The Velodyssée, from Nantes to La Rochelle

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival in Nantes

By train or car, you arrive in Nantes, the starting point of your adventure. Former capital of the Dukes of Brittany, this city of art and history lies where the Loire gradually meets the ocean – much like you on this journey.

Highlights include the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, straight from the Middle Ages, and Les Machines de l’Île, where you can admire the impressive Grand Elephant, a mechanical creation inspired by Jules Verne. For relaxation, do not miss the Jardin des Plantes, one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in France.

You will stay in a 3-star hotel, where you will receive your roadbook and regional information documents.

Day 2: Nantes – Saint-Brévin-les-Pins

60 km | +130 m

Your first cycling day follows the majestic Loire, taking the shared route of the Vélodyssée and La Loire à Vélo. Europe’s last great wild river reveals wetlands, small ports, and tidal ditches along the way.

Along the route, you will encounter works from the contemporary exhibition "Estuaire", an open-air museum with surprising artistic installations, such as the Serpent d’Océan, a huge sculpture winding along the Saint-Brévin beach.

Arriving at Saint-Brévin-les-Pins, you will finally feel the sea breeze. The seaside resort, bordered by wide sandy beaches, marks your first true encounter with the Atlantic.

Day 3: Saint-Brévin-les-Pins – Bouin

53 km | +150 m

This stage takes you between beaches, coves, and oyster ports. You will follow the Bay of Bourgneuf, an important salt trading area in the Middle Ages.

Next, you arrive in Pornic, with its picturesque old port and castle overlooking the sea, one of the jewels of the coast. Here you can also enjoy an artisan ice cream from the famous Fraiseraie.

You then leave Loire-Atlantique and enter Vendée through the Marais Breton Vendéen. This surprising landscape of canals and wet meadows is a paradise for migratory birds and nature lovers.

At the end of the stage, you reach the small village of Bouin, renowned for its oysters.

Day 4: Bouin – Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie

58–62 km | +50 m

Today you ride one of the most iconic sites on the route: the Passage du Gois. This unique submersible road in Europe connects the mainland to Noirmoutier Island, but is only passable at low tide! A fascinating yet risky passage, where you may spot fishermen seeking clams on foot.

If the tide does not allow crossing the Gois, you will take an alternative route through the Vendée marshes, via Beauvoir-sur-Mer.

You then reach Saint-Jean-de-Monts, famous for its long beaches and seaside atmosphere. Riding along the Vendée Corniche, you will discover striking rock formations such as the Cinq Pineaux, before arriving in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie.

Day 5: Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie – Les Sables-d'Olonne

40 km | +75 m

You leave Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie along a coastal cycle path winding through maritime pines and dunes. The route passes Brétignolles-sur-Mer, a family-friendly resort tucked into a sheltered bay, before reaching the cliffs of Brem-sur-Mer where the ocean crashes against the rocks.

The route then turns inland through the Vendée bocage, a landscape of hedgerows and sunken lanes typical of the region. You pass Olonne-sur-Mer, an old town with narrow streets, before returning to the coast.

Finally, you arrive at Les Sables-d'Olonne, a legendary seaside resort and renowned fishing port. Here, the Vendée Globe – a solo non-stop round-the-world yacht race – starts every four years. Enjoy the lively waterfront, the colourful fishermans’ district of La Chaume, and its long sandy beach stretching for several kilometres.

Day 6: Les Sables d’Olonne – La Tranche-sur-Mer

45 km | +75 m

You leave Les Sables-d'Olonne along the coast, enjoying beautiful ocean views. The route passes through Jard-sur-Mer, a seaside village where Georges Clemenceau lived, before winding through dunes and pine forests.

Next is Longeville-sur-Mer with its wild beaches, before turning towards the salt marshes and ponds of the Payré, a wetland popular with migratory birds. You then cycle along the Pointe d'Arçay, a sand spit extending into the sea.

You arrive at La Tranche-sur-Mer, a family-friendly seaside resort with 13 km of sandy beaches. The gateway to the Vendée coastline, it marks the transition to the marsh and canal landscapes of Charente-Maritime.

Day 7: La Tranche-sur-Mer – La Rochelle

71 km | +30 m

This final day offers varied landscapes. You cross the lagoon of Belle Henriette, one of the last natural lagoons on the Atlantic coast.

You then discover the Marais Poitevin, nicknamed the Green Venice. You cycle between canals lined with pollarded ash trees and floodable meadows where the local cows graze. A detour through Marans, a small riverside port with stone houses, reveals the typical marsh architecture.

