Backroad cycling France

The Atlantic cycling route from Arcachon to BiarritzRef CN90

Throughout the week, our common thread will be the ocean, the Atlantic cycling route (Velodyssey) from the Arcachon region and the famous Dune du Pilat. We will discover lively resorts (Biscarrosse, Mimizan, Capbreton) and wild beaches, renowned for their surfing, while riding through dunes and pine trees. After crossing the Adour river, the last part of our journey takes place in the Basque region, the wild beaches suddenly giving way to resorts and villages with the charm so characteristic of the Basque region. We will be able to extend (as an option) our cycle trip to Bidart, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Hendaye, all the way to Spain and the buzzing San Sebastian!

Self-guided tour: from 865€ - Details Duration : 6 or 9 days | Level : Customer satisfaction :
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+33 458 140 435 A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.
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This tour is E-bike compatible

Highlights

  • Very different atmospheres in the same journey: Dune du Pilat, the trendy bay of Arcachon, the seaside resorts of the Landes, the traditions of the Basque region
  • A safe itinerary on the Atlantic cycling route
  • Visits to beautiful seaside resorts, including Biarritz
  • The possibility of starting the trip from Bordeaux
  • The possibility of extending to Spain and San Sebastian

Description


Detailed itinerary - 6 days trip

Day 1: Arcachon (possible to start the tour from Bordeaux!)

We start our cycling tour in Arcachon, famous for Europe's largest shifting sand dune, the Dune du Pilat, its oyster farming villages, its oysters and its beaches. Arcachon is the town of the four seasons: The summer town with its town centre, along the water between the "Eyrac" and "Chapelle" piers (this part of the town was created when the first beach resort was opened for wealthy guests, followed by the construction of numerous villas and chalets by the sea), the autumn town with its marina and the Aiguillon district to the east, the winter town with its magnificent villas, set back a little above the town centre, and the colourful spring town with the beautiful Pereire beach and the Abatilles. Enjoy the day of your arrival. Free dinner and overnight at the hotel.

It is possible to start our cycling tour already in Bordeaux and cycle via Lacanau and Cap Ferret to Arcachon (3 additional cycling days). Please contact us!

Day 2: Arcachon - Biscarrosse

After an essential trip to the top of the Dune du Pilat to admire a magnificent panorama over the entire Arcachon basin, the Arguin sandbank, the Cap-Ferret lighthouse and the Landes pine forests. We then set off on a grand circuit of the Landes forest, against the backdrop of the beaches and the endless ocean, which offers us opportunities to swim and contemplate the horizon throughout the day. We reach Biscarrosse Plage, a small seaside resort with huge beaches of golden fine sand, lakes of clear fresh water and pine forests stretching between dunes and valleys. Our route today ends in Biscarrosse, the capital of seaplane flying, where the museum, unique in Europe, reveals to us the legend of the great transatlantic crossings.

Distance: approx. 50 km and 250 m

Day 3: Biscarrosse - Mimizan Plage

We leave Biscarrosse and cycle along the lake of the same name to the small port of Piaou in Parentis-en-Born, whose location is ideal to enjoy swimming in calm waters without waves and the tranquillity of the surroundings. The Vélodyssée cycle route then takes us through the state forest of Sainte-Eulalie before reaching the coast again. The ocean will show us its most beautiful face as soon as we arrive at the family resort of Mimizan-Plage, also called the Pearl of the Côte d'Argent (Silver Coast).

Distance: approx. 40 km and 150 m

Day 4: Mimizan Plage - Vieux Boucau

This morning, we find the tranquillity of the forest, its silence and its smells, as the Vélodyssée winds its way through large wooded areas scented with pine trees. As soon as we approach Contis Plage, we see the unique lighthouse with its black and white zebra pattern above a huge beach whose sand stretches as far as the eye can see. The adjacent small village is worth a look and a stop to stroll through its alleys. Our route then continues through forests and clearings with gorse bushes until we reach the Cap de l'Homy beach, which offers a breathtaking view of the ocean and shows us all the beauty and wildness of the Landes coast. We cross the Léon region, circumnavigate its lake, discover the typical village of Moliets et Maa and then continue along the Vélodyssée to Vieux-Boucau.

Distance: approx. 60 km and 250 m

Day 5: Vieux Boucau - Biarritz

Vieux-Boucau is the former mouth of the Adour. Its seafront is made up of elegant traditional houses perched on the dune overlooking the ocean. We are in the kingdom of surfing, bathing and surfcasting. Maybe this is the first opportunity for us to try surfing for ourselves? Then we get back on our bikes and continue our journey along the coast, which at this point in the trip is the largest beach in Europe, with over a hundred kilometres of endless sand...

