Bayeux and the Côte de Nacre
The Normandy coast by bike
Highlights
The beautiful wild coast of Normandy
The landing beaches: Omaha, Juno, Gold
The village of Port-en-Bessin
The Pointe du Hoc and its memorial
The American Cemetery Colleville-sur-Mer
Bayeux and its half-timbered houses
By bike, 5 days from Bayeux to the landing beaches
Along the Côte de Nacre, through the Cotentin marshland to Omaha Beach
From Bayeux, miraculously spared from the massive bombings of World War II, you ride to Port-en-Bessin and the main D-Day landing beaches. Under the allies’ flags still floating everywhere, discover a region forever marked by the events of June 1944.
Omaha beach, Juno beach, Gold beach, Sword beach, Utah Beach. They witnessed the arrival of thousands of young soldiers from the American, English, French, Polish allied forces. They hold a piece of history and all have something to tell about that day.
Stop in some of the museums you come across on the itinerary. They will help you visualize the forces in place at the time, the equipment used and geographical surface covered on the D-Day landing.
The American military cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer a site of emotional power and strange beauty, which pays a tribute to those who enabled the return of freedom
In Bayeux you connect to a part of medieval history which you can enjoy thanks to one of the oldest and longest tapestries in the world. It tells the story of the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066.
This trip takes you through time, in a region with a rich of history and reputation for fine food.
From BAYEUX to PORT EN BESSIN HUPPAIN 56km 398m
You leave Bayeux onto small roads through the Norman grove. Immersed in bucolic countryside landscapes, it feels like the holidays. A few kilometers away, you reach the Canadian site of Juno Beach. Later on the day, you catch sight of the ocean. It seems to be tainted with big strange blocks of concrete. Get closer to have a better look. You are in front of Winston Harbor. The concrete blocks make the artificial port of Arromanches, which allowed the routing of men and refueling during the Allied landing of 1944. The itinerary then takes you to the charming village of Port-en-Bessin.
FROM PORT EN BESSIN, OMAHA BEACH LOOP 37km 188m
Port-en-Bessin is a charming little port. It has a soft atmosphere to it with the pleasant rhythm of fishermen and sailors entering and exit the port and everyday life in of small town. You ride along the Côte de Nacre toward Omaha Beach. You can make a halt at the American cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer. This site, full of history helps to better understand the importance of human losses and the horror of war. Yet it also testifies to an impressive strength, and a certain beauty.
- For a few more km 50km 239m
Extend your route to the Pointe du Hoc, a site steeped in history that can testify to the difficulty of the landing and the importance of human losses.
From PORT EN BESSIN HUPPAIN to BAYEUX 64km 440m
BAYEUX
End of stay after breakfast. Before you leave enjoy a visit to the Bayeux tapestry museum. It displays a major and amazingly preserved 11th century work of art, a 70 meters (230 feet) long tapestry relating the conquest of England by William the Conqueror!
Essential Range
You want to enjoy your itinerary without anything fancy. Our ”essential” range offers a simple accommodation for a good night’s rest in a simple hotel, guesthouse, rest house or hostel.
Starting from 585€/participant in Self Guided option | See detailed prices
Comfort Range
Our quality standard at Abicyclette. This type of accommodation includes 2 and 3 stars hotels. Depending on the itinerary, you might spend some nights in approved guesthouses. You enjoy a double bedroom with private bathroom and toilet and adapted welcome for you and your bikes.
Starting from 620€/participant in Self Guided option | See detailed prices
Privilege Range
Opt for total comfort in charming 3 and 4 star hotels which offer all the services you need and a special welcome for you and your bikes.
Quote on request | Contact us
Price includes
- Accommodation: 4 nights in a Double room
- 4 breakfasts
- Luggage transfer
- Phone assistance 24/7
- Access to our exclusive travel application to follow your route, inform you about places of interest, restaurants, facilitate your assistance in case of emergency, find all your travel documents and our practical advice.
