From the D-Day landing beaches to Mont Saint-Michel by bike
Price per person
From 975€
Type of stay
Location
Duration
Difficulty
Departures
Capacity
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Your stay
From the D-Day landing beaches to Mont Saint-Michel by bike. Cycling the west coast of Normandy
This tour will give you the opportunity to cycle to the magical Bay of Mont Saint-Michel from the famous landing beaches in Western Normandy. A multi-faceted cycling trip through recent history, from D-Day of the Second World War to medieval history, all set in unique natural scenery and along the peaceful roads of the Calvados and Cotentin regions. On the program,
Recent history: Juno, Gold and Omaha beaches, where American, British and Canadian troops landed on June 06, 1944. We’ll leave Utah beach to one side for the moment. A good excuse to come back and visit this beautiful region of France! You can visit the moving American cemetery at Collevile-sur-Mer or the remains of the artificial harbour at Mulberry. A vacation full of history and emotion.
On the older side of history, you can visit the medieval city of Bayeux, with its famous Tapestry and cathedral, walk along some remarkable abbeys and stroll through the narrow streets of Mont Saint-Michel.
In terms of nature, this cycling tour takes in the seashore of the English Channel, but also the peaceful Aure valley in the hinterland. It passes through the Parc Naturel des Marais du Cotentin, with its typical Norman landscape of hedged farmland and gentle hills, offering here and there remarkable, restful panoramas. In the distance, the English islands of Gersey and Guernsey! After Avranches, the route finally leads into the spectacular Bay of Mont Saint-Michel, with its salt meadows occupied by adorable flocks of sheep and local oyster farmers. Get your camera ready. The Wonder of Mont Saint-Michel will soon be taking up all the space!
You'll enjoy :
- The landing beaches and other sites of the Battle of Normandy
- The idyllic Normandy Bocage: cows, orchards, hedges and ponds.
- The Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel.
- The Cotentin peninsula and Normandy coast.
Daily program
Day 1 - Arrival in Bayeux
Take time to visit the medieval city of Bayeux, with its inevitable Tapestry and Cathedral.
Before dining in one of the town’s excellent restaurants, we recommend a walk through the historic town center, which was the Allied quarter after D-Day. Bayeux was spared the bombardments, and today boasts a number of fine buildings dating back to the Middle Ages.
Day 2 - Loop to Arromanches
- 36 or 61 km
- 210 or 550m
You then follow the coast to Gold beach in Arromanches, where you return to the short option. Here you can admire the remains of the Mulberry B artificial harbour and take a short break before visiting the bunkers of the German Battery at Longues sur Mer.
Take a leisurely drive back to Bayeux along the Aure valley. Enjoy an evening stroll through the historic center and dinner in one of the excellent restaurants the town has to offer.
Overnight in Bayeux.
Day 3 - Bayeaux to Carentan
- 62 or 76 km
- 410 or 460m
Leaving Bayeux, drive through the Bessin countryside to reach the coast at Colleville-sur-Mer. This village lies at the eastern end of Omaha Beach, which since 1956 has housed the bodies of 9,387 soldiers buried in the American Cemetery. After your visit, you follow the Omaha beaches to the west, continuing on to Pointe du Hoc.
You then leave the coast for the famous Bocage Normand, scene of painful fighting between American GIs and German soldiers. After a visit to the German cemetery at La Cambe, you cross the Parc Naturel des Marais du Cotentin before reaching Carentan. Your accommodation is ideally located in the town center. Overnight in Carentan.
Day 4 - Carentan to Agon-Containville
- 55 km
- 380m
Today’s program: crossing the marsh on country roads. The landscape begins to change: small hills and isolated dairy farms.
After a brief passage through Coutances and its superb cathedral, you head west, south of the river “Sienne”. The contrast between the grey granite of the houses and the emerald blue of the sea is striking.
You’ll be staying in a family-run hotel on the coast.
Day 5 - Agon-Coutainville to Granville
- 48 km
- 315m
Today, you have a choice of two itineraries: the short option allows you to enjoy the beach as you follow the road all the way to Granville. On very narrow paths, you’ll witness the spectacle of the “farmers of the sea”: men and machines march to the rhythm of the tides to work in the oyster beds.
