France is full of historic spots, but Brittany and Normandy are different. Travel back in time, biking the coastline and standing among bunkers and gun posts at Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc. Get lost in the moment, listening to the waves and watching horses trot gracefully along peaceful beaches. They're places full of stories and emotions, past and present. Feel free to take some back with you.
Day 1 In Normandy, connoisseurs of Calvados will delight in the scenic Cider Route | Admire castles perched atop green rolling hills | Discover the Norman countryside of Pays d’Auge and the coastal flowers of Côte Fleurie.
Day 2 Spin across the Pegasus Bridge and past 18th-century Château de Bénouville | Pedal along the Côte de Nacre to the Juno Beach Center | Visit fascinating Arromanches, the D-Day beaches and the remains of historic Mulberry Harbor.
Day 3 Join a local historian for a private tour of Omaha Beach and the American Military Cemetery | Behold the German strongholds of Pointe du Hoc and Longues-sur-Mer | Visit the town of Bayeux, home to the epic 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry.
Day 4 Explore the island monastery of Mont-St-Michel, a World Heritage site and destination of a centuries-old pilgrimage | Get to know riverfront Dinan, a medieval port town with half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets | Follow the idyllic Rance River to Dinard, overlooking the sea.
Days 5-6 Bike past riverside St-Suliac, one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France | Taste fresh oysters from a waterfront market in Cancale, oyster capital of Brittany | Hit the ramparts at St-Malo, a fortified oceanside city with vistas of the Emerald Coast.
Great trip! I would (and have) recommend this trip to anyone. Backroads does a great job and the Brittany and Normandy trip is exceptional - great mix of history, culture and riding. The Backroads team was exceptional!- Seattle
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Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the Dates & Prices tab.
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This beloved hotel, made famous by Marcel Proust, offers magnificent views of the Cabourg promenade and the sea.
A "relaxing 18th-century honey-colored château-hotel surrounded by rose gardens... minutes from Omaha Beach," according to Andrew Harper. A Small Luxury Hotels of the World member. (pool)
This hotel, built in 1859, welcomes you with warm décor and mesmerizing views overlooking the coast and St-Malo. (pool, spa)
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
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Comments about Brittany & Normandy Bike Tour:
Great trip! I would (and have) recommend this trip to anyone. Backroads does a great job and the Brittany and Normandy trip is exceptional - great mix of history, culture and riding. The Backroads team was exceptional!
Comments about Brittany & Normandy Bike Tour:
Fantastic trip with friends! We always meet new BR friends on these trips and we love being "taken care of" by Backroads. It is just so comforting and reassuring that we don't have to worry about anything but enjoying ourselves, and we consistently know this will happen with BR! We have at least 3 more trips planned for next year!!
Comments about Brittany & Normandy Bike Tour:
This trip exceeded our expectations. The biking and the food were wonderful; of course I've come to expect, if not rely on, that. And the added historical significance of the area made for a highly memorable experience. Our guides were great and, as usual, had boundless and contagious enthusiasm for the area. Can't wait for our next Backroads adventure.
Comments about Brittany & Normandy Bike Tour:
Amazing trip. Wonderful to meet new folks and get great exercise. This is main reason we keep coming back..along with great leaders and wonderful destinations. Visiting historic sites with well informed guides was moving and unforgettable. This is a trip I would highly recommend.
Comments about Brittany & Normandy Bike Tour:
Awesome trip. Over-the-top. It's why we tell all our friends about the outstanding service and incredible trips we take with Backroads.
Comments about Brittany & Normandy Bike Tour:
Three experienced, talented, and caring leaders; a diverse group of riders; gorgeous scenery; memorable exposure to local and world history, and lovely daily rides. The only reason I wouldn't say it was my favorite Backroads trips is because they've ALL been favorites.
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The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind—you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
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.
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| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 2 | 800 | ||||||||
| 2 | 10* | 300 | 27* | 900 | 36* | 1300 | 46 | 1700 | ||
| 3 | 8* | 400 | 20* | 700 | 41 | 1600 | 47 | 1800 | ||
| 4 | 18 | 1100 | ||||||||
| Guided Tour of Mont-St-Michel (1 Hour) | ||||||||||
| 5 | 16* | 600 | 23* | 1000 | 34* | 1400 | 47 | 1800 | ||
| 6 | 14 | 700 | ||||||||
Note:
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
Alexandre Visage, our regional manager for France, grew up in Normandy and spent vacations at his grandmother's house in Brittany. Drawing on his deep local knowledge and a decade of experience with Backroads, Alex ensures that you experience the very best this region has to offer.
Backroads is the only active travel company providing two support vans in Brittany and Normandy—because we know it's essential to ensure a truly great travel experience. It doubles our ability to be there when you need us to offer hydration, lighten your load or give you a lift if it's time to take a break. Read more on why two vans make all the difference.
Your ride comes equipped with a Garmin Edge Explore 1000, the best bike-touring GPS device on the market. This is a Backroads exclusive, and it's included with your bike in Brittany and Normandy. If you prefer to bring your own device, we also have downloadable GPS files and of course, our good old paper directions are always available. Read more on why our navigation options are the best.
Our Trip Leaders in Brittany and Normandy live in the area and are deeply engaged in their communities, giving them unique inside knowledge they're happy to share in making your experience that much richer. They'll introduce you to people, customs and parts of town you'd likely never encounter on your own—and teach you a few local phrases to help break the ice.
Choose a Backroads Custom Titanium or Custom Electric Assist bike—both are included in your trip price. Maybe a Specialized carbon-fiber pro model is more your speed or go for double fun on a tandem. Our fleet is the best in active travel, so you don't have to roll the dice on this vital trip component. Learn why our titanium bikes are ideal for most riders. See the bike options for this trip.
We design and support our Brittany and Normandy trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
In choosing the ideal experts to enrich your travel experience, we look for people with a wealth of local knowledge, but also the ability to convey their insights in English. Too often travelers find themselves smiling politely, not quite understanding what they're being told. Our experts share intriguing facts, anecdotes and inside stories that stay with you forever.
Our Trip Leaders combine deep local expertise with a firm grasp of North American expectations around quality of service. By the same token, we pair experienced Backroads leaders with local guides who know how to cater to your needs while cracking open the culture or natural history in ways that are meaningful, memorable and often magical.
Guests rave about our picnic spreads. Enjoy a welcome break in a scenic spot, or a quick refuel stop if you don't want to lose momentum. And because we have two vans, one can host lunch while the other is out providing support along the route.
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Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from the selection of dates below for your group; some dates are only available for 16 or more guests while other dates are available for 8 or more guests. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.
Click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 8 OR MORE GUESTS 16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 16 OR MORE GUESTS RESERVED
Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date! i
Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
