Region Overviews: France Travel Guide: Overview
Long considered a global center of art, science, philosophy and sophistication, France boasts incredible diversity in its offerings to travelers.
Biking
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Brittany & Normandy Bike Tour
D-Day Landmarks, Mont-St-Michel & Seaside France
Couples, Friends & Solos
6 days 5 nights
Activity Levels 1-4
Premiere Hotels
From: $5,099 - $5,549 pp dbl occ
($1,200 for sgl occ)
Travel back in time through Brittany and Normandy, where French and US history intertwine. Bike gorgeous routes along the coast and stand among World War II bunkers and gun posts at Omaha Beach. 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.
France Brittany & Normandy Biking Tour
France
Start Caen / End Rennes
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Highlights
- Bike amid rolling countryside, rugged cliffs, rambling beaches, historically significant sites and quiet villages
- Embark on an unforgettable coastal journey in France and savor farm-fresh cheeses and crêpes paired with apple brandy
- Walk along Omaha Beach and visit the vast American Military Cemetery with a local World War II historian
- Discover the exquisite historic center of Bayeux, the first city of the Battle of Normandy to be liberated following D-Day
Videos
Itinerary
Accommodations may vary based on departure date.
6 Days Premiere Hotels
Accommodations may vary based on departure.
Day 1
Description
Start your adventure in an elegant seaside enclave popular with chic Parisians | In Normandy, connoisseurs of Calvados will delight in the scenic Cider Route | Ride dedicated bike paths along a coastline that inspired belle epoque artists, including novelist Marcel Proust and couturier Coco Chanel | Admire castles and manors perched atop green rolling hills | Pause in one of the enchanting Norman villages with half-timbered thatched-roof houses that line our route and have a glass of delicious Pommeau, a popular local aperitif | Discover the Norman countryside of picture-perfect Pays d'Auge and the coastal flowers of Côte Fleurie.
Accommodations
Grand Hôtel Cabourg
Cabourg
| Premiere Hotel This beloved hotel, made famous by Marcel Proust, offers magnificent views of the Cabourg promenade and the sea.
Days 2-3
Description
Ride across the Pegasus Bridge | Bike along the Côte de Nacre | Visit fascinating Arromanches, the D-Day beaches and the remains of Mulberry Harbor | Join a local historian for a private tour of Omaha Beach and the American Military Cemetery | Behold the German stronghold of Longues-sur-Mer | Stroll through the town of Bayeux, home to the epic 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry.
Accommodations
La Chenevière
Port-en-Bessin
| Premiere Hotel 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)
Days 4-6
Description
Explore the island monastery of World Heritage Mont-St-Michel, destination of a centuries-old pilgrimage and home to Europe's most dramatic tide change | Get to know riverfront Dinan, a medieval port town with half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets | Marvel at Breton architecture with its granite churches and centuries-old farmhouses | Follow the idyllic Rance River to Dinard, an exquisite vacation town overlooking the sea | Bike past riverside St-Suliac, another one of the Most Beautiful Villages of 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 | Take a final ride on rural roads with expansive views over La Rance estuary.
Accommodations
Grand Hôtel Barrière
Dinard
| Premiere Hotel This hotel, built in 1859, welcomes you with warm décor and mesmerizing views overlooking the coast and St-Malo. (pool, spa)
Dates & Prices
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. View cancellation policy
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy.
May 2023
June 2023
July 2023
August 2023
September 2023
From our Guests
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Share your adventure #MyBackroadsTrip
Activity Level: 1-4
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Daily Route Options
What's Included
Available Bike Options
The key to a stellar day's ride is a bike that's perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Read on for bike options specific to this trip (click the arrow to see more). Please note that bike requests are subject to availability and prioritized based on the date they're submitted.
Backroads Performance Road Bike
Performance Road Bike
Included in your trip price
This custom-designed titanium bike is lightweight and responsive, featuring Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting, 11-speed compact gearing, a premium Mavic Ksyrium Pro wheelset and a full carbon fork.
Backroads Touring Bike
Touring Bike
Included in your trip price
A proven classic, our most popular custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.
Backroads Electric-Assist Bike
Electric-Assist Bike
Included in your trip price
Keep pace or zip ahead, pedaling with an electric boost. This bike provides plenty of power to flatten the hills and more than enough battery range to cover the distance.
Min. age to ride e-bike: 16+
Cannondale Synapse Pro Carbon Bike
Carbon Bike
Ride like a pro with the top-of-the-line carbon Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod Red ETAP AXS. Delivering phenomenal acceleration and handling in a light and powerful package.
$400 rental fee; subject to availability
Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem Bike
Tandem Bike
This hand-built frame features Co-Motion's custom-designed cro-moly steel tubeset, powerful Avid disc brakes, Shimano Ultegra drive train, and a custom, upgraded wheelset. For experienced tandem riders.
$400 rental fee
Also Included
- All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
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