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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.
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. -
![La Rochelle, France. Karim MANJRA, Unsplash]()
![La Rochelle To Bordeaux France Bike Tour]()
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![Bordeaux, France. Filipe C Sousa, Unsplash]()
CC-BY-SA-4.0 - Cathedral of St Andrews, Bordeaux, France. CC:Lockx3r' data-type='image'>![Cathedral of St Andrews, Bordeaux, France. CC:Lockx3r]()
![Chateaux in Bordeaux, France. Árpád Czapp@Unsplash]()
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]()
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![French treats! Fabian Centeno, Unsplash]()
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]()
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![La Rochelle To Bordeaux, France Bike Tour]()
![Rosé & cheese in France. Pauleinerhand@Unsplash]()
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]()
![La Rochelle, France. Simon Pallard, Unsplash]()
![Great wines in Bordeaux, France. Brett Jordan@Unsplash]()
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]()
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Traveler photos
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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.frHôtel de La Corderie Royale, Rochefort
www.all.accor.comHotel Grand Chalet, La Tremblade
www.logishotels.comHôtel Cordouan, Royan
www.thalazur.frDomaine du Meunier, Mortagne sur Gironde
www.domainedumeunier.comGuest room Clos Reaud, Blaye
www.closreaud-citadelle.comHotelMajestic, Bordeaux
www.hotel-majestic.comInterested 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, FranceTour end
Nearest airport: Paris, France
Nearest train station: Bordeaux, FranceFrom 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.
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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!
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Reviews
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★★★★★ 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
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