The ViaRhôna - From Seyssel to Lyon

DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAM

Day 1: Arrival in Seyssel

Your trip begins in Seyssel, where the still-young Rhône flows through the twin towns that make up the village in a peaceful atmosphere. Surrounded by mountains and vineyards, the town charms visitors with its quiet riverbanks and bright panoramas. It is an ideal gateway to the ViaRhôna, where harmony with nature is immediately felt.

Day 2: From Seyssel to Champagneux or Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers

57 km | +220m | ⏱︎ 3h36

Starting from Seyssel, you follow the ViaRhôna along a still mountainous Rhône. The route stays close to the river and offers a gentle progression, ideal for enjoying the scenery without difficulty.

Both routes then rejoin and continue toward Chanaz, a charming village along the Savières Canal, earning it the nickname “Little Venice of Savoie”. It is well worth stopping here, parking your bike, crossing its arched bridge, and strolling through its lively streets.

You finish this first stage in Champagneux or Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers, depending on your accommodation (allow 4 extra kilometers if staying in St-Genix), in the heart of peaceful countryside—a gentle end to a beautiful first day of cycling.

Day 3: From Champagneux or St-Genix to Villebois

65 km | +170 m | ⏱︎ 3h48

Starting from Champagneux or Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers, you rejoin the ViaRhôna, which stretches peacefully along the Rhône. After a few kilometers, the route briefly leaves the river to reach the City of Painters, better known as Morestel. After this stop, the route returns toward the Rhône without difficulty, alternating small roads, shaded sections, and open views over the river. Gradually, the terrain narrows and the river winds between cliffs and stone villages.

As you approach Villebois, the landscape becomes more mineral, with limestone cliffs dominating the scenery. The village is known for its former stone quarries and blond-colored houses.

Day 4: From Villebois to Pérouges

33 km | +140 m | ⏱︎ 2h

Starting from Villebois, you follow the ViaRhôna along the Rhône, crossing landscapes that alternate between rural and forested sections, with the river as your constant guide. The route remains pleasant and relatively flat. Then, to reach the medieval town of Pérouges, you leave the marked path and climb slightly toward the hilltop village. The effort is rewarded: upon arrival, you discover a true medieval gem with cobbled streets and ramparts, offering a unique atmosphere.

Day 5: From Pérouges to Lyon

48 km | +70 m | ⏱︎ 2h48

You leave the medieval town and follow quiet country roads through fields and villages until you reach the great river once again. From there, you simply follow it to your final destination: Lyon.

As you approach the city, you pass through the famous Parc de la Tête d’Or and follow the Rhône riverbanks before reaching your accommodation in the city center. Lyon is well worth an afternoon of exploration, with its rich cultural and historical heritage. If you have the opportunity, we highly recommend staying an extra day.

Day 6: End of the trip

End of your ViaRhôna journey after breakfast, unless you have booked an extra night to explore the treasures of Lyon.

ACCOMMODATION

Whatever level of comfort you choose, we prioritize authentic, human-scale accommodations that inspire comfort, friendliness, and well-being. We also strive to ensure they are well located: easily accessible by bike and, whenever possible, close to amenities and points of interest.

AVAILABLE COMFORT LEVELS

Photos provided as examples to illustrate the type of accommodation in each category.

Always included:

• Breakfast
• Private bathroom
• Bike storage
• Restaurant(s) within walking distance
• Convenient location

BIKE OPTIONS

Whether you choose to rent a bike or bring your own, it is essential to have a bike suited both to the route and to your personal needs.

RENTAL BIKES

We offer quality trekking bikes and/or electric bikes, equipped with all essential accessories. Equipment for children is also available. However, we do not recommend this trip for children under 12, as some stages exceed 50 km.

Photos for illustrative purposes. Bikes subject to availability.

Included accessories:

• Smartphone holder (1 per bike)
• Waterproof rear pannier (1 per bike)
• Small handlebar bag
• Lock
• Repair kit
• Helmet(s) on request

IF YOU BRING YOUR OWN BIKE

Before departure, carefully check the condition of your bike: brakes, tires, cassette, derailleur, chain...
You may be far from assistance in case of a mechanical issue!

Which bikes are suitable?

• Trekking / Touring bike
• Mountain bike
• Gravel bike
• E-bike with good range

• Road bike
• City bike

LEVEL: EASY

➡️ The stages are moderately long (around 3 to 4 hours of cycling per day).
This pace suits most people: it allows you to combine the pleasure of cycling with discoveries along the way.

➡️The terrain is generally very gentle, although the route may become slightly rolling when it moves away from the Rhône, but nothing too demanding.

➡️ On the first stage, there is also a sporty option consisting of a detour to the shores of the magnificent Lake Bourget. You can decide on the day whether to take it.

DAILY DISTANCES :

ELEVATION:

TYPE OF ROUTE:

About half of the route follows dedicated cycle paths. The rest of the time, you ride on small countryside roads with little or no traffic. More than 80% of the route is paved. The remaining sections are on well-maintained compact gravel paths. No technical difficulty to report.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

⏱️ DURATION

6 days and 5 nights, including arrival and departure days. 4 days of cycling.

📅 POSSIBLE START DAYS

Every day from April to October.

🗺️ TYPE OF ROUTE

Linear itinerary. At the end of the trip, a train brings you back to the starting point (or you can opt for a private transfer).

📍 START AND END POINTS

Start of the trip: Seyssel
End of the trip: Lyon

🌦️ WHEN TO GO?

Weather is generally favorable from April to October.

The climate along the ViaRhôna between Seyssel and Lyon is relatively protected from Mediterranean heatwaves thanks to the surrounding mountains. In summer, heatwaves are still possible, but temperatures are usually a few degrees lower than further downstream. The route is also generally very flat, which limits effort during hot weather.

🍽️ MEALS

Breakfasts are included.
Lunches and dinners are not included (except 2 dinners which are included).

During the day, you can eat at local restaurants (you will find suggestions in our roadbook) or enjoy a picnic by buying supplies from local shops.

For dinner, you will always have several restaurants within walking distance of your accommodation… unless your hotel already has one!

🧳 LUGGAGE TRANSFER

Your luggage is transported from one accommodation to another by one of our service providers. You only carry your daily essentials during cycling stages. A pannier is provided with rental bikes.

If you prefer to carry your luggage in panniers, you will receive a discount.

🚩 GETTING THERE

BY TRAIN

Seyssel is served by a regional TER line from several major cities.

Direct lines from :

BY CAR

Several free parking options are available in the village for multi-day stays :

• 📍 Community hall parking: 16 Route d'Aix-les-Bains
• 📍 Petit Nice parking (53 spaces): Av. Borcier 74910

🔁 RETURNING TO THE START

A direct TER train connects Lyon Part-Dieu station to Seyssel-Corbonod station. Travel time: approx. 1h15.

More info on train schedules

You can also choose a return transfer organized by us, allowing you to return to Seyssel with your bikes. This option is convenient if you travel with your own bikes, avoiding the need to transport them on the train. If you have rented bikes, we take care of returning them to Seyssel.

📑 TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

To help you make the most of your adventure, we provide several practical and easy-to-use materials:

• A roadbook (A5 booklet) prepared by us, including:

• Practical information
• Route description
• All necessary tourist information
• Restaurant suggestions
• Supply points
• Swimming spots
• Cultural information and anecdotes
• A list of bike repair shops along the route



• A printed map of the route




• Our navigation app (with your GPS tracks)

• Easy-to-use app (a short tutorial will be sent just in case)
• Satellite navigation (works in airplane mode)
• Custom tracks between each accommodation
• Voice guidance

📞 INDEPENDENCE AND ASSISTANCE

You travel independently (self-guided), with 7/7 phone assistance in case of issues.

🛡️ INSURANCE

To ensure reimbursement of costs in case of trip cancellation or issues on-site, you can take out cancellation insurance (CAP Explorer Cancellation) or assistance insurance (CAP Explorer Assistance). Learn more about insurance.

🎒 WHAT TO BRING

A helmet, a lock, a repair kit, a phone holder, and a waterproof rear pannier are the basic equipment. If you rent a bike, these are included (helmet on request only).
For more comfort, we also recommend bringing the following specific accessories:

PRICES 2026

Prices are calculated based on two people sharing a double/twin room. All prices are per person and subject to availability of the requested room type.

THE BASE PRICE INCLUDES

• Accommodation in hotel or guesthouse in the chosen comfort category
• Breakfasts at each accommodation
• 2 dinners
• Luggage transfer between accommodations
• A detailed roadbook (A5 booklet + PDF), created by us during our reconnaissance trip
• GPS tracks of the route via our navigation app
• A printed map of the route
• Luggage tags
• 7/7 phone assistance
• Tourist taxes
• Booking fees

OPTIONS

• Bike rental
• Single room supplement
• Additional night(s) in Lyon.
• Optional insurance: cancellation and/or assistance

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Travel from your home to Seyssel and return from Lyon
• Lunches and dinners (except 2 dinners)
• Entrance fees to tourist sites and personal expenses
• Anything not listed under “THE BASE PRICE INCLUDES”

SPECIAL CASES

• If you carry your own luggage, a discount is applied (see booking form). An additional pannier is provided if you rent a bike.
• Solo travelers: a logistics supplement is added to the single room supplement.

REVIEWS

This tour is new and has not yet received any reviews!


See all reviews or leave us a review.