You follow the Sèvre Niortaise and its canal until you reach the coast and enter La Rochelle, arriving at the lively waterfront with a view of the iconic towers guarding the entrance to the Old Port.

Day 8: End of Stay

Your Atlantic odyssey concludes after breakfast.

ACCOMMODATION

We favour authentic, human-scale accommodation that inspires comfort, conviviality and well-being. We also strive to ensure they are well located: easily accessible by bike, and as close as possible to local amenities.

AVAILABLE COMFORT LEVEL(S)

Comfort Level

3 ★ Hotels

Selected addresses combining modern comfort and authenticity.

Photo shown as an example to illustrate the type of accommodation in this category.

Always included:

• Breakfast
• Private bathroom
• Bike storage
• Restaurants within walking distance
• Convenient location

BIKE CHOICE

Whether you choose to hire a bike or bring your own, it is essential to have a bike suited both to the route and to your personal needs.

RENTAL BIKES

We offer high-quality trekking bikes and/or electric bikes, equipped with all essential accessories. Child equipment is also available. However, we do not recommend this trip for children under 12, as some stages exceed 50 km.

Hybrid Bikes (VTC)

Arcade Escape model bikes (or similar). With 21 gears and an aluminium frame, they can handle the occasional small hill with ease. Men’s frames are high.

Electric Bikes (e-bikes)

Trek Verve+ 1 Lowstep bikes (or similar), with a minimum 500 Wh battery. Expect a comfortable range of at least 70 km.

Child Trailers

The route is also suitable for child trailers, which we also offer for hire. They can accommodate up to 2 young children.

Children’s Bikes

For children not yet at adult size, children’s bikes are available to hire. Various sizes are provided.

Follower Bikes

For children not yet used to long rides, the best solution is a follower bike, which can be attached to an adult bike at any time. The attachment system (shown below) is included with the follower bike.

Photos for illustrative purposes. Bikes subject to availability.

Included accessories:

• Smartphone holder
• Rear waterproof bag (1 per bike)
• Small handlebar bag (1 per bike)
• Lock
• Repair kit
• Helmet(s) on request

IF YOU BRING YOUR OWN BIKE

Before departure, thoroughly check your bike: brakes, tyres, gears, chain, derailleur…
You may be far from assistance if anything goes wrong!

Which bikes are suitable?

• Trekking bikes (VTC)
• Mountain bikes (MTB)
• Gravel bikes
• e-bikes with sufficient range
• City bikes

• Road bikes

LEVEL

Our trips prioritise discovery and relaxation over exertion.
We adjust the stage lengths according to terrain, type of path, and points of interest, so that each day remains balanced, enjoyable, and open to spontaneity.

STAGE LENGTH: STANDARD ℹ️ ➡️ Average overall: 40 to 60 km/day

➡️ Approximately 3–4 hours cycling per day – max. 5.

➡️ A pace suitable for most riders: combines pleasure of cycling and sightseeing.

TERRAIN: EASY ℹ️ ➡️ Average overall elevation gain: less than 200 m/day.

➡️ The route is generally flat and accessible to all. Depending on the destination, some gentle slopes are possible, but they should not be an obstacle, even without training.

The coast and inland are generally very flat. Only a few sections in the dunes, between Hourtin and Lacanau, give a slight sense of relief.

TYPE OF PATHS:

The route alternates between greenways and small, low-traffic roads. There are also a few short sections on busier roads, but these always have a dedicated bike lane. Over 90% of the route is paved. The rest is on well-maintained compact gravel paths. No technical difficulties.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

⏱️ DURATION

8 days and 7 nights, including the arrival and departure days. 6 days of cycling.

📅 AVAILABLE DEPARTURE DAYS

Daily departures from 15 April to 30 September.

🗺️ ROUTE TYPE

Linear.

📍 START AND FINISH POINTS

Start of the trip: Nantes
End of the trip: La Rochelle

🌦️ BEST TIME TO GO

Weather is generally favourable from April to October.

In spring, temperatures are usually pleasant, but note that the sea is not yet very warm, especially at the beginning of the season.

In summer, the weather is generally sunny and warm, without being extreme thanks to the maritime influence. Heatwaves are possible, but the ocean is never far for a refreshing dip. Coastal towns are busiest during this period.

The region also usually enjoys a pleasant late season. The ocean hasn’t cooled down completely yet!

🍽️ MEALS

Breakfasts are included.
Lunches and dinners are at your own discretion.

During the day, you can eat at local restaurants (we provide recommendations in our roadbook) or have a picnic with supplies from local shops.

