Q: What is the difficulty level of this tour?

A: The tour is rated easy with 511 m of total elevation over 8 days, mostly on flat cycle paths along the coast.

Q: What type of accommodation is provided?

A: You stay in 2-star and 3-star hotels and charming guesthouses, with breakfast included each morning.

Q: Can I ride an e-bike or gravel bike?

A: Yes. You can choose a touring bike, an e-bike, or a gravel bike at booking.

Q: Is the Passage du Gois crossing guaranteed?

A: No — the road is passable only at low tide (about 3 hours per day). If tides do not align, an equally scenic marsh route is provided as an alternative.

Q: When is the tour available?

A: Daily departures from April 15 to October 1.

Q: How does luggage transfer work?

A: Your bags are transported between hotels each cycling day so you ride with only a daypack. Allowance is one bag per person up to 23 kg plus a small hand bag; extra bags cost €30 per transfer.

Q: Is the tour suitable for solo travellers?

A: Yes. A solo-traveller supplement is available for those cycling and staying alone.

Q: Is there an option to visit Île de Ré?

A: Yes. An optional loop around Île de Ré can be added at the end of the tour before departure.

Vélodyssée from Nantes to La Rochelle

Loire-Atlantique / Vendée / Charente-Maritime

Illustrative image, AI-generated or AI-modified: Vélodyssée from Nantes to La Rochelle

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Images marked “AI” on this page are AI-generated or AI-modified. We apply the mark to every image, including photographs supplied by tour operators, because the types cannot always be told apart. Images illustrate the area and atmosphere of the tour, not the accommodation or services included.

from€1,088

Trekking bikeGravel BikeE-bike8 days / 7 nights365 km4/5Medium-EasyLinear

Self-guided
Solo-friendly

Short Description

Ride the Vélodyssée from Nantes to La Rochelle along the wild Atlantic coast of Brittany and Vendée. Cross the mythical Passage du Gois to Noirmoutier Island, pedal past salt marshes and surf beaches of Les Sables d'Olonne, and finish in historic La Rochelle — 365 km of coastal cycling on France's most acclaimed bike route.

Tour Program

Day 1 – Arrival in Nantes
You will check into your hotel and discover the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, the fantastical Machines de l'Île, and the Jardin des Plantes — one of France's four greatest botanical gardens.

Day 2 – Nantes to Saint-Brévin (60-65 km · 130 m↑)
You will follow the Vélodyssée and Loire à Vélo along the Loire estuary, passing wetlands, canals, and the open-air contemporary art trail Estuaire. The day ends among sand dunes and pine-scented beaches.

Day 3 – Saint-Brévin to Beauvoir (60 km · 150 m↑)
You will ride from wide beaches to the jagged coves of the Baie de Bourgneuf on the Vendée Atlantique Oyster Road. A stop in the charming resort of Pornic is a must before reaching Beauvoir via Bouin and the Marais Breton Vendéen.

Day 4 – Beauvoir to Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie (44-52 km · 50 m↑)
You will attempt the mythical Passage du Gois — a 4.2 km road submerged by the tide — to reach Noirmoutier Island. If the tide is unfavourable, a scenic marsh route from Beauvoir leads to Saint-Jean-de-Monts and the Vendée corniche.

Day 5 – Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie to Les Sables d'Olonne (40 km · 76 m↑)
You will cycle through Brétignolles and Brem on an easy coastal path, then cut through ancient salt marshes and the Olonne forest to reach the famous long sandy beach of Les Sables d'Olonne.

Day 6 – Les Sables d'Olonne to La Tranche-sur-Mer (45 km · 75 m↑)
You will ride between craggy coastline and forest, discovering Cayola Bay, the oyster village of Port de la Guittière, and the Payré marshes before arriving at La Tranche-sur-Mer's 13 km beach.

Day 7 – La Tranche-sur-Mer to La Rochelle (68-72 km · 30 m↑)
You will pass the wild lagoon of Belle Henriette, cross the dried Marais Poitevin on quiet country lanes, and follow the Sèvre Niortaise canal all the way to the medieval harbour city of La Rochelle.

Day 8 – Departure
Breakfast and end of the tour.

Tour details

LinearSelfguidedMinimum 1 personMinimum age 16 years

✅ What is included in the trip?

🏨 Overnight stay and breakfast
📲 GPS or navigation APP
💼 Luggage transfer
📞 Local telephone assistance 7/7
🗺️ Maps

❌ What is not included?

🚎 Transfers not listed as Included
✈️ Journey to/from the starting point
🍽️ Meals and drinks not listed as Included
🖼️ Entrance fees and extras not listed
🌎 Tourist taxes
🛡️ Travel insurance

🙋 Common questions

Q: What is the difficulty level of this tour?
A: The tour is rated easy with 511 m of total elevation over 8 days, mostly on flat cycle paths along the coast.
Q: What type of accommodation is provided?
A: You stay in 2-star and 3-star hotels and charming guesthouses, with breakfast included each morning.
Q: Can I ride an e-bike or gravel bike?
A: Yes. You can choose a touring bike, an e-bike, or a gravel bike at booking.
Q: Is the Passage du Gois crossing guaranteed?
A: No — the road is passable only at low tide (about 3 hours per day). If tides do not align, an equally scenic marsh route is provided as an alternative.
Q: When is the tour available?
A: Daily departures from April 15 to October 1.
Q: How does luggage transfer work?
A: Your bags are transported between hotels each cycling day so you ride with only a daypack. Allowance is one bag per person up to 23 kg plus a small hand bag; extra bags cost €30 per transfer.
Q: Is the tour suitable for solo travellers?
A: Yes. A solo-traveller supplement is available for those cycling and staying alone.
Q: Is there an option to visit Île de Ré?
A: Yes. An optional loop around Île de Ré can be added at the end of the tour before departure.