Overview

Your guides will meet you at Hôtel Mercure Saint-Malo Balmoral at 11:30 AM on the first day of the trip. After a 30-minute private shuttle, you’ll arrive in Dinan, a fortified medieval village, with half-timbered houses, and cobbled streets set on a hill overlooking the Rance Valley. After a short round of introductions and the first of many delicious meals together, your guides will familiarize you with your Trek bicycle and ensure a perfect fit. Your guides will then discuss the rules of bike safety and specific cycling tips for riding in the region before you embark on the first meandering ride through this enchanting region, passing windmills and country homes as you follow the Rance river to the coast. You’ll ride to Dinard, a prestigious seaside resort with a charming architectural heritage that have inspired great artists like Picasso, Debussy, and Oscar Wilde. Tonight, we'll meet for cocktail hour at the hotel before heading into town for dinner, toasting to a week of adventure ahead!

Overview

Wake up to freshly-baked pastries and a creamy café au lait that's so typically French. Today you’ll cycle to the city of Saint-Malo. Take the time to stroll along the ramparts which offer you great views that can change depending on the tides, the weather, and the light of the day. In the winding alleys within its walls, Saint-Malo tells the story of its glorious shipping past linked to the corsairs, the 17th-century privateers that served the king during this rich time of explorers and shipowners. Armed with a list of suggestions from your guides, find your perfect bistro lunch before hopping back on your saddle for more riding along the coast. This afternoon, choose to relax at the hotel and take some personal time. Tonight you're on your own in Dinard to choose for yourself a truly French culinary experience to celebrate another special day in this charming region.

Overview

Today, you'll wind your way west toward the castle of Fort La Latte, also called the Castle of Roche Goyon, whose name comes from one of the oldest Breton families. After a few pedal strokes on the quiet countryside roads, you will have the opportunity to visit this impressive 14th century castle strategically built on a small piece of land that juts into the Bay of the Fresnaye. Afterward, we'll enjoy a traditional lunch together in one of the guides' favorite spots in the adjacent village of Plévenon. The rest of the ride this afternoon will take you back to the hotel, cycling by the peninsula of the Cap Fréhel which dominates the sea at over 230 feet (70 meters) high, offering one of the most beautiful views of Brittany. Tonight, you are once again free to explore Dinard for dinner at one of the many fantastic restaurants around town.

Overview

Today you'll be saying goodbye to Brittany as you bike towards the unique and dramatic seascape of the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. You'll make your way along the coast to your first stop in the fishing village of Cancale, Brittany’s oyster capital, where you'll have a delicious lunch featuring this local delicacy that has been cultivated here since ancient times. You'll then ride across the bay to Mont-Saint-Michel. This bay counts among France’s most stunning sights. For centuries, this island and its emblematic cathedral have been one of Europe’s major pilgrimage destinations, and this holy island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After taking some time to explore, you'll then board a shuttle taking you the rest of the way to your first Norman destination, your new home for the next two nights, the elegant Château La Chenevière. Take some time to acquaint yourself with the hotel’s exceptional gardens and tastefully decorated interiors. This evening we'll gather for a dinner of elevated gastronomic cuisine at the hotel restaurant.

Overview

Today will be among the most memorable history lessons of your life, as we meander along the coast focusing on the World War II sights. Start your morning in awe of the courageous sacrifice made by thousands of young soldiers and visit the rows upon rows of white crosses at the American war cemetery. You'll learn about the tragic events that took place at Omaha Beach, where more than 3,000 men were killed in a matter of hours. Through the stories and commentary told by our local WWII expert, you’ll learn first-hand about the amazing history of this important site. Post-lunch, you’ll make your way to La Pointe du Hoc, where large craters formed by the bombs during World War II and old bunkers are left intact. You will also visit the German Cemetery, which provides a dramatic and sombre contrast to the American Cemetery. Afterwards enjoy a scenic and rolling ride through the countryside or decide on a shuttle back to the hotel. This evening, with a view of the garden as your backdrop, we'll gather for drinks before enjoying a quintessentially elegant French meal together.

Overview

This morning enjoy a leisurely breakfast or rise early for a refreshing morning ride. During your ride you will have the opportunity to pop into Bayeux and admire the renowned Bayeux tapestry, a 230-foot marvel that depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England. Following this, your Trek Travel guides have arranged transportation to the Bayeux train station in time to catch a late morning train to Paris. You’ll say farewell to your guides at 11:00 AM at Château la Chenevière. Please do not schedule a train out of Bayeux before 12:00 PM on the last day of the trip to allow plenty of time for any unforeseen delays.