Boat and bike cycling holiday around Bordeaux - France
Pricing informations
Tour description
Bike and boat holiday in Bordeaux area in Gironde
The Bordeaux bike and boat tour alllows you to travel in France’s legendary wine capital, Bordeaux. Iconic châteaux, timeless vineyards and delicious wine tastings are plentiful as you visit Libourne, Blaye, Bourg, Margaux and Graves. The Boat and Bike Bordeaux vineyard tour is a must for anyone interested in the best of French culture,wine and food.
Your original discovery of the Bordeaux region by cruise and bike. Your ship hotel will sail from Castets en Dorthe, starting point of the famous Canal du Midi to Libourne via Pauillac and Bourg sur Gironde, without forgetting a stopover in the heart of Bordeaux. Then, you will leave your cruise every day for a bike tour across one of the Bordeaux vineyards.
You will fall in love with Bordeaux vineyard, In other words you’ll appreciate to taste and recoganize the difference between wines from Medoc, Sauternes, Loupiac, Saint-emilion and côtes de Bourg. and you won’t let go without your Bottle of wine!
Moreover you will visit some sumptuous villages and cities such as Sant-emilion Bourg and of course Bordeaux! Saint-Emilion is one of the best area for Michelin-star restaurant in France, At the end of the day, back on your boat and sailing on the Garonne, the Dordogne or the Estuary of the Gironde to reach the next step. A real opportunity to take another look at the Bordeaux surroundings. Briefing every day by our board guide on the daily cycling tour and handing over your daily road book.
You will be accommodated in one of the ship cabins and will have dinner every night on board. You will enjoy the bar and the upper deck, pleasant relaxation places after a cycling and / or visit day. We promise you that when you’ll come back home, you will be an expert of Bordeaux wine! .To be more confortable during your cycling tours, we can Bike hire or an E-bike as you prefer!
- The discovery of most of the Bordeaux vineyards
- Loop rides distance’s choice
- Daytime river navigation on the Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde Estuary
- A stopover on the quays of Bordeaux, classified as World Heritage
Program
Remark : This trip is changing direction weekly during high season. You will either go from Castets-en-Dorthe to Libourne or the other way around.
Arrival in Bordeaux, in Aquitaine, and if you like bus transfer from Bordeaux train station at 14h00 to the ship at Castets en Dorthe. We help you with your luggage, and show you your cabin. Afterwards, you can take over your bike and start your first small trip in Castets. This fruitful region is also called ‘Little Holland’, due to its many vegetable fields and fruit gardens. During your welcome drink, you will get to know the ship team and the other guests. At dinner, you may be able to have first conversations with other travelers. You will sit at big tables, and it is possible to switch places on a daily basis.
Cruise from Castets en Dorthe to Loupiac
After a restful night on board, the first town you will discover by bike is the lovely Saint Macaire and its wonderfull gate and walls. There is opportunity to visit the former residence of the writer Francois Mauriac as well as having your first wine tasting at a château. Riding along korn and sunflower fields you reach La Réole, using an Eiffel style bridge over the river Garonne. This town is famous because in 1190 Richard Lionheart, on his way to the holy Land, gave the town hall building to thank the locals for their loyalty to the English crown. This historical place holds two castles, an impressive church as well as narrow cobbelstoned streets. To end the day you will enjoy the bike path along the « canal de la Garonne » and its deep blue water, built in Napoleon times. You can either go directly back to the ship or ride to Meilhan-sur-Garonne and the amazing scenery it has to offer.
Cruise from Loupiac to Bordeaux
Today we will discover the Sauternes region, where sweet dessert wines are made. We start by enjoying the view from Sainte-Croix du Mont before having a look at the grave of painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Then the backroad follows the winding banks of the Ciron River, whose icy waters flow into the warmer waters of the Garonne. In the autumn, when the climate is warm and dry, the combination of the two different temperatures produce the mist that descends on the vineyards, promoting the perfect conditions for the famous Sauternes wine. You will pass the famous vineyards of Grands Crus like Château d’Yquem, Château Guiraud, Clos Haut Peyraguey, and many more. Wine tastings are offered here! You’ll learn a lot about appellations, white wines process, winemaking, grape varieties like Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet sauvignon, Malbec or Cabernet Franc.
Cadillac is located in the region of Graves, also known as the birthplace of Bordeaux wines. It is a fortified medieval village known as the Bastide in the Entre-Deux-Mers wine region in between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers.
Once back on board, you will travel along the Garonne River towards the enchanting city of Bordeaux,
reaching the passage of the Stone Bridge and the pier in the city center, facing the region’s most prestigious panorama : the Stone Bridge, Place de la Bourse and Quai des Chartrons.
Docked in Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a UNESCO world heritage for a reason. The list of buildings, place and hidden gems is worth seeing : Walk into the city via La Porte Cailhau, the royal entrance. We suggest a thorough tour: Bordeaux is a City that doesn’t just glow due to its individual buildings, but through the grandiose well preserved old city. Worth seeing is the Capuchine Market (perhaps with tastings of wine and oysters), the basilica, the Pont de Pierre, the first bridge of the city, which was built back in the day on Napoleons orders. You may admire the many squares and old train trollies. In and around Bordeaux are many opportunities for sightseeing and shopping.
