Rundgang durch die Normandie

DISCOVER FRANCE GUIDES
At Discover France, we specialize in bicycle tours throughout France as well as multisport tours, custom tours, and specialty travel. We offer unique opportunities to discover the French culture and lifestyle. In addition to our pioneering self-guided tour offers, we operate a significant number of custom guided trips for groups of all sizes and abilities. Our guides are the most qualified and certified professionals available, and for us that makes them the best in the business. All of our guides go through intense training, unlike guides in other countries or 'trip leaders' that come to France to lead tours. Our guides and experience really stands out, and so we really want to brag about their knowledge and the in depth training they go through before we hire them!
First, all of our guides have their Brevet d'Etat, short for Brevet d'Etat d'Educateur Sportif Activité du Cyclisme, or BEESAC. In English it's called a Diploma (State Certificate) of Educator in Sport Specialized in Cycling Sports Activity. To achieve their Brevet d'Etat riders must take a two part course. First, they must complete 300 classroom hours during a six week time period to acquire knowledge in a variety of fields including biological sciences, psychology, pedagogy (teaching), communications, legal, nutrition, and organization. They must then prove their knowledge by taking a two hour written exam and two challenging oral tests.

The second part involves 380 hours of education specific to the sport of cycling. Students must first take a qualifying test to determine if they are eligible for entry into training. They then receive 60 hours of pre-training followed by an examination. Once that's complete, the final training is given in three units, as follows:
UF1 : Takes approximately 120 hours and involves initiation and perfection of various cycling activities
UF2 : Part 1 - Improving Practice; Part 2 - Teaching the practice of cycling (about 100 hours total)
UF3 : Takes approximately 100 hours and covers the cycling environment and safety topics
Students must then complete about 100 hours of hands-on training, at least 40 hours of which is in a federal structure.
To put it into perspective it typically takes about two years for a guide to complete the required coursework and graduate. Seems like a lot of work so far, doesn't it? But there's more. Cycling Guides as riders are also given a three day test which entails the following:
A discipline (road, MTB, BMX Track and Cyclo-Cross) cycling chosen for a performance and calibrated on a professional cyclist in the discipline
Randomly selected and calibrated for a performance on a professional cyclist in the discipline
Orientation in the outdoors with map and compass
Educational/teaching test in a situation with a group
Written teaching test on a subject drawn at random with 4 hours to write an essay
Oral test - technical knowledge
Riders must declare their diploma to the National Youth and Sport for the right to work in the industry as a licensed professional.

In addition to technical and formal training, guides must also know a great deal of practical information such as how to disassemble and reassemble a bike, how to problem solve and keep their group safe, nutrition and food to bring on rides, and each must also pass an exam with Firefighter Certificate of Training in First Aid (AFD).

Discover France is very selective when hiring guides – we only want the best for our clients! Our guides are all highly educated and have attended a university where they received degrees in various fields, from engineering to sports tourism management. We hire only those who have top level experience in the sport of cycling, have extensive knowledge of nature and heritage, exhibit great interpersonal skills (to make rides fun and exciting) and are multilingual. Most of all, we look for guides that are passionate about cycling and showing others how amazing it can be.

So what does all of this mean to our clients? With Discover France, you can be assured that you will receive an exceptional cycling experience with professional, knowledgeable and well-organized guides to show you the time of your life. Our guides are among the very best in the business and are eager to help you discover France as you never imagined you could and give you an unforgettable experience you'll treasure for a lifetime.
ABOUT OUR TOURS
HOW TO CHOOSE A TOUR
Regarding our tours in France, our France travel and bike tour and walking tours we offer this added information about rating the tours and your ability:

About the "Level" rating system we employ:
Casual: Beginners and occasional cyclists. Easiest tours we provide. Typically flatter terrain, no notable hills or anything of a steep gradient.
Hobby: Weekend riders. People with some cycling experience, rolling countryside, possible short climbs.
Active: Cyclists with experience on longer rides. Hilly terrain with reasonable amount of climbs and difficulty
Pro: Avid cyclists, ride every week and love long and challenging rides. Dream on riding the Tour de France cols.
Other conditions Surface conditions - road/trails; all assumed to be in good condition; no technical experience is needed and not an added difficulty factor.

More challenging options : Ask us to design you a custom tour or simply take our maps and add miles to your route. Feel free to improvise, but know your limits and know what the symbols on the maps mean!

Weather: heat, rain, and wind will all have an effect on your ride/walk and extremes of each will make it more difficult. Load: carrying excessive weight obviously makes more work for you. We always transfer luggage, so this refers only to what you take in a day pack or in panniers.

