SECRET FRANCE • MAY 15–25, 2027
Secret France 2027 — Toulouse to Lyon Through the Hidden Heart
10 days riding France’s quietest departmental roads — Albi, Cordes-sur-Ciel, Gorges du Tarn, Cévennes, Pont d’Arc and the Auvergne volcanoes.
1,820 km · BMW R1300GS included · Moderate level.
There are famous trips — the ones everyone makes, the ones on every list, the ones in every motorcycle Instagrammer’s album. And there are the trips that seem to have been kept secret, passed rider to rider in campfire conversation, never in sponsored posts. Secret France is the second category. A France completely different from the one you imagine.
For ten days, we leave Toulouse and cross the country’s least obvious heart — passing Albi and the medieval village of Cordes-sur-Ciel before plunging into the Gorges du Tarn, a canyon system with hundreds of meters of limestone walls that turns every curve into something hard to describe. From there, the route climbs to Lozère, one of the least populated regions in France, enters the dense forests of the Cévennes, and descends to the Ardèche valley — where Pont d’Arc, one of Europe’s largest natural arches, marks the entrance to a stretch of road that will stay in your memory for a long time.
The closing is in the Auvergne Massif Central — a volcanic plateau of open green landscapes where the dormant volcanoes of the Puy de Dôme create an otherworldly setting. From Toulouse to Lyon, 10 days, almost-empty departmental roads, superior-standard lodging and BMW included. A trip designed for riders who already understand that the best stories rarely live on the main roads.
Europe-tour format: BMW R1300GS rental in Europe is always included in the price (handover in Toulouse, return in Lyon). UpSerra handles hotels, the support vehicle, route planning and bilingual guides. You bring your motorcycle license and your gear — flight to Toulouse (TLS) on D1 and out of Lyon (LYS) on D11 are on the rider. Moderate level — 100% asphalt with technical curve sequences in the gorges and volcano loops.
DEPARTURE
May 15 — 25, 2027
THE ROUTE
From Toulouse to Lyon through the secret heart of France
Toulouse → Albi → Cordes-sur-Ciel → Gorges du Tarn → Lozère → Cévennes → Gorges de l’Ardèche · Pont d’Arc → Auvergne · Puy de Dôme → Lyon
10 days through the France nobody told you about
DAY 01 · THU MAY 15 · ARRIVAL
Toulouse — arrival
Arrival in Toulouse, the Pink City — named after the rose-coloured clay bricks that tint the entire historic centre. Group welcome, technical briefing and BMW handover. Welcome dinner in the heart of Occitania, where the cuisine already announces what’s ahead: cassoulet, foie gras and Cahors wine. First night with your head on what’s coming.
DAY 02 · FRI MAY 16 · ~200 KM · ALBI + CORDES
Toulouse → Albi → Cordes-sur-Ciel
First contact with rural France. Out of Toulouse toward Albi — UNESCO World Heritage city with a 13th-century red-brick cathedral that looks more like a medieval fortress than a religious temple. The asphalt between Toulouse and Albi is already departmental: empty, well maintained and with the perfect rhythm to enter trip mode. Day’s destination: Cordes-sur-Ciel, a medieval village built on top of a hill that literally emerges from the clouds on foggy days.
DAY 03 · SAT MAY 17 · ~220 KM · MILLAU + GORGES DU TARN
Cordes-sur-Ciel → Gorges du Tarn
Entering canyon territory. The route descends from the plateau toward the Millau Viaduct — the tallest in the world, crossing the Tarn valley at 270 m altitude — and immediately reveals what will dominate the next two days: limestone walls rising hundreds of meters on each side of the road, the turquoise river at the bottom of the valley, and sequences of winding curves carved directly into the rock. The roads bordering the Gorges du Tarn are a natural product: built around impossible topography, they accidentally became some of the best motorcycle roads in Europe. First of two nights in the Gorges.
