The maritime cycle route, from Mont-Saint-Michel to Caen
In summary
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Sports
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Duration8 days
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LevelConfirmed
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DestinationThe English Channel / Mont Saint Michel
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AgeFrom 12 - 90 years
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CO₂-Emissions94.41 kg CO2
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Type of stayIndependent traveler
In a few words
With over 550 km of greenways and themed routes, the Normandy cycle routes promise a truly unique cycling experience. Along the way, you'll encounter locals, enjoy gourmet breaks, and discover heritage treasures. Let yourself be captivated by a route that winds through the Normandy countryside in all its splendor before leading you to the invigorating coastal panoramas and the legendary D-Day landing beaches. Here, each stage tells a story and reveals a new facet of the region, a blend of abundant nature and vibrant history. An ideal getaway to experience Normandy to the fullest, at the pace of a bicycle.
The highlights
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A route designed for bicycles
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The intense emotion upon arrival on the D-Day landing beaches
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A beautiful blend of countryside and coastline
Photos
Sport
Level
Leisure Cycling
For those wishing to cycle 50 km a day. The stages are sometimes hilly and follow cycle paths, greenways, and secondary roads. A trip suitable for anyone who cycles occasionally.
In figures
PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE
- Average duration/day: 4h30
- Average distance/day: 57 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 415 m
- Predominant type of terrain : Road
Management
Your travel itinerary will be accessible via a mobile app. There you will find the detailed day-by-day program, your vouchers with contact details for service providers, as well as a GPS function to follow your route in real time throughout your stay.
Program
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Arrival at Mont-Saint-Michel
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Arrival in Beauvoir on the road to Mont Saint-Michel. We suggest visiting the abbey and the village of Mont Saint-Michel. The hotel is generally 2.5 km from the Mont (accessible on foot or by shuttle).
Day 1 -
From Mont Saint-Michel to Mortain Bocage
- Activity PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 58 km
- Positive elevation gain 640 m
- Predominant type of terrain White path
- Accommodation Bed and Breakfast
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Cyclists on the Vélomaritime and Véloscénie routes share this first stage. After a spectacular start from the bay and its iconic monument, you'll cross a peaceful countryside, passing through typical villages and hedged landscapes. The route becomes hillier as you approach the Mortain area, revealing superb panoramas. In Mortain Bocage, the waterfalls and the Saint-Michel chapel offer remarkable viewpoints.
Day 2 -
From Mortain Bocage to Beny Bocage
- Activity PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE
- Duration of the activity 4h30
- Distance 55 km
- Positive elevation gain 720 m
- Predominant type of terrain Road
- Accommodation Bed and Breakfast
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Passing Sourdeval and its green paths, the La Vélomaritime route joins Vire, rebuilt following the Allied bombings of 1944. Then, the greenway gives way to small roads through hedgerows and Norman valleys.
Day 3 -
From Beny Bocage to Saint-Lô
- Activity PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE
- Duration of the activity 4h30
- Distance 55 km
- Positive elevation gain 675 m
- Predominant type of terrain Road
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Throughout the day, you will travel along the peaceful Vire Valley. The route passes iconic sites such as the Roches de Ham, the Château de l'Angotière, and the village of Pont-Farcy. The highlight of the journey is the Souleuvre Viaduct—an imposing railway structure built in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel—impressing with its dimensions: 61 meters high and 364 meters long, a true architectural feat in the heart of the Normandy countryside.
Day 4 -
From Saint-Lô to Isigny-Sur-Mer
- Activity PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 50 km
- Positive elevation gain 40 m
- Predominant type of terrain White path
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
The cycle route follows the Vire Canal as it winds its way to St-Jean-de-Daye through picture-postcard countryside. Your two-wheeled journey through the Norman bocage gives way to marshes and their impressive network of channels and canals. Once in Carentan, nestled in the Bay of Veys, its marina immediately immerses you once again in the coastal atmosphere of this cycling adventure to Isigny-sur-Mer.
