Paris offers so many opportunities for river cruisers. You can hop on a barge and cruise the Oise (or the many other regional canals and rivers). You can cruise the Seine or make your way by fast train (about two hours from Paris) to Bordeaux or Lyon for river cruises through beautiful wine country on the Rhone, Garonne and Dordogne. You can even get to Amsterdam or Basel, both about three hours by fast train, for Rhine river cruises.
While I am not in love with Charles de Gaulle airport or the traffic between the airport and central Paris, I do appreciate the airport’s proximity to such beautiful places.
Last month, I did a series of three river cruises, all emanating from Paris. The grand finale was a favorite, Backroads’ Seine River Cruise Bike Tour. We started our tour within steps of the iconic Arc de Triomphe (pictured above). From there, we shuttled to the countryside for orientation before we pedaled to Versailles for a special lunch arranged by Backroads.
I’ll detail our trip over the next few weeks, but for now, I am calling out one of my favorite days, Day 5, when we pedaled 26 miles from Rouen to the gorgeous Jumièges Abbey. The trip took us through beautiful forests, across the Seine on a ferry, through fruit-producing valleys and ending at the Abbey for a fabulous lunch. We had the option to ride back to Rouen after lunch (22 miles) but a hard rain dissuaded even the most dedicated riders (including me).
Once back in Rouen, we rested up before heading out for a city tour, arranged by Backroads exclusively for our group of 21. Actually, we split into two smaller groups so that our guides to give proper attention to everyone. I said it before but it’s worth repeating, Backroads delivers experiences the etch themselves into long-lasting memories.
Paris provides an excellent gateway for river cruising enthusiasts, offering easy access to picturesque waterways and vibrant wine regions. My recent Backroads Seine River Cruise Bike Tour highlighted the charm and beauty of Paris as a hub for river cruise adventures.
This article was originally published at River Cruise Advisor.