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Normandy

Normandy bike tour : from Bayeux to Mont-Saint-Michel

Enjoy a cycling holiday that alternates between little-traveled secondary roads and the Vélomaritime cycle path. From Bayeux to Mont-Saint-Michel, discover Normandy by bike, through its countryside and historic cities.

Reference N0901
  • Itinerant trip
  • 9 days
  • Moderate
  • From April to October
  • Minimum age 14 years
GPSGPS-app available
1229€ / pers.
  • Itinerary
  • You start off in Bayeux, world-famous for its cathedral and tapestry. You ride along the coast to Grandcamp-Maisy, before heading further inland, where you can greet the Normandy cows in their black-and-white finery.

    Then, in the second half of your stay, you’ll cycle along the Vire, riding along tree-lined paths. Chestnut, oak and beech trees line your route, offering a fresh and peaceful setting.

    Finally, you finish your itinerary in the direction of Mont-Saint-Michel. As you pedal along, you leave the Normandy bocage behind you to take in the marshes. From there, you arrive on a road that allows you to contemplate France’s most visited monument.

    Day 1

     
     

    Arrival in Bayeux

    Bayeux is at the center of the Landing beaches. Discover this charming medieval town dominated by its magnificent Gothic cathedral. Stroll through the narrow medieval streets and admire the half-timbered houses. Do not miss the eleventh century tapestry representing the conquest of England by William the Conqueror.

    Day 2

     
     

    Day-tour to Omaha Beach

    Bike
    50km
    The day’s route begins from Bayeux, going to the Overlord Museum and the American Cemetery. You’ll bike on quiet roads through traditional villages with half-timbered houses. The homes are surrounded by forests and cattle grazing on pasture.

    Take time to pay respect to the almost 10,000 American soldiers who sacrificed their lives for freedom. The bike route then continues along the coast to the picturesque small fishing port of Port-en-Bessin. After strolling around the harbor, follow the path back to Bayeux.

     
     

    Bayeux - Grandcamp-Maisy

    Bike
    59km
    Start your day cycling on a shared road to the heights of Port-en-Bessin. Continue on to the Vélomaritime, a cycling route along the coast. You’ll pass Omaha Beach in particular. If you want to get to the D-Day memorial, we recommend you follow Colville. Follow the Norman cliffs on a pleasant cycle path. After a few climbs, you’ll reach the Pointe du Hoc site. Take in the beautiful views before reaching the oyster-farming town of Grandcamp-Maisy.

     
     

    Grandcamp-Maisy - Carentan-les-Marais

    Bike
    30km
    Leave the port town of Grandcamp-Maisy and say goodbye to the seal colony in the Baie des Veys. Gradually move away from the costaline towards the marshes and hedged farmland that are so familiar to Normandy. Follow little-traveled roads through farmland to reach Carentan. As you approach the town, you’ll be plunged back into a maritime atmosphere, recognizing the seascapes you left that very morning, as Carentan boasts a marina.

     
     

    Carentan les Marais - Saint-Lô

    Bike
    42km
    You leave Carentan along the Taute river. On this flat route, you continue on small roads through the marshes. You may come across the famous Norman cows, known for their black and white spots. When you reach the commune of Saint-Fromont, you ride alongside the River Vire. Pedal peacefully along the Vire, on a landscaped greenway, to the fortifications of the town of Saint-Lô. Don’t miss a visit to the beautiful church of Notre-Dame-de-Saint-Lô.

     
     

    Saint-Lô - Vire

    Altitude
    ±537m
    Bike
    67km
    From Saint-Lô, you cycle along the River Vire for much of the route. You pedal along the peaceful "voie verte", decorated with works of art all along the way. Then, little by little, the scenery changes, the paths become a little winding and you enter the bocages. Along the way, you’ll have a chance to admire the Souleuvre Viaduct, and why not take a break there to encourage the more daring who decide to jump into the void. You’ll take in some of Normandy’s rolling countryside before reaching Vire, famous for its gastronomic specialities and architecture steeped in history.

     
     

    Vire - Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët

    Bike
    55km
    You leave the heights of Vire and head back down towards the greenway. Following an old railroad line, you’ll come across a number of abandoned stations, some of which have been rehabilitated for cyclists, and some of which have been chosen as a refuge by little goats. Nature lovers will appreciate a large variety of trees, including oaks, chestnuts and beeches, to protect you from the heat on sunny summer days. A little further down the route, don’t forget to stop off at Morton to admire the unspoilt setting of the Morton waterfalls. The voie verte takes you to the small town of Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët, founded in 1083.

