FAQ

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

Yes GravelUp is a registered tour operator as required by French law (article L. 141-2 of the Tourism Code). You can consult our Terms and Conditions for more details.

Yes you will need insurance to cover you during the trip that covers you for personal liability, injury and personal goods. If you are coming from abroad make sure healthcare cover is included on top of the European health insurance card or equivalent.

We are happy to help you with insurance recommendations, please just drop us an email to bonjour@gravelup.earth for more information.

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.

Don't worry its not problem and it happens to everyone, even the best, at some point! Our guides will be there to make sure you hydrate and eat properly each day to help avoid this, as well as manage your effort levels whilst riding.

In case of more serious difficulties:

• On our Adventurer routes, our base camp will never be too far and our support vehicle can come and pick you up at any time.

• On our Explorer or Pathfinder point-to-point routes, our support vehicle will be available to collect you as needed to help you recover. Theres also the possibility to shorten the routes in some places or to leapfrog some sections allow you to join the group a little further on.

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 and even a spare bike will be available nearby in the support vehicle.

Detailed information will be sent to you 2-3 weeks before the start of the expedition.

We are regularly asked if we can share the GPX tracks of our expe. Unfortunately 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.

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.

For Adventurer trips your luggage will remain at the base camp, where you will sleep each evening.

For Explorer or Pathfinder trips your luggage will be transported by us between your accommodation each day. You won't have access to it during the daytime but it will be waiting for you at the end of each days ride.

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. We have chosen them carefully for their comfort, tranquility, location and the quality of their food.

Almost all included! Only lunch on arrival and departure days are not included as often people are still travelling.

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, which are always very welcome after a day exploring off the beaten track.

We have hearty breakfasts to fuel you for a days riding, delicious lunch stops with a mixture of picnics and local restaurants/refuges, and riding snacks as needed 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.

Each expedition will be between 8 and 12 people depending on the destination and level of trip. We have small groups so that you can ride at your own pace more easily and so that it remains intimate for everyone. It also reduces our footprint and impact on the environment and allows you to feel part of the landscape.

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.

We have no doubt that you will be able to ride and enjoy the route that we have carefully planned. However, occasionally it happens to all of us that we feel unwell and can't continue, and if this is the case:

• On the Adventurer trips the BaseCamp is never very far away and our support vehicle can come to assist you.

• On our Explorer and Pathfinder expeditions, which are point-to-point, our support vehicle can allow you to leapfrog the group and rejoin them further ahead, or take you to the destination for the day allowing you the time to rest and recover .

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.

You are about to experience a GravelUp expedition. The territories we cross offer an environment that can sometimes be demanding depending on the weather conditions. We evolve in a mountainous landscape where the cumulative difference in altitude can vary depending on the type of expedition.

Our 3 levels :

Adventurer

You don't need a high level of technical / cycling knowledge.

To fully enjoy this expedition, we recommend that you practice an endurance sport such as jogging, swimming or cycling, at least once a week.

Having already done at least 3 hours of cycling will allow you to feel more comfortable and to better enjoy the breathtaking landscapes you will cross.

The use of automatic pedals is recommended but not mandatory, we allow the use of flat pedals.

It is important to be able to stand up on the pedals in order to negotiate certain descents and climbs.

Explorer

You need a certain technical / cycling background or a strong experience in an endurance sport like running.

To get the most out of this expedition, we recommend that you practice an endurance sport such as jogging, swimming or cycling several times a week.

Having already done long bike rides of at least 4 hours will allow you to feel more comfortable and better enjoy the breathtaking landscapes you will cross.

At least 2 days in a row of cycling experience is a plus.

Use of automatic pedals is mandatory, ability to maneuver the bike on all types of terrain and good braking technique.

Pathfinder

You need to have a strong technical/cycling background and be used to riding several days in a row.

To take full advantage of this expedition, we recommend that you practice an endurance sport such as jogging, swimming or cycling on a regular basis.

Having already completed several days of cycling trips will allow you to feel more comfortable and to better enjoy the breathtaking landscapes you will cross.

We have 3 levels of expeditions - you can find them on the home page by clicking on the "Compare the levels" link. These levels have been designed to enable as many people as possible to join one of our trips. Our expeditions are adventures, not races. We start together and we finish together, it's the GravelUp speed.

If, however, you are still unsure, you can write to us at bonjour@gravelup.earth and we will contact you to help you assess your level. We can also help you prepare for your adventure, just ask us.

We offer people leaving from Paris a grouped departure on board the GravelUp van. This service is not included in the price of 490 eur, and is only offered for practical reasons. Therefore, we do not offer any discount on the price for people not using the van and coming by their own means.

You can 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. 

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.  More information here.

Expeditions are only guaranteed once we have received enough reservations to meet our minimum group size of 7 participants. As soon as we guarantee a destination, we will inform all participants who have already booked.

We recommend that you wait until the expedition is confirmed before booking your train or flight tickets.

When an expedition is confirmed it means the minimum number of participants have booked. We will let you know so that you can book the necessary tickets.

Until an expedition has been confirmed it isn't covered by our insurance so we highly recommend that you don't book any non refundable or modifiable travel. If we are unable to run an expedition due to a lack of numbers, unfortunately we are unable to refund any other travel costs incurred by you.

We commit to confirm the departure of our expeditions no later than 1 month in advance.

We can advise on the best and easiest travel arrangements for all of our expeditions but we can't make the actual bookings for you.

We ask that you wait for final confirmation that the expedition will run before making any other bookings.

Yes, our expeditions will go on paths and small roads where neither road bikes nor mountain bikes will be suitable.

You can bring your own gravel bike or hire one from ours. Our well specced bikes with tubeless tires means a much lower risk of punctures and mechanical problems during your trip.

No need, we take care of everything!

We provide you with saddlebags or handlebar bags allowing you to take what you need for the day. And we also take care of transporting your overnight luggage (for Explorer and Pathfinder levels only).

You have the choice between a standard gravel bike or an e gravel bike, depending on the destination you choose. You can find more information in each page of the tour you are interested in.

The complete list will be sent to you a few weeks before the departure of your expedition. You will find here the few essential pieces that you may not have at home:

• Cycling shorts with chamois to be more comfortable

• Bike gloves/mittens to avoid blisters

• Cycling shoes

Yes, we would love to take you and your friends and/or colleagues on one of our expeditions. Please feel free to email us at bonjour@gravelup.earth for more details.