to Flanders. Our final destination of today, Creil, was in the 19th century known for its fine pottery.

May 23 (Wed): Creil – Auvers-sur-l’Oise (Bike tour: about 20 - 32 miles)
We start cycling out of busy Creil towards the precious and famous castle of Chantilly also very known for the horse-racing circuit and royal stables. After the visit we continue through a nice forest and pass and/or visit the abbey of Royaumont. After that we will cross the river Oise and follow the river to Auver sur Oise, where Vincent van Gogh spent the last days of his life and where he and his brother are buried on the cemetery. This region was very popular with many impressionist painters. In the evening we will walk to the van Gogh cemetery.

May 24 (Thu): Auvers – Conflans – Bougival (Bike tour: about 22 - 29 miles)
During breakfast we will sail to Conflans -Sainte-Honorine, where the Oise and the Seine converge. Conflans has been an important shipping center in North France since the 19th century.
9:00 AM - The bike tour starts in Conflans and brings us first to St.Germain-en-Laye. There you climb to the palace and from the palace-garden you have a splendid view over Paris. After that we continue through the suburbs towards Reuil-sur-Seine where we will spend the night.

May 25 (Fri): Bougival – Paris
Today the barge finally cruises the Seine, upstream to Paris. It is not far in a straight line, but the Seine makes a number of large curves here. Mooring place of the Zwaantje is in the center of the city. You can spend the rest of the day as you like. You can explore the city by subway, or by a bus that takes you along all the sights. Dinner in town in a restaurant of your choice (not included, recommendations available on board).

May 26 (Sat): Paris
After breakfast you will leave the ship. Disembarkation by 8:00 AM.

We transfer from Paris to Normandy by private coach. Then we have a ½-day of sightseeing after lunch (on your own) in the French town of Saint-Mere Eglise, then on to Utah Beach, and Point du Hoc, ending in our hotel in Bayeux late afternoon/early evening.

MAY 26-29:
Three (3) nights’ accommodations at the 3-star boutique Hotel Le Lion d'Or Bayeux with breakfast buffet daily in the hotel.

May 27:
Full day Vintage WWII Jeep tour of Omaha Beach, WWII museum & memorial visits, and lunch at Omaha Beach. Optional visits of Bayeux Tapestry, or the Bayeux WWII museum possible if time permits after our return to Bayeux.

May 28:
Full day tour to Mont Saint-Michel, France. Lunch on your own.

May 29:
Transfer between Bayeux and Paris by private coach. Optional visits of Bayeux Tapestry, or the Bayeux WWII museum before our departure to Paris is possible if time permits.

May 30:
Depart Paris hotel via private coach to Charles De Gaulle International Airport for Delta flight home.

• Air transportation between Tampa Paris via Delta Airlines (May 17)
• Transfer between Paris airport and hotel via private coach with English speaking assistant
• 1-night accommodation at a 3-star hotel in Peronne (May 18)
• Breakfast in Peronne hotel
• Walking tour of Peronne including the Museum of the Great War (WWI)
• Transfer between Peronne hotel and port via private coach
• 7-nights on the MS Zwaantje River Barge, ending in Paris (May 19 -26)
• Breakfast Daily
• 5 - picnic lunches during bike tours
• 6 - three-course dinners
• 21-speed bike
• Use of bed linen and towels (change of towels daily possible, change of bed linen 1x), daily cleaning service of the cabin
• Welcome drink, presentation of barge and crew and briefing on the first evening
• Tour leader (multilingual) for fully guided cycling tours, daily briefings of the bike tours
• Printed instructions and detailed maps for individual daily bike tours, 1 set/cabin
• Transfer between Paris and Bayeux, Normandy via private coach (May 26)
• Full day from Paris to Normandy including: Saint-Mère Église, Utah Beach, and Point du Hoc (May 26)
• 3-night accommodation at the 3-Star Hotel Le Lion d’Or Bayeux (May 26 -29)
• Breakfast buffet daily in Bayeux hotel
• Full day tour to Omaha Beach (May 27)
• Vintage WWII Jeep tour of Omaha Beach (May 27)
• Lunch at Omaha Beach (May 27)
• Full day tour to Mont Saint-Michel (May 28)
• Transfer between Bayeux and Paris via private coach (May 29)
• Transfer between Paris hotel and airport via private coach with English speaking assistant (May 30)
• Return air transportation between Paris and Tampa via Delta Airlines (May 30)
• All local taxes and port charges
• Most tips (does not include tipping in hotel rooms or for porterage)
• All US, European departure taxes and fees, currently $135.00 per person (subject to change)
• All current fuel surcharges of $576.00 per person (subject to change until ticketing)
• Medical Insurance coverage that includes all of the following: (This does not cover Cancellations or Trip Interruption.))
• Trip Delay up to $750.00 ($150.00 per day)
• Baggage and personal effects up to $1,500.00
• Baggage delay up to $400.00
• Accident & Sickness Medical Expense of $50,000.00
• Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation of $250,000.00
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment of $25,000.00
• Worldwide Emergency Assistance Services

(Please note that this insurance does not cover refunds for cancellation or reimbursement for lost travel days due to trip interruption.)

PRICE:
$4,769 per person double occupancy on barge and in hotel rooms

LAND ONLY REDUCTION:
$1,125.00

Deposit:
$1,000 per person, non–refundable if space goes unfilled after cancelation date with a completed TBSSB Special B&B trip application and a copy of photo page of passport valid at least six (6) months past travel date.

Cancellation Date:
November 9, 2017

Balance Due:
March 1, 2018

Payment:
Make checks payable to "TAMPA BAY SNOW SKIERS and BOARDERS" and mail to: Phil Reed, 3315 W. De Leon St., Unit 13, Tampa, FL 33609-5503