GPS-GPX

We design our cycling and hiking tours for all levels, from leisurely explorers to adventurous athletes.
Below is our difficulty scale, based on daily elevation change and terrain.

How Challenging Are Our Tours?

We calculate not only the daily distance for each cycling or walking stage but also the sum of all elevation changes (both uphill and downhill) per day.
The regions in southern France where our cycling and walking tours take place are not flat, unlike the Netherlands or the Loire Valley.

For cyclists, descending is less strenuous than climbing, so we focus on cumulative positive elevation changes (uphill only).
For walking stages, all elevation changes (both uphill and downhill) are included in the total, as every change in elevation is equally demanding for hikers.

How We Calculate Elevation Changes

For Cycling Stages:

We use a threshold system to filter out minor elevation change. For all levels the threshold is 3m. (cumvv3m : cumulative vertical variation)

For Walking Stages:

All elevation changes are counted (cumvv0m).

How to Read the Elevation Data

cumvv0m: All elevation changes >0m are included.
cumvv2m: Only elevation changes >2m are included (e.g. a 1m descent is not counted).
cumvv3m: Only elevation changes >3m are included (e.g. a 2m elevation gain is niet counted).

Difficulty Levels and Scoring (1–10)

Difficulty Levels for Cycling Stages

Difficulty Level	Threshold (m)	Max. Elevation Gain (m)	Max. Elevation Loss (m)	Max. Distance (km)	Difficulty Score (1–10)	Typical Use Case
Very Light	1	<500	<500	≤40	1–3	Flat, short, family-friendly
Light	2	<900	<900	≤60	3–5	Gentle, recreational
Moderate	3	<1,200	<1,200	≤80	5–7	Rolling terrain, active riders
Sporty	4	≥1,200	≥1,200	≤90	7–9	Challenging, experienced riders
Extreme	5	≥1,500	≥1,500	>90	9–10	Very demanding, expert level

How the Score Works

1–3 (Very Light): Minimal elevation, short distance.
3–5 (Light): Gentle climbs, manageable distance.
5–7 (Moderate): Noticeable elevation, longer distance.
7–9 (Sporty): Significant climbs, near-maximum distance.
9–10 (Extreme): Exceeds sporty limits; for advanced riders.

Why This Method?

For cyclists, we filter out small elevation changes because they can maintain momentum on gentle slopes, and recover when going down.
For walkers, all elevation changes are counted, as every change is physically demanding.

Note: Elevation numbers are objective, but factors like heat, wind, and trail conditions can affect perceived difficulty. Our "light" routes include plenty of stops for rest and photos.

Real-World Example: In our popular F08-Light Plus cycling package (score 5), you’ll enjoy 1200m of climbing per day—comparable to ascending the Eiffel Tower three times—but spread over 40–60km with plenty of time to stop and enjoy the scenery.

How to Use GPX Files?

How Difficult Are Our Tours?