Cycling in Bordeaux - Arcachon Bay

Arrival in Bordeaux and private transfer from the airport or train station to Cadillac and your first overnight stay in the heart of the vineyards. At the hotel you will receive bicycles, route descriptions and maps.

The journey begins among the vineyards in Entre-deux-Mers – "the land between the two seas", meaning the rivers Garonne and Dordogne. You pass vineyards in Premières Côtes de Bordeaux and Côtes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire with beautiful views over the river. Make sure to stop in the medieval trading town of Saint-Macaire with its stone vaults, squares and wine merchant houses. On the way back you pass the small bastide town of Cadillac and its impressive castle, as well as Château Malromé where the artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec lived, and Domaine de Malagar, home to the author François Mauriac.

The day begins by crossing the river Garonne to its left bank. Here the roads begin to wind through the world-famous vineyards of Sauternes – home to France's most exclusive sweet wines. You pass Château Yquem, the crown jewel among all wine châteaux, and continue via Budos and Leogats towards Nouaillan. Soon you reach Balizac and cycle into the Regional Natural Park Landes de Gascogne, where pine forests, heathlands and small rivers take over. The stage ends in the small village of Saint-Symphorien, where you stay at a charming guesthouse in the middle of rural Gironde. Tonight you stay at a country house where dinner is served. What good wine will accompany the meal?

You cycle along narrow forest roads where the scent of pine and resin becomes stronger the further west you go. The road leads towards Louchats and on to the small lagoons of Gât-Mort, where ferns grow densely around the clear water. Make a stop at the lakes of Hostens, perfect for a picnic or siesta in the shade. The journey then continues among heather and pine trees to Le Barp, a small town with a stone-built hotel with pool and a terrace shaded by grapevines.

Today's stage goes on fine cycle paths through the pine forests towards Mios. Here the forest gradually thins out and you can smell the sea. You pass Le Teich, where the river meets the sea and where the famous ornithological park is located – an excellent stop for birdwatching. The landscape opens up and soon you reach Gujan-Mestras and then Arcachon. Here a lovely evening awaits by the promenade or perhaps a visit to the casino. Those who wish can take an extra bike trip to the sand dune Dune du Pilat (about 20 km round trip).

The trip ends after breakfast and you can take the train back to Bordeaux. There is also the possibility to extend the trip with one or two nights in Arcachon including additional cycling opportunities along different cycle routes along the bay with its small harbors and over to Cap Ferret with a visit to the small oyster village L'Herbe (supplement for extra bike rental).