Dress: layering, using appropriate and lightweight clothing, protection from the sun, and good footwear make it easier for you.

Equipment: primarily relates to bikes; but knowing how to shift, when to shift, and maintain your bike will make it easier for you as well. How long will it take to cover the rides/walks/hikes at these levels? There is no specific answer because everyone travels at his or her own speed. However, when we indicate a time, such as in the hikes, we generalize with an average of 5 km/hour on flat surfaces and 3.5 km/hr on grade. In the bike rides, we generalize an average of 13-18 km/h on flat surfaces and 10-13 km/h on grade. Those times do include bathroom breaks, but not time for lunch and visits. Everyone should allow time to stop and explore, visit sites, and check directions.

If you can ride a bike at 20 mph; you cannot take a trip and expect to finish a ride in 2 hours. First, you need to allow time to check directions as you go, and then stop to visit. No less than 4 hours should be allowed to do any of the hikes and rides we have in our programs on any day. Longer days will last as much as 8 hours with stops and visits included.

Star tours - aka loop trips! These are days where you return to the same hotel where you start the day. This means that people who are less strong can do shorter days than stronger persons. It also allows a day off, non-active participants to come along, and is a great way for families and groups of varying abilities/interests to do the same trip together. These tours offer everything from easy to challenging rides, (Levels 1 - 3) but are usually rated as easy because it accommodate easy.

Reading Maps and the Roadbooks:
All our Tours : We provide, at the orientation, a road-book with cue sheet (step by step itinerary), detailled maps and regional information. 1 GPS is provided for 2 persons.

Cycling & Multisport tours, you will find plenty of road signs and indications to keep you on course and roads are easily identified on maps included with the road-book.

On Hiking tours, it is more important to know how to orient with a map as you will have fewer sign postings to rely upon. Hiking tours mostly follow GR routes which are marked trails, sometimes paved, but nonetheless otherwise in remote areas. We provide more detailled maps for hiking Tours and still 1 GPS for 2 persons.

What else? You should be an independent person, capable of reading a map, interpreting directions, and taking charge of your planning. We are here to help you, but in the end, you will be the one out there on the road/trail and the more prepared you are mentally as well as physically, the more fun and better memories you will have! Use this tour as an excuse to increase your conditioning and fitness and take some time to read everything we send to you as well as do your own research. Preparation is part of the fun in travel - don't let it go unattended! Within this site you can discover more than just our tours, but also information about the regions of France, and information about traveling in France. Most important though for anyone visiting our site and considering a vacation in France is that you can call us! Let our service and knowledge set us apart! This website isn't to help us avoid speaking to clients, but to facilitate your planning process, and hopefully get you the information you need right away. If you have a question though, Please contact us if you have any questions about our services.

BIKES, VANS, OUR SHOP
At Discover France, we own our own bikes! We employ professonal mechanics to look after all rental bikes as well as our regular professional service to the local customers.

Scott Sportster Our lead bike on all DFA tours is the Scott hybrid. The SCOTT Sportster 30 - hybrid bike is featured on all of the Discover France tours. All bikes are turned over every year to 2 years and is the reason for different models on what is essentially the same bike. Of note: this model is a superior quality all terrain bike that we call a hybrid. It is meant for the road or dirt surfaces that are relatively wide and free of obects.

Scott Solace 30 We are pleased to offer Scott Solace 30 road bikes on most of our tours in the France and on all Tour de France and challenging cycling tours.
The SCOTT Solace 30 provides everything you need to be at ease on the road. With an HMF Carbon fiber frame, and incorporation of Power and Comfort Zones, the Solace 30 allows you to have a stiff and responsive frame without compromising any comfort. The Solace 30 is ideal for those who want to hit the road without any worries.

Scott E-Venture
The SCOTT E-Venture 30 bike is featured on almost all our Tours.
Of note: the E venture 30 is the latest addition to the electrical category with modern design and high-end performance. It's geometry can be classified as Hybrids bikes. It is meant for the road or dirt surfaces that are relatively wide and free of objects.

You are responsible for the bikes. Bikes are delivered to each participant based on height. They are sized as close as possible but they remain rentals and may take some minor adjustments. The quality is top notch for rentals. Our mechanics review every bike after each rental to prepare for the next use. WHILE ON TOUR: remember that YOU must know how to fix a flat. We give you the tools, but we are not on call to fix that. We will resolve any other mechanical issues if they should arise.

