The « Causses » are limestone plateaus, and theres 7 of them in total to discover on this 5 day loop from our Base Camp in Millau. You’ll find the area of Aveyron is rich and diverse in geography and culture, and provides a great test of your gravel bike skills to top it all off.
310 Google reviews
5 days / 4 nights - starting from 1490 €
Immense limestone plateaus, canyons, and spectacular cliffs: each stage holds a new surprise, in the heart of this raw and wild nature.
Join a small group of enthusiasts! You also have the option to book a private trip for groups of 4 or more. Contact us.
GravelUp's strengths:
An expert guide who will take you to discover their territory like no one else.
Carefully selected routes that combine sport, pleasure, and discovery on the most beautiful Spanish trails.
Comfortable accommodation and gourmet cuisine.
A support van: luggage transportation, technical assistance, refreshments.
The possibility to rent high-quality gravel bikes: muscular or electric.
-> Check out our bikes
Possibility to privatise the group from 4 people - contact us for more information.
Download our catalogue HERE to know all our offers
Join the GravelUp community and set off on an adventure with us. Discover below what past riders have to say about their experience!
310 Google reviewsAmazing tracks, top gastronomy and an extraordinary organisation. An athletic trip, which trains the legs, and the memories!
Clémence G.
Thank you to the Gravel Up team for this trip. The welcome, atmosphere, routes, accommodation, meals… everything was perfect. Excellent value for money ! I definitely plan to book another trip with Gravel Up !
Valérie M.
Another way to discover beautiful landscapes by bike. A great team. Services (accommodation, meals, supervision, logistics, cycling ...) up to expectations. A big thank you to the whole GravelUp team!
Jean-Luc R.
A huge thank you to the entire GravelUp team for the consistently top-notch organization and breathtaking routes! See you soon for a 4th Up ;)
Cécile N.
Excellent organisation and atmosphere which allowed me to discover gravel biking with high level sporting and cultural guides. The landscapes of the Causses are breathtaking!
Guillaume L.
My stay was a real pleasure! All the logistics are perfectly managed, which is perfect for clearing your head and having nothing to think about but walking along beautiful paths. The route was well thought out to vary the scenery and see as much as possible. It was a real pleasure to be able to meet with other members of the group and we were able to share quality moments both on the bike and during the other activities.
Benoît H.
Physical challenge, new friends and cultural discovery!
Jean-Baptiste W.
Fantastic trip with GravelUp. Great rides with fellow nature enthusiasts in a warm, friendly atmosphere. You quickly feel among friends, thanks to the efficient and empathetic team of this young company. Long live gravel biking ! Thomas F.
I was won over by gravel riding! The versatility of these bikes is fantastic and the bikes offered by GravelUp are just great. Accelerating on the trails, letting loose on the climbs, skidding on the descents and enjoying the beautiful views. The tracks chosen were great, balanced, challenging ... in short, it was fantastic! All this in a great atmosphere where the group and the organisation were one!
Sébastien C.
A stay beyond my expectations and those of my 8 companions. A magnificent interlude, an ideal setting to discover the practice of Gravel. Alternating roads and paths in a wild green setting. We only came across a handful of walkers and no cyclists! Nature in its purest form. Professional supervision, always smiling and extremely dynamic.
Eric D.
Gravel Up in Grands Causses was awesome! Unforgettable experience and guaranteed change of scenery in this French region, off the beaten tracks. The organization of the trip was perfect and the team very professional and always there to make sure we had an amazing time. Looking forward to my next trip with GravelUp!
Olivier H.
To ride in the Causses with GravelUp is to take paths from oneself to oneself through others, and to return with new eyes.
Manu I.
Very nice discovery of the Grands Causses. I will not remember the difficulty but rather the quality and the conviviality of this beautiful weekend! Thanks to the organisers!
Yann C.
Very nice discovery of gravel with magnificent courses in the Causses and a top-notch organisation!
Jean-Jacques O.
Magical experience! An outstanding organisation before, during and after the stay. An idyllic and playful setting to have fun with friends. To be repeated as soon as possible with friends, experienced or not, integration and good humour will do the rest! All inclusive!
Christophe B.
"GravelUp is fantastic!
It was a discovery for me and I will remember it forever. Go ahead and book your stay with friends at GravelUp! An experience, a feeling of freedom, the discovery of a sport and a region. I will be preparing for Corsica in 2023!
Fabien D.
GravelUp is the best of gravel served on a plate! Top-notch logistics and organisation! I just had to pedal on dream tracks with a small group who share my passion. A week in a very good atmosphere and a Gravel spirit!
Romain L.
My mother always said that you have to take the plunge, a phrase that is entirely appropriate here. No matter what has brought us here and where we have come from, we find ourselves in the saddle ready explore the roads, gravel and paths less travelled here.
Article written by Pierre Guilbaud
Stages, landscapes, highlights — discover the journey that awaits you. Please note that the itinerary may change depending on weather or logistics, to ensure the best possible experience.
