The region of Bordeaux, located in sun drenched, south-west France is the perfect setting for a bike and boat tour. Set at the confluence of the Garonne River and the Gironde estuary, it is one of the most prolific and famous wine growing regions in the world. Caressed by Atlantic breezes, the vineyards that cover the rolling hills of the region have for centuries produced France’s most remarkable wines. Appellations such as Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Sauternes, Médoc and Margaux have made Bordeaux wines world famous.
At the region’s heart, is the cultural center, the city of Bordeaux. Once known as the Sleeping Beauty, it stretches along the riverbanks, inviting visitors to savor its grand architecture, tempting cafés and superb museums. This city sleeps no more! Cruise the French Rivers and bike through vineyards on carefully chosen routes and experience the French Joie de Vivre!
On board you will discover a wide variety of excellent local wines to enjoy during dinner or simply to sample at your leisure. The region’s distinct cuisine will featured, prepared with the freshest ingredients.
Day 1: Castets-en- Dorthe - Canal des Deux Mers, approx. 15 km
Individual arrival and optional transfer from the meeting point at Gare St. Jean train station in Bordeaux to the mooring location of the boat near the Canal des Deux Mers at Castets-en-Dorthe, located in the middle of the Garonne Valley. Embarkation starts at 03:00 p.m. You can enjoy an optional short first test bike ride around Castets, exploring this flat and fertile region aptly named "Little Holland" with its walnut trees, kiwi orchards and vegetable fields. Following the bike path along the Canal des Deux Mers (Canal of Two Seas) that links the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, you will discover this lush rural countryside. In the evening, a welcome cocktail awaits you on board.
Day 2: Castets-en-Dorthe – Cadillac, approx. 35 - 50 km
After a restful night on board, you will be ready to discover by bike the Sauternais region, where sweet dessert wines are produced. Part of the route follows the winding banks of the Ciron river, whose icy waters flow into the warmer waters of the Garonne. In the autumn, when the climate is warm and dry, the combination of the two different temperatures produce a mist that descends on the vineyards, promoting the perfect conditions for the famous Sauternes wine. The country roads are dotted with picturesque chateaux whose elegant turrets rule over an ocean of colorful vines. Time seems frozen in the medieval era when Englishmen ruled the region. In the late afternoon, back on board again, the tour continues by ship, heading downstream along the Garonne River to reach Loupiac or Cadillac, a small town with a towering castle.
Day 3: Cadillac - Bordeaux, approx. 40 km
Cadillac is located in the region of Graves, also known as the birthplace of Bordeaux wines. It is a fortified medieval village known as a Bastide in the Entre-Deux-Mers wine region in between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. The cycling itinerary today leads through this "Premieres Côtes de Bordeaux" wine growing area. There is an opportunity to visit the former residence of the writer Francois Mauriac and Malromé castle, house of the painter Toulouse-Lautrec, built in the sixteenth century. Wine tastings are offered here! Once back on board, you will sail the Garonne River towards the enchanting city of Bordeaux, reaching the passage of the famous Stone Bridge and the pier in the city center, facing the region’s most prestigious panorama: the Stone Bridge, Place de la Bourse and Quai des Chartrons which intermingle in a single view.
Day 4: Heart of Bordeaux, approx. 15 km
The tour guide will propose a city tour of Bordeaux to discover its architectural gems on two wheels: this short cycling tour, mainly over cycling lanes, along both sides of the Garonne river in the cycling capital of France offers beautiful panorama views of the waterfront and the city. In the afternoon, enjoy the UNESCO sites of Bordeaux during a walking or cycling tour. Its main attractions are the royal entrance of the city (Cailhau Gate), the Big Bell of Pey Berlan, the Golden Triangle, the Girondins column, the water mirror… and more. You will discover beautiful squares, a hidden garden or quaint location where you can do a tasting of the Bordeaux renowned "cannelés" and coffee or fresh oysters and white wine. There is free time in the afternoon to shop or explore. Be sure to explore the town’s streets and shops where wine is as old as the underground cellars carved in stone or to visit the newly opened La Cité du Vin.
Day 5: Bordeaux – Bourg, approx. 40 km
In the morning the ship cruises from Bordeaux to Lamarque in the Gironde estuary, to start your cycling tour in the famous Médoc wine area. Winding your way through vineyards, you will discover some of Médocs most beautiful castles and prestigious wineries, which pride in 21 first great classified growth, including the Châteaux Palmer, Issan, Lewis Brown, Rauzan Segla, Ferrière, and the last but not least Château Margaux. You can stop at one of these great wine estates for a visit / tasting (optional) and learn everything about classifications before returning to the boat. In the late afternoon, the ship will cruise the wide Gironde estuary to the jetty of Bourg, a picturesque little town near the conjunction of the Gironde and Dordogne rivers. The old city center overlooks the Gironde estuary.
