Practice de l’Ardèche & Vélorail: Trip and Pedal the Rails

On the lookout for a prepare journey in France that’s just a little totally different? Think about a journey on the Practice de l’Ardèche together with a Vélorail des Gorges du Doux!  It’s not simply an strange Level A to Level B journey, however fairly a journey on the vacationer prepare by means of the attractive Doux Gorges with the added exercise on a rail bike—-with you doing the peddling on prepare tracks!

In case you’re within the area, I extremely suggest these two actions. It’s a fantastic day’s outing. [Be sure to check out the video later in this post showing you my Vélorail experience!]

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1. Practice de l’Ardèche + Vélorail des Gorges du Doux

Initially I used to be simply fascinated with using a steam prepare (Practice de l’Ardèche) to see extra of the world SW of Lyon. Once you have a look at the Practice de l’Ardèche choices, there are three actions from the St. Jean de Muzols prepare station:

• Practice journey by means of the Doux gorges (1 hour half-hour): 18 € 
• Practice journey by means of the Doux gorges and up the valley to Lamasstre (full day): 27 € return
• Practice journey and bike journey (Practice à Vapeur + Vélorail): prepare journey to Boucieu-le-Roi, rail bike, and a prepare journey again to St. Jean de Muzols: 45 € 

So after I noticed that I might do a prepare journey AND peddle on the rails, I selected the third possibility!

Be aware: Not everybody does the Practice de l’Ardeche from Saint-Jean-de-Muzols to Boucieu-le-Rois PLUS the bike journey. Some simply drive to Boucieu-le-Roi and ebook the bike rail/vélorail exercise individually. That is attainable too. I simply appreciated combining the 2 actions. 

Location: Practice de l’Ardèche, 111 Rte du Grand Pont, 07300 Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, France

3. My Trip: The Chestnut Journey + Different Route Choices

I booked the prepare + vélorail route known as the Parlour’s des Châtaigneirs (Chestnut Journey journey). The rail bike portion of the exercise was 8km lengthy and the value of the mixed prepare and bike was 45 €. 

There are longer bike journeys, the place you’d ebook your prepare and bike exercise individually. The longest one is simply accessible in August:

• the 12 km Parcours des Étroits (Slender Go journey): 24 € (plus the price of the prepare journey should you want
• the 20 km La Grande Aventure (Nice Journey) that mixes the Chestnut journey and Slender Go journey: 42 € 

4. My Vélorail Expertise In France

Try the video of what it’s wish to journey on the prepare and vélorail (click on on this hyperlink or the picture): 
Practice de l’Ardèche & Vélorail Trip | My Chestnut Journey in France

After I checked in, I used to be requested if I wished to do the journey on my own, with nobody else serving to me peddle. After I realized the rail bike weighs 250 kg, I used to be hesitant; nonetheless, the ticket agent mentioned I’d don’t have any drawback after I informed her I used to be a runner. [Skeptical!]

I had a blast using the vélorail! The journey lasted simply over 1 hour and though I used to be the one one peddling, it was very easy…..due to the downward pressure of gravity!

The route was downhill so I don’t suppose it mattered that I used to be a runner! The place to begin is at an altitude of 345m and your arrival in Boucieu-le-Roi is at 276m. Typically I didn’t even have to peddle as a result of slope of the tracks. 

You don’t go too quick on the rails and the surroundings is what you’ll have handed heading as much as the beginning—-panoramic views as you go over and previous bridges, gorges, farmland, cottages, and alongside a river. It was very scenic and you’re just about alone on the tracks because the automobiles are staggered by a couple of minutes. 

I solely had to make use of the 2 brakes a number of instances (ie. reaching the top the place we’re all lining up behind each other.)

Whereas the seats are onerous plastic and shouldn’t have seat belts, however they weren’t uncomfortable. There aren’t any water bottle holders or cabinets to set your private gadgets. I put my knapsack beneath the seats behind me.

