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Northern Gironde by bike. Great lakes, ocean and estuary

Price per person

From 955€

Type of stay

Bicycle trip

Location

Bordeaux, Royan - France

Duration

8 days

Difficulty

Departures

Daily from April to October

Capacity

2 people minimum

Reference

Cyclo 20-3

Your stay

Discover the northern Gironde by bike. Great lakes, ocean and estuary!

Departing from Bordeaux, a cycling tour of northern Gironde, a region flooded with water and sunshine! Lovers of nature, nature reserves and beaches will be delighted.

You’ll pass Lacanau, Etang de Cousseau and Lac d’Hourtin. These large lakes in the Médoc region of the Gironde originally bordered the Atlantic Ocean, before being separated from it by a chain of dunes. Wild and unspoilt, they are ideal for family bathing. You’ll find sandy beaches in the shade of pine trees (except for the Etang de Cousseau, a nature reserve not to be missed!). Among these lakes is the largest freshwater lake in France: Lac de Hourtin-Carcans.

Your cycling trip will also take you along the Atlantic coast following the “Vélodyssée”, the famous bike route along the ocean. A pleasant, rolling route between Lacanau Océan and Le Verdon at the tip of the Médoc peninsula. This is an opportunity to make regular stops on the endless ocean beaches bordered by dunes, a paradise for surfers who come to test themselves against the ceaseless rollers. There’s little shade here, but a permanent spectacle!

After crossing the mouth of the Gironde estuary (Europe’s largest!) by boat, between Le Verdon and Royan, there’s a change of scenery. This cycling tour leaves the ocean and its long beaches behind, to criss-cross the limestone cliffs overlooking the waters of the estuary. A pleasant route lined with Carrelets (small fishermen’s huts on stilts), punctuated by fishing villages and rocky coves. The blue waters of the ocean gradually turn brown as you enter the estuary. Then come the marshy plains of the estuary, a paradise for birds, between Mortagne sur Gironde and the Citadelle de Blaye.

To round off your cycling holiday, a final crossing of the Blaye estuary will take you to the wine-growing lands of the Médoc. You’ll pass through the vineyards of Moulis and Margaux, and finally reach Bordeaux along the majestic quays of the Garonne, listed by UNESCO, to your hotel.

You’ll be welcomed every evening in 3 and 4* hotels, (1 2* hotel) and charming B&Bs.

You'll enjoy :

The ocean coast and the Great Lakes of the Atlantic coast, from Lacanau to Verdon
The seaside resorts of Lacanau, Montalivet and Soulac
The wild Gironde estuary, between limestone cliffs and wet meadows
The Vauban Citadel at Blaye
Moulis and Margaux wineries

Back to travel

Daily program

Day 1 - Arrival in Bordeaux

Arrival at your accommodation in Bordeaux. You will be welcomed in a hotel***. We’ll provide you with documentation on the region and a road book indicating your route. Bordeaux, the ancient Roman “Burdigala”, inextricably linked to its vineyards… shines brightly in its stone finery to dispense with artifice. Bordeaux is second only to Paris in France for the number of listed monuments. The Garonne River, the heart of the city, welcomes walkers on its banks or for boat trips. Everyone can make the quays their own, hoping to witness the stopover of a cruise liner, the “astonishing spectacle” of a giant of the seas in the heart of the city.

Night and breakfast in a *** hotel.

Day 2 - Bordeaux to Lacanau-Océan

Your cycling holiday in Aquitaine takes you from Bordeaux, the wine capital, to Lacanau Océan, a seaside town on the Atlantic coast. You’ll cycle along the Voie Verte, a cycle path that follows the route of the old Bordeaux-Lacanau railroad line. It’s in the heart of nature, with dense vegetation and a shady path. It’s a beautiful, safe, rolling route, dominated by the pine forest and the song of the cicadas.