GPS, ROUTE BOOKS, SUPPORT
Discover France Adventures is proud to be a leader in providing complete and even 'advance' technology on our self guided and custom guided tours that allow our clients to use the best equipment possible. We invested in GPS units a few years back and have some simple to use, easy to read, yet sophisticated devices available on nearly all of our tours. (Pictured: hybrid bike with GPS and mount, bike computer, handlebar bag with plastic map holder and inside cover of a sample route book.)

Our route books or 'road books' (same thing) are complete packages of information that will help you to guide yourself through the itinerary that we have planned and laid out for you our travelers. Anyone can produce a route book, in general, but we have invested significant time and incorporated the feedback of our customers over many years to make our road books even better. It is always a work in progress as roads change, sites change, and we find even better routes between 2 points. We work on them every winter to prepare for the upcoming season. Our road books include: color coded information, color maps, highlighted routes, orientation points, and easy to follow directions. We try to give you enough information to interpret the route without giving you too much information that makes you read all the time and not enjoy the ride! It is a delicate balance!

Roadbooks are a tool, one that every traveler will use and interpret differently. 2 people do not always see the same thing on a map, and so some people will not interpret the directions the same way. We know this and its why we have created the system we have. Combining the GPS with road book really gives you all the tools and a fail safe way to make your way along a tour route without stress and all the time available to take in the gorgeous countryside, rich culture, and historic sites!

Tour Support? Yes, even on a self guided tour we are behind the scenes working and we are available to you if you need help. We refer to this in our tour pages as 'emergency support' but we don't treat many emergencies. In our 2 offices in the Loire Valley and in the South of France we are on standby via phone for all of our travelers no matter where they are in France. Our offices are bilingual French/English and we have some Spanish, Russian, and Italian speakers as well. This support service is available during daylight hours when our clients are out on the routes. We help customers arrange alternative transfers if weather is bad or someone is sick and can't participate in the day's activity. We can iron out any problem with hotels you may encounter when you arrive. We help if a bike problem should arise, and we help with additional services you may need during your trip.

Our travelers are never completely alone, even if you don't see us. The beautiful part of a self guided trip is doing the activity yourself and those close to you; doing it when you want, how you want, but not having to do all the work to make it happen. You get expertly designed routes, support, and service. A self guided trip is the best deal going as far as were concerned, and with all the above info we think you will agree!

BOOKING

DISCOVER FRANCE LIABILITY RELEASE, CONSUMER DISCLOSURE NOTICE,

RELEASE OF LIABILITY, AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK AGREEMENT

Please read this Agreement carefully. You must sign this Agreement to participate in the tour. By signing this waiver, you agree to the terms and conditions written below. Minors (under 18 years of age) must have the signature of a parent or guardian.

RESPONSIBILITY:DISCOVER FRANCE ADVENTURES, their owners, employees, shareholders, affiliated entities, agents, representatives,  officers,  directors,  associates,  successors  and  assigns  (individually  or  collectively  “DISCOVER FRANCE”) acts only as an agent or intermediary for the various independent suppliers that provide accommodations, meals, transportation, sightseeing, activities or other goods and services connected with your tour (“Supplier” or “Suppliers”). As a result, DISCOVER FRANCE ADVENTURES assumes no responsibility for and cannot be held liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any Supplier, or of any other person or entity. A Supplier’s services are subject to the Supplier’s own terms and conditions and the local laws and regulations of the relevant country. DISCOVER FRANCE ADVENTURES will not provide any refund for a SUPPLIER’s delay, cancellation, overbooking, strike or force majeure, or for elements of the tour that you do not use.

ASSUMPTION OF RISK: I acknowledge that I have voluntarily applied to participate in the tour on which I am booked (or a tour to which I may subsequently transfer), which will involve bicycling, hiking, and/or other outdoor and adventure sports (“ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES”). I understand that DISCOVER FRANCE ADVENTURES does not provide instruction in bicycle use. I also understand that helmets are required and that it is my sole responsibility to wear one. I am voluntarily participating in this tour with the knowledge of the numerous risks and dangers involved, which include but are not limited to: dangers and risks inherent in ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES; negligence (but not gross negligence) in any manner on the part of DISCOVER FRANCE ADVENTURES; emotional trauma; disfigurement; temporary or permanent disability (including paralysis); death; acts of God; the hazards of traveling in unsafe or politically unstable areas or under unsafe conditions; the dangers of civil disturbances and war; forces of nature; transportation failures; accident or illness in remote places without access to medical facilities, transportation, or means of evacuation and assistance; unexpected events; terrorist activities, social or labor unrest; mechanical or construction failures or difficulties; diseases; local laws climactic conditions; abnormal conditions or developments; or  any  other  actions,  omissions,  or  conditions  outside  of  DISCOVER  FRANCE  ADVENTURES’  control.  I  assume complete and full responsibility for checking and verifying any and all passport, visa, vaccination, or other entry requirements  of  each  destination  and  all  safety  or  security  conditions  at  such  destinations.  For information concerning possible dangers at an international destination, contact the Travel Advisory Section of the U.S. State Department, 1-888-407-4747. For medical information, refer to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 404-332-4559, or use their fax information service at 404-332-4565.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY: As lawful consideration of, and as part of the payment for, the right to participate in the tour, and  as  part  of  the  payment  for  the  services  arranged  for  me  by  DISCOVER  FRANCE  ADVENTURES,  I  HEREBY EXPRESSLY AGREE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY OWN WELFARE AND ASSUME ALL OF THE ABOVE RISKS, INCLUDING BOTH THOSE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN TO ME.

