FAQ

We offer two optional insurance policies during the booking process. They cover different situations and can be purchased independently or together.

Cancellation Insurance: before your trip

This insurance allows you to recover your cancellation costs if you are unable to travel due to a covered event such as illness, injury, a serious family matter, or certain work-related circumstances.

Key points:

• Covers you before departure.

• Does not cover a simple change of mind.

• Must be purchased within 48 hours of booking your trip.

Example: You break your collarbone two weeks before your GravelUp trip and are unable to travel. Depending on the circumstances and policy terms, the cancellation insurance may reimburse your cancellation costs.

Travel Insurance (Multi-Risk): during your trip

This insurance protects you throughout your journey and includes benefits such as:

• 24/7 travel assistance and repatriation,

• emergency medical expenses,

• personal liability coverage abroad,

• baggage-related coverage,

• trip interruption coverage.

Key points:

• Covers you during your trip.

• Strongly recommended for international travel.

• Can be purchased up until the day before departure.

Example: You have an accident during your trip and require medical treatment or repatriation. Depending on the circumstances and policy terms, the insurance may cover these expenses.

Should I purchase both policies?

The two policies cover different situations:

• I want protection if I have to cancel my trip before departure → Cancellation Insurance.

• I want protection while travelling → Travel Insurance (Multi-Risk).

• I want comprehensive coverage before and during my trip → Both policies.

I live outside France (USA, Canada, UK, Switzerland, etc.). Can I subscribe?

In most cases, yes. However, certain coverages may depend on your country of residence.

If you are unsure, please contact us before booking and we will help verify your eligibility with the insurer.

Am I already covered by my credit card?

Some premium credit cards include travel insurance benefits. Coverage levels vary significantly depending on the card issuer and country.

We recommend checking directly with your bank or card provider before deciding whether additional insurance is necessary.

Where can I find the full policy details?

• Cancellation Insurance: https://www.chapkadirect.fr/index.php?action=produit&id=839

• Travel Insurance (Multi-Risk): https://www.chapkadirect.fr/index.php?action=produit&id=824&app=gravel

You may change the date of your trip free of charge up to 30 days before departure. You may also cancel your booking at any time prior to the start of your trip. The following conditions will then apply:

• More than 90 days before departure → 75% refund, or a 100% credit of the amounts paid, valid for the next 12 months

• Between 60 and 90 days before departure → 50% refund, or a 75% credit of the amounts paid, valid for the next 12 months

• Between 30 and 60 days before departure → 25% refund, or a 50% credit of the amounts paid, valid for the next 12 months

• Less than 30 days before departure → No refund, or a 50% credit of the amounts paid, valid for the next 12 months

You may also take out cancellation insurance with our partner Chapka Insurance. This option will be offered at the time of booking. More information about the insurance is available here.

Please note that a Trip Credit cannot be converted to a refund at a later date.

GravelUp is a travel agency registered in France (license IM075220009) and accredited by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA). We offer all-inclusive gravel cycling trips to explore the most beautiful regions of France and Europe.

GravelUp trips combine sporting adventure, local immersion and seamless logistics. Group departures usually bring together 8 to 12 participants maximum. Self-guided departures are available from a minimum of two people.

Each day, you will ride between 40 and 80 km, with elevation gain adapted to your level, averaging between 500 and 1,500 meters of climbing, on carefully selected gravel routes blending smooth tracks, forest trails and quiet backroads.

For group departures, experienced guides lead the way, with mechanical support and refreshments provided along the routes. Accommodation is always comfortable and thoughtfully selected, featuring local cuisine, wellness sessions such as yoga and stretching, and convivial moments that complete the experience.

We prioritize small groups of 8 to 12 participants to encourage meaningful interactions and maintain the friendly spirit of the trip.

Traveling in a small group also allows us to minimize our impact on the trails we use and to respect the territories we pass through.

You’ll find a simplified program on each trip page, with a brief day-by-day summary. 📓 For more details, we’ve created in-depth adventure sheets that give you all the key information about our gravel trips: distances, elevation gain, pace, off-bike activities, logistics, and more. 🌲

Each trip is then adapted to the group’s profile and the terrain conditions, which can vary depending on the season and weather — always keeping the perfect dose of adventure! ✌🏻

Not at all! Our expeditions do not require previous gravel riding experience. Our itineraries are designed to be accessible to all, as long as you have a spirit of adventure. You may have to carry or push your bike on some short sections, but that's part of the Gravel Up adventure!

Please note: Our hire bikes are the latest spec models and are meticulously maintained for your comfort and safety. They are the ideal bikes in terms of comfort and safety for all our adventures

Our guides are carefully chosen based on their experience and local knowledge of each region to guarantee you an unforgettable adventure. All our guides have French State validated bike qualifications. They are also French levels 1 and 2 first aid trained as you would expect.

Our guides will be able to repair small problems straight away. Their tips and advice can sometimes be useful when you get home too :) In the event of a more serious mechanical problems, spare parts will be available nearby in the support vehicle. Every problem has its solution!

Cancellation insurance is optional, but it can be useful if you would like to protect the cost of your trip against unexpected events occurring before departure.

You can purchase cancellation insurance through our partner, Chapka Insurance. This option will be offered during the booking process. You can find more information about the coverage here.

Depending on the terms and conditions of the policy, it may cover situations such as illness, injury, certain serious family events, or specific work-related circumstances.

If you feel comfortable bearing the financial risk of cancelling your trip, you may decide that you do not need this coverage. However, if you would like to book with greater peace of mind and reduce your financial exposure in case of unforeseen circumstances, cancellation insurance may be a worthwhile option.

Before purchasing additional coverage, we also recommend checking any travel insurance benefits that may already be included with your credit card or personal insurance policy.

