DISCOVER FRANCE is the leader in self-guided bicycle and walking tours to France and Europe through our brand Pure Adventures. It is our mission to provide exceptional self-guided cycling and hiking services that allow our clients to experience their destination in their own unique way.

We are French and American owned and operated. In 2008 we celebrate 14 years in business! We sell more than $1.5MUS/year in bicycle tours alone!

Want to contact us? send us an e-mail! Our telephone number is just above. OR, subscribe to one of our newsletters. (View current edition.)

Don't complete your travel plans without seeing our programs first! If you plan to go to Europe or especially France, then why not talk to a specialist!? Why us and why are we better?

Estabished - Since 1994 we have pioneered self guided travel for North Americans to Europe/France. We are an award winning leader and recognized by reputable associations like Maison de la France. We are financially and operationally strong.	Professional - we are committed to giving our clients the best service and experience possible. We have the staff, systems, and know -how. We are organized, operationally efficient, and adhere to the highest work ethic.
Knowledgeable - We are French, speak French, live/lived in France/Europe; our unparalleled insight into self guided travel and the little details that make a great vacation are essential. We can offer our clients a complete trip in France beyond your tour to fit your personal needs.	Flexible and Responsive - we can adapt tours to your needs, and we offer enough tours to meet just about everyone's needs. We pride ourselves on quick responses to your inquiries and our staff is very personable - not a call center. We are proud of the exceptional value we offer and will go out of the way to help.
Superior equipment - only for our clients; children sizes and equipment available. In 2008, we are upgrading even more in this area, our equipment is superior in every region! Scott P2 hybrids and Eddy Merckx CHM carbon bikes.	Uniquely designed routes; quality hotels and support services. We are based in the south of France and have a full network of local expertise and support that make these the best rides and hikes.
Local support - help always available, orientations, transfers, and other support services. Bilingual, and on board with our high standards. There is no better way to deliver the best experience and freedom in a foreign land as with our formula.	Extensive Pre-travel documentation designed by us to help you finalize and anticipate your tour. With this you can njoy the excitement that comes in the lead up to a much deserved vacation. Our information will assist you and we are always available for questions.
Price - when you compare "apples to apples", there is no better value. We are not the cheapest option out there, but by comparison to luxury guided trips, our programs are incredible values offering many of the same places of lodging. And, for other companies that now offer self-guided, we know a small difference in price is not important for the superior quality we provide. Your vacation is valuable time, we won't let you risk it to save a few euros! That is based on 13 years of experience! For the most part, price is driven by hotels and the associated dining. It is easy to sell expensive luxury hotels, nobody is rarely, if ever, disappointed. The challenge is to find top quality family run establishments that give a regional ambiance, have a charm that is unique, superior standards, all at a great price. We give you both options and usually focus only on 3 and 4 star hotels. Meals are typically gastronomic affairs -meaning very good quality and never the cheapest menu option.

Our France office in Lunel, near Montpellier is pictured.

Self guided travel is our savoir-faire, it is primarily all we do! We are progressive in our use of technologically advanced systems and dynamic services including our proactive environmental policies and local community support. We pride ourselves on being a forward thinking organization that embraces positive change at a local, regional, and international level.

Our ongoing curiosity to explore and uncover all the out-of-the-way secrets and treasures is woven into our offers and helps us continue to evolve. Your own sense of curiosity will allow you to experience the magic of discovery inherent with self guided travel.

STAFF: USA and FRANCE based personnel who will ensure your satisfaction throughout your journey:

 

Loren Siekman - Scottsdale General Manager/CFO, sales & marketing, technology, Cycling Classics reservations. Former expat resident of Paris; bilingual French English. . Cycled/hiked extensively throughout France since 1988. Magali - Scottsdale Inside Sales Manager; product development, group reservations, program implementation. Native of Bayonne, France. Fluent in French, English, and conversational Spanish. Florence - Scottsdale Creative, design, supplier relations. Graduate of CREPS sports university in France with 2 degrees, and a BS from ASU.. Native of Montpellier, France. Fluent French/English. Barbara - 20+ years in travel, corporate and group travel; manages Paris product & group travel Jean Marc (with his son and Eddy Merckx) - Responsible for tour product development, and hotel contracts, routes/road books, technology throughout France. President of Cycling Classics. Degree in Oenology. Thomas (center)- manages the equipment and logistical arrangements from luggge transfers to orientations, support vehicles, guides, and our bike fleet. Laura; Sales, reservations, communications. Native of Southwest France with degrees in tourism, Laura is fluent in French, English, German, and conversational in Russian, and Spanish. Based in our France office. Thibaut - manages all bikes, seminars, team building, events, logistic, bike store sales Aureliean - manages bikes, seminars, team building, events, logistics. Willy - route development, logistics support guide; speaks English, Dutch, French, German. Retired NATO military commander. Alain - certified professional guide (diplome d'etat), bilingual French/English; leads groups and conducts orientations Julien - certified professional guide (diplome d'etat), bilingual French/English Manu - Paris Responsible for Paris transportation, airport transfers, day tours, and driver services.

 

We are a member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) and sat on the Advisory Panel for previous Adventure Travel Summits. We are members of the Better Business Bureau (Central/Northern Arizona Chapter), as well we are endorsed by IATAN as a Travel Service Intermediary meeting the strict standards of eligibility. Discover France participates in a variety of French Government Tourist Office events. We offer our own travel insurance to our clients through CSA Travel Protection Insurance. We have pages of testimonials from customers who have traveled with us previously, and we keep a large file full of magazine and newspaper stories/articles about our companies. Just contact us to receive fax copies.

Notes:

Discover France was awarded Best Website 2006 by the French Government Tourist Office in New York; Oct 22, 2006 at the annual French Affairs conference in New Orleans. In 2007 and in 2005, we were nominated by the French Government Tourist Office at their annual awards in the Most Extensive Product Offer category.

Discover France is a brand name owned by LRB Flagship, Inc. In 2008, LRB enters its 14th year of operations, coming off the best year in our history in 2007. The company has been ARC appointed, is currently IATAN certified, and is licensed in Arizona. Tradenames are registered with the United States Patent Office. We carry $1M E/O policy insured by The Berkley Group. The company was selected as the small business of the year in 1998 in our local community. We work with various offices of tourism and employ destination specialists in the regions that we promote.

We are not in any way affiliated with Discover-France.info, DiscoverFrance.net, or other foreign companies who may have a similar URL. We are not an affiliate site filled with links trying to make commissions. We are a traditional service staffed by travel professionals who take seriously the job we do. Don't be confused by any of these other pretenders.

Discover France along with Cycling Classics, and Pure Adventures supports Race Lab U23 cycling; a bicycle racing team dedicated to youth development. The title sponsor is Waste Management. Our donations will help to fund the development of future pro cyclists. Our brands also contribute to the Lance Armstrong foundation through the Tour of Hope and Peleton Project. We support MS 150 riders, and we donate to the International School of Arizona, the Arizona Wilderness Coalition, the Vietnam Veterans Assn of the Valley, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. In 2006, LRB Flagship contributed a small portion of each tour sale to Save the Children, Lance Armstrong Foundation, and Arizona Wilderness Coalition to the tune of $9,000 in total donations to these various organizations!!

In 2007 Discover France/Pure Adventures took all tours CARBON NEUTRAL and a portion of each tour sale will go to reduce global warming by offsetting carbon emmissions. See above right.

Below are some of the 4 star rated charities (top rating for efficient use of donor funds) we have supported and recommend:, please see these links:

http://www.savethechildren.org

http://www.azwild.org

Lance Armstrong Foundation
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2007, 2004 finalist for award for Most Extensive Product offers to France as recognized by the French Government Tourist Office in New York.

1998 Small Business of the Year award winner in our local community for growth as well as community supported efforts and Chamber of Commerce contributions. Our president was a board member; chair of International Trade, and participant of other committees.

For any guided tour, we use native French speakers, with national diplomas in various fields of sport, emergency trained, and instructor certified.

Discover France is a brand name wholly owned by LRB Flagship, Inc. which also owns the brand name Pure Adventures and is a joint venture owner of the company Cycling Classics SARL based in France.

Discover France is always looking for good people. Currently, we are accepting CV's/Resumes for Inside Agents, administrative assistants, and communications personnel, as well as, Outside Sales representatives, both domestically and abroad. Industry experience is required for inside positions in our Scottsdale, AZ offices. We are not currently looking for tour guides. Note that any guide applicant must be bilingual French/English, experienced, and achieved Diplome d'Etat in related disciplines. Please send an email with attachment in MSWORD or ACROBAT format only to EMPLOYMENT

Please do not telephone, thank you.