     
     

    Saint-Hilaire du Harcouët - Pontorson (via le Mont-Saint-Michel)

    Bike
    48km
    Start your day with a lovely descent from the town of Saint-Hilaire to join the voie verte. You’ll find the same landscapes as the day before: hedged farmland and trees protecting you all along the way. This is a relatively pleasant stage, as it is mainly downhill. As you progress, the landscape opens up and the marshes appear, giving a glimpse of Mont-Saint-Michel in the distance. On the second part of the stage, you take little-travelled roads until you reach the tourist site. Finally, you reach Pontorson via a greenway that is once again quiet and flat.

     
     

    Departure from Pontorson

    All good things must come to an end, and this is the final day of your tour. You can extend your stay or check out of your hotel after breakfast.
  • Accommodation
  • Category A

    You’ll enjoy staying in these clean and cozy 2-3 Star hotels that give you a pleasant rest after your day of biking. Breakfast is included zhen you spend the night in these friendly and family-run hotels.
    * Example of the type of accommodation

    Category B

    You’ll get a good night’s sleep when you stay in these 3/4-star hotels or Bed and Breakfasts. All properties have been selected for their cleanliness, style and friendliness of the staff. A hearty breakfast is included!
    * Example of the type of accommodation
  • Bikes, luggage and documents
  • Bikes

    On your arrival day, we provide you with:

    • a touring bike adjusted to your size or a tandem
    • equipped : front rack pack with an integrated file compartment, saddlebag, helmet (on demand), reflective vest, repairing toolkit with patches etc.

    We also provide you with the appropriate equipment for your children : baby seat, bike trailer or trailer bike depending on their age and size.

    Electric bikes are also available for adults (+1m55).

    You can of course also bring your own bikes, in this case a reduction will be applied (see the Tarif tab)


    Luggage

    Our services include luggage transport in order to let you enjoy your trip comfortably and without stress :
    • We transport your luggage from one accommodation to the next using a private vehicle.
    • Your luggage is directly delivered in your accommodation before you arrive.
    • We provide a saddlebag for the things you shall need during the day.

    Our word of advice : as we know from experience, we strongly recommend you to avoid wearing a backpack during your cycling trip.
    If you expect to arrive at the next accommodation before 5 p.m., we recommend that you take an extra set of clothes with you in your bicycle bag.


    Travel documents

    A cycling holiday is the best way to explore a region and discover its culture, landscapes and local traditions.

    Your tour is self-guided to give you the freedom to ride at your own pace. You will be provided all the information you need to enjoy the itinerary and its points of interests.

    We can provide you with travel documents in paper format (for a supplement of €15 for printing and postage), which include:
    • a roadbook with maps that we drew at the easiest scale to follow on a bike
    • a roadbook with step-by-step description giving the direction to follow at each intersection and highlighting the points of interest

    Example of a map and of a step-by-step description


    Our GPS App

    For this trip, you can also use our smartphone app featuring GPS guidance (without extra fee).

    You will find in the app all the information given in the map and step-by-step roadbooks. You will be located on the itinerary with the GPS device of your phone. The route and directions to follow will be both viewable on the screen of your phone and announced aloud. As you ride along the itinerary, you will be given information about visits, restaurants, services and useful alerts on the way.

    -> You need to have a smartphone and download Le Velo Voyageur app on your Apple or Android store before the trip. All details concerning the downloading and the use of the application will be given after we have confirmed the booking and the balance is paid. Once the trip is downloaded, the GPS guidance can be used off-line.
  • Practical information
  • To get to departure point:

    • By plane: flight to Caen, then train to Bayeux.
    • By train: direct train from Paris Saint-Lazare. The duration of the trip is around 2h10. To plan your trip, www.raileurope.com.

    Parking

    If you drive to Bayeux, you can park your car for free in the street. The exact location will be given in your travel documents.

    To get back to starting point

    Regional trains take you back to your starting point from Pontorson. if you wish (from 1h30 to 2h30 depending on the time schedules). We recommend to book your tickets in advance.

    We can also organise a transfer in a private vehicule on demand.

    Meeting time:

    The first day is an arrival day without cycling. You arrive whenever you want depending on from where you come. Please note that rooms are usually available in the middle of the afternoon depending on your accommodation. We thank you to advise us if you plan to arrive late.


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