FAQ

On most trips Randonnée Tours offers three different levels of accommodation, Luxe, Classic and Casual/ B&B. All accommodations offer rooms with private bathroom.

Randonnée Tours selects interesting and distinctive accommodations, many of which are located in buildings that are several hundred years old. Some have been inns since they were built, but you may also be staying in converted mills, mansions, and farmhouses or perhaps a castle.

Yes, children can have their own room. The minimum age required by the accommodations is usually 16.

Yes, Randonnée Tours offers attractive youth/family rates. When one child or two children share a room with two adults, youths receive the following discount off the trip price:

  • 75% off for ages 1-4
  • 50% off for ages 5-9
  • 25% off for ages 10-16

Yes, if you gather a group of eight travelers or more, each participant will receive a 10% discount.

Guests are responsible for: choosing a tour matching with their physical abilities, fitness level and health conditions; arriving at the trip start on time for the meeting scheduled with the Area Manager; packing for the trip the clothing and gear recommended in the Tour Details; respecting the laws and customs of countries visited; using RandonnĂ©e Tours bicycles and equipment appropriately and according to RandonnĂ©e Tours guidelines; ensuring that all RandonnĂ©e Tours’ bicycles and equipment are returned in the same condition than initially provided excluding normal wear and tear.

RandonnĂ©e Tours is not liable for any loss, damage, injury or expense that I, or my next of kin or personal representatives, may suffer or incur as a result of my participation in travel arranged by RandonnĂ©e Tours. The complete document “limitations of liability” is available here: “Release & Indemnity”.

Most tours are rated as moderate. The average daily cycling distance is 45-50 km (about 30 miles). Walking tours average 8-12 km per day (5-8 miles). This usually requires 4-5 hours of pedaling or walking per day. With stops and rests, add more time. Browse tours by Activity or Destination to read detailed itineraries including information on level of activity.

For more than 25 years Randonnée Tours has been offering an exceptional line of self-guided active vacations in Canada, the United States and Europe which allow you to fully engage with the place you visit and the people you meet along the way. We strongly believe that you should be able to explore the world at your own pace. All our self-guided tours are designed to offer active & independent travelers an authentic experience with exceptional value and unmatched  flexibility.

To compare with a restaurant you would choose for a truly special occasion, we would not be the largest or the most expensive. But here the owner greets you at the door, the experience is genuine and the bill is fair. Learn more

We know that for some travelers, doing the research is half the fun. We also know that it can get complicated and time-consuming trying to accommodate everyone’s wishes, foreign languages and unfamiliar regions!

Think of RandonnĂ©e as your personal trip planner – your favorite travel agent, local expert, and guide book rolled into one. With over 110 researched itineraries in 12 countries, take advantage of our vast knowledge and local contacts to ensure your vacation is the best it can be. We know your time is limited and your vacation precious. For custom trips, bring your ideas to us and we’ll work with you to plan a complete itinerary custom-designed for your friends or family.

You can e-mail us at info@randonneetours.com. You can also write or phone us at: #102-1529 West 6th Ave., Vancouver, BC V6J1R1 – Tel. 604.730.1247 or 1.800.242.1825. Our Vancouver office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm PST.

Randonnée Tours was founded in 1989 by Ruth Marr; in 2005, Randonnée was acquired by Robbin McKinney, who continues in the role today as President and chief scout.

On most tours, we are able to provide several options throughout the trip to accommodate different goals and fitness levels. Many of these options are provided as ‘Add-on options’ so you will have the choice to do or not. Very fit cyclists and hikers can always add hills and distance! On layover days you can also decide to relax by the swimming pool all day and explore the surroundings. We can help you select a tour that offers many daily options to satisfy travelers with different abilities.

For very fit riders, there are extra distances and hills that you can add as an option. There are some longer routes for the walking tours as well, but we can help you select a tour that is more challenging in terms of average distances walked.

If on a “point to point” day, you are not able to ride or hike, contact the area manager as soon as possible so he/she can find the best arrangement to have you transferred. Transferring with the luggage might not be possible. Liability, schedule and the type of vehicle used may not allow the transport of passengers. If there is an additional cost to transfer between hotels you will need to pay this yourself directly to the provider.

Our self-guided tours provide behind-the-scenes support to your journey. If you have a question or need bike mechanic assistance*, our area managers are available on call throughout the tour. In case of emergency help is just a phone call away, 24/7.

*You have to be able to fix a flat tire yourself. You will have all the spares and tools to repair it.

All the luggage transfers during our trips are included. For hiking, we recommend using a small day pack to carry water and food supplies. Hybrid bikes are equipped with a handlebar bag offering space for personal items such as a compact camera, wallet, cell phone, snacks, and a compact rain jacket. If you feel like the handlebar bag is not enough, you are free to bring and ride with a daypack or panniers. If you are planning on riding a road bike keep in mind that your bicycle will have not a handlebar bag so it might be a good idea to have a cycling jersey with some back pockets. We believe that cycling and hiking “light” is the best way to go.

We recommend leaving any valuables at home that are not absolutely essential for your tour. If you bring valuables on your trip, please remember that we do not assume responsibility for these. During the day we suggest you keep your passport, wallet, cell phone and any other valuables with you. Although we have never had an issue or loss on any luggage transfer in the past, we do not assume responsibility for any damage or loss incurred at any time during the trip.

Our guests are independent travelers who are open-minded and curious about the world. Biking or walking/hiking is the means to explore.  Our youngest traveler was 2 years old and the oldest (
), older than you. More than half of our guests are RandonnĂ©e Tours aficionados and a third were referred by friends.

As large as you want.

Yes, there is no age limitation. In order to have the best experience possible, it is essential to choose a trip that is adapted to children and families. We have several children and family friendly trips with easy activities and a lot to stay entertained along the way. Contact one of our Travel Advisors for more information.

Yes, we have several guests, including females, traveling solo every year and never experienced safety related incidents. Shall the usual common sense and precautions be used, they are also valid for traveling as a group.

No, if you are part of a group and want to have your own room, it is possible. Since our prices are based on a double occupancy (two people per room), a single supplement will apply if have a room just for yourself.

Not unless you want to! RandonnĂ©e bicycle fleets include high performance hybrid and road bikes. The bicycles include fitting and set-up, hand pump, spare inner tube, repair kit, multi-tool, tire levers, seat bag, lock, map case, handlebar bag (hybrid only), and water bottle. If you love your bike so much that you bring it for the tour, no problem, we will deduct the cost of the “bike rental” from your bill.

Yes, we can source children’s bikes in most regions we have trips. 

Yes, please contact our office, we will be happy to provide with the name and telephone of previous guests who went on trips with us.

Yes, you can purchase gift cards for any tours or amounts. Our beautiful gifts cards can either be sent to you or personalized with the words of your choice and sent directly by mail to the (lucky) recipient.

Yes, please contact us and we will set it up for your special day.

Our website is kept current so it can be assumed to have the latest and most useful information.

We respect the privacy of every individual who visits our website. We take great measures to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of any personal information on this site. All personal information supplied will remain within our organization and will not be shared with any external entity unless prior permission is given. Your personal information will not be sold, distributed or published in any manner whatsoever.