Then finally the Basque Country opens its doors to us, the first colourful houses appear over the ocean, the lively squares become more and more numerous. We discover the seaside resorts of Hossegor and Capbreton, strongholds of surfing, and then pass through Bayonne, the historic city with its heritage and shops, a city of character and art de vivre where it is highly recommended to lose yourself in the small streets. With Biarritz, famous for its long beach, the Rock of the Virgin Mary and the red and white houses towering over the cliffs, the worthwhile destination of our cycling tour then slowly comes into view.

Distance: approx. 60 km and 200 m

Day 6: Biarritz

After breakfast, we leave our hotel and enjoy the lively streets of Biarrtiz and the ocean one last time.

Our services end in Biarritz after breakfast. If you wish, we can reserve an extra night for you at the hotel in Biarritz. It is possible to extend the tour to Hendaye and San Sebastian, please contact us!

Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.

Detailed itinerary - 9 days trip

From Bordeaux to Biarritz

  • Day 1: Arrival in Bordeaux
  • Day 2: Bordeaux - Saint Médard: 25km
  • Day 3: Saint Médard - Lacanau or Lacanau océan: 50 to 60 km
  • Day 4: Lacanau or Lacanau océan - Arcachon : 45 to 55 km (one hour boat trip from Cap Ferret to Arcachon included)
  • Day 5: Day 2 of the 6 days detailed itinerary

Itinerary start and end

For the 6-day version:

Day 1: your hotel room in Arcachon is available mid-afternoon. On day 2 in the morning, your luggage must be available at the reception by 9am at the latest. For those arriving by car, it is possible to park in the municipal car park. Located in the heart of the city, close to the town hall, the administrations, the shops and the market, the municipal car park offers 340 spaces on 5 floors and is certainly the best way to park in the city centre.

Day 6: your stay ends in Biarritz after breakfast at the hotel.

For the 9-day version :

Day 1: your hotel room in Bordeaux is available mid-afternoon. For those arriving by car, it is possible to park in the few covered car parks in the centre (Bourse - Jean Jaurès 2 place de la Bourse, Parking Cité Mondiale 20 quai des Chartrons, Parking Front du Médoc rue Robert Lateulade, etc.) or to reserve a parking space with a private individual: https://parclick.fr/parking-bordeaux.

Day 9: Your stay ends in Biarritz after breakfast at the hotel.

Dates

This tour can be booked anytime. Please contact us for more details.

Costs and services self-guided tour

Price per person for a group of:

Single-room supplement will be automatically charged in the case of odd-numbered groups.

The price includes:
  • 5 or 8 nights in 2* or 3* hotels in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities
  • 5 or 8 breakfasts
  • Daily baggage transfers
  • Detailed road book, highlighted maps and GPS tracks
What is not included:
  • International flights
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see paragraph below)
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Travel insurance
  • Drinks at the accommodation
  • Visits to museums, monuments and sites not covered by the programme
  • Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
  • All personal expenses
  • Everything not mentioned under  “the price includes".

Tour extension

Extend your tour on the Vélodyssée to Hendaye and cross the Spanish boarder towards San Sebastian!

Note that this part of the route is mostly a shared route, and the coast becomes more spectacular and rugged, with successive climbs and even a small pass to cross before turning over to San Sebastian (Jaizkibel Mendatea).

This route, which is very pretty, is ideal for mountain bikes or for cyclists with two wheels, but is not recommended for families with young children. Our programme is as follows:

Biarritz - Hendaye
  • We leave Biarritz, its Virgin rock, and its red and white houses overhanging the cliffs and the ocean to reach the trendy bay of St Jean de Luz and its fishing port.
  • After Socoa and its fort, it is by "la corniche", a final coastal section above the cliffs, that we reach the Pointe Sainte Anne and the long beach of Hendaye, at the gateway to Spain and the Pyrenees...
  • What a beautiful finale to this mythical Vélodyssée!

Distance: approx. 35 km and 450m.

Hendaye - San Sebastian (Spain) - Hendaye
  • After a few laps, we take a small boat to Hondarribias. That's it, we are already in Spain!
  • We get back on our bikes and ride along the coast to the castle of San Telmo, the starting point of a first climb to the first heights of our route. The views over the ocean are spectacular.
  • We reach the Jaizkibel Mendatea road, offering, after some effort, a splendid view of the ocean and the mountain range towards Bilbao.
  • We dive towards Pasai Donibane.
  • We take a second boat for another few minutes crossing to reach the first districts of San Sebastian.
  • A small cycle track takes us in a few kilometres to the centre of the old town of San Sebastian and its beaches, we can discover the fervour of this Spanish city, animated by its bars, restaurants, festivals and endowed with a remarkable architectural heritage.

