La Velodyssée - From Bordeaux to Biarritz
Bike through beautiful and varied landscapes between the Gironde and the Basque Country
© Aurélie Stapf - La Vélodyssée
© Vincent Bengold
© Dennis Jarvis
© Aurélie Stapf - La Vélodyssée
© JLPC
© Aurélie Stapf - La Vélodyssée
Highlights
A secure and signposted course
Bordeaux, capital of wine, living metropolis
The Dune du Pilat , an exceptional natural monument
The coast of the Basque Country
From Bordeaux to Biarritz by the Atlantic coast
An easy cycling trip starting from Bordeaux to the Atlantic coast.
Welcome to the wine capital! Bordeaux, the sleeping beauty, has awaken and offers you a lively evening by the small neighborhood restaurants and tasting cellars.
This trip guides you firstly between the vineyards to discover the Grands Crus de Bordeaux. Then you join the ocean and its beaches. The Vélodyssée will allow you to ride along the Atlantic coast through its long and beautiful forest bike paths from the banks of the Garonne to reach Biarritz and the Basque Country. The scent of the pines mingles with the salty scent of the sea for a unique atmosphere.
This cycling route leads you gently to the Bassin d’Arcachon, at the foot of the Dune du Pilat, the Landes forest and its many white sand beaches stretching over 230 kilometers. Not to mention the inevitable stops to taste the local produce!
La Vélodyssée
La Velodyssée is a cycle route that crosses Brittany and runs along the Atlantic to the Basque Coast on a stimulant and wild course.
Get on your bikes and set off on a journey of more than 1200 km of cycle tourism with the ocean as a backdrop! Between Roscoff and Hendaye, 70% of the journey takes place on car free lanes. Discover the treasures of our regions, following the longest French cycle route, fully marked from start to finish.
Find some pictures of this route in video:
Leisure From BORDEAUX to LACANAU OCEAN 65km 103m 
Going to the beach by bike from downtown Bordeaux, safely, may seem unrealistic. However, this route has existed for a long time thanks to the bike path that takes the route of an old railway. Thanks to it you join the marshes of the nature reserve of Bruges where the diversity of the biotopes, wet meadows, grove, ponds, favors a rich fauna and flora. The marshes will then give way to the Landes forest which will guide you to Lacanau … the beach is then not very far!
From LACANAU OCEAN to ARES 36km 87m
Weave between dunes and forests, peace and quiet away from cars, on this pleasant stage. Feel free to leave the bike path to enjoy the few connections to the sea and benefit from beautiful ocean landscape views. Be cautious on the Atlantic beaches and their powerful waves, so popular with surfers!
From ARES to ARCACHON 53km 144m
Never very far from the shore, continue your journey to discover other horizons, towards the Bay of Arcachon. You will see, the atmosphere is radically different with the return of the oyster world on the territory of the Regional Natural Park of Landes de Gascogne which has the good scent of an iodized and authentic Aquitaine.
ARCACHON
After several days of cycling, we offer you a day without a bike. The beach or a boat ride to admire the Dune of Pilat of the sea will certainly be the options chosen for this day in this beautiful place that is the Bassin d’Arcachon.
From ARCACHON to BISCARROSSE 51km 395m
After an essential getaway on the summit of the dune of Pilat, for the beauty of the site and the sight, you set out again with your bikes for a great crossing of the Landes forest. Just before Biscarrosse-Plage, without transition, the Vélodyssée passes from the Gironde to the Landes.
From BISCARROSSE to MIMIZAN-PLAGE 42km 193m
After a refreshing break at Le Parentis-en-Born’s small port, your itinerary continues through the forest of Sainte-Eulalie before joining the ocean again. The latter will reveal its most beautiful face upon your arrival on the family resort of Mimizan-Plage, also called the Pearl of the Silver Coast.
From MIMIZAN-PLAGE to SOUSTONS 69km 314m
After the warm atmosphere of Mimizan-plage, find the calm of the forest, its silences and its scents. You will be conquered by the feeling of being the master of these serene spaces. As soon as you arrive in Contis, the only lighthouse in the moors will come to you, streaked with black and white. After a few kilometers, a stop at the beach of Cap de l’Homy is required, to enjoy a breathtaking view of the ocean but also appreciate the wild beauty of the Landes coast.
From SOUSTONS to BIARRITZ 60km 251m
The Vélodyssée is now surfing on the emblematic seaside resorts of the coastal road. Distinguish yourself: Seignosse the untamed, Hossegor the bourgeois and finally Capbreton the lively and family friendly city where you will also have the opportunity to discover the unique fishing port of the Landes. You gradually enter the Basque Country and discover Bayonne, City of Art and History, which invites you to discover its unique heritage. You then follow the river Adour, the Basque mountains in the background, to reach through the forest of Chiberta the beaches of Anglet. Your arrival in Biarritz opens the horizon to the golf of Cantabria.
BIARRITZ
End of stay after your breakfast.
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 1255€/participant in Self Guided option | See detailed prices
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.
Quote on request | Contact us
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: 9 nights in a Double room
- 9 breakfasts
- 1 dinner
- 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
- Taxes
- The itinerary trackable on the following supports:
- Loan of a Bicycle GPS uploaded with full itinerary of the trip
- Cycling practical guide including restaurant recommendations for lunch & dinner and topo maps
- Day 1 : A personalized greeting with our team at the beginning of the trip to receive your travel documents
Price does not include
- bike rental (see option)
- Breakfast on day 1
- Lunches
- Dinners not included in "Price includes"
- Drinks, visits & other personal expenses
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 7 days a week
- A Luggage transfer service from 09:00 and with a delivery before 18:00 (one luggage and one bagback per person maximum)
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.
