The Grand Tour of the Gironde by bike

The Gironde by bike 

Experience an exceptional cycling trip in the heart of the Gironde. The Grand Tour de Gironde represents 480 km of cycling itinerary through a natural and cultural heritage that cannot be ignored. 
You will have the opportunity to visit cities and admire landscapes classified by Unesco along a wild ocean coast. This trip also invites you to taste the gastronomy of the south-west after days of sport rich in discoveries and emotions. 

Highlights of the trip : 

• The Bordeaux vineyards
• Bordeaux 
• the Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park 
• the Great Lakes of the Atlantic coast and the seaside
• the Gironde estuary
• the Unesco classified heritage

Day 1: Arrival in Bordeaux

Arrival at your accommodation in the city of Bordeaux. Bordeaux, the ancient Roman "Burdigala", is an exceptional tourist destination and renowned as the world capital of wine. The Garonne River, the heart of the city, welcomes you on its banks or for a family stroll.
Night in a hotel.

Day 2: from Bordeaux to Sauveterre de Guyenne - 55/60 km 

This first stage invites you to explore the Entre-Deux-Mers on 55 km of trails, greenways and charming little roads. You leave Bordeaux along the Garonne and its lively quays, before joining a cycle path that winds through the green hillsides of Entre-Deux-Mers. Along the way, discover Créon, the majestic Sauve-Majeure abbey and Sauveterre-de-Guyenne, magnificent fortified bastides with a rich history. Your itinerary ends gently on quiet country roads through the vineyards, into your accommodation.

Dinner and overnight in Sauveterre de Guyenne

Day 3 : from Sauveterre de Guyenne to Bazas - 40/50 km 

Between Sauveterre-de-Guyenne and La Réole, the cycle route passes through gentle, picturesque rolling countryside. Stop off at La Réole, a charming medieval town founded in 977 and France's smallest "Ville d'Art et d'Histoire". At Fontet, the route joins the Canal de Garonne, where the “Canal des 2 Mers à vélo” stretches under a canopy of plane trees to Toulouse. A detour via Castets and Castillon reveals the canal's first locks and its pleasant little port. Finish in Bazas, a magnificent medieval town and a major stage on the route to Santiago de Compostela.
Overnight in Bazas

Day 4 : The Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park, from Bazas to Le Barp - 70 km

From Bazas, join the cycle path at Uzeste to admire the collegiate church housing the tomb of Pope Clement V, then make a detour to Villandraut and its castle. After crossing the Ciron, you enter the pine forest of the Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park. On a small resin-scented forest road, pause at the Lagunes du Gât-Mort, ideal for a picnic. Further on, the Hostens lakes invite you to relax, swim and stroll. You'll finish the stage in Le Barp, a charming village nestled in the heart of the park.

Overnight in Le Barp

Day 5: Around the Arcachon Basin by bike - 45 km

The itinerary starts on a small road where the pine forest gradually fades away to make way for the cycle track in Salles along the Eyre river that you follow until Mios. You reach the Arcachon basin at the Ornithological Park of Teich. Places to picnic are frequent, you just have to choose!

• Option 1 : Around Andernos

The bike ride continues towards the very picturesque Port of Biganos before joining a succession of small ports including that of Audenge where old basins are used as swimming pools. Along the dykes of the Graveyron domain, and the fish tanks, you will enjoy exceptional views on the basin and you will be able to observe the numerous species of migratory birds. The stage ends in Andernos Les Bains, a very pleasant seaside resort. Overnight in Andernos

• Option 2 : Discovering Arcachon

If you have chosen to spend the night in Arcachon, you will take the coastal path through the oyster ports of Gujan Mestras to reach Arcachon. Lined with tamarisks, arbutus trees, willow rushes and wild prunus, this path will delight botany lovers. Overnight in Arcachon

Day 6: From Arcachon Basin to Lacanau - 45 km 

1. From Andernos, cycle through the vast forest of Cap-Ferret, from the lush green shores of the Bassin d'Arcachon to the white dunes of the Atlantic. Discover the Saint-Brice site, a mix of forest, lakes and natural shores, before reaching the oyster port of Arès.
2. From Arcachon, cross the Bassin by boat with your bike to explore the wilder Cap Ferret. Climb to the lighthouse for panoramic views, then pedal to the colorful oyster villages of L'Herbe and Le Canon.

In both cases, a shaded cycle path along the beaches takes you to the seaside resorts of Le Porge and Lacanau-Océan, famous for its surf spots.

Overnight in Lacanau

Day 7 : Great Medoc lakes between Lacanau and Montalivet - 40 km

Your cycling trip in Gironde continues on the Vélodyssée. Here the cycle route continues on a cycle track through the pines, between lakes and ocean.
Leave the Lac de Lacanau and take a charming shaded track carved in the dunes to the seaside resort of Carcans Maubuisson and the lake of Hourtin. Drive along the lake and then along the Route des Phares, after a last swimming break at Hourtin plage, drive north to Montalivet les bains.
Overnight in Montalivet

Day 8 : from Montalivet to Royan - 40 km

A short cycling stage awaits you today, between endless sandy beaches and visits to the seaside resorts of Vendays-Montalivet and Soulac-sur-Mer. You'll then cross the Gironde Estuary aboard the ferry, a unique experience that takes you from Verdon to Royan. Arriving in Royan at the end of the day gives you the opportunity to discover this charming town, with its warm evening atmosphere.

