Atlantic Coast of France

5/5 (1)
7 nights
29 miles/day
Self guided from EUR € 1520
Bike tour in France
Rider Level: Active Electric bike tours

Atlantic Coast of France

5/5 (1)

Rider Level: Active Electric bike tours

7 nights
29 miles/day

Self guided from EUR € 1520
Bike tour in France

Tap above to jump to different sections of this tour

  • From the 'White City' of La Rochelle to the 'Wine City' of Bordeaux

    Ride from the resplendent La Rochelle harbor into the beating heart of beautiful Bordeaux via the Vélodyssée and Canal des 2 Mers (Canal of the 2 Seas) cycle paths. Along the way, pedal through fragrant pinewood forests, past the blissful Belle Epoque villas of Royan, and along the grand Gironde Estuary, enjoying captivating coastal views as you ride.

    • Cathedral of St Andrews, Bordeaux, France. CC:Lockx3r
    • Chateaux in Bordeaux, France. Árpád Czapp@Unsplash
    • Place De La Bourse, Bordeaux, France. CC:Nguyen Huuthanh
    • Patisserie in France. Ulysse Point Cheval@Unsplash
    • French living. Elle Hughes@Unsplash
    • Bordeaux, France. Zdennek Klein, Unsplash
    • French treats! Fabian Centeno, Unsplash
    • Sauternes Wine, Bordeaux, France. CC:Syvwlch

    View more photos

    Highlights

    • La Rochelle
    • Rochefort
    • Marennes & oyster farming pool
    • Regional salt pans & Seudre Estuary
    • Belle Epoque villas of Royan
    • Talmont-sur-Gironde
    • Vélodyssée cycling path
    • Canal des 2 Mers cycling path
    • Gironde Estuary
    • Coastal views
    • Bordeaux

    Learn More

    Learn more about self-guided tours.

    Interested in adding to your itinerary? Take a look at our cycling day tours in France.

  • CC-BY-SA-4.0 - Cathedral of St Andrews, Bordeaux, France. CC:Lockx3r' data-type='image'> Cathedral of St Andrews, Bordeaux, France. CC:Lockx3r
    CC-BY-SA-3.0 - Place De La Bourse, Bordeaux, France. CC:Nguyen Huuthanh' data-type='image'> Place De La Bourse, Bordeaux, France. CC:Nguyen Huuthanh
    CC-BY-2.0 - Sauternes Wine, Bordeaux, France. CC:Syvwlch' data-type='image'> Sauternes Wine, Bordeaux, France. CC:Syvwlch
    CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Pont De Pierre Bridge over the Garonne River in Bordeaux, France. CC:Bert Kaufmann' data-type='image'> Pont De Pierre Bridge over the Garonne River in Bordeaux, France. CC:Bert Kaufmann
    CC-BY-SA-3.0 - Place De La Bourse with a tram in Bordeaux, France. CC:Phillip Maiwald' data-type='image'> Place De La Bourse with a tram in Bordeaux, France. CC:Phillip Maiwald
    CC-BY-SA-3.0 - Château de la Roque in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. CC:Dominique Robert Reperant' data-type='image'> Château de la Roque in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. CC:Dominique Robert Reperant
    CC-BY-SA-3.0 - La Rochelle, France. CC:Petitbleu' data-type='image'> La Rochelle, France. CC:Petitbleu
    CC-BY-SA-3.0 - Bordeaux, France. CC:Marc Rychaert' data-type='image'> Bordeaux, France. CC:Marc Rychaert

    Traveler photos

    • Cycling alongside fields of sunflowers (photo by Ronan Gardiner)
    • Coastal bike path (photo by Ronan Gardiner)
    • Arriving a one of our beautiful hotels (photo by Ronan Gardiner)

    Atlantic Coast of France

     Tour Description Daily Program 

  • Daily program

    Day 1: Arrival in La Rochelle
    Enjoy the charms of the city with its atmospheric towers and remains of the old defensive walls.

    Day 2: La Rochelle – Rochefort (37 miles/60 km)
    From the famous towers of La Rochelle harbor, ride along the oceanside cycling path to Châtelaillon-Plage, a seaside city. You'll eventually reach the astonishing city of Rochefort, following the beautiful banks of the Charente River.

    Day 3: Rochefort – La Tremblade (19 miles/30 km)
    Follow a cycle path from Rochefort to the salt pan, crossed by several small canals. Marennes is the first oyster farming pool in Europe - a perfect stopover to discover regional food!

    Day 4: La Tremblade – Royan (25 miles/40 km)
    Continue your journey between the salt pans and the Seudre Estuary. After Palmyre, 'the Coast of Beauty' makes for an enchanting experience as you enjoy sea views along the cycle path to Royan, known for its Belle Epoque villas.

    Day 5: Royan – Mortagne-sur-Gironde (21 miles/33 km)
    On a lovely, shaded cycling track by the sea, your journey will take you from paths to small roads before you reach Talmont-sur-Gironde, known as one of the 'most beautiful villages in France'. You'll then ride to the magical Mortagne-sur-Gironde harbor.

    Day 6: Mortagne sur Gironde – Blaye (39 miles/62 km)
    The numerous small marinas along the river banks of the Gironde make for stunning stopping places. You will join Blaye by a beautiful cycle path, leaving Charente Maritime to continue the route of the Canal of the 2 Seas.