As lawful consideration of, and as part of the payment for, the right to participate in the tour, and as part of the payment  for  the  services  arranged  for  me  by  DISCOVER  FRANCE  ADVENTURES,  I  HEREBYEXPRESSLY  AGREE  TO RELEASE, DISCHARGE AND HOLD HARMLESS FOREVER DISCOVER FRANCE ADVENTURES, their owners, employees, shareholders, affiliated entities, employees, agents, representatives, officers, directors, associates, successors and assigns from and against any liability, actions, causes of actions, debts, suits, claims and demands of any and every kind and nature whatsoever which I now have or which may hereafter arise out of or in connection with my tour or participation in the activities arranged for me by DISCOVER FRANCE ADVENTURES.

I AGREE THAT THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL SERVE AS A COMPLETE RELEASE AND EXPRESS ASSUMPTION OF RISK for myself, all members of my family and all minors traveling with me, my and their heirs, successors, assigns, and legal representatives; it being my intention to fully assume all risks associated with this trip and to release DISCOVER FRANCE ADVENTURES from any and all liability to the maximum extent permitted by law.

APPLICABLE LAW AND CHOICE OF FORUM: I agree that this Agreement is governed by the laws of France. I agree that any dispute concerning, relating, or referring to this Agreement, tour brochures, or any other materials that concern my tour, or the tour itself -- whether such dispute arises in contract or in tort or otherwise -- shall be litigated and determined, if at all, only before a court of competent jurisdiction in Paris, France (and in no other).

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS: I understand that DISCOVER FRANCE ADVENTURES has the right to refuse as a tour participant,  or  remove  from  a  tour,  any  person  a)  who  it  judges  to  be  incapable  of  meeting  the  rigors  and requirements of participating in the tour activities; b) who it determines to detract from others’ enjoyment of the tour, or c) for not executing this or other required pre-tour documents.

KNOWING  AND  VOLUNTARY  EXECUTION:   I  have  carefully  read  and  understand  the  provisions  and  legal consequences of this Agreement, and I hereby agree to all of its conditions. I acknowledge that it has been recommended that I have my attorney review this release prior to signing it. I also understand that there are no exceptions to DISCOVER FRANCE ADVENTURES’ cancellation and refund policies, to which I previously agreed when booking the tour, including for reasons related to weather, terrorism, civil strife, personal, family or medical emergencies or any other circumstances beyond DISCOVER FRANCE ADVENTURES’ control. I agree that if any portion of this Agreement is found to be void or unenforceable, the remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect.

I acknowledge that in calculating the cost of the tour, DISCOVER FRANCE ADVENTURES has relied on my consent to these terms and their enforceability. In the absence of this Release of Liability, the tour cost would have been higher or, alternatively, DISCOVER FRANCE ADVENTURES would be unable to offer these services.

I agree that execution of a facsimile counterpart or electronic transmission of this Agreement shall be deemed execution of the original Agreement. I agree that facsimile or electronic transmission of an executed copy of this Agreement shall constitute acceptance of this Agreement.

Minors under 18 years of Age – A Parent or Legal Guardian Must Sign This Agreement on Behalf of the Minor and the Minor Must Also Sign this Agreement. The Parent or Guardian Must Submit Their Own Signed Agreement Separately if Also Participating in the Tour.

I am the parent or legal guardian of the minor. I understand the legal consequences of signing this Agreement, including a) Releasing DISCOVER FRANCE ADVENTURES from all liability on my and the minor’s behalf, b) promising not  to  sue on my  and  the  minor’s behalf, c)  and assuming all  risks  of the minor’s participation in the  tour.  I understand that I am responsible for the obligations and the acts of minor as described in this document. I agree to be bound by the terms of this document.