Day 6: Bourg – Fronsac/Libourne, approx. 35 - 50 km
You will enter the Côtes de Blaye vineyard. Its wine chateaux may be little known but their production has nothing to envy to its more famous neighbors on the more famous opposite river bank of Médoc. You will be surprised to see what this region holds in secret behind its hilly landscape covered with endless vines and dotted with scattered fairy tale chateaux and elegant manor houses. Since the Middle Ages, countless numbers of pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostella have passed through this region. Be enchanted by the "douceur de vivre" (sweet life), so typical for this wine region. In Blaye, take a short loop through the Vauban Fortess (on the UNESCO World Heritage List) to admire this military masterwork of the architect of Louis XIV, the "Sun King", before you return to Bourg by cycling part of the ‘Corniche’, a scenic, quiet road along the Gironde estuary. In the evening you will sail to Fronsac / Libourne on the Dordogne river.
Day 7: Fronsac/Libourne – Rundtour St. Émilion/Pomerol, approx. 35 - 50 km
In Libourne you can stroll to the picturesque city square, lined with buildings dating as far back as the 16th century. You can visit the weekly market on Friday mornings, before starting your exploration of the famous Pomerol and Saint-Émilion wine areas. Pedaling the countryside, bristling with vines, you will enjoy riding through this unspoiled UNESCO World Heritage landscape. Cycling the landscape provides a unique view of the village’s medieval lanes and surrounding vineyards. Take some time to visit beautiful Saint-Émilion. Your ride will continue on small picturesque back roads and paths where you will get a glimpse of Saint Émilion’s most famous châteaux. Along the way you will see some of the first classified wines such as Angelus, Ausonne, Cheval Blanc, Petrus - some of the world’s most famous wine estates. A true paradise for wine lovers!
Day 8: Fronsac/Libourne
After your final breakfast on board, it will be time for a return transfer (optional) to the pre-agreed drop off point at the Gare St. Jean train station of Bordeaux. Disembarkation before 09:00 a.m.
We recommend flying to Bordeaux-Merignac airports to reach the starting point of this cycling holiday.
Flights are available with a number of airlines from the UK to your required airport or you can travel to the start using alternative methods such as rail or road.
We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best flight prices by date or for Rail Europe travel. There is customer car parking available at most hotels for a supplement. Please contact us for more details.
Please use local transport to arrive at the starting point or call us on 0161 703 8161 for more specific travel advice.
You do not need to go back to the starting point of the cycling holiday as all hire bikes are left at the final hotel.
Important: Please book your flights only after the cycling holiday has been confirmed by invoice or email. Flights and transfers are not included in the advertised holiday price.
Included services:
About the Rental Bikes
This cycling holiday uses quality crossbar and unisex hybrid bikes based on KTM frame technology, Selle Royal saddles, Shimano components and puncture-proof tyres to ensure that you have an enjoyable cycle tour. The bikes feature modern V-brakes, aluminium frames with mudguards, comfortable saddles and a rack for a supplied waterproof pannier.
You will also receive a handlebar bag and map holder for easy navigation when riding your daily itinerary. Prices advertised on the website include standard bike hire (unless stated). Colour and specification may vary from the image shown.
Unisex Bike (Colour may vary)
Electric Bike (Colour may vary)
Rental Bike PLUS
For 2021, there is an additional bike rental option available for a supplement. The PLUS hybrid bike now available on most cycling holidays is sportier with higher quality brakes (Magura HS 11) and better specification gears (Shimano Deore XT). The riding position is designed to have a slightly sportier sitting posture and a high quality Suntour suspension fork gives smooth riding on most surfaces. All accessories are compatible with the new PLUS bike rental option.
Accessories
If you would like GPX files for a suitable device, please request them at the time of booking. Devices are not provided and please make sure that you bring along with you any fittings required to attach the Garmin (or similar) to the handlebars. You might want to download maps onto your phone to avoid data charges when roaming.
All bikes are provided with standard flat pedals. You can bring your own cycling pedals, but ensure that you have the correct tools to remove the pedals if the tour does not have a welcome meeting. You may also not be able to travel through airports with the tools if you are carrying hand luggage only.
