Easy tour with short stages and a lot of cycle paths that wind through the biggest marsh of Western France. The main attraction is nature, wildlife and flora. You will also enjoy the Regional Park houses and the traditional marsh villages such as Coulon, Arçais, Le Vanneau and many more...
To complete this landscape, you will enjoy Maillezais Abbey, the marsh canals and the Sèvre River to end the tour in La Rochelle and Ré Island (the bicycle paradise)
Day 1 - Arrival in Arçais
Arrival planned around midday. You will get your bikes and ride the first loop route (15km) in the marsh.
Night in an hotel** or a bed and breakfast**
Day 2 - Loop route in the marsh 25 Km
Arçais, Ste Sabine, Le Mazeau, Le Vanneau, St Georges de Rex, the wild marsh won(t have anymore secrets for you. You will enjoy a traditional flat boat excursion, to discover the marsh for the canals. (guided excursion included)
Night in an hotel** or a bed and breakfast**
Day 3 - From Arçais to Maillezais - 35 Km
Leaving Arçais for a journey through the Marais Poitevin by Le Mazeau and the charming little village of Saint e Christine. You will ride on trails and cycle paths, over some bridges that make the area inaccessible to cars and like this up to Maillezais. There, you may visit its 11th century Abbey which is one of the starting points of the history of the Marais Poitevin.
Night in Maillezais Bed and Breakfast**
Day 4 - From Maillezais to La Rochelle - 30 or 58 Km
From Maillezais, you are now on the dike and cycle paths of Southern Vendee. It will lead you to the Sèvre Niortaise river
The Sèvre, from Marans to Niort, has experienced heavy traffic. Boats where pulled on with a rope by men from the towpath. In the port of Marans you will find one of the last marine carpenters. There is the linking point where we can drop you to shorten the stage. Then you will ride along the coast to La Rochelle.
Night in La Rochelle Hotel**
Day 5 - Loop route to Ré Island 25km to 90km
Loop route to the island of Ré through the villages : La Flotte ( from the 18th century) and its fishing boats, Saint Martin with its fort and fortifications. Then you will pass through oyster beds, salt marshes and the nature reserve of L'Illeau des Niges. You will come back by La Couarde and Bois Plage villages.
Night in La Rochelle Hotel**
Day 6 - End of the tour after breakfast.
Optional return back by train or minibus to Niort or Arçais
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