Normandy Bike Tour

Bienvenue! Meet your guides at the Rennes train station in the morning to transfer to our first boutique hotel. Facing one of France’s most iconic landmarks, the UNESCO-classified Mont Saint-Michel sits pretty atop a rocky islet just a stone’s throw away from the property. After getting fitted for your bike, set out on a brief ride to the Gothic-style Mont Saint-Michel abbey and explore the petite village that surrounds it. Following our visit and our first lunch together, we hop back on our bikes to traverse the bay and its picturesque countryside, with highlights including a visit to the only German military cemetery on French soil. Our first dinner together is a celebration of our unique position between Brittany and Normandy—a Breton seafood feast.

Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Mont Saint Michel, Montitier, Tanis, Moidrey, Bouvoir
Accomplished: 18 miles / 29 km, elevation gain: 567 feet / 173 meters
Accommodations: Hotel Ermitage

Framed by a striking view of Mont Saint Michel, enjoy a relaxing breakfast at our hotel before we head toward Bayeux. We take our time riding along coastal roads, stopping along the way at the quaint market town of Avranches. Continue riding along flat country roads that take us through quintessential French villages before pedaling over a few small but mighty hills, warming us up for a special lunch at Manoir de la Beslière—a country house run by a local DuVine guide and his wife. Enjoy lunch and homemade cider before transferring to the town of Bayeux, about 1.5 hours away. While in town, seize the opportunity to admire the Bayeux Tapestry, an 11th-century masterpiece depicting the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings. Later, settle in at our next hotel—a lovely 18th-century château where we’ll spend the next two nights. Spend the evening at our château dining on seasonal produce harvested right from the garden.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Avranches, La Haye-Pesnel, Folligny, Bayeux
Accomplished: 32 miles / 51 km, elevation gain: 1,371 feet / 418 meters
Accommodations: Chateau d’Audrieu or Château la Chenevière

We’ll start the day with a spin alongside old watermills on our way back to the coast. A gentle ride mixed with plains and forest landscapes brings us all the way to our next destination. Our main focus today is visiting and contemplating Omaha Beach. A local historian will point out the dramatic history of this place that’s present everywhere: the beach, the plains, and the cemetery. Words cannot describe what you will see or feel—you can only understand the intensity of this setting by experiencing it yourself. After lunch, we’ll wind our way along the coast to another crucial cliff: La Pointe du Hoc, where American soldiers persevered in a brutal defense against German counterattacks. From here we shuttle back to our châteu to relax and refresh before we reconvene for dinner in town.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Sully, Port-en-Bessin, Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, Omaha Beach, La Pointe du Hoc
Accomplished: 34 miles / 55 km, elevation gain: 1,450 feet / 442 meters
Accommodations: Chateau d’Audrieu or Château la Chenevière

Today we will continue cycling along the coast, delving deeper into the sacrifices made by soldiers worldwide to liberate Europe. Our first stop is the seaside town of Arromaches-les-Bains—an artificial port commissioned as a vital landing site during WWII. The remnants stand as a powerful testament to the town’s significant role in supporting Allied troops. From here we pedal to Juno Beach, an eight-kilometer expanse dedicated to the Canadian Infantry Division. Take your time paying homage to the fallen soldiers at the Juno Beach Centre before we regroup for a refreshing lunch on the water. In the afternoon, your guides are ready to shuttle you all the way to Honfleur, unless some extra miles between Deauville and Honfleur call you to get back in the saddle. Tonight, explore the charming port of Honfleur at your own pace and dine on your own—your guides are happy to offer recommendations.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Arromanches-les-Bains, Courseulles-sur-Mer, Deauville, Honfleur
Accomplished: 22 miles / 35 km, elevation gain: 758 feet / 231 meters
Longer Option: 44 miles / 71 km, elevation gain: 1,693 feet / 516 meters
Accommodations: La Ferme Saint-Siméon

Our ride begins in Honfleur, “a ravishing port full of masts and sails, crowned with green hills and surrounded by narrow houses,” as Victor Hugo aptly put it. Pedal through small, quiet villages and endless apple orchards on the Route du Cidre, named for the cider and Calvados produced here. As we ride through the Pays d’Auge region, we’ll stop at a family-run distillery for a Calvados tasting paired with local cheeses named after the nearby town of origin: Pont L’Évêque. Spend the afternoon at the hotel spa or explore Honfleur’s charming shops and churches. We’ll regroup this evening for dinner at our hotel’s Michelin-reviewed restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Honfleur, Coudray-Rabut, Pont-l’Évêque
Accomplished: 29 miles / 46 km, elevation gain: 1,515 feet / 462 meters
Accommodations: La Ferme Saint-Siméon

Wake to one last French breakfast at the hotel, followed by a morning stroll in the harbor, before your guides accompany you to the train station in Le Havre for your farewell to Normandy.

Meals: Breakfast