DAY 04 · SUN MAY 18 · ~180 KM · TARN + JONTE LOOP
Gorges du Tarn & Gorges de la Jonte loop
No luggage, no destination — just the loop. One of the trip’s great days: Gorges du Tarn in the morning and Gorges de la Jonte in the afternoon, an adjacent and less-visited canyon where condor-vultures were reintroduced in the 1980s and now glide between the walls with a 2.7-meter wingspan. The effect is surreal — riding through a gorge with those creatures soaring at low altitude above you. The circuit returns through the Causse Méjean ridges, a limestone plateau with open horizons that contrasts with the abyss of the canyons below. Second night in the Gorges.
DAY 05 · MON MAY 19 · ~200 KM · LOZÈRE + CÉVENNES
Gorges du Tarn → Lozère → Cévennes
Transition to a wilder France. The exit from the Gorges is a technical privilege: the roads climbing the causses are sinuous and even emptier than those in the valley bottom. We cross Lozère — France’s least populated department, where you can ride 30 km without seeing a car — before descending into the Cévennes. The Cévennes is a region of dense forest with monumental chestnut trees and a tradition of historical resistance that shaped its architecture and character. Overnight in a typical village with a stone fireplace — first of two nights in the heart of the Cévennes.
DAY 06 · TUE MAY 20 · ~180 KM · CÉVENNES TECHNICAL LOOP
Cévennes technical loop
The signature UpSerra day in France. The Cévennes was classified by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve and National Park — and as a practical consequence, traffic is close to zero and roads were built to climb and descend hills with technical efficiency that delights any motorcyclist. Continuous rhythm: medium-radius curves that flow into one another, optimized banking and constant gradient. Second night in the Cévennes.
DAY 07 · WED MAY 21 · ~220 KM · GORGES DE L’ARDÈCHE + PONT D’ARC
Cévennes → Gorges de l’Ardèche
Descent from the forests to emerald canyons. The crossing of the Gorges de l’Ardèche is one of the most cinematic stretches of the route: the Ardèche River runs at the bottom of a white limestone canyon, with the emerald-blue water creating a colour contrast that looks edited. Highlight: the Pont d’Arc — a 60-meter-wide natural arch that the river has been crossing for millennia and which today is one of Europe’s most important archaeological sites (the Grotte Chauvet, with 36,000-year-old cave paintings, is here). The road snaking above the canyon offers aerial views that demand stops. Overnight in the Ardèche region.
DAY 08 · THU MAY 22 · ~240 KM · TO AUVERGNE
Ardèche → Auvergne
The great crossing into France’s volcanic heart. We leave the Ardèche climbing gradually into the Massif Central — the ancient mountain shield that occupies the centre of the French hexagon. The landscape change is progressive and majestic: white limestone gorges give way to rounded mountains covered in pasture and birch forests, the rivers become darker and slower, the air cools. Destination: Auvergne, where the dormant volcanoes of Puy de Dôme dominate the horizon — perfect cone silhouettes aligned in a chain classified by UNESCO in 2018. First of two nights in Clermont-Ferrand or surroundings.
DAY 09 · FRI MAY 23 · ~180 KM · AUVERGNE VOLCANO LOOP
Auvergne volcano loop
Smooth riding between volcanoes. The circuit covers the Chaîne des Puys — a row of 80 volcanoes aligned over 40 km, all dormant for less than 10,000 years — on departmental roads that gently undulate between the domes. Highlight: the climb to Puy de Dôme (1,465 m): the chain’s highest volcano, with 360° views over the Auvergne plateau and, on clear days, over the Alps to the east. The descent is technical and rewarding. In the afternoon, we cross the Dore and Allier valleys, where Cantal and Saint-Nectaire cheeses are produced — perfect chance for a farm lunch. Second night in Auvergne.
DAY 10 · SAT MAY 24 · ~200 KM · CLOSING IN LYON
Auvergne → Lyon
The last chapter. We descend from the Auvergne plateau toward the Rhône valley and arrive in Lyon — the gastronomic capital of France and a city with one of the best-preserved historic centres in Europe (Vieux-Lyon, UNESCO heritage). Bike return marks the official closing of Secret France 2027. Final celebration dinner in Vieux-Lyon — at one of the traditional bouchons, with quenelle de brochet and Beaujolais. It’s hard to describe what 10 days of these roads do to your state of mind. You’ll understand when you arrive.
