- L’Autre Chemin
- Séjours
- Travel with a bike in the Cévennes
From €1020 / pers
with luggage transfer & journey back
Travel with a bike in the Cévennes
Do you dream of the Stevenson Trail, but you prefer riding on small roads with reasonable elevation gain rather than trails? We’ve specially designed this trip for you. Because cycling in the Cévennes is a wonderful experience, both for the landscapes and the scents encountered, we wanted to offer an electric bike trip based on the Stevenson Trail, but making it more accessible for cycle tourists. The route follows very passable trails that don’t require precise riding and picturesque little roads. Of course, we sometimes stray from the route, but the itinerant adventure remains intact; the stages are almost the same as for the Dialogue with Stevenson trip. A route that offers the discovery of breathtaking landscapes in total immersion in the nature of Haute-Loire, Lozère, and Gard, where you will cross the Loire, Allier, Lot, Tarn, and Gardon rivers…
Please note: Traveling with a bike in the Cévennes is a long-distance journey that requires a good degree of self-management:
- knowing how to change an inner tube, reattach a derailed chain, and, of course, knowing how to ride a bike!
- We’ve smoothed out the elevation changes to keep the adventure accessible, but there are still some great climbs (Monte de Goudet, Mont-Lozère, etc.).
- Your travel diary will guide you mainly on country roads and easily accessible trails.
Bonus: The L’Autre Chemin agency is located in Le Puy-en-Velay – 5 rue Grangevieille. This allows us to easily meet you upon your departure and provides us with in-depth knowledge of the trail. To prepare your stay, check out our tips!
What we love: The atmosphere along the trail, meeting hikers, and some intense moments, especially crossing the Col de Finiels.
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The benefits of your bike tour:
- You travel independently
- Accommodation in hotels, guesthouses with half-board basis
- Easy to find your way with the new digital “travel diary & guidance” application
- Your luggage is delivered at each stop
- Bike collection and return is organized and included in the stay for this trip,
- Bikes provided by the agency include the guarantee “Sereine Mind” – More information can be found in the Insurance section
- Discover our travel bikes for this trip
Your itinerary:
- Elevation gain 4,735 m – Country roads and trails
- Self-guided cycling tour (you choose your departure point and set off solo, with family, or with friends)
- Moderate route using country roads and accessible trails
- Family: Children aged 13 and over (depending on ability – variations possible)
- Accommodation: in a private room (B&B, cottage, hotel, or alternative accommodation)
- What’s the climate like? See our Frequently Asked Questions
Note: The steps are given for information purposes only and may be modified depending on host availability.
This will be an opportunity to discover the Velay city! You will stroll and discover the upper town of Le Puy-en-Velay by exploring its secret streets, and discover the Notre Dame du Puy Cathedral.
Discover:
> The Cathedral and its Cloister
> The statue of Notre-Dame de France
> The rock and the Saint-Michel Chapel
> The narrow streets of the upper town
> The Hôtel-Dieu and its exhibitions
You'll leave Le Puy by first following the Velay Greenway, then reach Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille via a small country road. You'll then glide towards the Loire Gorges to reach the village of Goudet, a magnificent little spot for a pleasant stopover on the banks of the Loire.
Things to see:
• Brives-Charensac
> The bridges spanning the Loire
The 13th-century Chartreuse Bridge, the 12th-century Old Bridge in the center of Brives-Charensac, of which only two arches remain, and the Gallard Bridge, used by cars.
• Coubon
> St. Georges Church
> Poinsac Castle
> Volhac Fortified House
• Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille
> Saint Chaffre Abbey, which combines Romanesque and Gothic architecture. > Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church
> Circular fountains and wash houses
> Museum of Popular Beliefs
> School Museum
> European Cultural Space (exhibitions)
> Recoumène Viaduct
• Saint-Martin de Fugères
> The church
• Goudet
> Stroll through the heart of the village center and discover the polychrome roofs
> Walk along the path that runs along the Loire and leads you to wild gorges
> Beaufort Castle
A day that will begin with a beautiful climb to escape the rushing Loire and reach the Devès plateau higher up. You'll then discover Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas. It will then be time to leave the path to the walkers and cycle along a magnificent country road to reach Pradelles (listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France). Soon you'll leave Haute-Loire to reach Langogne, where you can take the time to enjoy Lake Naussac. Discover:
• Le Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas
> The Bouchet Volcanic Lake
• Landos
> The washhouse and its fountain
> St. Félix Church
> The Ribains Marshes
• Arquejols
> Viaduct
> Jagonas Castle
• Pradelles
> Neo-Gothic Church
> The view of Gévaudan
• Langogne
> Naussac Lake – Watersports and swimming
> The Calquières Spinning Mill
> Museum of Sacred Art
You'll crisscross between small roads and return to the Stevenson Trail. This stage will take you through a magnificent setting, eventually reaching Luc. From Lavbeyrune, you can choose to climb with the hikers on a sometimes stony but not very difficult trail to Notre-Dame des Neiges before returning to the valley, or opt for the road alternative that takes you directly to La Bastide-Puylaurent. You'll then continue to the small village of Chasseradès.
