Season
Start
any day April - Mid October
Level of Difficulty
Grade
B (Moderate cycling), over flattish terrain – can be warm. Day stages
32 to 54km. 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, waterholder 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 arrival.
General
Information
Baths:
it is not normal for your room to have a bath, the main reason being
that it takes up a lot of space, some hotels/guesthouses may have a
separate room in the house where a bath is available to guests, but in
the main it is showers.
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. 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. 1) 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 a
double/twin rooms. 2) You are not just paying a supplement on the
room but the luggage transfer costs you are paying in full. The cost of
moving 1 bag or 2 bags etc remains the same. On some of our trips it is
possible to reduce the cost of the single supplement if you happen to be
a 3rd person travelling, or have chosen a date when other clients are booked.
Please note that in the case of late bookings or hotel closure we
may use various other hotels, which offer a similar standard of
accommodation and cuisine.
Language:
note that you will not necessarily come across people speaking English.
Remember you have left home to find things different bring a phrase
book, try to learn a bit of French!
Luggage:
when staying in hotels, sometimes your luggage will have been taken to
your 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.
Maps & Route Notes
We
provide adapted maps
We
also provide specially researched route descriptions.
Accommodation & Meals
Hotels
normally with ensuite shower and WC. Note that the
hotels described below may vary depending upon the availability.
Half board on 5 nights, B&B only on 2 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 here
you will be at a ‘Bacchus’ 3* wine estate hotel, actually a
chateau. You will be given wine with your meal here 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.
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 local heritage
with the latest modern facilities.
Dinner & breakfast are included.
q
Night 3:
In Saint Symphorien Village, you
will stay at a charming house, with a small swimming pool in the garden.
The rooms are very well appointed with the emphasis on whiteness, light
and linen. Fittings replicate Georgian era furnishings.
Dinner &
breakfast are provided.
Night
3 alternative accommodation is in Origne, this is also a charming
guesthouse which is located in the centre of the village which offers a
range of services.
q
Night 4: In Le Barp is
spent in a 2* hotel in the nice countryside. 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.
q
Night 5, 6.& 7:
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 and dinner on the first night are included.
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, 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, or
alternatively you can visit Rail Europe's website at www.sncf.fr. Relevant
French National Railway timetables can be obtained from the Internet,
either at www.sncf.com (text in French or English), or at www.bahn.de
(text in German, 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 and transfer to Capian is
included. The starting point of the
tour is Capian, near to Bordeaux. You arrive at the railway station or
the airport and you will be transferred to the first hotel 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 company of your hosts.
q
Day 2. Capian to
Saint macaire 35km 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.
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 throughout 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. 51 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. After breakfast take
the train back from Arcachon to Bordeaux, for flight or rail connections
(not included approx 9 E).
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