“Lacanau-Océan, where cycling is a way of life, is appreciated for its long ocean beaches sheltered by dunes and forests, its lakes and unspoilt natural areas. The resort is also renowned for its surf spots. Villas built in the early 20th century bear witness to a rich past.

Overnight stay and breakfast in a *** hotel

Day 3 - The Great Médoc Lakes from Lacanau to Montalivet

Get on your bike and continue north along the Vélodyssée. Here, the cycle route continues along a bike path through the pines, between lakes and ocean.

Leave Lac de Lacanau and follow a charming, shady track through the dunes to the seaside resort of Carcans Maubuisson and Lac d’Hourtin. Follow the lake then the Route des Phares, and after a final ocean break at Hourtin plage, head due north to Montalivet les bains.

Overnight in a Bed and Breakfast hotel. Evening free.

Day 4 - Montalivet to Royan

The sandy beaches as far as the eye can see, and the seaside resorts of Vendays-Montalivet and Soulac-sur-Mer will be the highlights of this short day’s cycling, with plenty of opportunities for discovery and relaxation. The day will be punctuated by the crossing of the Gironde Estuary from Le Verdon to Royan (a unique experience thanks to the ferry) and the discovery of Royan in the evening (its marina, its cathedral considered a masterpiece of modern architecture).

Overnight in a Bed and Breakfast hotel. Evening free.

Day 5 - Royan to Mortagne

You’ll set off from Royan along the beautiful 19th-century villas and carrelets, the typical large fishing nets. You’ll continue along the cliff top, with superb views over Western Europe’s largest estuary. Charming little harbours are hidden away here. Discover Talmont sur Gironde, with its church and flower-filled streets, or Meschers and its troglodyte caves. Stop off at the Parc de l’estuaire, Charente Maritime’s nature park, and Saint-Seurin-d’Uzet, the former Caviar capital, with its harbour practically in the center of the village.

Further south, you can visit the cellars of the Mortagne producers to learn all about Pineau, Cognac and Charentais wines. Mortagne-sur-Gironde, perched on its white cliffs, is a unique site in the region, a marina and fishing port.

Overnight half-board in a charming B&B.

Day 6 - Mortagne to Blaye

Continue along the estuary on a pleasant greenway through marshes and dykes to Vitrezay, gateway to the Gironde. After a visit to the Terres d’Oiseaux ornithological park at Port des Callonges, a beautifully landscaped greenway leads to the foot of the Blaye citadel, fortified by Vauban and recognized by UNESCO. A ferry takes you across the Blaye estuary to Lamarque the next day!

Overnight in a Bed and Breakfast hotel or charming B&B. Evening at leisure.

Day 7 - Blaye to Bordeaux

After crossing the Gironde estuary, the route leads directly into the heart of the Médoc vineyards, where villages and châteaux with world-famous names follow one another. You’ll pass through the vineyards of Moulis, then Margaux (passing in front of the famous Château Margaux) and the Haut Médoc. (Just after the ferry, you can visit Fort Médoc).

The cycle route then continues through more urbanized areas before arriving in Bordeaux… with a grand finale on the banks of the Garonne.

Overnight in a Bed and Breakfast hotel. Evening free.

Day 8 - Departure

Departure after breakfast.

rates

Price per person

8 days – 7 nights: €955 / July & August: €985

Price includes

7 nights in 3 and 4* hotels (1 2* hotel) and bed & breakfasts (in double/twin rooms)
1 dinner
Road book (with map and directions)
1 GPS navigation application
Luggage transfer at each stage
24/7 technical assistance

Supplement

VTC bike rental: € 145
Electric bike rental: €280
Gravel rental: €260

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

A gravel bike adapted to the course

With equipment :

Bag 1

Handlebar bag

Repair kit

Anti-theft device

Headset

1 rear bag
1 handlebar bag
1 repair kit
1 helmet (on request)
1 anti-theft device
1 charger (for electric bike)

For younger children, depending on age and size, we can offer

Children's bikes

Bicycle follower

Trailer

Second trailer

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 offered in the “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.

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