Distance: approx. 35 km and 600m.

Hendaye

After breakfast we leave our hotel and enjoy the ocean one last time...

The distances and altitude differences are given as an indication.

Price of this extension:

Tour extension 265 € / 

including 2 nights with breakfast in Hendaye in a 2* hotel and luggage transfer from Biarritz to Hendaye.

Standard bike - Tour extension (2 days) 45 € / 

E-bike - Tour extension (2 days) 75 € / 

The price does not include the 2 boat crossings necessary for the Hendaye - San Sebastian stage (approximately 2 euros per person with bike per crossing, to be paid on the spot in change at the boatman), and the train ticket between San Sebastian and Hendaye (2.75 euros per person).

Supplementary services

Single room accommodation (5 nights) 295 € / 

Single room accommodation (8 nights) 445 € / 

Extra night in Arcachon or Biarritz in 3* Hotel, double room, including breakfast 155 € / 

Extra night in Arcachon or Biarritz in 3* Hotel, single room, including breakfast 255 € / 

Bike rental: see below

Dinner reservation:

On request, we can book the dinners of your trip in restaurants carefully selected by our teams (budget generally between 30 and 35 € per person, starter, main course and dessert. Drinks not included). Meals are to be paid by you upon arrival at the restaurant.

Dinner reservations 35 € / 

Bike rental

Bike rental is possible for all our tours.

Standard bike

Standard bike (6 days) 125 € / 

Standard bike (9 days) 170 € / 

E-bike

E-Bike (6 days) 215 € / 

E-Bike (9 days) 295 € / 

Delivery and collection fee

Delivery and collection fee (from 1 to 4 bikes rented) 295 €

Delivery and collection fee (from 5 to 8 bikes rented) 355 €

Pannier

Second rear pannier (6 days) 25 € / 

Second rear pannier (9 days) 40 € / 

The bikes are equipped with mudguards, a rear rack with one rear pannier, a handlebar bag and a puncture repair kit. If you wish to know more about the type of bikes we rent for this trip, please contact us.

Electric bikes offer pedaling assistance, greatly reducing the effort needed to cover a given distance compared to a classic "human-powered" bicycle. They offer an alternative solution in two cases: 

  • You do not feel able to complete a level 1 wheel (lowest level) circuit. With electric assistance, this trip becomes accessible. 
  • You would like to complete a circuit with a person who is fitter than you and you are worried that you will be unable to keep up, or that the other person will find your pace too slow.

Equipment for family trip:

6 days trip:

Child Bike (6 days) 65 € / 

Child trailer (6 days)
min. 12 months, max: 40 kg, 2 children
95 € / 

Child trailer with baby sling (6 days)
under 12 months
110 € / 

Child seat (6 days)
12 months to 5 years old, max: 22 kg
25 € / 

9 days trip:

Child Bike (9 days) 95 € / 

Child trailer (9 days)
min. 12 months, max: 40 kg, 2 children
135 € / 

Child trailer with baby sling (9 days)
under 12 months
150 € / 

Child seat (9 days)
12 months to 5 years old, max: 22 kg
40 € / 

Private groups / Custom tours

You are a group of friends, a family, a company or a cycling club and you would like to organise a private cycling tour on the dates of your choice. This option is available for guided and self-guided tours.

  • If you are interested in one of the tours presented on our website, we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in your group.
  • If you are interested in a custom version of one of our tours, with specific requirements (tour duration, accommodation type, vehicle assistance, airport transfers, bike rental, etc.), we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in the group and the group's specific requirements.

For more information or to receive a quote, please contact us by phone at +33 458 140 435  or by email at info@france-bike-trips.com.

Travel insurance

It is important to be correctly insured when embarking on a cycling holiday. We recommend checking the details of your travel insurance (if you have one) and, if necessary, subscribing to our contract below. Please note that France Bike Trips is simply an intermediary between you and the insurance company.

You can choose between these travel insurance contracts while completing your booking form:

  • I subscribe to the "comprehensive multi-risk" insurance cover (4.5%), minimum premium of 15 €:
    This contract covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage, holiday interruption and cancellation. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "cancellation only" insurance cover (2.5%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers cancellation only. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "repatriation & assistance" insurance cover (1.6%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage and holiday interruption. To see the full contract, click here.

Recommendation:
If you choose to take out a travel insurance policy with another insurance company, please check that the search and rescue coverage is suitable: area covered, expenses included, risks covered (as an indication, a minimum cover of 15 000 € is recommended). Please note that credit card insurance rarely offers this type of coverage.

