Deals USD%203,140

Cycle Sonoma & the Napa Valley

It's been said that the finest way to tour California's wine country is by bicycle.

As you ride from magnificent wine country through enormous redwood forests and on to the wild Pacific Ocean shoreline, you can combine wine, the rocky coastline, and the finest of Northern California. The Napa and Sonoma valleys are a cyclist's dream destination because to their ideal climate, gorgeous landscape, and more than 500 vineyards. Off the bike, there are wine tastings, amazing cuisine, and a wealth of history to discover, and this cycling journey takes it all in at a speed designed to enjoy rather than race, making it a trip for every rider. There is no need to go farther if you want a trip that will leave a lasting impression on all five senses

Inclusions

Meals
  • 5 breakfasts
Transport
  • Bicycle (e-bike option available, subject to availability), Support Vehicle
Accommodation
  • Simple Hotel/Motel (5 nights)
Included activities
  • Sonoma Wine Country guided & vehicle supported cycling
  • Sonoma to Santa Rosa guided & vehicle supported cycling
  • Napa Valley guided & vehicle supported cycling
  • Santa Rosa to Healdsburg guided & vehicle supported cycling
  • Armstrong Redwoods State Park
  • Russian River guided & vehicle supported cycling
  • Napa Winery visit
  • Lake Sonoma to Healdsburg guided & vehicle supported cycling

Gallery

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LOCATION

Itinerary

Day 1: San Francisco - Napa to Sonoma Cycling

Welcome to your riding journey through California. For the hour-long trip to the centre of the famed Napa Valley winemaking area and the outskirts of Napa, depart from San Francisco and drive north via the internationally recognised Golden Gate Bridge. After a brief safety briefing and fitting for your bike, you'll go for your first ride through California's wine country, taking in the pastoral beauty of the farms and vineyards along the way. The day's first stop is the landmark Artesa Vineyards & Winery in the slopes of Mount Veeder, which integrates seamlessly into its surroundings. From there, riders may continue along this undulating vineyard-lined path to the ancient town of Sonoma, visiting other gorgeous wineries en route. in Sonoma, complete your cycle, and dropenter the town square, stopping at the Sonoma Barracks and the magnificent Mission San Francisco Solano.
Accommodation
  • Hotel/Motel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sonoma Wine Country guided & vehicle supported cycling
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Todayā€™s riding distance is approximately 37kms/23 miles, undulating for the first 16kms /10 miles, then relatively flat, with approximately 310m/1025ft of elevation gain.

that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be checking insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late, please let an Intrepid representative or your travel agent know. The meeting spot is at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown Soma at 9 am.

Day 2: Sonoma to Santa Rosa Cycling

After breakfast, mount your horse and depart from peaceful Sonoma. Ride through the endless vineyards and rolling green hills, through the Jack London State Historic Village and Park as you start the steep but doable ascent. Following the ascent, you may enjoy a leisurely, carefree descent into the Bennett Valley and the old city of Santa Rosa, where you will spend the following two nights. Santa Rosa, the largest city in California's Wine Country, nevertheless has a small town feel to it. Although the whole downtown of San Francisco was tragically devastated in the earthquake of 1906, the area has been restored and is still a terrific spot to spend an evening visiting the many fantastic pubs, cafƩs, and restaurants.
Accommodation
  • Hotel/Motel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sonoma to Santa Rosa guided & vehicle supported cycling
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Todayā€™s riding distance along 100% paved roads is approximately 45 kms/28 miles, slightly uphill then a long climb at around 21 kms/13 miles, before descending the last 13kms/8 miles. Approximately 520m/1720ft of elevation gain

Day 3: Santa Rosa - Napa Valley Cycling

After breakfast, you can travel (in about 30 minutes) into the Napa Valley proper and the small town of Calistoga, which is home to famous geothermal hot springs and some of the best Napa wineries, including the Chateau Montelena, which has a place in wine history thanks to its 1976 victory at the Judgement of Paris, which put California on the map for the quality of its wines. To go back to Santa Rosa for the evening, use the Franz Valley and Chalk Hill route back into Sonoma County.
Accommodation
  • Hotel/Motel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Napa Valley guided & vehicle supported cycling
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Todayā€™s riding distance is approximately 60 kms/37 miles, starts with an uphill then sharp descent, then undulating lightly downhill, with approximately 560m/ 1835ft of elevation gain. Please note due to ride timings it is not possible to visit the Chateau Montelena or the nearby Petrified Forest.

Day 4: Cycle Santa Rosa to Healdsburg

To get to Sebastopol, which was formerly a prime apple-growing district but is now home to wineries, exit Santa Rosa and bike west along the gorgeous and traffic-free Santa Rosa Creek Trail, a high walkway with stunning views of the waterway, farms, vineyards, and mountains. A local artist couple created these quirky and slightly strange sculptures from scrap metal, which line Florence Ave. Continue travelling north on undulating roads until you reach the Russian River Valley, one of northern California's cooler wine-growing regions that is known for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. You are welcome to stop along the way to Healdsburg to sample some of these wines..
Accommodation
  • Hotel/Motel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Santa Rosa to Healdsburg guided & vehicle supported cycling
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Todayā€™s riding distance is approximately 48kms/30 miles, mostly flat for the first 16 kms/10 miles, undulating for next 16kms/10 miles, then mostly flat again, with approximately 295m/970ft of elevation gain

Day 5: Healdsburg - Redwoods & Russian River Cycling

As you ride into the Armstrong Redwoods State Park, the epicentre of California's redwood forest, today is a real cycling highlight. Take some time to ponder the magnificence of nature as you are surrounded by 1,400-year-old trees that stand over 300 feet tall. In order to get to the little coastal town of Jenner, where the Russian River empties into the Pacific Ocean, leave the wine region behind and travel down the river through sparsely forested areas. You may observe harbour seals stranded on the riverbank while the waves of the ocean smash behind them. Drive back to Healdsburg from here (around an hour). You'll have some spare time this afternoon to unwind.
Accommodation
  • Hotel/Motel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Armstrong Redwoods State Park
  • Russian River guided & vehicle supported cycling
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Todayā€™s riding distance is approximately 58kms/36 miles, undulating with approx. 430m/1420ft of elevation gain. Our cycling guide may give you the option to do this route ā€˜in reverseā€™ depending on the prevailing winds on the day

Day 6: Wine Country Cycling - San Francisco

The final ride of the week will include some truly classic wine country cycling as you take out time in the morning making your way from the Lake Sonoma Overlook (an amazing 360-degree hilltop view the across Lake Sonoma Bridge and the Russian River) downhill then along quiet back roads dotted with welcoming vineyards. At the end of the ride, make sure to head back to the hotel, where youā€™ll have a chance to return to your room to freshen up and pack before departing Healdsburg. Take the drive back toward San Francisco, taking the leisurely route through the famed Napa Valley, visiting St Helena for lunch (and one last tasting) before arriving back at Fishermanā€™s Wharf around 3 pm.
Included Activities
  • Napa Winery visit
  • Lake Sonoma to Healdsburg guided & vehicle supported cycling
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Todayā€™s riding distance is approximately 27kms/17miles, initially downhill then mostly flat, with approximately 130m/430 ft of elevation gain. The group will return to San Francisco via Sonoma, passing through Sonoma around 2 pm.
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