Season
Start
any day April - Mid October
Level of Difficulty
Easy
- Moderate cycling, over flattish terrain – can be warm. Day stages 30 to
53km. The terrain is relatively flat, with short climbs out of the
river valleys onto the intervening vineyard areas. This makes cycling easy and enjoyable.
The Bikes
On
this tour bike hire is included in the tour price and no security
deposit is required.
The
bikes are 21-speed hybrid bikes equipped with
aluminium frame, lock, saddlebag, pump, basic repair kit, water
bottle holder and key lock. You
can bring youngish children on this tour as the bike supplier can
provide a trailer. Helmets
are also included if you want them, but we would recommend that for
sizing and hygiene reasons that you bring your
own. Please bring your own drinks bottle. Road assistance will be given in the event of serious breakage or
damage.
Before
travelling, we will need to be advised your height and inside leg
measurements, so that we can organize for the correct bikes to be
available for your tour.
General
Information
Hotels:
The hotels described are our usual choice of accommodation, however if
these are not available then alternatives are used and if these are of a
different standard you will be informed at the time of booking.
Baths/showers: Many rooms with ensuite/private
facilities have a shower rather than a bath, usually because of limited
space. Some hotels/guesthouses may however have a separate room in the
house where a bath is available to guests.
Breakfast:
in countries such as France the breakfast usually consists of coffee and
toast/croissant, if you want more for breakfast then we would suggest
you purchase some food the night before.
Special
Dietary Requirements: It is
important for you to tell us if you have any dietary requirements when
you book your holiday so that we can inform everyone that you are
staying with.
Single
Supplements: are payable on most of
our tours. The single
supplement guarantees the privacy of your own room, however, rooms can
at times be small and in some places may not enjoy the same facilities
as double/twin rooms.
Language:
When
travelling in less frequented areas you will not necessarily come
across people speaking English. Remember you are experiencing a
different culture, buy a phrase book and try to learn a little of the
local language!
Luggage:
When staying in hotels, sometimes
your luggage will have been taken to you room awaiting your arrival.
However don’t be surprised if your luggage is waiting for you to take
it up to your room. Please politely ask someone if you need assistance.
Route
Notes: Please note that one set of
route notes per room booked is included in the cost of the holiday. If
you require more sets of notes then there is a charge of £25 per set
ordered.
Insurance:
All clients must have appropriate cover for the activities included for
the duration of our trip.
Accommodation & Meals
Hotels
normally with ensuite shower and WC. Note that the
hotels described below may vary depending upon the availability.
Half board on 4 nights (wine and coffee on 4 nights included) and
B&B only on
3 nights. Picnic lunches
are not included in the tour price but are available from hotels or
local shops. We indicate in the route notes where there are suitable
restaurants or cafes for lunch stops, or recommend you carry food if
there are none convenient to the route.
q
Night 1: In Capian or Rions here
you will be at a ‘Bacchus’ 3* wine estate hotel, actually a
chateau. You will be given wine with your meal and you will be able
to sample many more. This
chateau overlooks the Garonne, 30km to the south of Bordeaux. There is
an attractive living room and a large park to wander around the grounds.
Dinner & breakfast included.
(We
may need to use one of 3 other establishments, all of which are of the
same standard.)
q
Night 2: In Saint Macaire. We
stay in a 3* hotel in the heart of the medieval city. This was
an old merchant’s house dating from
the 16th century and
has been completely renovated to provide
the perfect combination of
beauty of the local heritage
and the latest modern facilities. Dinner & breakfast are included.
If no availability, accommodation in a charming guesthouse in Caudrot
(7km further on).
q
Night 3:
In Origne. This
is a charming guesthouse, which is located in the center of the village
offering a range of services. Dinner
& breakfast are provided.
q
Night 4: In Le Barp. is
spent in a 2* hotel, stone built with a swimming pool. It is a
stone built building with a terrace tangled in suspended vines. The
place is popular for its local cooking. Dinner, & breakfast are
included. This hotel closes on a Sunday night except during July/August,
so just bear this in mind when organizing your holiday.
q
Nights 5 & 6:
In Acachon. We stay at an
attractive 3* hotel in the heart of the town, 150metres from the
beach. The hotel has comfortable standard rooms, living room and a shady
garden. Breakfasts only leaving you free to choose where you eat.
q
Night 7:
In Bordeaux. Our
3* hotel in Bordeaux is centrally located making it easy to access all
the sights and sounds of this wonderful city.