Booking procedure / Cancellation

How to book

In order to make a booking please fill in the online booking form on the "booking" page of your chosen tour. At the end of the booking process you will be transferred to our bank's secure payment page in order to pay a 30 % deposit.

Last minute booking

All self-guided bookings made within 21 days of tour departure will incur a surcharge of 15 € per person.

Expert advice
  • Unsure which tour to book?
  • Interested in a custom version of one of our tours?
  • Not sure if a particular tour is suitable for your riding style?

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm (French time) by phone - +33 458 140 435 or by mail - info@france-bike-trips.com.

Tour confirmation

In order to confirm our guided tours, we need to reach a minimum number of participants (usually 5 persons are necessary). Therefore booking a guided tour does not necessarily mean the tour is confirmed. In the unlikely event that we are unable to confirm your chosen tour, we will offer you the opportunity (no less than 21 days before departure) of switching to another (confirmed) tour, or receiving a full refund.

Self-guided or custom tours: We confirm bookings of self-guided tours and custom tours directly after booking.

In both cases, please await our final booking confirmation before making any travel arrangements.

Balance payment

Tour balance payment must be made no less than 30 days before tour departure. Your travel documents will be sent to you once we have received your balance payment. Road books and maps will be sent to you 3 weeks before departure.

Cancellation

In the event that you are obliged to cancel your tour France Bike Trips will reimburse the entire sum paid for the tour, minus the following cancellation charges:

  • More than 60 days before departure: 5 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 60 and 31 days before departure: 15 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 30 and 21 days: 30 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 20 and 14 days: 50 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 13 and 7 days: 70 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Less than 7 days before departure: 100 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium

Full details of our sales conditions are available here

Getting there

By train: From Bordeaux train station to Arcachon train station (about 1h).
https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

By plane:

  • From Bordeaux airport: head to Arcachon train station.

By car:
Route planner: en.mappy.com

Coming back:

You can return to Arcachon by taking the train from Biarritz (about 2h30) : https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

Route navigation

You will receive an email 2 weeks before departure, containing all the information necessary for your upcoming tour, including the following navigation tools:

Our dedicated smartphone app

Follow your route with comfort and ease! Thanks to the Velorizons navigation app, download the full trip itinerary to your smartphone, view route maps and profiles, access the list of booked accommodation, services and useful contacts, and use the integrated route guidance (visual and vocal) for navigation.

See the mobile app presentation video

To benefit fully from the app navigation system, we strongly recommend attaching your smartphone to the bicycle handlebar using a dedicated mount. An example can be viewed here.

Velorizons app compatibility
Operating systemAndroidAppleWindows PhoneBlackberry
CompatibilityVersion 8.0 minimumiOS 8.0 minimum. iPhone compatible, iPad compatible if GPS equippedNon compatibleNon compatible
A detailed Road Book

Your tour road book will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The road book contains:

  • Full colour maps with highlighted routes,
  • Step-by-step route description,
  • Route profiles
GPS tracks

Tour GPS tracks will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The tracks are in .gpx format, compatible with all GPS devices/apps.

Car sharing

If you sign up for a guided tour, we offer you the opportunity to see if you can carpool with other participants to get to the point of departure. To do this, go to "Car sharing" in our website. By entering the complete reference and the date of departure of the tour (available on the registration confirmation that we have sent you), you have access to route details and emails of other participants who wish to carpool.

Group size and guiding

For guided trips we limit the size of our groups from 5 (min) to 12 (max) persons in order to ensure security and conviviality.

You will be guided by English-speaking French mountain bike guides.

No size limitation for self-guided groups.

Accommodation

We favour comfortable accommodation with warm hospitality. For more details, please see the "Costs and services" section.

For private groups and self-guided tours it is possible to choose alternative accommodation (upgrade) depending on availability.

Food

"L'art de la table"

We pay very careful attention to the quality and the variety of your meals.  Fresh and local produce will be served wherever possible.

Depending on the meals included in your chosen tour:

  • Continental breakfasts taken at the accommodation
  • Cold picnics for lunch (mixed salad, bread, cold meats, cheese and fruit). Each participant carries his picnic in his daypack
  • Hearty dinners (3 to 4 courses, with local dishes)

Please check the "Dates & Prices" section for meal plan details.

Baggage

During the day you carry only a daypack for additional clothing, water, food, camera, etc. The rest of your baggage is transferred each day to the following nights accommodation.

Health

We strongly recommend having a medical check-up before your holiday. 