I have read this Agreement in its entirety, and I am signing it freely.       No   other   representations   concerning   the legal effect of this document have been made to me.

Terms and Conditions - Tour de France Tours

Please read this Agreement carefully. You must sign this Agreement to participate in the tour.
By signing this waiver, you agree to the terms and conditions written below. Minors (under
18 years of age) must have the signature of a parent or guardian.

AGREEMENT

The terms and conditions set forth below (the Terms or Agreement) constitute the entire
understanding and agreement between you, the tour participant (individually or collectively
you or the Participant) and Active France Adventures Sarl,Discover France, its owners,
employees, shareholders, affiliated entities, agents, representatives, officers, directors,
associates, successors and assigns (individually or collectively Discover France, DF, we, or
us) with respect to any and all bookings, trips or transactions made with Discover France.
By completing the tour booking form (the Tour Booking Form) and agreeing to these Terms
either by handwriting or electronic signature, you accept all Terms herein and direct us to
perform services on your behalf. All persons named in the Tour Booking Form (Participants)
are subject to this Agreement. By signing these Terms, you affirm that you have made all
other Participants listed in the Tour Booking Form aware of these Terms regardless of how
final payment is made and that all Participants accept these Terms.
RESERVATIONS, DEPOSITS & PAYMENTS

Reservations: You may make a reservation tentatively by phone, or provide a credit card
number by phone, but bookings must be made through our online system or by fax form in
writing. This is to ensure that you understand and agree to these Terms. A booking is not final
until you receive a final confirmation from us.
Deposits: A deposit of 500 Euros per person is required at the time of booking to guarantee
your reservation confirm space. Full payment is due 60 days prior to departure. The tour price
is per person based on double occupancy and includes those items mentioned in the itinerary
plus any prepaid optional items. Single room requests are subject to supplemental charges,
and must be requested at time of booking. Group sizes are limited to a maximum and a
minimum, which varies by tour. You must pay the deposit by credit card at the time of
booking to guarantee your reservation. Your credit card will be charged 500 Euros per person
once the entire tour itinerary is confirmed, usually within 1-3 days for standard tours. If the
requested tour is not available, you will not be charged, but offered an alternate trip with
Discover France Adventures, which you can choose to accept or decline. If you wish to pay
your deposit by wire or check, your reservation cannot be confirmed until we receive your
deposit and it has cleared the bank. The deposit of 500 Euros will be deducted from the final
amount due which will be determined on the day of final payment 60 days prior to the tour's
start date in case any services are added or changed.
Final Payment: Final payment is due 60 days prior to the tour's departure. Final payment can
be made by credit card, or by wire transfers in Euros. We will remind you of your final
payment date in advance and give you the option to pay using any of these methods. Please
note that debit cards are NOT accepted. If your home currency is not the Euros, then you may

wish to pay by wire transfer. We will give you the wire transfer instructions and the amount
due in Euros. If you find a favorable exchange rate any time prior to your payment due date,
you may pay your final amount in advance to save more money. If we do not receive payment
or hear from you about your intentions to pay by 60 days prior to the tour's departure, your
reservation will be cancelled and you will be subject to the cancellation terms below.
Last-Minute Bookings: If you are booking a tour within 14 days of departure, you must
submit a booking form to by fax with your handwritten signature. We will not accept any
booking forms online for last-minute bookings. Full payment is due within 24 hours of
confirmation by either wire or credit card. If we do not receive payment within 24 hours, then
the credit card submitted with the booking will be charged for the full tour amount.

PROMOTIONS AND DISCOUNTS

Discounts offered are non-retroactive. Offers cannot be combined with other offers and are
not available for Tour de France Tours, and tours booked by travel agents and local operators.
Discount are only applicable to clients that book their tour directly via Discover France.

CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS

Changes: If you wish to make a change to your tour itinerary, you must submit your request
to us in writing by or postal mail. Once a booking request is received and confirmed, any
modification of dates or alteration of itineraries by you will incur a change fee. Fees vary
according to the type and scope of the change. Our vendors, which include hotels, often
impose additional fees or penalties for changes and cancellations. These are included in the
change fee and can be substantial. A minimum change fee of 20 Euros per person applies to
any change within 60 days of travel.
Cancellations: Once your deposit is received, a reservation confirmation is made and final
payment is due 60 days prior to tour departure. If you wish to cancel your tour, you must
submit your request to us in writing by email or postal mail. If a cancellation is made after
receipt of the deposit but before January 31, 50% of all deposits will be returned by check.
After January 31, the entire deposit becomes non-refundable. Cancellations within 60 days of
travel are 100% non-refundable unless replaced by another person willing to travel in your
place. No refunds are available once the trip commences. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS to
this cancellation policy, including for reasons related to weather, terrorism, civil strife,
personal, family or medical emergencies or any other circumstances beyond our control. For
this reason, we strongly encourage Participants to purchase trip cancellation and interruption
insurance.
Pre-Departure Cancellations or Changes by Discover France: We reserve the right to
cancel any prior to departure for any reason. While it is rare, in the event of cancellation, a
check for a full refund will be issued to you, which constitutes full settlement. If the tour is
cancelled within 45 days of departure, an additional discount will be made for an alternate trip
with Discover France Adventures or one of its affiliates in addition to the full refund. In the
event that, prior to departure, we make any significant changes because of a problem with a
supplier, for example a hotel bankruptcy, we will, as soon as reasonably possible, notify you
of available alternatives. Such changes may require a supplemental payment from you or
possibly a refund. No refunds under this paragraph will be provided due to cancellations or
changes due to Force Majeure.

No Reimbursements due to Changes or Cancellations: We will not reimburse Participants
for any personal such as airline tickets, other travel or hotel expenses due to changes in
itineraries or tour cancellations.

FORCE MAJEURE

We will not be liable for any changes, cancellation, effect on your booking, loss or damage
suffered by you or for any failure by your accommodation provider and/or us to perform or
properly perform any of our respective obligations to you if the failure to perform or the
improper performance is due to any event(s) or circumstance(s) caused by force majeure. By
way of example force majeure includes, but is not limited to, war, revolution, terrorist act,
closure of borders, epidemic, natural catastrophe or other causes that seriously affect both
parties and in particular the place where the accommodation provider is located as well as our
country of origin and other unforeseeable causes beyond our control.

INSURANCE

The price of the tour does not include travel insurance.We strongly recommends purchasing
travel insurance that protects you and your investment in the event of a sudden emergency
before or during your trip and coverage for trip cancellation or interruption, illness, injury,
and damage, loss or theft of baggage, as well as emergency assistance.We assume that you are
covered by any insurance company of your choosing.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Pre-departure Documentation: Upon receipt of your final payment, documentation we will
email you various information and documentation, including suggestions for preparing your
trip (clothing, , packing and money.)as well as your confirmations, travel information, a
release form and an outline of what to expect on the tour. Please read these documents
carefully as soon as you receive them and contact us or your travel agent if any information
seems to be incorrect. We cannot be held responsible if we have not been notified of any
inaccuracy in any document within 10 days of its receipt by you or your Travel Agent.
Passports and Visas: All Participants must be in possession of a valid passport; its validity
must be for six (6) months beyond the re-entry date into the Participant's home country. A
visa or visas may be required for some or all of the countries visited on the tour selected.
Please check your visa requirements at time of booking. It is the Participant's responsibility to
ensure that all his or her visa and passport requirements are met.
TOURS AND EXCLUDED ITEMS

Self-guided and guided trip content may Our tours do not include all other trip costs such as
airfare, trip and/or medical insurance, excess baggage charges, or any personal items. Meals

apart from those mentioned in the itinerary are excluded, as well as any unpaid optional tour
or sightseeing event. Drinks are typically excluded.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands of our tour may vary depending on the specific itinerary selected. For
instance, our walking tours require only moderate activity while some of our bicycling tours
can be physically very challenging. Good physical and mental conditions are essential for the
enjoyment and safety of our tours. By agreeing to these Terms, you certify that you do not
have any physical or mental health condition that would create a hazard for you or other
Participants or affect other people's enjoyment of the tour.