Our rentals include a "breakage and theft guarantee" for peace of mind when travelling. Information and details from your advisor.
Touring Bike (woman)Equipped with reliable and lightweight components to offer you a carefree stay. Supplied equipment per bike
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Touring Bike (man)Equipped with reliable and lightweight components to offer you a carefree stay. Supplied equipment per bike
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EbikeIt will allow all terrain and distances to be considered serenely, thanks to their natural and progressive assistance as well as their generous autonomy. Supplied equipment per bike
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Children's BikeSupplied equipment per bike
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Child's trailer |  |
Getting here
Departure city : BORDEAUX
Coming by car
- at 5h45 from PARIS
- at 3h30 from NANTES
- at 5h30 from LYON
Parking*
- Parking Paludate – BORDEAUX
- Parking Gare Saint Jean – BORDEAUX
- Parking Grands Hommes – BORDEAUX
- Parking Gambetta – BORDEAUX
- Q-Park Clémenceau Auditorium – BORDEAUX
Coming by train
- Bordeaux train station - 2h15 from Paris
Coming by plane
- Bordeaux airport
Arrival city : BIARRITZ
Coming by car
- at 7h from PARIS
- at 2h15 from BORDEAUX
- at 7h from LYON
Coming by train
- Biarritz train station - 4h from Paris
Coming by plane
- Biarritz airport
*Parking: Since many of our clients travel by train or plane, we do not include parking in our packages. In addition, many accommodations don’t have the capacity to park a vehicle for the duration of your cycling vacation. So if you’re planning to arrive by car, we suggest you check parking options when you make your reservation. If you reserve a parking space at the first or last accommodation of your stay, you must pay the accommodation provider on site.
* Abicyclette Voyages accompanies you on demand, including transportation solutions.
How to get back to the starting point
- By train from Biarritz to Bordeaux in 2H15 (hotline)
- Return by car in 2h15 to your starting point
- Private shuttle: see detailed fares or contact us
Recommended equipment
Bike
- Hybrid Bike or Touring Bike or Gravel Bike
- 18 to 30-speed transmission
- 26- to 29-inch wheels
- Tires: 35 to 42 section, reinforced against punctures
- Disc brakes recommended
- 2 bottle cages
- Bell
- Front and rear lighting
Clothing and equipment
- Helmet (supplied with bike rental unless otherwise specified locally)
- 1 bike mount for smartphone to use the mobile route planner application
- Suitable cycling clothing:
- bib, shorts or tights: elastic and breathable, to facilitate movement and wick away perspiration
- Breathable T-shirts, synthetic or merino wool
- Breathable windbreaker
- Thermal or fleece jacket
- Waterproof jacket
- 1 pair of sunglasses
- 1 pair of cycling shoes
- 1 backpack or 1 or 2 carrier bags
- 1 or 2 water bottles (supplied with bike rental in France)
- 1 lock (supplied with bike rental)
- Technical details, recommended by the team for optimum comfort:
- 1 pair of gloves or mittens, depending on season and destination
- Padded bib (chamois)
- High-visibility vest or fluorescent belt
- Neck warmer and cap
Bike maintenance
- Emergency repair kit: 2 or 3 inner tubes, patches, pump, tire levers, multi-tools
- Maintenance kit: rag, oil, brake pads
Other
- A suitcase for your belongings carried in the vehicle (limited to one per person)
- Street clothes
- 1 pair of evening shoes
- Fleece jacket for the evening
- Toiletry bag
- Telephone and charger
Terms of payment and cancellation
The full terms and conditions of sale are available here: https://www.abicyclette-voyages.com/conditions-generales-de-vente/
Booking and payment
- Departure more than 30 days before your booking: payment of a deposit of 30%, excluding insurance, at the time of booking. If you have taken out travel insurance, it must be paid in full at the time of booking to guarantee its validity.
- Departure within 30 days of your booking: payment of the total cost of your stay. Or payment of the balance of the holiday if you have already paid a deposit.
Cancellation of the Contract
You may cancel the Contract at any time before the start of the Tour, subject to payment of a cancellation fee. Any total or partial cancellation will incur the following costs per participant:
| Cancellation period | Fees |
| From the date of Booking to 60 days or more before departure or the 1st day of the programme | 5% of the total cost of the Tour (including options); a minimum of 100 euros including VAT will be charged to the Customer |
| Between 59 and 30 days before departure or on the 1st day of the programme | 10% of the total cost of the Tour (including options); a minimum of 120 euros including VAT will be charged to the Customer
|
| Between 29 and 10 days before departure or on the 1st day of the programme | 30% of the total amount of the Tour (including options) a minimum of 150 euros including VAT will be charged to the Customer |
| Entre 9 à 7 jours avant le départ ou le 1er jour du programme | 45% du montant total du Voyage (options incluses) |
| Between 9 and 7 days before departure or on the 1st day of the programme | 75% of the total cost of the trip (including options) |
| Less than 3 days to the day of departure or the 1st day of the programme | 100% of the total cost of the trip (including options) |
| No show on day of departure or 1st day of programme |
Duration 10 days and 9 nights
Level Leisure
Departure date From April 1st to September 30th
Destination Bordeaux
Atlantic Coast
EuroVelo 1
La Vélodyssée I EV1
See detailed prices
Personalized service 
Easy
Expert , 
Aventure
BORDEAUX
Meeting with our local guide
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.