Caesar Tour Cycle from London to Venice

From charming boutiques to well-deserved comfort, our accommodations are carefully selected to reflect the unique character of each region. We favour places with a true sense of place over big chain hotels, ensuring your stay is as memorable as the ride itself. Depending on the stage, you’ll experience everything from luxurious retreats to functional stays, always selected with care to suit the journey. Below are a range of hotels we use on your tour.

A great boutique hotel in this fabulous authentic village. This 18th century farmhouse makes for a lovely first stop in France.

Sleep and dine in the biggest castle in Europe, built in the early 15th century in the beautiful Ardennes region of France.

Relais Saint Jean is a hotel whose unique character is easy to appreciate. Behind its beautiful 16th-century half-timbered exterior, riders will find atmospheric, individually styled rooms full of charm and character.

A historic lakeside hotel in the heart of Montreux, offering elegant rooms, a garden terrace and beautiful views across Lake Geneva to the Alps. Its central waterfront location makes it an ideal place to relax after crossing into Switzerland.

Villa Carpenada was built in the second half of the 17th century as the summer residence of bishop Giulio Berlendis. It is now a boutique 4-star hotel with a great restaurant serving fine Bellunese cuisine.

Perfectly situated close to the region’s most iconic climbs, Hotel Eden is an ideal base for cycling adventures in the mountains. Its architecture and interior design create a calm, warm atmosphere, perfect for resting before or after long days in the saddle.

We choose our restaurants because they are exceptional, distinctive and rooted in the places through which we travel. From refined dining and elegant city restaurants to traditional mountain inns and regional specialities, every meal adds another layer to the journey.

Beginning in London, we leave the land of fish and chips and chicken tikka masala before crossing into Belgium, home of moules-frites, beer, waffles and chocolate. France then takes us through the celebrated culinary regions of Champagne and Burgundy, where classic dishes such as boeuf bourguignon, coq au vin and local cheeses are paired with some of the world’s finest wines.

Fondue, raclette and hearty Alpine fare fuel our passage through Switzerland before we descend into Italy. In Lombardy, expect risotto, polenta and the distinctive mountain cuisine of Valtellina, including pizzoccheri, bresaola and cheese-filled sciatt. South Tyrol brings its own blend of Italian and Austrian traditions, with speck, canederli and apple strudel, while the Dolomites introduce us to the rustic flavours of Ladin cuisine. Finally, we descend into Veneto, where cicchetti, fresh pasta, risotto and Adriatic seafood bring the tour to a fitting culinary conclusion in Venice.

After a memorable ride through the Ardennes, dinner is served within the walls of Europe’s largest fortified castle. Chef Romaric Olivot combines seasonal ingredients, local produce and inventive flavour pairings to create refined modern French cuisine in a setting steeped in history.

A gourmet meal in the historic centre of Troyes in the 18th century home of Claudine and Gilles. Nouvelle cuisine doesn’t always suit the rigours of bike touring but it is the perfect way to celebrate the end of week one.

Following the final descent from the Swiss Alps and a spectacular ride beside Lakes Maggiore and Lugano, we celebrate the end of Stage 1 overlooking Lake Como. Run by the same family for more than five generations, Imbarcadero combines traditional Lombard recipes with contemporary techniques, attentive service and an elegant lakeside setting.

One of our favourite gastronomic areas of Italy is the Valtellina. This restaurant is a fine proponent of it with wonderful pizzoccheri washed down with Inferno and Sassella wines.

Here, riders can savor the authentic flavors of Northern Italy and enjoy a true taste of the Alps. Traditional regional specialties take center stage, including the not-to-be-missed Pizzoccheri—a hearty dish of buckwheat pasta, potatoes, and melted cheese that makes for the perfect refuel after a day in the saddle.

We pride ourselves on providing the best picnics. These are always in spectacular locations, be it at a historical site or a breathtaking view. The produce will always be local, fresh and exceptional.

The Making of Caesar

Julius Caesar was born in Rome in 100 BCE, but it was far from the capital that he built the reputation, wealth and fiercely loyal legions that would transform him into one of history’s most powerful figures.

Appointed governor of Cisalpine Gaul (northern Italy), Transalpine Gaul (southern France) and Illyricum (the western Balkans) in 58 BCE, Caesar pushed steadily north and west. Over eight years, his campaigns brought modern France and Belgium under Roman control. He crossed the Rhine, defeated the united Gallic resistance at Alesia and launched two expeditions to Britain, reaching the northwestern limits of the Roman world.

Our journey follows the broad arc of Caesar’s rise in reverse. Beginning in London, we ride through Kent towards the coast where his forces first landed in Britain. We then cross the Channel and continue through Belgium and France, passing through landscapes shaped by the Gallic Wars and visiting Alesia, the site of his defining victory over Vercingetorix. From there, we cross the Alps and return to northern Italy, the province from which Caesar launched his campaigns, before finishing in Venice.

Caesar later crossed the Rubicon, defeated Pompey in civil war and became dictator of Rome before his assassination on the Ides of March in 44 BCE. Although never formally an emperor, his name gave rise to titles including Kaiser and Tsar and became synonymous with imperial power. This tour explores the making of Caesar and the campaigns that turned an ambitious Roman politician into one of the most recognised names in history.