From La Rochelle to Bordeaux Cycle tour- Velodyssee and Gironde estuary
Pricing informations
Tour description
From La Rochelle to Bordeaux Cycle tour- Velodyssee and Gironde estuary
The Velodyssee from La Rochelle to Bordeaux cycle tour. From « la Rochelle » ancient fortified harbor, your cycling tour takes you along the Atlantic coast to discover the Charente Maritime area and at the end to Médoc vineyards through a great diversity of landscapes.
You will cycle along the Velodyssee to discover the island « Ile de Ré »! Wide sandy beaches, marshes, oyster farms or pine forests. You will continue your cycling holiday into backroads going through the Haute-Saintonge and Haute Gironde. Meeting with winemakers of the famous “Cognac” and “Pineau” of Charente will be an Highlight!
Then, you will cycle by superb Romanic churches, caves and some unique Gallo-Romanic sites. On your two wheels you will discover small ports on the estuary like Meschers sur Gironde, will stroll in city and charming villages like Talmont sur Gironde. This journey with various landscapes alternates bicycle paths trough forests and flat roads alongside streams of vineyards and cliffs, will allow you to discover the exceptional natural surrounding which will fulfil yourself with its diversity. the last cycling day will lead you from the Citadel of Blaye, the famous Margaux vineyard down to Bordeaux.
In the Royal city of Rochefort you’ll discover the “Corderie Royale”! Brouage citadel built by the French engineer Vauban, the marshes of Marennes, the oyster-farming port of La Tremblade and Royan.
You cross the Gironde Estuary by ferry to Lamarque and continue your bike trip across Médoc. Cycle along the seashore then through the vineyards where they grow numerous “Grands Crus” such as Château Margaux. You reach Margaux before getting to Bordeaux on your ride to discover this historic and lively city.
All in all, The Velodyssee La Rochelle cycle tour is a great cycling holiday!
You will be warmly welcomed every evening in 3 or 4 stars hotels and charming guest houses. To be more confortable during your cycling tours, we can Bike hire or an E-bike as you prefer
- The towns of La Rochelle, Royan and Bordeaux.
- The transporter bridge over the Charente at Rochefort
- Cycle paths along the Atlantic and in the Marennes marshes
- The wild and unspoiled shores of the Gironde estuary
- The limestone cliffs of Meschers and their picturesque fishing huts
- The Vauban Citadel of Blaye
Program
Arrive at your 4-star hotel in La Rochelle, where you will find the road book and bikes waiting for you. “La Rochelle” is a tourist and lively city, remarkable for its history. You can appreciate the old harbor and its towers which kept it the entrance from XIIIth century to XVth century. You can also enjoy the city centre and its arches as well as the town hall from the XVh century.
Overnight in a 4-star hotel. Breakfast included.
Loop tour to the island of “Ré”, passing through the towns of “Flotte en Ré” (dating from the XVIIIth century) and its fishing barges, “Saint-Martin” with its fortifications and its fortress. You will walk along the oyster beds, salt marshes and the nature reserve of the “illeau Niges”. Back by “La Couarde” and “Bois plage” on the coastline. Take a leisurely moment in the countryside.
Overnight in a 4-star hotel. Breakfast included.
Today’s cycling routes takes you alongside the coast and through the lively cities of “Chatelaillon” and “Fouras”. Your itinerary then continues by the nature reserve of the Yve’s Bay. In Fouras, possibility to take the ferry to the Island Aix and to visit this small island which welcomed the last pension of Napoleon 1st. Before arriving in “Marennes” the path takes you through “Rochefort”. This city founded in the seventeenth century around shipbuilding shares with you the original and unique transporter bridge “Eiffel”. The bike paths continues on the most beautiful coast of Atlantic ocean in France.Overnight in a 4-star hotel. Breakfast included.
Your itineraries take you on the road cycling go through the pine forest of the wild coast, the “Palmyre” where you can visit the zoo. For each cyclist it’s easy to observe the wildlife. You will arrive to “Royan” by “Saint Palais”, the beaches of “Vaux sur Mer”, “Pontaillac”, and the marina. It is a stage marked by the aromtic flavors of maritime pines.
Royan is a modern resort city that hides some beautiful villas of time, an original covered market and a festive and lively waterfront.
