Backroad cycling France

An enchanting bike trip along the rugged and varied Opal Coast, stretching from the Somme Bay to CalaisRef CN50

Northern France, known as "le Nord", is renowned for its genuine beauty and the warmth of its residents. Its coastline, the Opal Coast, rivals that of Normandy or Brittany: golden sandy beaches stretching to the horizon, stunning cliffs, dune landscapes that glow at sunset, inviting historical seaside resorts, and charming villages. Here, on clear days, we are greeted with a unique view far across the water to the white chalk cliffs of Dover and the English mainland.
This 6-day bike trip takes us along this authentic coastal strip. From the salt marshes and rich birdlife of the Somme Bay, we set off toward the first seaside resorts of the Opal Coast: Le Crotoy, Berck, and the elegant Le Touquet-Paris-Plage await us. Dunes and pine forests then give way to the hills, hedgerows, and marshlands of the hinterland, where we discover the remarkable Montreuil-sur-Mer. Through Boulogne-sur-Mer and its harbor, we venture into the most beautiful and natural part of our journey: the Regional nature park of the Caps et Marais d'Opale, renowned for the two spectacular rocky coastlines of Cap Griz Nez and Cap Blanc Nez. The lovely seaside towns of Wimereux, Ambleteuse, and Wissant invite us to pause and catch the sea air before our cycling trip concludes in the old town of Calais. The allure of the Opal Coast will linger in our hearts for long.

Self-guided tour: from 765€ - Details Duration : 6 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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Physical level :  
This tour is E-bike compatible

Highlights

  • An authentic, open and welcoming region, far from mass tourism
  • An easy route on dedicated cycle paths with little elevation gain
  • The spectacular cliffs of Cap Griz Nez and Cap Blanc Nez
  • Take breaks at beautiful beaches and in typical seaside resorts
  • The route offers a wealth of history and culture away from the saddle

Description

Comments

  • We can also offer variations of this bike trip, e.g. for families (longer, shorter stages) or as a 3- or 4-day trip
  • Regional trains run between Calais and Noyelles-sur-Mer in the Somme Bay (approx. 1 hour 10 minutes journey time) and accept bicycles.
  • The Centre National de la Mer: Nausicaa is a must-see in the region. It takes at least half a day to visit Europe's largest aquarium. We therefore recommend that you plan an extra night to include this stop on your trip.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Saint Valéry sur Somme and Pointe du Hourdel

Start of your cycling tour: During the morning at the hotel in Saint Valéry. You check in, leave your luggage in storage and set off on your first short stage to the Pointe de Hourdel. On request, we can book an additional night in Saint Valéry for you beforehand (see additional services).

On your first day, you can explore the south of the Somme Bay at your own pace and discover the charming town of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme. Surrounded by salt marshes created by the meeting of land and sea, this magnificent landscape shaped by the tides is home to remarkable flora and fauna. We will cycle to the Pointe du Hourdel to observe the seals in their natural environment – a magical spectacle that is not to be missed.

For a more leisurely start to the trip, we stroll through the flower-filled alleys, walk along the quays lined with colourful fishermen's houses and soak up the peaceful atmosphere of the small harbour. There are some regional specialities that Picardy has to offer that we should definitely try.

  • Distance and elevation gain: approx. 25 km / approx. 100 m.
Day 2: Saint Valéry sur Somme - Le Crotoy - Berck

This morning, we take the old steam train of the Baie de Somme and travel to the other end of the bay to Le Crotoy, the starting point of our cycling tour along the Opal Coast. After a few kilometres on beautiful cycle paths, we should definitely stop off at the Parc du Marquenterre. In this extraordinary bird sanctuary we can observe up to 300 species of birds in 200 hectares of dunes and pine forests. We then explore the magnificent dune landscapes that line the Bay of Authie. As we approach Berck-sur-Mer, we should have our binoculars at the ready: this is the ideal place to observe seals just a few metres away. The seaside resort of Berck awaits us with its typical architecture, which combines a variety of influences. We admire some of the eccentric villas in the Anglo-Norman style and watch the kites dancing in the wind at sunset. Overnight stay in Berck.

  • Distance and elevation gain: approx. 50 km / approx. 100 m.
Day 3: Berck - Montreuil sur Mer

Influenced by wealthy English tourists and the Parisian bourgeoisie, Le Touquet-Paris-Plage is a town that will surprise us. With its extravagant buildings, luxury hotels and elegant porters, the town has retained a sophisticated and refined atmosphere for over a century that is unique on the Opal Coast.

Outside of Le Touquet, the pine forests give way to the rolling hills, hedgerows and wetlands of the hinterland, where we will discover one of the most beautiful places in France: Montreuil-sur-Mer. A jewel perched on its solid ramparts, untouched by time. We stroll through the historic streets, admiring the impressive citadel and the many small red brick houses. A journey into the past... When Victor Hugo stopped here in 1837, he was so deeply impressed by the town that he immortalised it in his masterpiece Les Misérables and set part of the plot here.

  • Distance and elevation gain: approx. 45 km / approx. 150 m.
Day 4: Montreuil sur Mer - Hardelot

Today, we will be enchanted by the discreet charm of the northern French countryside: small villages with red brick houses, typical friteries and authentic farms line up like postcard motifs. This day takes you to the heart of rural and unspoilt France, along small winding roads that leisurely lead us to one of the region's natural gems: the Caps et Marais d'Opale Regional Nature Park. Once we arrive in Hardelot-Neufchatel, we should definitely visit the Château de Hardelot. It is the only example of Neo-Tudor architecture in France. It houses the Centre Culturel de l'Entente Cordiale, a symbol of the connection between northern France and England. We end our day with a walk through the peaceful forests and dunes of Ecault. The heady scent of the maritime pines and the warmth of the sand under our feet will delight our senses!

