From Bordeaux to Arcachon by bike, between vineyards and pines’ forest
5 days / 4 days riding / ref. BA2 / Difficulty Easy / Linear tripper person
Your cycling tour from Bordeaux to Arcachon:
Follow the bike paths as leaving Bordeaux, stroll about accross the vineyards, ride under the shading pines’ forest! This itinerary by bike leads you from Bordeaux ‘La Belle endormie’ to the Arcachon bay. You will be enthralled by the variety of landscapes that offers the tour: Between urban heritage, vines, pines, dunes and beaches.
Tour highlights
- Biking along the Garonne river banks in Bordeaux
- Margaux and the Bordelais greatest vineyards
- Arcachon Bay, the Dune du Pilat, the seaside softness
- The quietness of the cycle paths under the shading pine forest
Day 1Arrival in Bordeaux
At your arrival, take your time to visit Bordeaux, World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Take a walk along the Garonne docks, meander in the lively streets of St Pierre quarter, bargain-hunt in the Chartrons quarters, have fun on the reflecting water’s mirror of water …
Day 2Bordeaux – Margaux | 34 km
This first stage leads you across the vines, toward one of the most famous vineyards in France: Château-Margaux. As far as you leave Bordeaux, you will be surrounded by vineyards. You won’t know where to turn for a wine tasting or winery visit.
Extra night in Margaux + bike excursion to Pauillac | 64 km
Perched on the Garonne’ hillsides the Margaux and Haut-Médoc vineyards are scattered by chateaux and charming residences. You will discover, especially, vineyards with appellations like Pauillac and St Julien, before coming back to Margaux.
Day 3Margaux – Lacanau-Océan | 56 km
Enjoy the vineyards landscapes for some kilometers before reaching the cycle paths. This will softly lead you, toward Lacanau-Océan, by the pines of the greatest France forest: the Landes forest. Then reach directly your hotel where a swimming pool is waiting for you.
Day 4Lacanau-Océan – Arcachon | 46 km
Follow the Ocean until Arcachon. This stage is a subtle mix of pines and fines sands’ dunes. Leave your bikes, wherever you wish, to enjoy the beaches. Arriving at the Cap Ferret, take the ferry, with your bikes, to reach Arcachon. The hotel will welcome you, not far from the beaches, to have fun in the Bay waves!
Day 5Excursion to the Dune du Pilat | 23 km
Leave Arcachon, following the beaches on the bike paths. Cross Le Moulleau, lively village, and keep going slowly until the Dune du Pilat. You will need a little effort to climb this 110m-high dune. But the reward, once up there, is this amazing view on the Landes forest, the Arcachon Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Go back to Arcachon under the pines’ forest.
Departure at the end of the day
Possibility to book an extra night in Arcachon.
The little extra with Biking France:
Private return transfer from Arcachon to Bordeaux – (on request).
Documents
> Download tour programSelect your category
Your accommodation
• 4 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 4 days
•
Boat transfer from Cap Ferret to Arcachon (bike included)
•
1 travel folder (per room) including colour maps
•
A personalized navigation app showing points of interest along the route
•
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 (4 nights included)
•
Transfer from Arcachon to Bordeaux and personal bike repatriation
• 4 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 4 days
•
Boat transfer from Cap Ferret to Arcachon (bike included)
•
1 travel folder (per room) including colour maps
•
A personalized navigation app showing points of interest along the route
•
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 (4 nights included)
•
Transfer from Arcachon to Bordeaux and personal bike repatriation
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)
TREK hybrid bike - 27 speed gears
OPEN or CLOSED frame
- 1 rear pannier
- 1 handlebar bag with map holder
- 1 repair kit
- 1 lock
Helmet not provided
CUBE e-bike
UNIVERSAL frame
- 1 rear pannier
- 1 handlebar bag with map holder
- 1 repair kit
- 1 lock
Helmet not provided
Practical details
- Rental bikes will be available from our local partner.
- At the end of the tour, leave the rental bikes at your hotel, we will pick them up.
Your journey
Tour description
Mix of cycling paths (85%) or signposted routes for cyclists and small traffic roads.
Bike stages trip profiles
Bordeaux – Margaux: 36km / elevation gain: 105m / elevation loss: 109m
Margaux – Lacanau Océan: 57km / elevation gain: 141m / elevation loss: 138m
Lacanau Océan – Arcachon: 45km / elevation gain: 154m / elevation loss: 173m
Excursion to the Dune du Pilat: 23km / elevation gain: 133m / elevation loss: 133m
Navigation app:
Besides the maps, we also provide a personalized navigation app showing points of interest along the route.
How to arrive in Bordeaux
By Train :
From Paris Montparnasse station >> Bordeaux St Jean station (about 2h10 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 >> Bordeaux St-Jean train station (by TGV train).
www.parisaeroport.fr/en/passengers/access/paris-charles-de-gaulle/public-transport
- From Orly airport:
– Taxi transfer to Montparnasse train station >> Bordeaux St-Jean train station (by TGV train).
– Bus shuttle (Le Bus Direct) : from Orly Sud or Ouest – Line 1 >> Montparnasse train station >> Bordeaux St Jean train station (by TGV train).
www.lebusdirect.com/en/lines-and-schedules/orly-airport-paris-etoile-champs-elysees-line.html
- From Beauvais airport:
– Taxi transfer to Montparnasse train station >> Bordeaux St-Jean train station (by TGV train).
– Bus shuttle >> Paris – stop ‘Porte Maillot’ >> Metro line 1 + line 13 >> Montparnasse train station >> Bordeaux St Jean train station (by TGV train).
www.aeroportparisbeauvais.com/en/acces-et-transports/navettes
- From Bordeaux-Mérignac airport:
– Shuttle transfer (30 minutes) to town center (Bordeaux St Jean train station).
www.bordeaux.aeroport.fr/en
www.30direct.com
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.)
– Arcachon Station >> Bordeaux Station (about 50 minutes by train)
– Arcachon >> Bordeaux (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.)
– Arcachon Station >> Bordeaux Station (by train) >> Paris Montparnasse Station (by TGV).
– Arcachon Station >> Bordeaux Station >> Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 Station (by train + TGV)
Close Airport:
– Bordeaux airport: www.bordeaux.aeroport.fr/en
