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Brittany & Normandy Family Biking

Brittany & Normandy Family Biking

Ideal for inquisitive travelers of all ages, this Family Trip combines exhilarating bike rides along picturesque coastline with moments of reflection at historic landmarks. Medieval fortresses and towns spirit you back to the days of William the Conqueror. An exploration of the spectacular island monastery and cathedral of Mont-St-Michel reveals architectural wonders that have inspired the faithful since antiquity, and bunkers and gun posts at Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc offer you and your family a glimpse of Normandy's more recent history.

Days 1-2 le tronchet

Meet in Rennes We start our adventure with a typical Breton lunch As you pedal over rolling terrain to the Côte d'émeraude (Emerald Coast), seaside villages tempt you with friendly cafés and crêperies Taste a Kir Breton (apple cider and cassis), an authentic Brittany aperitif Dine in Dinan, a fortified medieval port town with half-timbered houses and narrow cobblestone streets Catch the sunset on our private guided tour of the Old Town. Kids can try their hand at the art of glass blowing.

Days 3-5 bayeux

Explore Mont-St-Michel, a fairy-tale-like island monastery and cathedral - built out of the rocks and towering above the bay - that's sure to impress everyone in the family Say adieu to the Breton coast and shuttle into Normandy and the département of Calvados, known for its excellent cider and flavorful cheeses Ride down quiet country roads to the 13th-century Abbaye de Mondaye, which is still an active monastery Kids visit a local stable to participate in Normandy's popular pastime - horseback riding Visit D-Day landmarks and memorials such as Omaha Beach and the American Military Cemetery.

Day 6 colleville-sur-mer

In medieval Bayeux, check out the 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry, a 230-foot-long embroidered "storybook" depicting the Norman invasion of England Savor views of isolated beaches and rugged shoreline as you ride to the coast At the award-winning Caen Memorial, spend time with a World War II historian and hear about his experiences as a resistance fighter.

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IDEAL SETTINGS: Casual Inns

Saint Malo Hotel, Golf & Country Club (2 nights): Ideally located in the heart of Brittany and offering easy access to the region's best sights.

Domaine de l'Hostréière (1 night): A charming hotel situated next to the American Cemetery and landing beaches.

Le Lion d'Or (2 nights): Located in the old city, just steps from the famous Bayeux Tapestry.

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6

On this Family Trip, our routes follow gentle terrain with no significant gain or loss in elevation. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.


Routes For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Biking Average Walking Average
Level 1 2-3 hours 10-20 mile 2-5 miles
Level 2 2-4 hours 21-30 miles 5-7 miles
Level 3 3-5 hours 31-40 miles 7-9 miles
Level 4 4-6 hours 41-55 miles 9-11 miles
Level 5 5-7+ hours 56-75+ miles 11-13+ miles
2010 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
Recommended Kids Ages

Minimum Ages:

Recommended minimum age for the trip: 9 years

Minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 7 years

Minimum age restriction for kayaking and kart sailing: 7 years

General Info on Minimum Ages:

We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:

Please note that a trip may feature an activity with an older age requirement than the minimum age recommendation for the trip. Younger kids are still welcome on the trip and while they will not be able to participate in the activity, the leaders will suggest an alternate activity. For safety reasons, children under 7 may not ride their own bikes and are required to ride on a Piccolo or in a Burley. For certain destinations, children must be 9 or older to ride their own bikes.

Guest Trip Reviews

I thoroughly enjoyed this Backroads trip. The region, leaders and mix of families on the trip were all wonderful. It was an excellent mix of physical activity, historical and cultural learning and fun. My entire family had a great experience. We're ready to do it again somewhere new!
Tina Arechiga - Long Beach, CA

Best trip I have ever been on. The balance between biking and sight seeing was excellent.
Ravan Magrath - Montclair, NJ

Our biking trip was first rate in every aspect. The shuttle buses were top of the line, the daily biking excursions were well thought out and the scenery was breath-taking, the food was authentic and delicious, the guides were knowledgeable and kind, and the activities were suited to each person's needs. I can hardly wait to book another trip with Backroads!
Carolyn Bunch - Othello, WA

Bring history to life for your children on our newest family biking trip in Brittany and Normandy! Pedal along the stunning Emerald Coast, stopping to explore famous sites such as Bayeux and Omaha Beach. Two passionate local guides share their insight and knowledge of this region, which is steeped in World War II history. And an unforgettable presentation by a French resistance fighter and a visit to the famous pilgrimage site of Mont-St-Michel are certain to be highlights of the week for both kids and adults alike.
Beverly Salguero - Trip Development Coordinator, Europe & France