    Day 7: Blaye – Bordeaux (33 miles/54 km)
    Cross the Gironde Estuary to join Lamarque and the region of Médoc, famous for its award-winning wine. You'll reach the heart of Bordeaux, riding along small roads in the midst of the verdant vineyards.

    Day 8: Departure during the day

    Surface and terrain

    You'll cycle on paved routes and cycle paths on this tour. You'll enjoy rolling terrain each day, and average distances of 29 miles per day.


    Hotels

    These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.

    You will enjoy superior accommodation in 3- and 4-star hotels.

    Hotel La Monnaie or Hotel Centra Park, La Rochelle
    www.hotelcentralpark.fr

    Hôtel de La Corderie Royale, Rochefort
    www.all.accor.com

    Hotel Grand Chalet, La Tremblade
    www.logishotels.com

    Hôtel Cordouan, Royan
    www.thalazur.fr

    Domaine du Meunier, Mortagne sur Gironde
    www.domainedumeunier.com

    Guest room Clos Reaud, Blaye
    www.closreaud-citadelle.com

    HotelMajestic, Bordeaux
    www.hotel-majestic.com

    Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.


    How to get there

    Tour start
    Nearest airport: Paris, France
    Nearest train station: La Rochelle, France

    Tour end
    Nearest airport: Paris, France
    Nearest train station: Bordeaux, France

    From Paris: Montparnasse train station >> La Rochelle Ville train station (about 3h by TGV train).

    To La Rochelle: Bordeaux St Jean train station >> La Rochelle train station (about 2h15 by train).

    To Paris: Bordeaux St Jean train station >> Paris Montparnasse train station (about 2h10 by TGV train).

    Tips on getting to and from your tour.


    Atlantic Coast of France

     Tour Photos Dates & Prices 

  • Dates

    Daily: Mar 1 - Oct 31, 2024.

    Low season: Mar 1, 2024 - Jun 13, 2024; Sep 10, 2024 - Oct 31, 2024

    Mid season: Jun 14, 2024 - Jun 30, 2024; Sep 1, 2024 - Sep 9, 2024

    High season: Jul 1, 2024 - Aug 31, 2024

    Prices

    Tour package

    Low season Mid season High season
    Per person, double occupancy €1600 €1520 €1580
    Single use room (1 person/1 room) €2333 €2253 €2386
    Solo traveler (1 person in party with single use room) €2733 €2653 €2786

    Bike Rentals

    Standard touring bike, 21-speed €153
    Electrically assisted bike €268

    Extra Nights, La Rochelle

    Low & Mid seasons High season
    Per person, double occupancy €137 €153
    Single use room (1 person/1 room) €247 €284

    Extra Nights, Bordeaux

    Per person, double occupancy €137
    Single use room (1 person/1 room) €200

    Included services

    • 7 nights accommodation
    • Breakfasts
    • Luggage transfer (1 luggage 20kg per person) - Additional €20 per extra luggage and transfer
    • Travel folder with maps, detailed route descriptions, and tourist brochures
    • Navigational app
    • Hotline for emergency support
    • Pont Transbordeur crossing in Rochefort (Day 2)
    • Boat transfer of the Gironde River (Day 7)
    • City taxes
    • GPX tracks upon request

    Bike rentals

    The bikes available for rent on this tour (must be reserved at time of booking):

    • Standard touring bikes, 21-speed men's or unisex frame
    • Electrically assisted bike, 9-speed*
    • Child's bike, trailer, or baby seat

    *More about electrically-assisted bikes >

    Equipment included with bike rental:

    • One rear saddlebag for standard bikes; two rear saddlebags for e-bikes
    • High visibility jacket
    • Anti-theft device
    • Map holder and handlebar bag
    • Repair kit, pump, lock

    Bike Protection:
    Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.

    Pedals:
    The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.

    Helmets:
    Helmets are not available on this tour, it is recommended that you bring your own helmet or purchase a new helmet on arrival into France. The use of a helmet is mandatory for children less than 12 years old (whether riders or passengers). For older children and adults, even if it’s not mandatory we strongly recommend it!


    Tour Company


    Atlantic Coast of France

     Daily program Tour Reviews 

    • Ronan Gardiner 6 months ago

      Incredible Trip

      From spectacular coastline to fields of sunflowers to rolling vineyards, this tour offers a "nature bath" that ignites all the senses. Add to that, beautiful overnight towns, historic hotels and incredible food and wine - what's not to love!
      This was our second bicycle trip in France (the first was in the equally incredible Loire Valley) and it will certainly not be our last. The distances were just right (the shorter but hillier day was actually the toughest), the bikes were terrific, as was the Roadbook for Discovery AP that served as our guide. Our bags were waiting for us at every overnight town and the entire trip was seamless.
      We traveled in late June / early July and there were surprisingly few tourists in the towns we visited. Restaurants and sight seeing activities were therefore easily accessible, requiring no advance reservations. We added a couple of nights in La Rochelle pre-trip and in Bordeaux post, which we would highly recommend, we actually wished we'd had more time in Bordeaux - a spectacular city with lot's to see and do .... and eat and drink. Bon voyage!

      What was the date of your tour?
      June/July 23
      How many tours have you completed?
      3
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Cycling alongside fields of sunflowers (photo by Ronan Gardiner)
      • Coastal bike path (photo by Ronan Gardiner)
      • Arriving a one of our beautiful hotels (photo by Ronan Gardiner)
      • 4/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection

    Atlantic Coast of France

     Dates & Prices Book This Tour 

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