HOTELS, MEALS AND TRANSPORTATION

Hotels: Prices are based on double occupancy rooms that include private bath or shower.
Single rooms are limited and are subject to supplemental charges. Single individuals who are
not requesting single rooms will be booked into a double with another traveler of the same
gender, whenever possible. If a share arrangement is unavailable, the supplement will be
assessed prior to departure when we have confirmation that there will be no additional
travelers. If alternative hotels of the same category/standing are fully booked, there will be no
change to the tour price. If the lack of room availability requires that we book you to an
inferior/superior category hotel or room, you will be notified in advance and given the option
to accept or decline the change as well as any change in the tour price. We are not responsible
for the quality or location of alternative accommodations.
Meals: Meals are included and vary upon the tour selected. Check the individual tour
description for meal information. If you have a special diet, are a vegetarian, or are allergic to
certain foods, please make a note of this on the Tour Booking Form.
Transportation: Longer trips and guided trips may include transfers. Each tour description
explains the types of transportation that are included in the trip and the availability of
transfers. If you wish to arrange for separate transportation, we can assist you with your
needs. Separate transportation and extra transfers will incur additional fees.
Sightseeing: Sightseeing and side touring are included only when paid in advance or noted on
the itinerary. Tips, taxes and service charges are included for items that are specifically
included in the tour such as hotels, restaurants, governmental, and guides. Most attractions
such as chateau entrance fees are not included.
Limitation of responsibility: Discover France acts only as an agent or intermediary for the
various independent suppliers that provide accommodations, meals, transportation,
sightseeing, activities or other goods and services connected with your tour (Supplier or
Suppliers). As a result, we assume no responsibility for and cannot be held liable for any
negligent or willful act or failure to act of any Supplier, their agents, employees or of any
other person or entity. A Supplier's services are subject to the Supplier's own terms and
conditions and the local laws and regulations of the relevant country. We will not provide any
refund for a Supplier's delay, cancellation, overbooking, strike or force majeure, or for
elements of the tour that you do not use.

BICYCLE RENTALS

Bicycle rentals are optional for all tours, and are available for an additional charge. Bicycles
are hybrids, electric bikes or road bikes of very high quality. The brand may change from year
to year, so you are responsible for inquiring about what type of bike and added gear is
provided with your bicycle rental at the time you reserve it. Any Participant who chooses to
bring his own bicycle is responsible for all mechanical issues and all transportation issues
including traveling by train, which is difficult in France on the TGV. (See our
recommendations for traveling with your own bicycle in your travel documents as we shall
not be responsible for any problem you encounter while travelling with your own bike by
train). For more information, please check our separate bike rental terms and conditions.

EMERGENCY SERVICE

Each self-guided tour includes an Emergency Service, i.e. a local contact available by
telephone with an English speaking staff. Examples of Emergency Service calls include
broken equipment (other than a flat tire), minor injury/illness that hampers or prevents
continued cycling or walking. Please note that serious injuries must first be reported to
emergency medical responders â€"(numbers to be provided), missed trains/connections that
would change your services, or the need to schedule additional services such as transfers. This
service is only available during daylight cycling/walking hours. Hotel staff is available for
other non-emergency related matters outside of your cycling/walking activities.

CLAIMS AND COMPLAINTS

If you encounter any issue during your tour, you must promptly notify the Emergency Service
(for self-guided tours) or tour leader (for guided tours) and they will do their best to assist you
resolve the matter. Failure to notify us immediately may forfeit or reduce your ability to claim
any future compensation or refund from us.Further, if you make any changes on your own
without notifying us, as described above, you shall assume sole responsibility for any added
costs you may incur and forfeiting any potential refunds.If we cannot resolve your complaint
at the time of occurrence, you should make a written record of your complaint and it to us
within 30 days of the end of the tour via email at: [email protected] or via postal
mail at: Discover France, 427 rue Hélène Boucher Espace Commercial Fréjorgues Ouest
34130 Mauguio, France.. Discover France will not accept any claims received beyond this
period.

AIR, CAR & TRAIN RESERVATIONS

You or your travel agent are solely responsible for making flight reservations. Car and train
reservations/tickets can be arranged by us, in advance. If we should make any such
reservation or ticket purchase on your behalf, you agree and understand that we do so in an
agency capacity and are only providing a reservation service.Additional fees for this service
may apply. You further agree that you are subject to all terms and conditions of the
car/rail/service provider. You are responsible for familiarizing yourself with those terms and
conditions and agree that you are ultimately responsible to the car/rail/service provider for any

reservations, changes, cancellations, and disputes or other regardless of how your reservation
was made on your behalf.

PARTICIPANTS RESPONSABILITIES

Tour Start Date: It is your responsibility to be ready to go at the departure city at the specific
tour departure date and time. We are not responsible for any losses due to cancelled or missed
flights, changed flight itineraries, late arrivals, or early departures.
Compliance with Local Laws and Tour Etiquette: Your additional responsibilities include,
but are not limited to, strictly complying with all local laws, respecting customs and culture,
assessing your physical abilities, respecting other trip members' privacy, and if on a guided
trip following the suggestions and advice of the guide.You will be responsible for you own
conduct as well as the conduct of all participants of your party and you will indemnify us
against any liability for damage caused by you or any members of your party. We reserve the
right to terminate the tour in the event of behavior deemed to be unreasonable by our staff. On
guided tours, the decision of the local guide or local supplier is final on all matters that may
threaten the safety or interfere with the well-being of the group or individual travelers. During
the tour, we have the right to remove anyone who we determine is a) incapable of meeting the
rigors and requirements of participating in the tour activities; or b) interferes with other
Participants' enjoyment of the tour.

