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
Travel back in time through Brittany and Normandy, where French and US history intertwine. Bike gorgeous routes along the coast and stand 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.
THIS ITINERARY: 6 days, 5 nights
ACCOMMODATIONS: Premiere Hotels
FROM:
$4,599 pp dbl occ
($800 for sgl occ)
Brittany Normandy Route Map
France
Start Deauville / 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 taste 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
- Witness the famous Bayeux Tapestry, a storybook depicting the Norman invasion of Britain in the 11th century
Videos
Itinerary
Accommodations may vary based on departure date.
6 Days Premiere Hotels
Accommodations may vary based on departure.
Day 1
Start your cycling holiday 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 Beuvron-en-Auge, one of Les Plus Beaux (Most Beautiful) Villages of France | Discover the Norman countryside of picture-perfect Pays d'Auge and the coastal flowers of Côte Fleurie.
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
Ride across the Pegasus Bridge | Bike along the Côte de Nacre to the Juno Beach Center | Visit fascinating Arromanches, the D-Day beaches and the remains of Mulberry Harbor | Behold the German strongholds of Pointe du Hoc and Longues-sur-Mer | Join a local historian for a private tour of Omaha Beach and the American Military Cemetery | Stroll through the town of Bayeux, home to the epic 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry.
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
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 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 | Take a final ride on rural roads with expansive views over La Rance estuary.
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
SMALL GROUP? TRY RENDEZVOUS
An extra leader and van for even more flexibility | +$2,400 for Europe and +$2,900 for North America | Call us to book your Rendezvous
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy.
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Activity Level: 1-4
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. LEARN MORE.
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 your available bike options for this trip.
Backroads Performance Road Bike
Performance Road Bike
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
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
NEW! Electric-Assist Bike
Our newly redesigned titanium e-bike is a lightweight yet powerful machine unique in the world of e-bikes. It provides plenty of power to flatten the hills and more than enough battery range to cover the distance.
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—it’s built for hard-core riders.
$400 rental fee
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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