A warm-up and familiarization with the gravel bikes to get those legs moving! After a welcome lunch at the Domaine de St Estève, we’ll follow the Tarn River and then the Dourbie River, gradually gaining altitude. We’ll head toward the impressive Millau Viaduct!
After a thrilling gravel descent to the village of Peyre and its troglodytic church, we’ll return to base camp.
Heading toward Sainte-Affrique via the Causse du Larzac. After a morning yoga session, we’ll embark on a 71 km ride with 1230 meters of elevation gain. We’ll begin with around 500 meters of climbing on a quiet, winding road that ascends the plateau, then dive into the Causse du Larzac with some incredible gravel trails!
Next, we’ll make our way to Roquefort for a tour of the Carles cellar, one of the finest producers of traditional Roquefort. We’ll end the day with some secret trails that only our guide knows. Overnight stay in Sainte-Affrique.
Exploring the Rougier de Camarès. We’ll begin the day with a lovely climb on road through the forest, followed by a descent to the Abbey of Sylvanes for a coffee break. Then, we’ll enter the Rougier de Camarès, a region of ochre lands that evoke the Australian Outback. Afterward, we’ll return by van to Millau, back to base camp, and enjoy a yoga session in the late afternoon. To cap off the day, we’ll have dinner at the best restaurant in Millau!
The biggest stage of the trip, through the Causse Noir, the smallest of the Great Causses, covering 200 km². We’ll depart from base camp and immediately follow the famous Trail of the Templars to reach the plateau beneath the Causse Noir.
Next, we’ll follow the Tarn River to the small village of Peyreleau. The day continues with a mix of forest trails, beautiful roads, and plateaus, offering a wide variety of terrains to suit every preference! We’ll stop in Veyreau before tackling the final gravel section leading to the famous Puech d’Agast, which overlooks Millau. We’ll then return to base camp.
A gentle ride to loosen up the legs before heading home. We’ll follow the Tarn River to the north, seeking out some beautiful gravel tracks and stunning views of the Causses. We’ll return to base camp for a final lunch to wrap up this wonderful cycling adventure.
Equipment
You have the option to rent our premium Gravel and E-Gravel bikes from our partner, Origine.
Repeatedly awarded Gravel Bike of the Year, our carbon Graxx III model (8.1kg) and the electric Help model (12kg) combine performance, versatility, and lightness — the perfect match for your expedition.
Learn more about our gravel bikes
Level
Our expeditions are adventures, not races. We start together and we finish together, it's the GravelUp speed.
It is difficult to give a precise average speed as the surfaces make a big difference, as well as admiring the views! Average speeds are normally between 15 and 18 km/h.
Booking
You can change the date of your trip free of charge up to 30 days before departure. You can also cancel at any time before the start of the trip subject to payment of a cancellation fee. If the cancellation occurs:
More than 90 days prior to Departure => Receive a Refund of 75% of all payments already made (including deposits) OR a Trip Credit of 100%
Between 61 and 90 days prior to Departure => Receive a Refund of 50% of all payments already made (including deposits) OR a Trip Credit of 75%
Between 31 and 60 days prior to Departure => Receive a Refund of 25% of all payments already made (including deposits) OR a Trip Credit of 75%
30 days or less prior to Departure => No Refund OR Trip Credit of 50%
Please note that a Trip Credit cannot be converted to a refund at a later date.
To protect yourself against last minute cancellation, we advise you to subscribe to our cancellation insurance through our partner Chapka insurance, with a guarantee which also covers you in case of contracting the Covid-19. Please note that such insurance can only be subscribed within 48 hours following the order of your trip. Subscription link available here.
Important: the realisation of the trip is conditional on the registration of a minimum number of participants to guarantee the departure. We commit ourselves to confirm a trip at the latest 30 days before the departure date. In the event that the trip cannot take place because the minimum number of participants is not reached, you will be reimbursed for any sums paid but will not be entitled to any compensation. You will be informed by email whether or not a trip is confirmed.
Practicalities
For Adventurer and Escape trips your luggage will remain at the base camp, where you will sleep each evening.
For Explorer trips your luggage will be transported by us between your accommodation each day.
Our team have come up with two expeditions to keep everybody happy, from regular social cyclists to bikepacking fanatics.
Between 3 and 5 days riding crisscrossing the natural park of Les Grands Causses in Aveyron on a gravel bike with a group of like minded riders will allow you find landscapes and views that will take your breath away. GravelUp takes care of everything during the trip, from carefully chosen accommodation to local meals and snacks ideal for a days riding.
It’s not just this care that makes our expeditions unique, its the local knowledge of our guides and the chance to visit local people and places that make for genuine and beautiful picnic spots and overnight stays. All that’s left for you to do is choose which of our trips to start with and get your gravel bike ready for an unforgettable adventure.
Download our catalogue HERE to see all our offers
