There is arguably no more pleasant way to enjoy the pristine rolling hills of continental Europe than by bike. Cities like Paris, Amsterdam, Vilnius and Gdansk are practically tailor-made for cycle travel, with their purpose-built lanes and extensive two-wheeled infrastructure offering respite from the Autobahns and highways of the conventional East. In fact, mention the words bicycle and Europe in the same sentence and my mind almost instantly jumps to images of Maria and the von Trapp children weaving their way through the rich greenery of Salzburg. However, there is a unique new cycling tour that has caught my eye and there isn’t a nunnery in sight.
The Provence-based (and delightfully named) travel cycling company Ride & Seek has announced its ’most ambitious’ journey will arrive in 2027. The Napoleon Tour from Paris to Estonia is set to track the historic 1812 path of Napoleon’s Grande Armée across Europe. Famously, the then-Emperor of France gathered more than 500,000 troops from almost every nation in Europe to invade Russia, following the country’s refusal to join a continent-wide blockade of Great Britain.
The Napoleon Tour
Over the course of three months, the collective military power travelled from Paris to Moscow, losing hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the process, before eventually retreating just a few short months later after food shortages, constant Cossack attacks and extreme winter conditions. The ill-fated campaign was one of the most definitive failures of Napoleon’s illustrious military career, signalling the unique environmental challenges that travel across Europe can pose.
Thankfully, Ride & Seek’s new journey won’t be quite so catastrophic. Over 37 days, participants and their bikes will travel more than 3,500 kilometres across Europe, exploring some of the most remarkable landscapes on Earth. The tour starts from the iconic Arc de Triomphe in Paris before moving to the castle-clad hills of southern Germany, the UNESCO-listed medieval towns of Poland and the Baltic outposts of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
According to Dylan Reynolds, founder of Ride & Seek, the Napoleon Tour offers riders a deeper perspective on the success and scope of the European project and the many positives that can be found across the continent.
“More than just a ride, our Napoleon Tour is an epic cycling adventure across Europe and the centuries,” Reynolds said. “While today’s headlines focus on the continent’s challenges, it offers deep perspective on the success of the European project and celebrates the many positives that can be found along our inspirational route. Following roads less travelled, we’ll experience total immersion in the landscape, history and culture of the regions we visit.”
Napoleon Tour Itinerary
The Ride & Seek Napoleon Tour is split into three stages. These include:
- Stage 1, Paris to Bautzen: The journey begins in Paris with a grand departure around the Longchamp Hippodrome, down the Champs-Élysées and along oak-lined canals before heading east into the vineyards of Champagne and Lorraine’s countryside. Crossing into Germany, traverse the famous Rhineland, with its horizon of pine forests and castle spires, and stop in the ancient towns of spectacular Saxony to feast upon delicacies like pork knuckles, monk beers and Rhine wines.
- Stage 2, Bautzen to Vilnius: Leaving Germany’s forests behind, follow Poland’s undulating tree-lined avenues to historic villages among open farmlands, arriving on the windswept shores of the Baltic Sea at Gdansk. Turning inland again, pass through the stunning lake districts to the rustic Gothic castle in Reszel then the magnificent monastery of Kaunas, Lithuania, and continue to Vilnius.
- Stage 3, Vilnius to Tallinn: The final leg trades hills for the wide horizons and flat, fast roads of the Baltic States. Circumnavigating inland seas, gorgeous views are abundant from Lithuania to Latvia and Estonia. After reaching the border in Narva, the tour ends with a night in the medieval splendor of Tallinn, where cyclists can celebrate their cross-continental achievement amid one of Europe’s most beautiful UNESCO-listed old towns.
Pricing and Availability
| Stage | Start Date | End Date | Days | Cost (Euros) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 – Paris to Bautzen | 25th June | 10th July | 16 (15 nights) | €8,500 |
| Stage 2 – Bautzen to Vilnius | 10th July | 24th July | 15 (14 nights) | €7,865 |
| Stage 3 – Vilnius to Tallinn | 24th July | 31st July | 8 (7 nights) | €4,300 |
| GrandeArmée – Paris to Tallinn | 25th June | 31st July | 37 (36 nights) | €19,200 |
The 37-day tour includes all accommodation, all breakfasts and group dinners, most lunches, nutrition. Guests will even stay in spots like Zamek Reszel, the striking Gothic castle located in the historic town of Reszel in northern Poland and the Pałac Wiechlice, a restored 18th-century Baroque palace located in western Poland near Szprotawa.
The total ride distance is around 3,693 kilometres with a combined elevation of 24,517 metres, making it one for immediate to experienced riders, but there will be dedicated guides on each tour. Pricing starts from €19,200 per person based on double occupancy with the first journeys departing on 25 June, 2027. For more information or to book your spot, visit the Ride & Seek website and start shaving your legs.
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