Cruise from Bordeaux to Lamarque, then from Lamarque to Bourg
Today we arrive in one of the most famous french wine regions of the world where we prodcuce only red wines appellation, the left bank of Bordeaux : the Médoc. Quickly you will get to the Château Lamothe Bergeron. Tourism and wineries are developing around here. The most famous vineyards are: :
Maucaillou, Poujeaux Rauzan Ségla Palmer, Issan, Priorat Lichine, Kirwan and the Château Margaux who is classified first growth 1855. They offer many opportunities for a stop, with or without wine tasting. You also have the opportunity to extend today’s trip to Margaux, the “Grand cru” area. You will pass by many vineyards, Chateaux Mouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Lynch-Bages, Cos d’Estournel, Pontet Canet, Pichon Longueville and other classified Grands Crus Lagen.
A romantic route will be traveled in the evening on the ship We will move further to Bourg sur Gironde.
Navigation de Bourg à Libourne / Fronsac
Cette région offre un paysage vallonné recouvert de vignes interminables et parsemé de châteaux, d’élégants monuments comme l’église romane de Bayon. Vous avez le choix de visiter quelques Châteaux comme Tayac, Eyquem, Monconseil-Gazin, Marquis de Vauban et bien d’autres. Au détour de la très belle et paisible route de la Corniche le long de l’Estuaire, tombez sur les ruines d’une Villa Gallo-Romaine, à Plassac. Puis une boucle à travers la Citadelle de Blaye classée au patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO. Ne manquez pas la visite guidée des souterrains de cette forteresse de l’architecte Vauban. De retour à Bourg, le typique lavoir à proximité du port vous permet de vous rafraîchir au retour de votre excursion du jour. En soirée, nous naviguererons en direction de Libourne/Fronsac.
Docked in Libourne
At the beginning of today’s roundtrip, you will discover the small town of Libourne, as well as the famous vineyards of Pomerol and Saint-Emilion. You should take your time in St-Emilion. The medieval village is also a UNESCO world heritage. Enjoy the amazing view of the medieval streets and surrounding vineyards. Visit the monolithic church and indulge in the small town flair with its wonderful bistros and restaurants.
Your trip will continue to scenic country roads, where you will have a nice overview of many well known chateaux of Saint-Emilion and Pomerol. Angelus, Beausejour, Ausone, Cheval Blanc, Dominica, Trottevieille, Gaubert, Barde-Haut Clos La Madeleine, Bel Air Monange Laroque, Fombrauge Grand Corbin, Gazin, Petrus, a small village, Nenin … Here are growing some of the most famous wines of the world. A real paradise for wine lovers and winemakers. Your ship will wait for you at the end of the day, at the dock of Libourne.
Transfer back to Bordeaux (optional) after your last breakfast on board, it is time to say goodbye. Around 9am you will take the bus back to the train station of St Jean in Bordeaux for 10h00.
Practical details
- Luggages
- Documents
- Bikes
- Accomodations
- Support
We take care of transporting your luggage at each change of accommodation so that you travel light and take full advantage of your daily hike.
You leave your luggage at the reception of your accommodation before your departure .
At the end of the afternoon, you will find them at the reception of your new accommodation or directly in your room.
Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (20 kg maximum) + 1 piece of hand luggage.
We remind you that rental bicycles are equipped with saddlebags to be used to transport the things you deem useful for the day
Your travel record corresponds to the documents or files you receive before your trip (usually a month before) and upon arrival at the first accommodation.
It includes:
- A welcome letter with the main practical information:
- The time slot for baggage transport
- Details of the delivery and collection of bikes from rental if necessary
- Your local contact and telephone number (s) in case of emergency
- Any additional information
- The logbook travel package including map with the route (to the appropriate scale) and directional, tourist and practical indications
- The necessary voucher (s) to be given to the service provider (s) (only if necessary!)
On request and depending on the circuits:
- The “Evazio” application to download from smartphone for “GPS” navigation with visual guidance (reading of the track on the your smartphone) and / or oral.
- The application also contains practical and tourist information. Once the trip has been downloaded, no internet connection is necessary
- The loan of a GPS device with the pre-recorded tracks
- Sends GPX tracks of each stage to be used with your own navigation support
On this circuit, we suggest that you provide you with the choice and by reservation:
- A hybrid bike suitable for hiking and for the route
- An electric bike adapted to the route
With its equipment:
- 1 rear bag
- 1 handlebar bag
- 1 set of repair
- 1 helmet
- 1 anti-theft device
- 1 charger (for the electric bike)
For the youngest, we can offer depending on age and size
- A child’s bike
- A baby seat
- A trailer
- A follow-up bike
The bike is delivered to the first accommodation and is adjusted to your size.
At the end of the tour, the bike must be left at the last accommodation with its equipment. We will take care of their recovery.
The type of accommodation is classified into 3 ranges:
Comfort : The circuit mainly presents hotels classified 2 and 3 stars (or equivalent) and rooms of host.
Superior : The circuit mainly presents hotels classified 3 and 4 stars (or equivalent) and charming guest rooms.
Luxury : The circuit mainly presents 4 and 5 star hotels or equivalent
Our support team remains available for the duration of your trip.