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This trip is part of our exciting collaboration with the very excellent gentleman's grooming establishment, Swagger & Jacks of Norwich. The trip has been designed exclusively for clients of this fine organisation and if you ask nicely, I'm sure S&J founder and Master Barber, Mark Young might agree to bring his scissors with him - an open-air trim in the mountains would be a rare and special treat!

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“La Vie Exaltante” literally means 'the exhilarating or inspiring life'.  This is how we feel when staying at our lovely 12th century French farmhouse with its wonderful views and glorious sunshine, especially whilst enjoying a glass of chilled rosé by the pool…

All seven nights of this trip bar one are spent at our beautiful house.  Each day there will be a glorious ride to a different part of the region, be it the magnificent Gorges du Tarn or the delightful ancient villages around the area.

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One night is spent in a hotel out in the hills in order to give enough time to fully experience the breathtaking landscape of the Cévennes region.

There is a day off in the middle to relax by the pool or enjoy a long lunch in a nearby village.

Each morning we leave at 9am after a breakfast of hot coffee and freshly baked croissants and head off on some great roads to see some of the wonderful countryside that surrounds us, stopping off to enjoy lunch or a coffee in one of the many beautiful villages along the way.  

There are many medieval castles and ‘bastides’ (fortified hill top villages) in the area, dating back from the time when England ruled this part of France, each with their own character and they are very much part of our daily rides.  

We will return in the early evening in time to enjoy a cold beer or glass of wine and maybe a swim in the pool, before tucking into a sumptuous, home-cooked dinner under the stars.

Those who wish to spend the day relaxing away from the road can enjoy the pool or visit the local villages with their colourful markets, excellent cafés and restaurants.  We can arrange for you to enjoy a little pampering in the shade with one of our local well-being and massage experts (subject to availability and/or Covid restrictions).

 This ‘adventure’ is a bike trip with a difference!  It offers a great opportunity for your potentially less “bike-obsessed” better half (hard to believe, I know) to join you on a motorcycle holiday without needing to spend all those long, hard hours in the saddle. It incorporates great biking roads with magnificent scenery, the opportunity to relax in wonderful surroundings and enjoy great local cuisine…and your pillion can spend as much time on the back seat of your motorcycle as he or she wishes, possibly preferring to relax by the pool in the sun while you are off galavanting on two wheels!

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We leave in the morning at 9.00am and aim to be at our destination by 6.00pm in the evening.  This equates to around 6 hours in the saddle - we typically ride for an hour and a half before a 20 minute break for coffee with a 1 hour stop for lunch and another break in the afternoon. We are definitely happy to stop to admire the view and for photo opportunities along the way.