5. My Chestnut Journey Itinerary

That is the complete schedule from departure to the ultimate journey again.

• 10:15-Practice de l’Ardèche leaves Saint-Jean-de-Muzols prepare station
• 45 minute journey: by means of the Doux gorges, usually alongside the river Doux.  There have been plenty of bridges, a tunnel, forested areas and farmland. We weren’t in an open carriage, so there was no worry of getting soot on our garments. 
• 11:00-arrived on the Boucieu-le-Roi prepare station: there’s a restaurant there however many individuals stroll up the hill to the village. There’s one other restaurant on the best way to and within the village. Boucieu-le-Roi is one to the designated “Villages of Character” and though very quiet, I loved wandering round this village which had vibrant “objets d’artwork” in every single place. I ended up having lunch again on the restaurant by the prepare station.
• 1:10-checked in to get assigned a automobile and signal a waiver. A automobile usually has 5 seats: 2 folks peddling and three “passengers” within the again seats. Kids weighing lower than 9kg are usually not allowed. Automobile seats could be fitted for kids over 9 kg. Kids should even be at the very least 1.40 metres tall.
• 1:45- departed in an open air prepare carriage (with the velorail bikes hooked up behind it) to the place to begin. Upon arrival, we bought on our respective velobikes. All directions have been in French but it surely was straightforward to grasp what one wanted to do. 
• 2:30-Simply earlier than we have been to depart there was a thunderstorm and people of us who didn’t convey raincoats bought soaked! However the downpour solely lasted quarter-hour and as we rode, the solar got here out and dried us out! The journey on the rail bike  lasted about an hour.
• 3:30-Arrived again at Boucieu-le-Roi.
• 4:15-Departed Boucieu-le-Roi for Saint-Jean-de-Muzols by prepare.
• 5:00-Returned to Saint-Jean-de-Muzols prepare station. Do spend just a little time on the free museum on web site. It has an attention-grabbing show concerning the historical past of the trains in addition to artifacts similar to a 1903 luxurious carriage No. 1005, which had a bathroom on board. Data is offered in French and English.

6. Suggestions If You Need To Do The Practice de l’Ardèche and/or Vélorail

(a) The place must you keep?

The 2 closest cities to the Practice de l’Ardèche are Tournon-sur-Rhône and Tain-l’Hermitage. I stayed in Tain-l’Hermitage and I liked the situation and definitely my lodge, Lodge Les 2 Coteaux. I’ll have extra concerning the lodge and my keep in an upcoming Journey #40 report.

It was solely a 13 minute drive to the prepare station. Watch out. The prepare station is situated OUTSIDE of Saint-Jean-de-Muzols,  NOT situated within the centre of this city. [Just follow Google Maps to “Train de l’Ardèche].

(b) What Shoud You Convey On The Practice/Vélorail

If there’s any probability of rain, convey a raincoat. Additionally convey a hat, water, put on operating or strolling sneakers, and sunscreen. The exercise will proceed even within the rain. You might convey a picnic lunch or purchase your lunch once you’re in Boucieu-le-Roi.

(c) Shopping for Tickets For The Vélorail

I bought my tickets 3 months earlier than my journey. The mixed prepare and vélorail value 45€ and purchase the time I arrived, all tickets have been offered out.

• The web site to buy a Practice de l’Ardèche prepare ticket or Practice and Vélobike mixture (Practice de l’Ardèche + Vélorail): www.trainardeche.fr
• The web site to buy simply the rail bike tickets is: www.velorailardeche.com

7. Visiting The Ardèche

This was my second go to to the Ardèche division of southeast France. I had visited this space a number of years in the past. It’s well-known for its out of doors surroundings and actions. You may examine my experiences right here:

8. Distinctive Practice Rides In France

In case you’re fascinated with different prepare rides in France, you would possibly take into account these two distinctive trains I’ve taken previously:

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