La Rochelle via Ile de Ré and Ile d'Oléron
7 days / 5 days riding / ref. ODYS10 / Difficulty Easy / Round tripper person
Your bike tour between La Rochelle and Rochefort via the islands:
A beautiful route with the Atlantic Ocean in the background, between the Old Port of La Rochelle and the Royal City of Rochefort, famous for its Corderie Royale. The route offers an incredible diversity of landscapes and an exceptional natural setting: beaches, charming villages, salt marshes, pine forests, wild moors. Excursions on the island of Ré and on the island of Oléron are guaranteed favorites. A shallow relief, wild and unspoiled nature and a leading heritage make this route a paradise for bicycles.
Tour highlights
- 2 nights on the Ile d'oleron
- La Rochelle, The Old Port, the historic center, the Aquarium
- Boat transfer to the Ile de Ré to enjoy its cycle paths
- Rochefort and the Corderie Royale
Information
Daily departures in July and August.
Please contact us for other months.
Day 1Arrival in La Rochelle
Discover the elegant town of La Rochelle. Its historic centre is packed with architectural treasures. Don’t miss the Old Port and its famous towers, a must-see. The La Rochelle Aquarium, ideally located in the city centre, is also well worth a visit
Day 2Excursion on Ile de Ré | 55 km
From the centre of La Rochelle, take a shuttle boat to the Ile de Ré! Once you’ve arrived in Saint Martin de Ré, a seaside village of incomparable charm, set off along excellent and safe cycle paths to discover the magic of the Ile de Ré, a true cycling paradise. Cycling through salt marshes and maritime landscapes, you’ll reach Ars-en-Ré, listed as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France“. On the way back, take a look at the ruins of the Abbaye des Châteliers. Rivedoux-Plage, with its white sandy beach, is more inviting. Return to La Rochelle by bike.
Day 3La Rochelle – Rochefort | 60 km
From the center of La Rochelle and the Port des Minimes, the ocean is always close on bike paths that join the Belle-Epoque villas of the seaside resort of Châtelaillon- Plage. Then a superb panorama is offered to you at the Pointe des Boucholeurs, before the Nature Reserve of the Marais d’Yves. The route then joins the banks of the Charente to discover the City of Royale de Rochefort, high place of the maritime history with its Corderie Royale, the National Museum of the Navy without forgetting the Hermione, the famous old boat.
Day 4Rochefort – Ile d’Oléron | 46 km
After Rochefort, on the Vélodyssée you will ride along a cycling path to the salt pan crossed by several small canals. Enjoy your stop in the fortified city of Brouage. Marennes is the first oyster farming pool in Europe: a perfect stopover to discover regional food! You follow the oyster beds before joining the Ile d’Oleron by the bridge. Do not miss on your right the Fort Louvois, impressive fortification dating from the reign of Louis XIV. You arrive in the charming resort of Ile D’Oléron by bike paths along the forest or in swamps.
Day 5Excursion on Ile d’Oléron | 37 km
In the same place, you will discover the Ile d’Oleron and a rich territory of great diversity and perfectly equipped for bicycles: a remarkable architectural heritage (Citadel in Château d’ Oleron), wild nature, charming villages, beaches of fine sand. Enjoy the cycle paths in the oyster farms or in the pine forest and do not hesitate to leave the trail to find your ideal bathing place.
Day 6Ile d’Oléron – La Rochelle | 50 km
For this last day by bike, head for the north of the island! Start by cycling along the west coast towards La Cotinière, still the leading fishing port in the Charentes region. Don’t miss the arrival of the boats at high tide. Then on to the oyster-farming site of Fort Royer, a remarkably well-preserved oyster-farming village over a hundred years old!
At the end of the day, board a shuttle boat to La Rochelle.
Day 7Departure during the day
Documents
> Download tour programSelect your category
Your accommodation
• 6 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 5 days and bike repatriation
•
Boat transfer La Rochelle > Ile de Ré on Day 2
•
Boat transfer Ile d’Oléron > La Rochelle on Day 6
•
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 (6 nights included)
• 6 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 5 days and bike repatriation
•
Boat transfer La Rochelle > Ile de Ré on Day 2
•
Boat transfer Ile d’Oléron > La Rochelle on Day 6
•
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 (6 nights included)
from 3 to 11 years old : - 20%
from 12 to 15 years old : - 10%
(Only if the triple or quadruple rooms are occupied by 2 adults minimum )
VTC ARCADE bike - 21 speed gears
OPEN or CLOSED frame
- 1 rear pannier
- 1 front pannier
- 1 repair kit
- 1 lock (for 2 bikes)
Helmet not provided.
ARCADE or EXS ebike
UNIVERSAL frame
- 1 rear pannier
- 1 front pannier
- 1 repair kit
- 1 lock (for 2 bikes)
Helmet not provided.
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
The boat crossing between Boyardville (Ile d’Oléron) and La Rochelle is not daily scheduled in low season (Day 6).
We will only confirm your booking if this boat crossing is available.
Tour description
Mix of cycling paths or signposted routes for cyclists and small traffic roads.
Bike stages trip profiles
(click below to see the trip profile of each stage)
Excursion to Ile de Ré : 54km / elevation gain : 173m / elevation loss : 164m
La Rochelle – Rochefort : 60km / elevation gain : 220m / elevation loss : 214m
Rochefort – Ile d’Oléron : 46km / elevation gain : 111m / elevation loss : 113m
Excursion to Ile d’Oléron : 38km / elevation gain : 87m / elevation loss : 87m
Ile d’Oléron – La Rochelle : 51km / elevation gain : 145m / elevation loss : 145m
How to arrive to 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 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).
– La Rochelle Ville train station >> Paris Montparnasse train station (by TGV train).
– La Rochelle Ville train station >> St Pierre des Corps train station or Poitiers train station (by TGV train) >> Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV Station (by TGV train).
Nearby Airport:
– Bordeaux Airport: www.bordeaux.aeroport.fr/en