Overnight in a 3-star hotel. Breakfast included.
You will leave Royan by taking the “boulevard Garnier” and its beautiful villas from the XIX century. You will continue at the tof of the cliffs with a super view over the estuary. Here are hidden charming little wide ports. Discover Talmont-sur-Gironde, its church and blooming streets, the artisanal village of cave dweller dug in the limestone cliffs of Meshers-sur-Gironde. You will stop at the Park of the estuary, « pole nature » de la Charente Maritime, you will cross a forest overlooking the ocean and the estuary of the Gironde, but also you will cross Saint-Seurin-d’Uzet, the old capital of Caviar, with its port almost located in the centre of the village. More south, you will visit the wine-maker of Mortagne to discover all about the Pineau, Cognac and Charentais wine. Mortagne-sur-Gironde, lays on the with cliffs, its fishing and sailing port make it a unique site in the area.
Overnight in a charming guesthouse. Dinner and Breakfast included.
Go on along the Estuary on a very nice cycling path between marshes and dykes until Vitrezay, the gateway to Gironde. After a visit to the «Terres d’Oiseaux» bird sanctuary, a beautiful «Voie Verte» cycle track leads to the Blaye Citadel, built by Vauban and listed by UNESCO (alongside Fort Pâté and Fort Médoc) as the Vauban lock”. A ferry crosses the estuary from Blaye to Lamarque the next day.
Overnight and breakfast in hotel 3* or Charming guesthouse.
Discover Blaye and its famous citadel built by Vauban and take the ferry ! Your cycling day continue on the Médoc side in the heart of the Margaux and Haut Médoc vineyards. The Garonne River and the estuary of the Gironde mark profoundly the landscapes, through swamps, banks and small ports. There are so many spaces of discovery of the fauna and flora, the islands and the plaices. Through little roads continue towards Bordeaux, Unesco World Heritage.
Overnight in a 3-star hotel. Breakfast included.
After your breakfast.
Practical details
Luggage
The documents
The bikes
Accomodations
Support
We take care of transporting your luggage to the next accommodation so that you fully enjoy your daily ride.
You leave your luggage at the reception desk before your departure.
At the end of the afternoon, you recover them in the next accommodation (at the reception or directly in your room).
Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (20 kg maximum) + 1 hand luggage.
We remind you that rental bikes are equipped with saddlebags to be used to bring your belongings useful for the day.
Your travel pack corresponds to the documents or numeric files that you receive before your trip (usually one month before) and upon your arrival at the first accommodation.
It includes:
- A welcome letter with the main practical information:
- The time slot for luggage transport
- Details of the delivery and recovery of rental bikes if necessary
- Your local contact and telephone number(s) in case of emergency
- Any additional information
The travel book including a map with the route (at the appropriate scale) and directional, tourist and practical indications
The voucher(s) to be given to the service provider(s) (only if requested)
On request and depending on the tours:
The “Evazio” application to download to your Smartphone for a “GPS” guidance. This guidance is visual (reading of the track on the Smartphone’s screen) and vocal.
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 pre-loaded tracks
GPX traces of every step for use with your own navigation device
On this tour, you can choose on reservation:
- A hybrid bike suitable for touring and for the course
- An electric bike adapted to the route
With its equipment:
- 1 rear bag
- 1 handlebar bag
- 1 repair kit (for 1 or 2 bikes)
- 1 helmet (on request)
- 1 lock (for 1 or 2 bikes)
- 1 charger (for the electric bike)
For the youngest, we can propose depending on age and size
- A child bike
- A baby seat
- A trailer
- A bike trailer
The bike is delivered to the first accommodation and is adjusted to your size.
At the end of the course, the bike must be left at the last accommodation with its equipment. We will take care of their recovery.
This tour is available in a “superior” version :
The type of accommodation is classified into 3 ranges:
- Comfort : The trip mainly presents hotels classified 2 and 3 stars (or equivalent) and guesthouses.
- Superior : The tour mainly presents hotels classified 3 and 4 stars (or equivalent) and charming guesthouses.
- Luxe : The tour mainly presents hotels classified 2 and 3 stars or equivalent
Our assistance remains available for the duration of your stay.