Discover:
• Luc
> The remains of the medieval castle
> The nascent Allier
• Notre-Dame des Neiges Abbey
• Chasseradès
> Saint-Blaise Church
Mount-Lozère, a legendary passage offering incredible landscapes of the Cévennes and a meeting with the Lot and Tarn rivers... You will climb through the Goulet forest, then Mont-Lozère awaits you, offering incredible panoramas punctuated by granite boulders to reach the Pont de Montvert.
Discover:
• Mirandol
> The railway viaduct - Photo Schappelr
• Le Bleymard
> The Lot
> The Saint-Jean chapel
> The slate roofs of Tournel
> The surprising Mont-Lozère
> The Lot
• Finiels
> The granite boulders
> The view of the Cévennes
> The burons and the general architecture of the village
• Pont de Montvert
> The high Gorges of the Tarn
> The Maison du Mont-Lozère
> The road leading up to L'Hermet
You'll take a small road that climbs towards the Runes waterfall (Photo Schappeler) and then returns to the waters of the Tarn. You'll then reach the village of Bédouès and its Collegiate Church. Further on, you can take the time to discover Florac - Carrefour des eaux (Crossroads of the Waters) before cycling along the pleasant Cévennes Greenway along the Mimente River and its crystal-clear pools.
Discover:
• A walk alongside the waters of the Tarn
• Bédouès
> The Collegiate Church
• Florac
> Crossroads of the waters of the Tarn, Tarnon, Mimente, and Pêcher
> The Cévennes Park House located in the castle
> The small streets
• Saint-Julien d'Arpaon
> The magnificent and cool Mimente Valley
> The remains of the 13th-century castle
> The chestnut grove
Your route will climb through a magnificent forest to reach the ridges and enter a more southern world with the subtle blend of scents of the vegetation of southern France. You will enter the Gard department. You will continue easily towards Saint-Germain-de-Calberte and the beautiful village of Saint-Etienne-Vallée-Française. You will ride with the Gardon River from Mialet to Saint-Jean-du-Gard. Things to see:
• The view of the Cévennes valleys from Plan de Fontmort and the small D13 road, which winds along the contour lines before heading up towards Saint-Germain-de-Claberte
• Saint-Etienne Vallée Française
> The village
> Cambiaire Castle, which overlooks the village
• Saint-Jean-du-Gard
> The Old Bridge
> The Clock Tower
> Saint-Jean Castle
> The Maison Rouge Spinning Mill and its Horseshoe Staircase
> The Stevenson Fountain
> The steam train
You, your bikes, and your luggage will be picked up by a regular shuttle from Place Carnot in the center of Saint-Jean-du-Gard.
Depending on your choice and availability, departures are at 8:15 a.m. or 1:30 p.m., returning to Le Puy-en-Velay at 12:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.
This price includes:
- Accommodation in a double, twin, triple, or multiple-occupancy room with half-board
- Tourist taxes,
- Luggage transfer at the stopover (one bag, max. 13kg/person),
- Return (passenger & bike) to Puy-en-Velay,
- Access to the guide app & travel diary,
- The route map (one copy per group of travelers),
- Telephone assistance.
Extras:
- Provision of an electric bike or a non-electric bike, two panniers, a helmet, and a light repair kit
- Comprehensive cancellation insurance
- A stage log
- Single supplement
This price does not include:
- Transportation and transfers to the starting point
- Meals other than those included in the selected package
- Parking
- Bike rental
- GPX tracks (we do not provide GPX tracks for our routes – guidance via the app) Drinks, spending money, any visits or activities
- Cancellation insurance Administration
Administration fees
- €12/person if ordered online
- €15/person via quote
Optionally, L’autre Chemin offers:
If you would like to rent a bike,
- E-bike rental with 2 panniers + the guarantee “Sereine Mind”: +€245/bike
- Standard bike rental with 2 panniers + the guarantee “Sereine Mind”: +€170/bike
If you plan to travel with your bike, please ensure certain points:
- If it is an electric-assisted bike, the battery must have a minimum power of 400 or even 500 watts. Please note: the battery must be removable; if not, please contact us to check availability. It is imperative that your bike is in perfect working order before departure. Remember to have it serviced. Please bring a suitable repair kit and a smartphone mount for the handlebars. Our routes combine small roads and trails. Your bike must be a hybrid, mountain bike, or gravel bike with suitable tires. Therefore, city or road bikes are not permitted. Our trips are more or less sporty, and a basket on the handlebars is prohibited, as are large city bags. You’ll be using trails, and this type of equipment risks destabilizing the bike’s balance and making it difficult to transfer bikes (similarly, front mudguards make it difficult to load bikes onto trailers, so avoid them).
