Cycling holidays in France : Bordeaux vineyard and ocean

Tourism > South France > Cycling holidays > Cycling in France > Wine tours > From the Bordeaux vineyards to the ocean

Conditions de departure

Departure

On request

from April, 10 to October, 15

Price

8 days - 7nights : 779 €

Bike rental : 70 €

Capacity

min : 2

Level

All level

30 à 50 km per day

Included

Accommdation

Hotels and charming guesthouses

Meal

5 nights half board

(wine & café)

2 nights B&B (in Arcachon)

Equipment

New hybrid bykes, road book

Assistance

Taxi transfer, luggage transport

Booking

F Ask for a technical file

F Conditions of sale

F Booking

"From the Bordeaux vineyards to the ocean"

8 days

Ref : Cyclo 01

Self-guided cycling tour across the Gironde region in France and its various richenesses : The prestigious Bordeaux vineyards and the ocean coast. With a road book and a new hybrid bike (with all the equipment), you will ride through the area starting by the Entre deux Mers vineyards, going on by the pine forest of the Gascogne Regional Park and reaching the Arcachon bay and the ocean. You will take cycling tracks as well as small roads, quite flat and will enjoy the evening in charming hotel and guesthouses.

Program

Day 1 : Arrival at Bordeaux and transfer to Capian (included)

Arrival at the railway station or at the airport. Transfer by Taxi to “the Château de Grand Branet”, a Bacchus guesthouse with a “3 ears of corn” rating, where you will receive a guidebook indicating your tour. The owners will welcome you to their 17^th – century residence, which was refurbished in the19th century and is set in the heart of their winegrowing estate. Dinner in the company of your hosts, night and breakfast.

Day 2 : The “Entre-Deux-Mer” area. Capian to Saint Macaire 35 km approx.

You will start your trip by cycling through the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux winegrowing area and arriving in the Côtes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire area. This day gives you the opportunity to enjoy a superb view of the Garonne River and to visit the heart of the old merchant town of Saint-Macaire. Your tour will take you to the bastide town of Cadillac and its castle, as well as the former residence of the painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec at Château Malromé and that of the writer François Mauriac at Domaine de Malagar. Accommodation in a charming hotel*** with a swimming pool, in the medieval town of Saint-Macaire. Dinner, night and breakfast.

Day 3 : Towards the Sauternes wineyards and the Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park. Saint Macaire to Saint Symphorien 38 km approx.

Departure from Saint-Macaire to cross over to the left bank of the Garonne River. The tour follows the twisting roads through the world-famous vines of the Sauternes areas, including the jewel in its crown : Château Yquem. The itinerary goes on to Budos, then through the valleys carved out by the River Ciron, to Leogats and Nouaillan. You then carry on to Balizac where you enter the Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park, before reaching Saint-Symphorien(1) or Origne(2) for the night.

(1) Stay in the village of Saint-Symphorien in guesthouses in the charming guesthouse with a swimming pool and meet your host.

(2) Stay in the charming little village of Origne. The owners will welcome you to this building in the center of the village offering a range of services here in the heart of the Gironde countryside. Dinner, night and breakfast.

Day 4 : Throughout the Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park. Saint Symphorien to Le Barp 38 km approx

You are given your picnic basket and head off. You will be riding along a lovely little forest road offering great variety and taking you westwards. Heading towards Louchats, the pine forest becomes denser and the scent of pine resin richer. Leave your bicycle at the site of the lagoons of Gât-Mort and discover the water beneath the carpet of fern.

For your picnic the lakes of Hostens offer plenty of shade by the shore, perfect for an afternoon nap.

The cycling track will then take you, between pine trees and heather, to the small road of Le Barp

Stay in a charming little hotel**, stone built. The owner, with an irreproachable reception, may serve you local food on the terrace shaded by suspended vines and cooled by a fountain.

Day 5 : Towards the Bay of Arcachon and the Ocean. Le Barp to the bay of Arcachon and the ocean. 51 km.

With your picnic you will cycle gently along the cycling track to Mios, where the itinerary follows a little road as the pine forest gradually thins. Crossing over the railway line takes you to Le Teich, where the Park meets the sea. Enter the ornithological park and take a break. The landscape opens out to the light of the Bay of Arcachon.

Take the coastal path with the salt from the bay under your wheels and follow the scent of the sea air to Gujan-Mestras.

A link route will lead you to the little forest rod taking you as far as the Atlantic seaboard. Pay a visit to the nationally-renowned site of the Dune du Pyla, where you can leave your bike and climb to the top of the highest dune of Europe. The view from the top is breathtaking.

For your evening, you can chose between the natural environment of Pyla sur Mer(1) with an accommodation in Hotel**, close to the dune or the Town of Arcachon (2) with an accommodation in hotel*** for an evening on the seafront or at the casino.

Day 6 and more :

You will stay 2 last days in this last hotel in order to visit more deeply the Bay of Arcachon and take advantage of the Ocean. You will have daily cycling tours to visit both sides of the bay

Day 6 : Around Cap Ferret

Take the boat to cross the Bay of Arcachon to reach the Cap Ferret and ride throughout the other side of the Bay. Leave your bicycle to walk up to the top of the lighthouse. Keep going cycling to reach the very pretty oyster village of l’Herbe, the reservoirs as well as the Tapper’s Shack. Do not miss the last departure of the boat to cross back the bay and return to your hotel.

Day 7: Into the Domaine de Certes in Audenge

Leave Arcachon and take the cycling track via the Port of La Teste. Leave the track and take the “7 oyster ports of Gujan Mestras” small road that runs round the bay alongside the railway station.

A cycling track will take you then to Le Teich, Biganos and Audenge.

Possible choices : Stopp-off at the port of Biganos

Stopp-off at the Ornithologic Parc of Le Teich

Stopp-off at the Domaine de Certe in Audenge

Back to your hotel for your last night.

Day 8 : End of Tour.

After breakfast take the train back from Arcachon to Bordeaux, for flight or rail connections (not included approx 9 Euros)