We recommend to book editable or cancelable train or flight tickets until your trip is confirmed.

We commit to confirm the departure of your expeditions no later than 30 days in advance.

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.

Please note that our trips are confirmed with a minimum of 4 participants! Feel free to spread the word — one of your friends or loved ones might be interested too! 🙂 👉🏻 Find all our dates HERE.

You will be accommodated in charming hotels, chalets, or renovated former shepherds’ cottages, carefully chosen for their comfort, history, and the authenticity of their hosts!

How to get there?

There are two ways to reach your trip:

• Arrive by your own means and go directly to the meeting point indicated. • Arrive by train or plane. In this case, we organise a shuttle between the arrival train station or airport and your accommodation.

Detailed information (locations, timings, transfer organisation) can be found in the Adventure Book – Day 1 section of your trip.

For our 5-day point-to-point formats, your luggage will be transferred by our team between each accommodation — so you can ride light and carefree! If you choose to rent a gravel bike for your trip, we’ll also equip it with Restrap bags, perfect for carrying a light jacket, gloves, and a few snacks (and don’t worry, there’s no risk of hypothermia with GravelUp!).

Recharging your batteries is essential after a day on the bike. Post ride you can relax at our base camps or partner hotels and guest houses 3 stars. We have chosen them carefully for their comfort, tranquility, location and the quality of their food.

To our regret we do not control the weather :)

Rain or bad weather can be part of the adventure. The important thing is to ride with the right equipment. Our ideal "packing list" to face any kind of weather will be sent to you one month before the departure of your expedition.

In case of severe weather, no worries: we’ll adapt the picnic location, routes, schedules, or even the activity itself if necessary (as a last resort, of course!). 👉🏻 Check out our packing list HERE.

All included! During the expedition we guarantee delicious meals based as much as possible on locally sourced products and that have been carefully planned for a day in the saddle.

Our hosts are proud of and passionate about sharing their local specialities :

• Hearty breakfasts to fuel you for a days riding

• Delicious lunch stops with a mixture of picnics and local restaurants/refuges

• Snacks along the way

• A welcome evening meal, prepared by our host for the night, will allow you to try local dishes, relax, reflect on the highlights of the day and recover, ready for another days riding tomorrow.

We can't for 2 reasons:

• our expeditions include sections on private tracks for which we have obtained prior agreements with the local residents.

• Furthermore, our tracks are built through partnerships with local tourist offices and regional nature parks, which trust us to supervise our expeditions in a way that best preserves the natural areas.

No problem! Just let us know at the time of booking on the booking form and we will make sure you are catered for.

You can take a look here.

And if you want even more information, don't hesitate to contact us directly by email at bonjour@gravelup.earth so that we can help you choose the type of expedition that will suit you best.

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.

With us, there’s no stopwatch. We start together and we finish together. To help every rider find the adventure that suits them best, we offer 5 difficulty levels, from 1/5 to 5/5, detailed below. The level of each trip is shown at the top of its page, on the header photo. If you’re still unsure, just write to us at bonjour@gravelup.earth — we’ll be happy to help you assess the right level for you.

Please note: all our trips are open to e-gravel bikes (available for rental in all our destinations). Our groups include both traditional and electric bikes to ensure a smooth balance of pace.

Each trip includes a tested and validated gravel route, nights in characterful accommodations, breakfasts, a digital route book, remote assistance, and full logistical organization. Depending on the destination, optional extras may be added, such as luggage transport, gravel bike rental, or local experiences.

Our routes include alternatives and backup plans. In case of bad weather or mechanical issues, we provide remote support to help you find the best solution. You remain free to make your own choices, with the reassurance that a team is watching over things behind the scenes.

These trips are designed for gravel cyclists who are comfortable with GPS navigation and enjoy riding without a group, whether as a couple or with friends. Routes are offered by difficulty level, so everyone can choose an adventure suited to their fitness, experience, and preferences.

You are autonomous in the field, but never alone. Before departure, you receive a complete digital route book (GPS tracks, tips, and recommended stops). During your trip, our team remains available remotely in case of questions, issues, or unexpected situations

A self-guided trip is a gravel adventure you complete at your own pace, without a guide riding alongside you. We design the ideal route for you, select accommodations, organize the logistics, and provide all the tools you need to ride with complete peace of mind. You ride freely — we take care of the rest.

When booking your trip, you can rent our premium gravel and e-gravel bikes through our partner Origine.

Multiple-time winners of “Gravel bike of the year”, you can choose between:

• The GRAXX GTO mechanical model (carbon frame and carbon wheels, weight: 8.1 kg)

• The HELP electric-assist model (aluminium frame and wheels, weight: 12 kg)

These bikes combine performance, versatility and lightweight design to enhance your riding experience throughout your trip. Learn more about our Origine our gravel bikes

Yes, we ride on routes where neither road bikes nor mountain bikes are perfectly suited — that’s what makes gravel so special! You can bring your own gravel bike or rent one directly when booking your trip.

Across all our destinations, we offer two models from Origine: the lightweight Graxx GTO (8.1 kg) and the Help e-gravel (12 kg). Both combine performance, versatility and comfort - perfect companions for your adventure. Learn more about our rental bikes.

Good to know: Thinking about buying a gravel bike after your trip? Our partner Origine will refund your first day of rental if you decide to purchase a Graxx or Help afterwards - the perfect opportunity to test them out before making your choice.

Yes, we also organize private trips and corporate retreats. 👉🏻 To learn more about our GravelUp corporate seminars, click HERE.

Are you an outdoor gear brand looking to have your products tested during one of our trips? Get in touch with us!

Please feel free to email us at bonjour@gravelup.earth for more details.