Any questions? Call us.
The Stage Book
A veritable passport to be stamped at each stage of your journey. We offer an optional stage book, which will be a nice souvenir of the Stevenson Trail. Price: €7 / stage book when booking your stay – subject to availability
L’Autre Chemin has developed numerous partnerships with guesthouses and small traditional hotels to offer you comfort and authenticity, ensuring that each stage is an opportunity to discover the architecture, the art of living, and the gastronomy, as well as a moment of exchange and connection. Please note: The stages along the trail are determined by the walking pace that we feel is most appropriate. We strive to offer you stages that offer comfort, discovery, and authenticity in hotels, guesthouses, cottages, or unusual accommodations. However, the Stevenson Trail offers a range of amenities. Generally, bathrooms are integrated into the rooms, but they may be located on the landing or shared in some accommodations.
By train
The town of Le Puy-en-Velay has a train station that takes you right to the city center, close to your first hotel and all the sights and shops. In short, it’s very pleasant to take the train from home to begin your hike in Le Puy. Psst, even if the journey may seem long, when you arrive via Saint-Etienne, the tracks run alongside the wild Loire Valley, a truly beautiful sight!
By car
Le Puy is accessible by road, notably via two main roads: the RN88 from Saint-Etienne/Lyon or Aubenas/Mende, or via the RN102 (Clermont-Ferrand). There are suitable parking lots on site, but we’ll explain everything in your travel guide!
- Paris: 515km
- Lyon: 134km
- Marseille: 300km
- Toulouse: 350km
- Montpellier: 250km
Where to park in Le Puy?
- Breuil underground car park – Place du Breuil (near Ibis Styles and Ibis Centre) – Closed Sundays and public holidays – 7 days: €60 & 14 days: €100/14 days – Reservations: +33 4 71 02 03 54
- Bertrand de Doue car park: Parking without video (near train station, Ibis Styles & Budget)
- Estrouilhas car park: Parking without video (near Ibis Centre)
- Quincieu park and ride: Parking without video (near Ibis Centre)
- Montredon park and ride: Parking without video (free bus service to the city center)
- Dunant car park (free bus service to the city center) Above-ground car parks in Le Puy – Rates: €10/week and €20/month.
Subscriptions must be reserved and paid in advance at the parking lot. Commercial Mobilité-en-Velay Tel. 04 71 02 60 11 (open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) – Height limit 2.20 m & length 5.50 m maximum. These car parks are served by a free shuttle or the urban transport network.
- Parking de la Gare: Video-monitored parking – €6 / 24 hours (near Ibis Styles & Budget)
- Parking des Carmes: Video-monitored parking – €30 / week – Reservations: 07 68 10 76 81 (near Ibis Styles & Budget)
- La Malle Postale – Parking 7km from Le Puy – Drop-off and pick-up guaranteed – 7 days / 7– 7 days: €30 & 15 days: €50 – Reservation: +33 4 71 04 21 79
- Saint-Jacques Parking (Center served by bus) – 13 bis de Roderie – Aiguilhe – Video surveillance – Reservation: +33 4 44 43 97 43 – 7 days: €29 & 14 days: €55 (near Ibis Center)
Prices given for information purposes only and subject to change without notice
Whether you’re looking to book your cycling trip or have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
with L'Autre Chemin
Dès 520€ / pers
Sac transporté et retour inclus
Escapade vélo avec Stevenson, du Puy à Labastide-Puylaurent
Quelques jours à vélo sur le Chemin de Stevenson - GR70 du puy à La Bastide-Puylauent
€1020 / pers.
Bag transfer & journey back to Le Puy
Dialogue with sir Stevenson, bike tour on the Stevenson trail
Stevenson by bike, discover the Cévennes from Puy to Saint-Jean du Gard
€420 / pers
with luggage transfer & journey back
4 days on the Stevenson Trail, from Puy-en-Velay to Pradelles
4 days on the Stevenson Trail, from Puy-en-Velay to Pradelles