Explore the Champagne wine-growing area, listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO, and the stunning villages, birthplace of Champagne, which owes its renown to Dom Perignon.
Known around the world for its wines, Champagne is also a popular destination for walking, offering an ideal playground. Walk among the vineyards and terraced hillsides where Champagne villages, chateaux, and churches are nestled. Enjoy panoramic viewpoints overlooking the vineyards and picturesque villages. The winemakers’ open their doors to you, for tastings and tours of the cellars. They will passionately explain their know-how while showing you around their property.
During this tour, explore and taste every day what is hidden behind the bubbles that help us toast good news. Pop the cork and let the bubbles speak for themselves.
Highlights
Explore Epernay, capital of Champagne with its magnificent mansions and ancient wine cellars
Discover the vineyards and historic wine villages producing world-renowned Champagne
Relax in a 3-star Boutique hotel with colourful contemporary urban style, in the heart of Epernay
Key Information
4 nights single-centre in a 3-star hotel
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Countries visited: France
What's Included
All Breakfasts
Walking transfers
Route Directions and maps
What's Not Included
Travel insurance
Visas & vaccinations
Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement)
Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
3Days of Walking & Trekking
Day 2
12 km / 7.5 miles
Day 3
10 km / 6.2 miles
Day 4
10 km / 6.2 miles
Sustainability and Impact
As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.
This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony though practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.
Itinerary
Epernay
Epernay
Day
1
Arrival in Epernay
This town is entirely surrounded by vines. Walk down the Avenue de Champagne, with its magnificent mansion facades and opulent middle-class homes occupied by famous Champagne Houses, and you can see why Epernay competes for the title of ‘Capital of Champagne’. Here, are miles of underground galleries and millions of bottles of preciously kept champagne away from light and heat… In Epernay, cellar visits to the largest champagne houses are among the highlights of the tour… And they sparkle with stories and expertise. You stay at Hotel Jean Moet****
Day
2
Hautvillers
Transfer to Hautvillers. It is here that the legend of Champagne was born, thanks to the Benedictine monk Dom Perignon, who was said to have accidentally invented effervescent wine at the end of the 17th century. He’s buried in the abbey of Hautvillers, leaving his name to a vintage produced by a famous Champagne House.
Along your walk between forest and vineyards, you will learn about ‘Blanc de Noirs’ champagne which is made using only black grapes (Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier). Two grape varieties with darker skin and white flesh. Pass the village of Romery, a quaint village with streets bordered by flowers. You stay at Hotel Jean Moet**** (Breakfast included)
Distance covered: 7mi (12km)
Activity hours: 3
Meals included: Breakfast
Day
3
Ay Loop
A transfer takes you to the start of your walk at Ay. Located at the fringe of the vineyards, and headquarters to several prestigious champagne houses such as Veuve Clicquot and Bollinger, Aÿ makes the transition between hillside slopes and the river, between the Montagne de Reims and the suburbs of Epernay.
Discover a high Gothic-style church and wood-frame houses, including one that is reputed to have served as Henri IV’s fermenting room. Follow the former Roman way between forest and vineyards in the Marne Valley. Enjoy numerous opportunities to taste the pinot meunier which brings its full fruity flavour to rose champagnes. You stay at Hotel Jean Moet**** (Breakfast included)
Distance covered: 6mi (10km)
Activity hours: 3.5
Meals included: Breakfast
Day
4
Verzy Natural Park
Transfer to Verzy where the forest boasts the largest concentration of ‘Fau’ beech trees anywhere in the world. The origin of this rare tree, with its especially twisted, knotted branches, remains a mystery to botanists.
The especially slow-growing, long living Fau beech trees greatly contribute to singularity of the the Montagne de Reims Regional Park. After your walk, don’t miss the chance to taste ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne using chardonnay only, a white grape locally produced in this village. You stay at Hotel Jean Moet**** (Breakfast included)
Distance covered: 6mi (10km)
Activity hours: 3
Meals included: Breakfast
Day
5
Leave Epernay
Meals included: Breakfast
Essential Info
Is this trip for you?
As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The routes notes contain an emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local representative is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.
Joining Instructions
Flight Inclusive Air-rail prices include our standard flights, onward rail and station transfers
Business/club/first class seats are available on request.
Land Only Standard transfers Transfers can be arranged at a supplement from
Alternative transfers
If you require alternative transfers (because you will be arriving at a different time to our standard flights), then we can usually arrange these for you (there may be an additional charge).
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Epernay Location end: Epernay
Vaccinations and Health
France
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
In Champagne, the summers are comfortable and partly cloudy which makes it ideal for walking. The winters are very cold, windy, and mostly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from -0°C to 25°C and is rarely below -7°C or above 31°C.
The hottest month is July with daily average temperatures being around 24°C
W04CU
Come and stay at the heart of the capital of the Champagne region in a cosy environment that’s both happy and welcoming. Entirely renovated in a colourful contemporary urban style, this boutique hotel’s great location between Epernay town centre and the Avenue de Champagne provides you with the opportunity to visit the great champagne houses and their prestigious cellars.
The Hotel is ideally situated in the centre of Epernay, established in a building of 18 th century style architecture. The interior of the Hotel was entirely renovated between 2012 and 2016. A few steps from the Hotel you will find the magnificent Avenue de Champagne, where there lies, hidden, 110 kilometers of cellars (listed in the World Heritage Site – UNESCO).
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