- Application fee
- A personalized greeting with our team at the beginning of the trip to receive your travel documents
- Taxes
- The itinerary trackable on the following supports:
- Loan of a Bicycle GPS uploaded with full itinerary of the trip
- Topo maps
- Cycling practical guide including restaurant recommendations for lunch & dinner
- Jour 1 : Meeting with our guide in Normandy
Price does not include
- bike rental (see option)
- Breakfast on day 1
- Lunches
- Dinners not included in "Price includes"
- Drinks, visits & other personal expenses
Homemade and fully tested itineraries
- Routes selected for their cycling and touristic interest entirely tested and away from traffic
- Accomodations selected for their hospitality, atmosphere, services and quality meals
- A flexible organisation to suit you needs and wishes: You choose the date you want to you leave on! We check the availability of each accomodation to make sure it is possible.
Close assistance
- One of our guides greets you on your first day. He will hand out all the needed documents for the trip (hotel vouchers, maps of the area,GPS, practical guide), get you settled on your bikes (for rental bikes).
- Phone assistance, you can reach the Abicyclette team whenever you need
- A Luggage transfer service which respects your hours of rest (we pick them up after 10:00 and deliver them before 16:00)
Follow your itinerary anyway you like – modern, practical, traditional
- We loan you a GPS so that you can easily follow your itinerary without having to look for your way around (bike support included)
- A practical cycling guide with all the useful information (addresses, highlights for the day, topo maps, and touristic information)
You can also
- Rent a high end quality bike for real comfort, cycling pleasure and reliability a long trip requires.
- Suscribe to a Cancelation or Multi Risk insurance policy which cover you in case something unexpected comes up.
On our guided tours (for groups on demand), we accompany you every step of the way
- One of our state qualified instructor and professional cycling guide accompanies you every step of the way
- Full board (all meals covered unless asked otherwise)
- A picnic buffet set up for lunch with a wide choice of fresh and local produce
We offer a high-end bike rental service. Our bikes are suited for road and gravel road long-distance cycling. Fully equipped and highly reliable, they are faithful travel companions.
Trekking bikeA layed out and dynamic position Mixed aluminum frame, telescopic fork. Straight handlebars. Disc brakes. Transmission Shimano 24 to 30 speeds. Supplied equipment per bike
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Touring bikeAn upright and easy going position Mixed aluminum frame, telescopic fork. Straight handlebars. Disc brakes. Transmission Shimano 24 to 30 speeds. Supplied equipment per bike
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EbikeWith an autonomy of almost 120km, cycling has never been so easy! Supplied equipment per bike
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Children Bike20″ or 24″ bike | |
Bike trailer |
Getting here
Departure city : BAYEUX
Coming by car
- at 2h from PARIS
- at 6h from BORDEAUX
- at 6h from LYON
Parking*
- Parking Tardif – BAYEUX
- Parking Québec-Orangerie – BAYEUX
Coming by train
- Bayeux train station - 3h from Paris
Coming by plane
- Caen airport
Arrival city : BAYEUX
Coming by car
- at 2h from PARIS
- at 6h from BORDEAUX
- at 6h from LYON
Coming by train
- Bayeux train station - 3h from Paris
Coming by plane
- Caen airport
* Abicyclette Voyages accompanies you on demand, including transportation solutions.
Recommended equipment
Bike
- Trekking or hybrid bike
- 21 to 30 speeds
- 26 or 28 inch (700) wheels
Clothing and equipment
- Helmet (included with the rental)
- Clothing suitable for cycling
- Warm jacket (eg fleece)
- Rain proof jacket
- 1 pair of sunglasses
- 1 pair of cycling shoes
- 1 small backpack or panniers
- 1 or 2 water flasks (included with the rental)
- 1 lock (included with the rental)
- Our reccomendation for optimal comfort:
- 1 pair of gloves
- 1 special pair of pants (shammy leather)
- 1 night see fluorescent vest
Bike maintenance
- Emergency repair kit: 2 or 3 tubes, patches, pump, tire levers, multi-tools
- Daily use kit: cloth, brake pads, oil
Other
- Suitcase for transporting personal effects in luggage transfers (limited to one per person)
- Change of clothes for the evening
- Warm jacket for the evenings
- Set of toiletries
- Mobile phone and charger
BAYEUX
Arrive at your convenience during the day. Meet with our local guide in Bayeux who gives you your travel documents and gps. He can answer all your questions and reveal all the secrets of the region to you.
Briefing Orientation
Before your first ride, we invite you to meet one of our guides, at your place of departure. A time of exchange, a privileged moment to give you our last practical tips, must-see places and experiences, to answer all your questions, take care of your bike fitting to begin your trip.