You can rent a men's bike with a crossbar, unisex/female bike with a sloping tube or an electric bike for a supplement.
Gears
7 speed bikes are equipped with a Shimano Nexus gear hub and 21 speed bikes have a Shimano Alivio derailleur. We request 21 speed bikes for all cycling holidays (when available).
Frame Sizing
When you make a booking with us, we take your height(s) and the appropriate bike size is matched up accordingly. Unisex frame 21-gears with freewheel. Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 / 43 cm. Unisex 7-gears-bikes with back pedalling brake. Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 cm. Men’s speed bikes 21-gears with free wheel and crossbar. Sizes: 64 / 60 / 56 "sloping" cm. Helmets are not provided and you will need to bring your own to use.
We always recommend wearing a helmet when on your cycling holiday!
Bike Hire Insurance
This cycle tour benefits from bike insurance against rental bike theft and damage in the holiday price. Please make sure you lock up the bike, leave it where told by the hotel and treat your hire bicycle as if the bike was your own. Any negligent treatment of the bike will exempt you from cover. We advise you to ensure that you have adequate travel insurance for your cycling holiday prior to arrival.
Electric Bike Hire
Why not upgrade your cycling experience to an E-Bike (Electric Bike)? Using a power assisted bike is a great way to go on a cycling holiday and will help you smooth out inclines or longer days in the saddle. Each E-Bike features an LCD display, removable batteries for easy charging and assistance up to 25 km/h with a range of around 120 km for each full charge depending on usage.
E-Bike upgrade prices vary per tour, but if you require any more information about bike hire and electric bikes, please get in-touch with us on 0161 703 8161.
Welcome on board the MV Bordeaux!
EQUIPMENT
Size of boat: 78 meters (256 ft.) long and 10 meters (33 ft.) wide
In the front part of the ship is the tastefully furnished salon/lounge with a nice bar and a small dance floor, large panoramic windows all around, and a separate restaurant. The sun deck has a large sunroof, chairs and tables & cycle shed (aft deck).
CABINS
The lower deck has 36 cabins: 34 twin cabins (approx. 7-8m², 2 single beds next to each other), 2 junior suites (approx. 12 m², 2 single beds next to each other, small sitting area); The upper deck there has 11 twin cabins and 2 single cabins. Twin cabins for single use are available on the lower deck. Cabins on both decks have Individually regulated air conditioning, small windows that can be opened, satellite television, and mini-safe
You can find out more about this cycling holiday by completing a Contact Form or call 0161 703 8161 to speak to one of the team.
You can now book this cycling holiday online using our secure booking engine. Book online here >>
Season | Dates |
Season 1 | 10.04. – 17.04.2021|24.04. – 01.05.2021|23.10. – 30.10.2021 |
Season 2 | 08.05. – 15.05.2021|22.05. – 29.05.2021|05.06. – 12.06.2021|19.06 – 26.05.2021|03.07 – 10.07.2021|17.07 – 24.07.2021|31.07 – 07.08.2021|14.08 – 21.08.2021|09.10 – 16.10.2021 |
Season 3 | 28.08. – 04.09.2021|11.09. – 18.09.2021|25.09. – 02.10.2021 |
Room Type | Price (Per Person) |
2 Bed Cabin – Lower Deck | £965.00 |
2 Bed Cabin – Upper Deck | £1145.00 |
2 Bed Cabin Junior Suite – Lower Deck | £1240.00 |
1 Bed Cabin – Upper Deck | £1345.00 |
2 Bed Cabin – Lower Deck (Single Use) | £1395.00 |
Room Type | Price (Per Person) |
2 Bed Cabin – Lower Deck | £1250.00 |
2 Bed Cabin – Upper Deck | £1430.00 |
2 Bed Cabin Junior Suite – Lower Deck | £1525.00 |
1 Bed Cabin – Upper Deck | £1630.00 |
2 Bed Cabin – Lower Deck (Single Use) | £1680.00 |
Room Type | Price (Per Person) |
2 Bed Cabin – Lower Deck | £1345.00 |
2 Bed Cabin – Upper Deck | £1525.00 |
2 Bed Cabin Junior Suite – Lower Deck | £1620.00 |
1 Bed Cabin – Upper Deck | £1725.00 |
2 Bed Cabin – Lower Deck (Single Use) | £1775.00 |
Bike | Price |
Rental bike 21-gear | £80.00 |
Electric bike | £165.00 |
Date From | Date To |
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10 April 2021 | 30 October 2021 |