DAY 11 · SUN MAY 25 · DEPARTURE
Lyon — flights / departure
Free morning in Lyon. Check-out and transfer to Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport. Official closing of Secret France 2027. Until the next road.
What’s included
Included
- BMW R1300GS rental in Europe (Toulouse handover, Lyon return)
- Bilingual rider-guide for the full 11 days
- Mechanical support vehicle
- 10 nights in superior-standard hotels
- Welcome briefing in Toulouse + farewell dinner in Lyon
- Full route planning across rural France
- Professional photography and video coverage
- Departmental-road logistics support
Not included
- International flight to Toulouse (TLS) and out of Lyon (LYS)
- Fuel during the tour
- Meals (breakfast included; some group dinners noted)
- Wine tastings & cheese-farm extras
- Travel insurance with motorcycle activity coverage
- Personal expenses
- Riding gear (jacket, pants, gloves, boots, helmet)
Pricing
BMW R1300GS rental in Europe always included. Flights to Toulouse / from Lyon on the rider.
⚠️ 2026 reference values held — 2027 update coming soon. Lock pricing on signup.
| Package | Price (EUR) | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| Rider — Twin Room (BMW R1300GS included) | EUR 6,600 | ≈ USD 7,300 |
| Rider — Single Room (BMW R1300GS included) | EUR 7,000 | ≈ USD 7,700 |
| Couple — Double Room (BMW R1300GS included) | EUR 11,200 | ≈ USD 12,300 |
Pricing in EUR (Europe-tour standard). USD shown as approximate at current exchange rate. Final billing in EUR at signup.
International wire / SWIFT
Lock-in EUR rate at signup
Credit card
Up to 12 installments · Check rates
Down payment + balance
Until trip date · Flexible split with the team
Reserve your spot in Secret France 2027
Drop your details and our team will reach out on WhatsApp within 24h to confirm payment and send paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
Which airports — Toulouse and Lyon?
Yes — fly into Toulouse (TLS) by D1 (May 15, 2027) and out of Lyon-Saint Exupéry (LYS) on D11 (May 25, 2027). The tour is one-way Toulouse → Lyon. UpSerra meets at the Toulouse hotel; bike handover happens at the welcome briefing.
How does the BMW R1300GS rental work?
UpSerra rents the BMW R1300GS in Europe through its partner network for this tour. The bike is included in the package — you don’t pay separately. Comprehensive insurance, registration and roadside assistance are part of the rental. Refundable damage deposit at handover, around EUR 1,500.
What’s the weather like in mid-May in central France?
Late spring across most of the route. 12-22°C in the lowlands and gorges. Cévennes and Auvergne plateaus can be cooler (8-16°C) with possible morning fog. Pleasant riding weather overall, but rain in the highlands is possible — layered gear with a rain jacket required.
How tough is this tour?
Moderate level. 100% asphalt with technical curve sequences in the gorges (Tarn, Jonte, Ardèche) and volcano loops (Auvergne). Daily averages 180-240 km on departmental roads — comfortable rhythm, not pressed. For riders with experience on big bikes (700cc+) on European or mountain roads.
Do I need an international driver’s license?
International permit recommended. EU category-A licenses accepted natively in France. Brazilian / non-EU licenses with valid passport accepted with international permit translation. UpSerra advises during pre-trip preparation.
What’s “Secret France” really about?
It’s about the rural French interior — the parts that don’t appear on standard tourist itineraries. The Causses, the Cévennes, Lozère, Auvergne. Departmental roads, regional cuisine, medieval villages and a level of road quietness that surprises riders used to busier circuits. If you’ve already done the famous European tours, this is what comes next.
SPOT RESERVATION
Reserve your spot in Secret France 2027
Drop your details and our team will reach out on WhatsApp to confirm payment and send paperwork. Reply within 24 hours.
More than roads, we live experiences. More than destinations, we build friendships.