The long option takes you into the bocage, past the old Hambye abbey, before rejoining the previous route along the coast.
Your hotel is located on the Granville yacht club level.
Day 6 - Granville to Avranches
- 47 or 59 km
- 530 or 670m
You leave the coast and enter the inland, where a hilly landscape unfolds as far as Lucerne Abbey. You then head south to the bay around Saint-Jean-Le-Thomas. Continue as far as Cap de Grouin, before arriving in Avranches.
Your hotel is located in the historic city center.
(Comfort option: gourmet dinner included)
Day 7 - Avranches - Mont Saint-Michel - Pontorson
- 29 or 57 km
- 115 or 415m
The road out of Avranches offers spectacular panoramic views of the bay and the Mont. You skirt the foreshore and meet the sheep and lambs of the salt meadows. You then pass by the German Ossuary of Mont Huismes to finally reach Mont-Saint-Michel. Your hotel is located on the mainland, from where a shuttle bus takes you to the foot of the Mont. It takes 3 hours to visit this island town and its abbey on foot.
At the end of the day, follow the peaceful Couesnon canal to the small town of Pontorson, where you’ll spend the night.
Day 8 - Departure
Departure after breakfast
rates
Price per person
| Comfort version (2&3*) | Superior version (3*+) | |
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Price includes
- 7 nights in 2 and 3*+ hotels with breakfasts (in double/twin rooms)
- 1 dinner
- Route book (with map and directions)
- Access to a GPS App
- Luggage transfer at each stage
- 24/7 technical assistance
Supplement
- VTC bike rental: €180
- Electric bike rental: €270
- Gravel bike rental: €270
- departure other than Monday and Saturday if 2 or 3 people: + €30 per person
- Return transfer to Bayeux: €220 (€310 on Sundays and public holidays).
Further information
We take care of transporting your luggage every time you change accommodation, so you can travel light and enjoy your day’s hiking.
Leave your luggage at the reception desk of your accommodation before departure.
At the end of the afternoon, you’ll meet them at the reception desk of your new accommodation or directly in your room.
Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (maximum 23 kg) + 1 carry-on.
Your travel file corresponds to the documents or files you receive prior to your trip (generally one month before) and/or on arrival at your first accommodation.
It includes :
A welcome letter with key practical information:
- Baggage transport times
- Details of delivery and collection of rental bikes if required
- Your local contact and emergency telephone number(s)
- Any additional information
Travel logbook including map with route (at the appropriate scale) and directional, tourist and practical information
Any necessary vouchers to be given to the service provider(s)
On request and depending on the tour:
- Download the “Evazio” application onto your smartphone for GPS navigation with visual (reading the route on your smartphone screen) and/or spoken guidance. The application also contains practical and tourist information. Once the trip has been downloaded, no Internet connection is required.
- Loan of a GPS device with pre-recorded tracks
- Send GPX tracks of each stage for use with your own navigation device
On this tour, we can provide you with a choice of the following, upon reservation:
- A VTC bike adapted to the ride and the route
- An electric bike adapted to the route
With equipment :
- 1 rear bag
- 1 handlebar bag
- 1 repair kit
- 1 helmet
- 1 anti-theft device
- 1 charger (for electric bike)
For younger children, depending on age and size, we can offer
- A child’s bike
- A baby seat
- A trailer
- A follower bike
The bike is adjusted to your size and delivered to the first accommodation.
At the end of the tour, the bike must be left at the last accommodation with its equipment. We’ll take care of collecting them.
This tour is available in the “comfort” or “superior” category.
Hotel categories :
- Comfort: The tour features mainly 2 and 3-star hotels (or equivalent comfort level) and bed & breakfasts.
- Superior: The tour features mainly 3- and 4-star hotels (or equivalent level of comfort) and charming bed & breakfasts.
- Luxury: The tour features mainly 4- and 5-star hotels (or equivalent level of comfort).
For the duration of your stay, our telephone assistance service is available:
- 7 days a week
- from 07:30 to 20:30.
Itinerary
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