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Arrival
Our
flights are to Bordeaux via British Airways from London Gatwick. If you
would prefer to go by train, then you will need to contact us. Train
prices may vary more throughout the year. Please note that it is
impossible to book trains until 2 months before your travel date.
The
starting point of the tour is Capian or Rions, near to Bordeaux. You arrive at
the railway station or the airport and transfer to the first hotel
by a taxi (included in the tour price) where you will be warmly
received. You will also get your route book and any extra documentation
there. The area is in the middle of the wine growing area.
Air
tickets are included for UK-based full-package customers. You
will receive up-to-date train times for your date of travel. Relevant
French National Railway timetables can be obtained on the Internet,
either at www.sncf.com (text in French or English), or at www.bahn.de
(text in German or English, but a very fast and efficient site, with all changes of
train detailed). Alternatively you can check out the links from our website at
www.sherpaexpeditions.com
Itinerary
Guide
q
Day 1.
Arrive in Bordeaux from where the transfer to Capian or Rions is included. The starting point of the
tour is Capian or Rions, near to Bordeaux. You arrive at the railway station or
the airport and you will be transferred to the first accommodation
(included) where you
will be warmly received. You will need to give us details of
arrival times and locations etc, if you are a ‘Land only’ customer.
You will also get your route book, bike and any extra documentation
there. The area is in the middle of the wine growing area and dinner
will be served in the Bacchus/guesthouse or a nearby restaurant.
q
Day 2. Capian or Rions to Saint
Macaire 30 - 40km approx. This
ride takes you into the ‘Entre –Deux-Mer’ area. Cycling through
the Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux winegrowing area. You get some superb
views of the Garonne River and visit the charming old merchant town
called Saint Macaire as well as Cadillac where you can visit former
residences of the artist Henri Toulouse – Lautrec and the writer
Francois Mauriac.
This is an old ‘bastide’ town and the chateau is worth a
look. (If no availability, accommodation in a charming guesthouse in
Caudrot, 7km from Saint Macaire).
q
Day 3.
Saint Macaire to Origne 53km approx.
From the village you cross to the left bank of the Garonne river,
the tour follows the twisting roads through the World famous vines of
the Sauternes area,
including the jewel in its
crown – ‘Chateau Yquem.’ You
pedal onto Budos then through valleys carved out by the River Ciron to
Leogats and Nouaillan, then onto Balizac where you enter the ‘Landes
de Gascogne regional Nature Park,’ before reaching Origne.
q
Day 4.
Origne to Le Barp 32 km approx. Today’s
ride takes you through the Regional Nature Park. You will be riding
along a lovely little forest road offering great scenic variety and
taking you westwards. Heading towards Louchats, the pine forest becomes
denser and the scent of pine resin richer. Leave your bike at the site
of the lagoons of Gat –Mort. Hosten
Lake offers plenty of shade by the shore, perfect for an afternoon nap!
A cycling track will then take you between pine trees and
heather, to the small road leading to Le Barp.
q
Day 5.
Le Barp to the bay of Arcachon and the ocean. Direct
way by the oyster ports 45 km or Via Pyla sur Mer 53 km. Today you
begin with a gentle cycle ride along the cycling track to Mios, where
you join a minor road as the pine forest gradually thins. Crossing over
the railway line takes you to Le Teich where the park meets the sea.
You can have a look around the ornithological park and take a
break. From here then take the coastal path, with the salt from the bay
under your wheels and follow the scent of the sea air to Gujan-Mestras.
A link road will connect you with the minor forest road taking you as
far as the Atlantic Seaboard. There you can pay a visit to the Dune du
Pyla, where you can leave your bike and climb to the top of the highest
dune in Europe with great views from the top. Then in your own time roll
along to your hotel.
q
Day 6. Around Cap Ferret. Today
you can take the boat with your bike to cross Arcachon to reach the cap
Ferret and ride on the other side of the bay.
Leave your bike to walk up to the top of the lighthouse and then
pedal on to reach the very pretty village of l’herbe, some reservoirs
and the ‘Tapper’s Shack.’ You must however be careful not to miss
the last boat departure back across the bay to return to the hotel.
q
Day 7. Into the Domaine de Certes in
Audenge. Leave
Arcachon and take the cycling track via the port of La Teste. Leave the
track and visit the 7 oyster ports of Gujan Mestras. This minor road
runs around the bay. Then head back to your hotel for your last night.
q
Day 8.
End of Tour.
Your
hotel is located within walking distance of the shuttle bus that goes
back to the airport.
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