Frequently asked questions from travellers

On La Vélidéale, we recommend a cycle touring, mountain bike or gravel bike. In some places, the surface of certain roads may be uneven and stony, and the surface may sometimes be less rolling than tarmac. You will find information on the type of surface on each stage, in the ‘route’ section, under the gradient. If you're worried about the gradient at the start from Lac de Vassivière, we recommend that you opt for a mountain bike, to optimise your efforts. 

You'll find a wide range of accommodation options.  There are campsites, bed and breakfasts, gîtes and hotels.

For the best possible experience, opt for accommodation with the Accueil Vélo label, located less than 5 kilometres from the route and offering services specially adapted for cyclists, such as secure bike shelters, repair kits and a warm welcome.  

How do I find accommodation?

• Go to the route map;
• Click on the pictogram to the right of 🛏️ and select the category or categories that interest you;
• Accommodations located within 5 kilometres of the route appear as dots on the map. Click on a point for more information and contact details.
  Note: by default, only Accueil Vélo establishments appear. To broaden your search, you can deactivate this filter by unchecking the ‘Only "Accueil Velo" accredited services’ box. 

Information on the altitude difference for each stage can be found in the stage descriptions on the cycle route page. The type of difficulty is given as follows: difficult/medium/easy.

Overall, the route is fairly difficult and not recommended for families.  

The route has a lot of changes in altitude in the following areas: Creuse, Haute-Vienne, Vendée. On a more moderate scale, the route can also be hilly in the Charente.

We recommend shorter stages, particularly from the Creuse (30 to 40 km per day is more than enough to allow you to do activities in parallel).

If you're worried about the gradient, we recommend you opt for a mountain bike, to optimise your efforts. 

Good news! Anyone in normal physical condition can easily cycle 30 km a day. This distance, covered at a leisurely average speed of 15 km/h, leaves plenty of time to stop and enjoy the scenery. As the days go by, you can lengthen or shorten the route, depending on how fit you are.  

💡 Think about it: the electric bike is the perfect opportunity to reduce the difficulty, lengthen the stages and easily keep up with the most athletic members of the group! 

We strongly recommend that you book your accommodation in advance, especially during peak tourist periods (July-August and long weekends), including camping pitches.