For dinner, you will find restaurants within walking distance from your accommodation, unless the hotel has its own restaurant.

🧳 LUGGAGE TRANSPORT

Your luggage is transported from one accommodation to the next by one of our partners. You only carry what you need for the day’s ride. A pannier is provided with rental bikes.

🚩 ARRIVAL

BY TRAIN

Nantes is well connected by high-speed trains. From Paris, there is also a Ouigo line.

Direct TGV lines from:

BY CAR

Free parking in central Nantes is no longer available. On the outskirts, you can park on the street without time limits and reach the city centre easily by public transport. In 2026, most on-street parking on the south bank or west of Boulevard de l’Égalité is still free.

Alternatively, it is convenient to park in one of the city’s park-and-ride facilities (some monitored by CCTV), costing around €10/day. These are well connected to the city centre by public transport. More info on Nantes park-and-ride facilities.

Covered car parks such as Parking Graslin are available in the city centre, but are more expensive (around €20/day).

🔁 RETURN TO START

The easiest way to go back to Nantes at the end of the bike tour is by train.
Take a direct INTERCITÉS train back to Nantes (approx. 1h45).

On request, we can also arrange a private shuttle return.

📑 TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

To help you enjoy your adventure fully, we provide practical, easy-to-use resources:

• A roadbook (A5 booklet), including:

• Practical information
• Route description
• Detailed maps of the route
• All necessary tourist information
• Restaurant suggestions
• Places to shop for supplies



• Our navigation app (with your GPS tracks)

• Easy to use (a short tutorial will be sent)
• Satellite navigation (works in airplane mode)
• Custom tracks between each accommodation
• Voice guidance

📞 INDEPENDENCE AND SUPPORT

You travel independently (unguided) with 7-day telephone assistance in case of problems.

🛡️ INSURANCE

To ensure reimbursement in case of trip cancellation or issues on-site, you can take out cancellation insurance (CAP Explorer Cancellation) or assistance insurance (CAP Explorer Assistance). Learn more about insurance.

🎒 WHAT TO BRING

A helmet, lock, repair kit, phone holder and waterproof rear pannier form the basic equipment. If you have rented a bike, these are included (helmets are available on request only).
For added comfort, we also recommend bringing the following specific accessories:

Waterproof overtrousers

Lightweight, waterproof, windproof and easy to put on, they protect against rain, spray and mud. Some models include gaiters that also cover your shoes.

Portable charger (power bank)

Useful for recharging your phone during the lunch break: navigation apps use a lot of battery, even in flight mode. Recommended unless your phone battery life is excellent.
Budget around £10–£20.

Padded cycling shorts or gel saddle cover

Padded cycling shorts improve comfort by absorbing shocks and reducing friction on longer rides. Alternatively, opt for a padded saddle cover.

Water bottle

More practical and sustainable than disposable bottles. Some insulated models keep drinks cool for several hours thanks to double-wall insulation.

Buff / neck warmer / beanie

Outside of summer, mornings can be chilly — you’ll be glad you brought one!

PRICES 2026

Prices are based on a stay for two people in a double/twin room. All prices are per person and subject to availability of the chosen room type.

THE BASE PRICE INCLUDES

• Accommodation in carefully selected hotels (see “Accommodation” tab)
• Breakfast at each accommodation
• Transport of your luggage between accommodations
• Detailed roadbook with colour maps and tourist information
• GPS tracks of the route via our navigation app
• Luggage tags
• 7-day telephone assistance
• Tourist taxes
• Booking fees

OPTIONS

• Rental bike(s)
• Single room supplement
• Extra night(s) in Nantes and/or La Rochelle
• Optional insurance: cancellation and/or assistance

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Travel to Nantes and return from La Rochelle
• Lunches and dinners
• Entrance fees to tourist sites and other personal expenses
• Anything not listed under “THE BASE PRICE INCLUDES”

SPECIAL CASES

• If you carry your own luggage, a discount applies (see booking form). An extra pannier is provided if you rent a bike.
• Solo travellers: an additional logistical supplement is added to the single room supplement.

REVIEWS

"We did the trip “La Vélodyssée, from Nantes to La Rochelle” with the agency Cyclodyssées. We had requested an adaptation of the itinerary by increasing the length of the daily stages, and the agency fully met our request. The result was a wonderful trip! The proposed routes are superb and we were able to enjoy the route to the fullest. The organisation was impeccable from start to finish. Many thanks to Cyclodyssées for their attentiveness and professionalism! We highly recommend them."  October 2025