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Europe / France / Normandy Normandy Bike Tour The Beaches that History Built, Mont Saint-Michel, and More
© 2021 DuVine Adventure + Cycling Co. Visit Mont Saint-Michel, an iconic French landmark and magical island monastery Cycle into the chic coastal towns of Étretat and Deauville, famous for hosting an international film festival Pedal the Route du Cidre, stopping for tastings of cider and brandy paired with local Pont- l’Evêque cheese Visit the WWII memorial sites at Arromanches, Omaha Beach, and La Pointe du Hoc Explore the artists’ port of Honfleur and the town Bayeux, known for its stunning cathedral and ornate tapestries Arrival Details Departure Details Airport City: Airport City: Paris, France Paris, France Pick-Up Location: Drop-Off Location: Le Havre Train Station Rennes Train Station Pick-Up Time: Drop-Off Time: 10:00 am 11:30 am
NOTE: DuVine provides group transfers to and from the tour, within reason and in accordance with the pick-up and drop-off recommendations. In the event your train, flight, or other travel falls outside the recommended departure or arrival time or location, you may be responsible for extra costs incurred in arranging a separate transfer.
Emergency Assistance For urgent assistance on your way to tour or while on tour, please always contact your guides first. You may also contact the Boston office during business hours at +1 617 776 4441 or [email protected].
Travelers Take Note To show you all our favorite parts of Normandy, this tour includes transfers on multiple occasions. Tour By Day
DAY 1 Welcome to Normandy
Your guides will meet you at the train station in the port of Le Havre and bring you to Étretat, a lesser-known enclave on Normandy’s Côte d'Albâtre. We’ll enjoy lunch as we look out at the Atlantic and Étretat's distinct white cliffs, then get fitted to our bikes and begin our first ride of the week. The route follows the coast all the way to Honfleur, known for its old, beautiful, picturesque port and slate-covered houses depicted by artists like Gustave Courbet, Eugène Boudin, and Claude Monet. Our hotel—a 17th-century Normande-style inn—has hosted all of them. After settling in, finish the day with a Pommeau cocktail and a fine gastronomic dinner at La Ferme Saint-Siméon’s restaurant.
Meals: Lunch / Dinner Destinations: Étretat, Le Havre, Honfleur Accomplished: 22 miles / 35 km, elevation gain: 932 feet / 284 meters Accommodations: La Ferme Saint-Siméon
DAY 2 Honfleur Loop
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, and we’ll dine together in town this evening.
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
DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications. DAY 3 Honfleur to Bayeux: La Côte Normande
À bientôt, Honfleur! This morning we head to Deauville, where Coco Chanel opened her first shop. Europe’s crème de la crème flock here each year, and the famous film festival in Deauville in September draws a star-studded Hollywood crowd. We’ll take a few photos where some of our favorite actors have had their names etched into the beach cabanas. This afternoon takes on a different tone as we transfer to Arromanches-les-Bains, an artificial port commissioned as an easy landing site during WWII, and a rare site that was spared from the brunt of the fighting. The remains are impressive and serve as a moving reminder of the purpose the town once served for the Allied troops. From here, a bit of riding in the countryside offers soft rolling hills and gorgeous coastal views. Arrive at our next hotel in the center of Bayeux with time to relax and refresh before dinner at a restaurant tucked in the ancient town.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Destinations: Deauville, Arromanches-les-Bains, Bayeux Accomplished: 12 miles / 20 km, elevation gain: 836 feet / 255 meters Longer Option: 20 miles / 33 km, elevation gain: 1,210 feet / 369 meters Accommodations: Villa Lara
DAY 4 D-Day Beaches
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 the coast. Our main focus today is visiting and contemplating Omaha Beach. The dramatic history of this place is present everywhere: the beach, the plains, 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 in the town of Grandcamp-Maisy, we’ll wind our way back along the coast to another crucial cliff: La Pointe du Hoc, where American soldiers persevered in a brutal defense against German counterattacks. Challenge yourself with an extra ride or shuttle back to Bayeux. Spend the evening in town—we invite you to dine on your own (though your guides are happy to recommend a few favorite restaurants).
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch Destinations: Sully, Port-en-Bessin, Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, Omaha Beach, Grandcamp-Maisy, La Pointe du Hoc Accomplished: 25 miles / 40 km, elevation gain: 997 feet / 304 meters Longer Option: 41 miles / 66 km, elevation gain: 1,581 feet / 482 meters Accommodations: Villa Lara
DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications. DAY 5 Meet Me at Mont Saint-Michel
Before bidding adieu to Bayeux, we’ll take a moment to check out a masterpiece from the 11th century—the Bayeux Tapestry—which depicts the Norman conquest and the Battle of Hastings. But the best is yet to come! Beginning at the border of Brittany and Normandy, we’ll ride on quiet country roads to reach one of France’s most iconic landmarks: the UNESCO-classified Mont Saint-Michel. After checking into our final hotel, experience Mont Saint-Michel to the fullest during a guided tour of the monastery and the petite village that surrounds it. Our final dinner together is a celebration of our unique position between Brittany and Normandy—a Breton seafood feast to finish the week with a bang (or a glass of Calvados).
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Destinations: Bayeux, Mont Saint-Michel Accomplished: 27 miles / 44 km, elevation gain: 833 feet / 254 meters Accommodations: Manoir de la Roche Torin
DAY 6 Au Revoir!
Enjoy a short morning loop for one last stretch of your legs, or opt for a relaxing breakfast at the hotel. Your guides will bring you to the train station in Rennes for your farewell to Normandy.
Meals: Breakfast Optional Ride: 16 miles / 25 km, elevation gain: 335 feet / 102 meters
DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications.