La Vélodyssée: from La Rochelle to Bordeaux
- 8 days / 6 days riding
- / ref. ODYS5
- / Difficulty Easy
- / Linear trip
Your bike tour on La Vélodyssée, the Atlantic cycling route:
From La Rochelle harbor, using the Vélodyssée cycling path, you will ride along to coast through the pinewoods, before joining the Belle Epoque villas of Royan. Then, along the Gironde estuary, the Canal des 2 mers’ véloroute leads you in the heart of Bordeaux.
Tour highlights
- The cities of La Rochelle and Bordeaux in the same cycling tour
- The marked-out itineraries along the Atlantic coast
- From beaches to quiet harbors of the Charentes
Day 1 Arrival in La Rochelle
Take time to visit the historic center of La Rochelle full of architectural treasures and to stroll on the “Vieux Port”.
Day 2 La Rochelle – Rochefort | 60 km
From the famous towers of La Rochelle harbour, ride along the cycling path by the ocean leading to Châtelaillon-Plage, a seaside city. Then you will reach the astonishing city of Rochefort, following the river banks of the Charente.
Day 3 Rochefort – La Tremblade | 30 km
Then you will ride along a cycling path to the salt pan crossed by several small canals. Marennes is the first oyster farming pool in Europe: a perfect stopover to discover regional food!
Day 4 La Tremblade – Royan | 37 km
Continue your journey between salt pans and the Seudre estuary. After Palmyre, “the Coast of Beauty” is a spectacular step thanks to an amazing cycling path with a sea view until Royan and its Belle Epoque villas.
Day 5 Royan – Mortagne sur Gironde | 32 km
On a nice shaded cycling track along the sea, your journey will take you from paths to small roads before getting to Talmont sur Gironde, known as one of the ‘most beautiful village in France’. Then you will ride until Mortagne-sur-Gironde harbour.
Day 6 Mortagne sur Gironde – Blaye | 62 km
The numerous small marinas along the river banks of the Gironde are perfect stopping places. You will join Blaye by a beautiful cycling path and will leave Charente Maritime to continue the route of the channel of 2 seas in Gironde.
Day 7 Blaye – Bordeaux | 61 km
Cross the Gironde estuary to join Lamarque and the region of the Médoc and its famous vineyards.You will reach the heart of Bordeaux, riding along small roads in the middle of the vineyard.
Day 8 Departure during the day
Extend your Vélodyssée adventure!
To Biarritz with our trip: La Vélodyssée: from Bordeaux to Biarritz (or Hendaye).
Documents
> Download tour programSelect your category
Your accommodation
• 7 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 6 days
•
Charente river crossing on the Transporteur bridge: Rochefort > Echillais (Day 3)
•
Boat transfer Blaye > Lamarque (Day 7)
•
A personalized travel app, including all your cycling stages as well as tourist and practical information
•
City taxes
•
Hotline 7 days a week
• Dinners / Lunches / Drinks
•
Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
•
Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
•
Single room supplement (7 nights included)
•
Transfer from Bordeaux to La Rochelle and personal bike repatriation
• 7 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 6 days
•
Charente river crossing on the Transporteur bridge: Rochefort > Echillais (Day 3)
•
Boat transfer Blaye > Lamarque (Day 7)
•
A personalized travel app, including all your cycling stages as well as tourist and practical information
•
City taxes
•
Hotline 7 days a week
• Dinners / Lunches / Drinks
•
Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
•
Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
•
Single room supplement (7 nights included)
•
Transfer from Bordeaux to La Rochelle and personal bike repatriation
from 3 to 11 years old : - 20%
from 12 to 15 years old : - 10%
(Children's discounts only apply when triple or quadruple rooms are occupied by at least 2 people paying the full rate)
hybrid bike ARCADE Escape - 21 speed gears
(bike included in this tour)
OPEN or CLOSED frame
- 1 rear pannier
- 1 front pannier
- 1 smartphone holder (per booking)
- 1 repair kit (per booking)
- 1 lock (for 2 bikes)
Helmet not provided.
(These models of bike may be replaced by another one, similar)
ebike ARCADE Vitality or TREK Verve+1 Lowstep
UNIVERSAL frame
- 1 rear pannier
- 1 front pannier
- 1 smartphone holder (per booking)
- 1 repair kit (per booking)
- 1 lock (for 2 bikes)
Helmet not provided.
(These models of e-bike may be replaced by another one, similar)
Practical details
Bikes will be delivered at the 1st hotel.
At the end of the tour, leave the rental bikes at your hotel, we will pick them up.
Your travel app
You’ll have personalized access to our travel app, which you can download onto your smartphone.
This app includes all your cycling stages, tourist and practical content, as well as your accommodation. The application will guide you along your route, like a GPS, during your cycling stages.
If you would like a printed version of the roadbook (including color maps of your stages), please let us know when you book your trip. It will be provided at your first accommodation.