  • Distance and elevation gain: approx. 35 km / approx. 350 m.
Day 5: Hardelot - Audresselles

On our route, we recommend a short stop by the sea before we reach Boulogne-sur-Mer and its large harbour. The town is home not only to a beautiful fortified town centre, but also to the largest aquarium in Europe, the Centre National De La Mer: Nausicaa. With more than 58,000 animals, it is a true biodiversity conservation centre and a must-see during our visit to the Opal Coast!

But our route has even more wonderful surprises in store for us today. After a detour to the charming seaside resort of Wimereux, known for its white façades and harmonious seaside architecture, we ride along the beautiful dune landscape of the Slack (river). We reach the picturesque Ambleteuse, where the small castle overlooking the sea is firmly anchored on a rocky outcrop.

  • Distance and elevation gain: approx. 35 km / approx. 350 m.
  • Option to split this stage into two days to visit the Nausicaa marine centre. If you are interested, we will be happy to provide you with information about this option.
Day 6: Audresselles - Calais

At the end of our journey, the majestic and spectacular Deux Caps coastline awaits us. The Cap-Gris-Nez and Cap-Blanc-Nez headlands, which have been awarded the ‘Grand Site de France’ label, have offered a magnificent view for centuries of the incessant ballet of ships setting sail from the English coast, whose cliffs can be seen on the horizon. But this magnificent backdrop is also steeped in history. The remains of the Second World War, still visible in the landscape, bear witness to the strategic importance of this stretch of coastline. To better understand this significant chapter in history, several museums and information centres in the vicinity provide an insight into the events that shaped the coast during the occupation. 

Finally, we arrive at Calais, the rugged and beautiful city of the north. The end point of our journey offers a surprisingly urban and multicultural atmosphere. We drift through the city and discover street art works that can be seen on the façades, as if in an open-air museum. We listen to the chimes of the town hall with its 75-metre-high belfry, admire one of Rodin's most beautiful sculptures and, with a little luck, discover the city's dragon before slowly bringing our journey to an end.

  • Distance and elevation gain: approx. 45 km / approx. 450 m.

End of your bike tour: On the last day at Calais SNCF station at around 4 p.m. On request, we can book an additional night in Calais for you (see extra services).

Distance and altitude difference are given for information only.

Dates

This tour can be booked anytime from April to mid-October.

Costs and services self-guided tour

Price per person for a group of:

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

The price includes:
  • 5 nights in guest houses and 2* or 3* hotels in double/twin rooms with en-suite facilities
  • 5 breakfasts
  • Daily luggage transfers (1 luggage item per person, max 20 kg)
  • Ticket for the Somme Bay Steam Railway from Saint Valéry to Le Crotoy on day 2
  • Carefully designed itineraries with different levels of difficulty
  • Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book including maps (digital format) and GPS tracks
What is not included:
  • Lunch and dinner
  • International flights
  • Your transfer to the meeting place
  • Bike rental
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Travel insurance
  • Drinks at the accommodation
  • Visits to museums, monuments and sites
  • Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
  • All personal expenses
  • Everything not mentioned under  “the price includes".

Extra services

Single room occupancy (5 nights) 225 € / 

Extra nights

Extra night in Saint-Valéry before tour start including breakfast, double room 95 € / 

Extra night in Saint-Valéry before tour start including breakfast, single room 140 € / 

Extra night in Calais in a guest house after the tour including breakfast, double room 65 € / 

Extra night in Calais in a guest house after the tour including breakfast, single room 125 € / 

Dinner reservations

On request, we can book all 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 for 5 dinners 35 €

Bike rental: see below

Bike rental

Bikes and e-bikes are available for rent:

Classic bike (6 days) 80 € / 

Electric-assist bicycle (6 days) 180 € / 

Delivery to Saint-Valéry and collection in Calais (compulsory)
Flat rate for up to 7 bicycles
300 €

All bicycles are equipped with mudguards, a puncture repair kit and a rear rack. Helmets and bike locks available upon request.

Make sure to indicate your height in the booking form.

E-bikes offer electric pedaling assistance, greatly reducing the effort needed to cover a given distance. They provide the "extra push" when tackling the hills, more or less frequent on our trips. They offer an interesting alternative to the regular, "human-powered" bikes in two cases: 

  • You are hesitant to complete level 1 trip (the easiest out of 3 levels). With an e-bike, it becomes possible. 
  • You wish to cycle comfortably with another person who is fitter, and you are worried about keeping up.

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 plane

Next airport: Paris or Brussels

By train

  • Next station for regional trains: Noyelles-sur-Mer
  • Next station for high-speed trains: Calais, Amiens
  • SNCF website: www.sncf-connect.com

By car

Route planner: en.mappy.com

Parking: Car park at Noyelles-sur-Mer station or in Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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/pannier and a travel bag.

1/ Daypack or pannier

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.

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.

Please note: 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
Various
  • A pair of cycling gloves
  • A bike lock
  • Water bottles (or Camelbak)
  • A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin; Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.

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.

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)