Cycling from Bordeaux to Biarritz
Sand dunes, pine forest and oyster villages along France's Atlantic coast
8 dagar
Cycling Self-Guided trip
Level 2
7 Breakfasts
Start in the wine capital Bordeaux and finish in the surf town Biarritz. In between, you follow La Vélodyssée, France's longest cycling route, southward along the glorious Atlantic coast. Almost the whole way you ride on cycle paths, often on old railway embankments, through the vast pine forest of Landes where the cicadas sing and the resin scents the air.
Every day the sea is just a short detour away: Lacanau's surf beaches, the 13 km long undeveloped beach at Le Porge, the oyster villages around the Arcachon Bay, and the view from Dune du Pilat. When the coast takes a break, sea blue is exchanged for lake blue at Cazaux and Sanguinet. On the last day you pass Hossegor and Capbreton before rolling into French Basque Country, through Bayonne and out to classic Biarritz. A flat, salty, and oyster-rich journey!
Tour Highlights
Roll along La Vélodyssée through the pine forest to Lacanau
Cycle through oyster villages and take the boat across the Arcachon Bay
Climb Dune du Pilat, Europe's tallest sand dune
Pedal along the great lakes of Cazaux, Sanguinet and Biscarrosse
Enter the Basque Country via Bayonne and finish in Biarritz
Program
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7 Breakfasts included
You check in at your hotel in Bordeaux, where the roadbook and rental bikes are already waiting. The Romans called the city Burdigala, and ever since it has lived with and from wine. The light limestone architecture has earned Bordeaux a place on UNESCO's World Heritage List, and the Garonne River is the city's pulse. Along the quays, half the city strolls, jogs and cycles, and from here boat tours depart on the river. If you're lucky, a cruise ship will dock right in the centre, a magnificent spectacle among the 18th-century façades.
Level and standard
Easy but pleasantly long cycling days averaging 50 km per day. The elevation gain is almost negligible, and the route runs peacefully along cycle paths and sometimes small roads and forest trails. Suitable for those with normal fitness who enjoy spending a few hours in the saddle. With an e-bike it becomes even easier and the stops even longer.
You stay in a mix of hotels and charming B&Bs with 2-4 stars, most of good mid-range standard with some finer hotels in, among others, Lacanau and Arcachon. For one or two nights the accommodation may be simpler depending on availability, especially during high season. Breakfast is included every day, and you choose dinner yourself among the local oyster bars and bistros.
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