Overnight in Royan

Day 9 - from Royan to Mortagne-sur-Gironde - 35 km

From Royan, you begin your adventure by admiring the 19th-century villas and carrelets, the emblematic traditional fishing nets. You then take to the cliff top, offering exceptional panoramic views of the Gironde estuary, the largest in Western Europe. Wild coves and picturesque harbours dot the route.

Don't miss Talmont-sur-Gironde, with its flower-filled lanes and church, or the fascinating troglodyte caves of Meschers. Take a break at the Parc de l'Estuaire, a genuine nature discovery center, before visiting Saint-Seurin-d'Uzet, the former Caviar capital.

You can visit the Mortagne winery, where you can learn more about Pineau, Cognac and Charentais wines. Mortagne-sur-Gironde, perched on its white cliffs, is a must for discovering the charm of this region.

Dinner and ovenight in Mortagne-sur-Gironde

Day 10 : from Mortagne-sur-Gironde to Blaye - 60 km 

Continue your exploration of the Gironde by bike, skirting the estuary on a pleasant greenway winding through marshes and dykes to Vitrezay. After a visit to the "Terres d'Oiseaux" ornithological park at the Port des Callonges, you'll take another greenway that leads to the foot of the Blaye citadel, fortified by Vauban and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The next day, a ferry takes you across the estuary from Blaye to Lamarque.

Overnight in Blaye

Day 11: from Blaye to Bordeaux - 50 km 

After crossing the Gironde estuary, you plunge into the heart of the prestigious Médoc vineyards, where world-famous wine villages and castles follow one another. You cross the terroirs of Moulis, then Margaux, passing in front of the renowned Château Margaux, before exploring the Haut-Médoc. Just after the ferry crossing, you can take a break to visit Fort Médoc.
The cycle route then takes you through more urbanized areas, before skirting the banks of the Garonne, until you arrive in Bordeaux.

Overnight in Bordeaux

Day 12 : Bordeaux

Your cycling trip ends after breakfast. You can book an an extra night to enjoy the beautiful city of Bordeaux. 

General information :

• 12 days and 11 nights
• Standard category : 2 to 4 * (hotel and guest houses
• Prices for children: contact us.

The dates 2025 :

Daily departure between April and October.

High season in July and August.

Included :

• 11 nights with breakfasts
• Tourist taxes
• 2 dinners (in Sauveterre de Guyenne and Mortagne sur Gironde)
• Luggage transfer at each stage
• 2 boat crossings of the Estuary (in Le Verdon and Blaye)
• Boat crossing of the Arcachon Basin (if option Arcachon chosen)
• Access to our GPS App
• Assistance in case of breakdown (except flat tire).

Not included :

• Transport to the departure place
• Personal expenses
• Dinners (except the ones in Sauveterre de Guyenne and Mortagne sur Gironde)
• Visits other than those included in the program
• Drinks during the dinners

Options :

• Standard bike or ebike rental
• Additional stage in Arcachon (instead of Andernos)
• Additional night(s) in Bordeaux and/or Arcachon
• Theft insurance for the rented bike
• Cancellation insurance

Level :

1 2 3 4 5 6

Ground :

Flat terrain, which does not exclude some hills.

Weather :

Shaded, mild sun, a little wind on the coast and pleasant temperatures.

Technicality :

Cycling: 35 to 70 km per day or 3 to 7 hours of cycling.
Partly marked itinerary, useful roadbook and map reading.

Bibliography :

- The Gironde Tour by bike - chamina
- Guide to the Gironde estuary - South West

Additional nights :

An additional night is bookable at the start and end of the tour in Bordeaux.

Meals :

- Breakfasts: buffet
- Lunch: not included
- Dinner: not included except in Sauveterre de Guyenne and Mortagne sur Gironde (at the host's, at the hotel or in restaurants near the accommodation).

The bike : 

- Rental bicycle: If you rent a bicycle, it will be given to you on the day of your arrival at the 1st hotel. At the end of the tour, you will have to leave this bike at the last hotel and notify reception. We will take care of his return.

- Personal bike: We do not recommend bikes with small tires. Hybrid bikes and mountain bikes are excellent. Remember to check your bicycle before setting off. At the end of the tour, you will need to take care of your own bicycle.

Assistance :

Assistance in the event of a breakdown (except for punctures for which we do not intervene).

Luggage:

They are transported by a courier or by our team and limited to one piece of luggage per person (max. 20 kg).

Roadbook :

We'll provide you with personalized access to our Respire Voyages hiking application so you can enjoy your itinerary day by day. This access will be sent to you by e-mail a few days before departure. We will also give you vouchers for hotels and restaurants as well as luggage tags and your roadbook.

Transportation:

- By train: TGV station in Bordeaux
- By road: Bordeaux is 600km from Paris A10 motorway from Paris and A62 from Toulouse.
- By plane: Bordeaux international airport.

Cancellation insurance :

In order to guarantee the reimbursement of costs in the event of cancellation of your stay, you can take out cancellation insurance. To learn more about insurance, click here.