Your journey
Tour description
Exclusively cycling paths or signposted routes for cyclists.
Bike stages trip profiles
La Rochelle – Rochefort: 60 km / elevation gain: 220m / elevation loss: 214m
Rochefort – La Tremblade: 35 km / elevation gain: 120m / elevation loss: 127m
La Tremblade – Royan: 37 km / elevation gain: 136m / elevation loss: 134m
Royan – Mortagne sur Gironde: 32 km / elevation gain: 236m / elevation loss: 239m
Mortagne sur Gironde – Blaye: 62 km / elevation gain: 169m / elevation loss: 166m
Blaye – Bordeaux: 61 km / elevation gain: 188m / elevation loss: 181m
How to arrive in La Rochelle
By train
From Paris Montparnasse train station >> La Rochelle Ville train station (about 3h by TGV train).
For more information, do not hesitate to visit : www.sncf.com/en
By plane
- From Roissy CDG airport:
– Roissy Charles de Gaulle T.2 train station >> Poitiers train station (en TGV) >> La Rochelle Ville train station (by TGV train).
www.parisaeroport.fr/en/passengers/access/paris-charles-de-gaulle/public-transport
- From Orly airport:
– Taxi transfer to Paris Montparnasse train station >> La Rochelle Ville train station (by TGV train).
– Bus shuttle (Le Bus Direct) : from Orly Sud or Ouest >> Line 1 >> Paris Montparnasse train station >> La Rochelle Ville train station (by TGV train).
www.lebusdirect.com/en/lines-and-schedules/orly-airport-paris-etoile-champs-elysees-line.html
– Bus shuttle (Orly Bus) : from Orly Sud or Ouest > > Paris centre – stop ‘Denfert Rochereau’ >> Metro line 4 >> Montparnasse train station >> La Rochelle Ville train station (by TGV train).
http://aeroportorly.paris/orlybus.php
– Orly Val (automatic metro): from Orly Sud or Ouest >> Paris – stop ‘Antony’ >> RER B – stop ‘Denfert Rochereau’ >> Metro line 4 >> Montparnasse train station >> La Rochelle Ville train station (by TGV train).
http://aeroportorly.paris/orlyval.php
www.transilien.com/en
www.ratp.fr/en/plans-lignes
- From Beauvais airport:
– Taxi transfer to Paris Montparnasse train station >> La Rochelle Ville train station (by TGV train).
– Bus shuttle >> Paris – stop ‘Porte Maillot’ >> Metro line 1 + line 13 >> Paris Montparnasse train station >> La Rochelle Ville train station (by TGV train).
www.aeroportparisbeauvais.com/en/acces-et-transports/navettes/
- From Nantes airport:
– Taxi transfer or Bus shuttle « TAN » : Nantes train station >> La Rochelle Ville train station (by train).
www.tan.fr/fr/menu/se-deplacer/tan/navette-aeroport/
Return
If you have to come back to the start point
- This return can be carry out by RandoVelo/Biking France (please contact us).
- A return transfer by train is possible and organised on your own. Please visit: www.sncf.com/en
Plan to go to the train station with your luggage (and your potential own bike)
(Personal bike return costs are on your responsibility).
– Bordeaux St Jean train station >> La Rochelle Ville train station (by train ).
– Bordeaux >> La Rochelle (by taxi)
If you have to return to Paris (city centre) / Paris Airports
- This return can be carry out by RandoVelo/Biking France (please contact us).
- A return transfer by train is possible and organised on your own. Please visit: www.sncf.com/en
Plan to go to the train station with your luggage (and your potential own bike)
(Personal bike return costs are on your responsibility).
– Bordeaux St Jean train station >> Paris Montparnasse train station (by TGV train).
– Bordeaux St Jean train station >> Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV Station (by TGV train).
Nearby Airport:
– Bordeaux Airport: www.bordeaux.aeroport.fr/en
Trip overall rating : / 7 testimonials
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« Lovely »Sue Angleterre« Lovely cycle ride from La Rochelle to Bordeaux with variety of scenery including forests, beaches and pretty ... »
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« Everything was fantastic »Alan Australia« A wonderful introduction to bike riding in France: this was our first bike ride in France, and we hope it ... »
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« Quel plaisir! »Isabelle France« Je conseille à tout le monde une expérience RandoVelo et quel plaisir d’avoir le suivi des bagages . »
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« qualité de leur service »Joel Belgique« Pour notre deuxième voyage avec RandoVelo nous ne pouvons que confirmer la qualité de leur service, leur ... »
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« A great holiday! »Owen Irlande« The organisation (bikes, equipment, hotels, baggage transfer) was excellent, and the trip information (maps ... »
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« Un must en famille ! »Eric France« Un grand merci à Randovelo pour cette super organisation. La route entre La Rochelle et Bordeaux est ... »
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« Everything was amazing »Gail USA« Everything was amazing – great route with beautiful sites, excellent bikes, perfect maps/directions, ... »