Day 5 -
From Isigny-sur-Mer to Arromanches-les-Bains
- Activity PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 66 km
- Positive elevation gain 290 m
- Predominant type of terrain Road
- Accommodation 4-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Departure from Isigny-sur-Mer, land of gourmet delights! From Isigny cream to caramels, via oysters, scallops, all accompanied by a small glass of cider, pommeau or apple juice… Your route will also take you to the American cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer and you can also make a short detour to Omaha Beach.
Day 6 -
From Arromanches-les-Bains to Caen
- Activity PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 53 km
- Positive elevation gain 120 m
- Predominant type of terrain Road
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
As you cycle along the beaches of this stage, you'll inevitably think of the soldiers who landed here in 1944. You'll leave Arromanches via small roads offering 360° views of the sea and oyster beds. From Courseulles-sur-Mer, the route gradually veers away from the coast, following the gentle valleys of the Normandy hinterland. The journey passes through small villages where the history of the D-Day landings is still palpable. Reaching the banks of the Orne River, the road becomes shadier and more peaceful, providing a pleasant transition to the city. The arrival in Caen, dominated by its ducal castle and ancient abbeys, brings this wonderful week in Normandy to a close.
Day 7 -
From Courseulles-sur-Mer to Caen
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Departing from Caen, a city dominated by its ducal castle and ancient abbeys, this beautiful week in Normandy awaits. We suggest you visit the Memorial there. You can take a TER train from Caen to Pontorson to retrieve your vehicle.
Day 8
Note
The program was established based on the latest information available at the time of its preparation; unforeseen circumstances are always possible and situations beyond our control may alter its course.
Accommodation
Access
Go to the starting point
Outbound : TGV Paris - Rennes, then TER to Pontorson and bus from Pontorson to La Caserne (gateway to Mont Saint-Michel) or TGV Paris - Rennes then bus to La Caserne (gateway to Mont Saint-Michel)
Return : TER train from Caen to Paris Saint-Lazare
At the barracks, parking is available at the usual hotel parking lot for this stay, €10/day and €12.50/day in July and August (we will notify you if your hotel changes at the time of booking). Advance booking is required, or you can park in the Mont Saint-Michel car parks (€20/day in 2025). Alternatively, there is free parking in Pontorson, then a bus to Mont Saint-Michel.
To retrieve your vehicle at the end of your stay, take the TER train from Caen to Pontorson.
Price details
The price includes
- Accommodation for 7 nights
- All breakfasts
- Luggage transfers (13 kg max. and one per person)
- The digital roadbook (including GPS)
- Support (7 days a week)
The price does not include
- The journey to Mont Saint-Michel and the return from Caen
- Bicycle rental (optional)
- Dinners, lunches and drinks
- Visits not mentioned in the program and personal expenses
Options
- Classic bicycle rental - adult : CHF219.55 / person
- Electric bike rental - adult - 5 days : CHF320.18 / person
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment to bring
For cycling:
- 1 pair of cycling shoes
- 1 backpack or luggage bag
- 1 pair of gloves
- High-visibility vest
- 1 pair of sunglasses with good protection
- 1 sturdy plastic bag for wrapping clothes and belongings in the backpack (in case of heavy rain)
- 1 water bottle, preferably insulated, with a capacity of at least one liter
- 1 folding knife, Swiss Army knife + cutlery + cup
- 1 Tupperware bowl with lid for picnics
- Toilet paper, tissues
- 1 pocket to hold your valuables: passport or identity card, insurance contract, birth certificate, vaccination certificate, plane tickets, train tickets, credit card, money, etc.)
- 1 small personal pharmacy (to be adapted according to your medical needs): pre-cut sterile dressings, local antiseptics for external use (wounds), elastoplast and/or double skin (blisters), analgesic paracetamol, antiseptic antidiarrheal and intestinal, antispasmodic, antihistamine (allergies), saline solution or eye drops, light sleep aid, high SPF sunscreen, skin and lip protection, Biafine moisturizer (sunburn and burns), mosquito repellent cream or spray, Arnica Montana 9 CH granules (aches and pains)
- Emergency bicycle repair kit: 2 or 3 inner tubes, patches, pump, tire levers, multi-tools
- Maintenance kit: cloth, oil, brake pads or brake pads
- For those who wish: 1 camera