Our / Your state of mind

- A "group" tour: If you join a guided tour, you will be part of a group for several days. This is a superb opportunity to meet new people and share some magical moments. However, a group tour requires that each person show friendliness, openness and mutual respect for their fellow travellers.

- An "adventure" tour: despite the most careful preparation, adventure tours can present unforeseen events. Accepting these risks will help you enjoy your trip to the full, in the knowledge that your guide, our local partners and the entire France Bike Trips team will offer you the most suitable solutions to any given situation.

Bike and plane / train

If you decide to bring your own bike, be aware that transporting a bike by plane or train is no longer an issue. However a few simple guidelines help to optimise the transport and avoid potential damages that could occur.
Your bike must be transported in a designated bike bag (standard size 120x90cm). This maximal size allows you to travel with your bike as "hand luggage" in any TGV and SNCF trains.
It is very important that you protect your bike in the bag. After having deflated the tires, removed the wheels (by removing the quick release mechanisms), pedals and rear derailleur (which is left hanging on the chain), we recommend you wrap your bike inside the bag in a sheet of dense foam (thickness of 3 to 5 cm). A piece of cardboard or rigid plastic positioned between the foam and the inside of the cover can be beneficial to provide more rigidity.

Once folded up the bike bag will take up very little space and will be transported by the assistance vehicle during your tour.

Bike bags are available directly from France Bike Trips at a cost of 70 euros, plus postage.

Your equipment

Equipment provided by France Bike Trips on guided tours:
  • A group first-aid kit
  • A bike repair kit and tools
Personal equipment to bring:
Baggage

All your luggage must fit in two bags: a daypack and a travel bag.

1/ Daypack

This is the bag you will keep with you each day whilst riding. This bag should not be too large (up to 30 litres).

It will contain: a picnic lunch, camera, waterproof and extra clothing, etc.

Each day, your guide will advise you on what to bring in your bag according to the route and the weather.

2/ Travel bag

This is the bag that will be transported from one accommodation to the next by vehicle. It should contain all the belongings you will not use during the day.

IMPORTANT: Your luggage transported from one accommodation to the next must fit in a single bag and must not exceed 20kg.

List of equipment to pack in your bag the day of departure:
For your head
  • A cap or other head protection against the sun
  • A hat or headband
  • A bike helmet.
For your upper body
  • Two base layers (made of synthetic or natural breathable fabrics)
  • A warm shirt or a sweatshirt
  • A fleece
  • A waterproof jacket
For your legs
  • Two good quality cycling shorts
  • Trousers
  • Casual short
  • A swimsuit.
For your feet
  • Comfortable sports shoes 
  • Sports socks
  • Sandals (not obligatory, but nice during breaks and in the evening...).
For your bike

If you rent a bike from France Bike Trips, this material is not necessary.

  • 2 spare tubes and a puncture repair kit
  • Lubricant for chain and derailleur
  • A pump
  • A spare derailleur hanger
Various
  • A pair of cycling gloves
  • A bike lock
  • 2 bike bottles 75 cl (or Camelbak)
  • A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin; Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.

Self-guided formula

Self-guided tour "user guide"

Active autonomy: what you need to know for our self-guided tours

In order to achieve the planned tour programme, you must:

  • Guide yourself with the highlighted maps and road book;
  • Choose suitable start times adapted to the lengths of the daily stages as well as your own riding pace, and leave an adequate safety margin of time;
  • Obtain daily weather forecasts from your hosts, and take into account the weather conditions when planning journey times;
  • Arrive at the booked guest houses and hotels listed in the programme on the given dates; 
  • Bring the necessary personal equipment to carry out the tour. France Bike Trips equipment list constitutes the necessary minimum;
  • Carry insurance policies and emergency telephone numbers with you at all times;
  • Be familiar with basic first-aid steps;
  • In the event of any problems during your trip, contact France Bike Trips (contact information in your travel documents). Possession of a mobile phone that works in France is strongly recommended.

Self-guided tours are undertaken without a guide and at your own risk. France Bike Trips cannot be held liable for any route error, misconduct, personal imprudence, inadequate planning or inappropriate reactions in the event of incidents.

Any programme change of your own initiative is under your responsibility and at your expense. 

Having said this, with our advice and good preparation, you should be able to look forward to a wonderful, trouble free holiday. Enjoy your trip!

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A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.


Phone number: +33 458 140 435

Contact us

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.

Please type in your email address in order to access tour details and description

Your email will not be communicated to any third party or company outside France Bike Trips / Velorizons. You may receive occasional emails from France Bike Trips, with the possibility to unsubscribe at any time. CNIL (French National Commission for Data Protection and Liberties)