IMAGES AND MARKETING

You agree that we may use and reproduce any images, photos or videos that you send to us, or
that are taken by our guides and/or other travelers of you individually or in a group, in any
medium, including but not limited to print, electronic media, or Internet, free of charge and
without your right to inspection or approval, for promotion and publicity purposes worldwide
and in perpetuity.

PRIVACY

All information you provide to us in Tour Booking Form will be kept in a confidential manner
and will not be disclosed or sold to other any third parties for any purpose beyond what is
needed to secure your travel arrangements with our suppliers or as required by law. Credit
card information will be destroyed or deleted from our files, but mailing information and past
travel information will be retained by us. You may receive mailings from us periodically
unless you explicitly ask to be removed from our mailing list.
LIABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS: RESPONSIBILITY - LIMITATION OF

LIABILITY

Discover France and all its owners, act only in the capacity as an agent for the hotels, airlines,
bus companies, railroads, ship lines, and/or any Supplier providing accommodations,
transportation or other services to the Participant. The Participant is advised that Discover
France purchases such transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, sightseeing excursions
and other services from various Suppliers who are not affiliated with Discover France makes

every effort to select the best suppliers of the aforementioned services, however, Discover
France does not control the operations of these agents and as a result, CANNOT BE HELD
LIABLE FOR ANY PERSONAL INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR OTHER CLAIM
which may occur as the result of any and/or all of the following: (1) the wrongful, negligent
or arbitrary acts, errors or omissions on the part of the independent Supplier, its agents, its
employees or others who are not under the direct control or supervision of Discover France;
(2) defects or failures of any vessel, aircraft, vehicle or other instrumentality which is under
the control of an independent Supplier; or (3) loss, injury or damage to person, property or
otherwise, resulting directly or indirectly from any Acts of God, dangers incident to the sea,
fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, or wars (whether declared or not), hostilities,
civil disturbances, strikes, riots, thefts, pilferage, medical epidemics, quarantines, or customs
regulation, defaults, delays or cancellations or alterations in itinerary due to schedule changes,
or from any causes beyond Discover France's control.
Further, Discover France is not liable for any loss or damage resulting from insufficient or
improperly issued passports, visas or other legal documents.
All coupons, exchange orders, receipts, contracts and tickets issued by Discover France are
issued subject to any and all tariffs, terms, and conditions under which any services are
provided by such hotels, airlines, bus companies, railroads, ship lines or owners or contractors
or by any person in their employ Discover France in no way guarantees the quality,
authenticity, or value of any good(s) purchased by the Participant during any tour. Discover
France shall in no event be responsible or liable for any direct, indirect, consequential,
incidental, special or punitive damages arising from Participant's interaction with any
retailer/vendor/contractor, and Discover France expressly disclaims any responsibility or
liability for any resulting loss or damage.
You agree that the sole remedy for any default by Discover France arising under these Terms
shall only be the return of the paid tour cost. To the maximum extent permitted under
applicable law, Discover France shall not be liable for any special, consequential, indirect,
incidental or other damages arising out of these Terms, including lost profits, whether such
damages arise in contract, negligence, tort, under statute, in equity, at law, or otherwise, even
if Discover France has been advised of the possibility of such damages. You expressly waive
any right it may have to recover such damages. The foregoing shall not apply to Discover
France' gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
Severability: In the event that a court finds any provision of this Agreement invalid and/or
unenforceable, the parties agree that all the remaining provisions shall remain valid and in
force, and such unenforceable provisions will be replaced with one that is enforceable and
reflect the intentions of the parties hereof.
Successors and Assigns: These Terms shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
Discover France and the Participant and their respective heirs, legal personal representatives,
successors and assigns.
Updating of Terms and Conditions: We reserve the right to update and/or alter these terms
and conditions at any time, and it is your responsibility to be familiar with them. The latest
Terms and Conditions can be found on the Discover France' website at:
www.discoverfrance.com

Merger: This Agreement is the final, complete and exclusive statement of the parties'
agreement on the matters contained in this Agreement. It supersedes all previous negotiations
and agreements.
Applicable Law and Choice of Forum: This Agreement is governed by the laws of France.
You agree that any dispute concerning, relating, or referring to this Agreement, tour
brochures, or any other materials that concern my tour, or the tour itself -- whether such
dispute arises in contract or in tort or otherwise -- shall be litigated and determined, if at all,
exclusively before a court of competent jurisdiction in Montpellier, France.
last update : January 2018