fbpx
6 days (5 nights)
Beginning of July
Friends
France
Slow tourism · Outdoor Activities · Food & Wine · Culture & Architecture
Grape vine, Bordeaux, France

A group of 6 friends who are not really sporty decided to challenge themselves to discover the Entre-deux-Mers by bike.  Velstana created a 6-day trip suited to their rhythm and their desire to visit the castles and vineyards of the region.

The call

At the appointed time, Stanislas called us and we built our circuit together in a little over half an hour. He asked us the right questions while letting us express our desires, we already felt as if we were there!

We chose to leave at the beginning of July for 6 days with stages of around 50 km per day and few slopes, two of us having even chosen an electric bike to ride even more comfortably!

We asked Velstana to base our tour around two themes: castles and wine discovery.

Stanislas advised us a loop tour by changing locations every day to explore the region as well as possible, as the stages were not difficult.

For the accommodation, we wanted very good quality services in guest rooms or charming hotels.

In the evening, determined to have a really enjoyable holiday, we asked our organizer to select high-quality addresses if possible for our accommodation, and, the icing on the cake, an exceptional gourmet restaurant in the middle of the holiday!

We finalized the creation of our tour by planning the first day without a bike in Bordeaux, during which Velstana booked us a visit and an unusual surprise dinner.

The reservation

The following week, we received the description of the trip designed and its price by e-mail: everything was in line with what had been agreed, so we approved the quote. The last step before departure: we paid the deposit.

The preparations

Two weeks before departure, we received a comprehensive Travel Book via e-mail with the complete itinerary and many other things, such as information on the route, travel advice and suggestions on typical restaurants and local cuisine.

A link received by e-mail enabled us to have the route on our smartphone, very easy and convenient to follow.

Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux, France

Trip details

Day
1

Arrival in Bordeaux

We arrive in Bordeaux by train in the late morning and went to our hotel by taxi to drop off the luggage. After a quick lunch, the address of which had been given to us by Velstana, we picked up the bicycles from the nearby rental company. In the afternoon, Velstana organized an unusual guided tour of the city, followed by a dinner/evening in a quite exceptional place.
Day
2

Cycling distance: 50 km; elevation gain: 340 m +

We left Bordeaux easily by a bicycle path to Creon and its beautiful bastide, then visited the Abbey of La Sauve-Majeure, a true masterpiece of Romanesque art. We then went on to Rions, a superb old village, and reached Cadillac, famous for its castle and bastide. We had a very good dinner and slept in a quality 3* hotel with a beautiful swimming pool.
Day
3

54 km 340 m +

We crossed the Garonne to reach the Sauternes vineyard by quiet little roads and enjoyed a visit/tasting of a 1er grand cru classé de Sauternes planned by Velstana. The follow-up was a historical delight with the castle of Villandraut, Préchac and its church, the castle of Cazeneuve and Bernos-Beaulac. Finally, we reached Bazas, its magnificent square and splendid cathedral, Read moreHide
Day
4

53 km 240 m +

This stage is again full of beautiful monuments that we reached by quiet roads: the collegiate church of Notre-Dame d'Uzeste, the castle of Roquetaillade, the basilica of Verdelais, the castle of Malromé, the medieval city of Saint-Macaire and Langon. We dined at an exceptional gourmet restaurant and spent the night there.
Day
5

52 km 220 m +

This was a more wine-focused than historical day, but it included a visit to the Château de Malle and the Château de la Brède, Montesquieu's native residence, which took us to Leognan. The highlights were the private visit of a Graves estate, the exploration of the Pessac-Léognan family estate and the visit/tasting of a Pessac-Léognan grand cru classé! Read moreHide
Day
6

25 km 50 m +

We returned to Bordeaux Saint-Jean station, going by the great castles of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, the priory of Cayac and Gradignan. We collected our luggage which had been transferred to the bike rental company and got our car.

Pricing and services for this cycling journey in France: €790 per person; €90 / bike €180/ e-bike

Included:

  • Accommodation 5 nights in a double room: 3* superior hotels or guesthouses (breakfast included)
  • Dinners (excluding drinks) on days 1,2,3 and 5
  • Baggage transfer
  • Visits and wine-tasting in 4 wine estates
  • High-quality bikes
  • Accessories (bags, helmet, repair equipment, pump)
  • Travel Book accessible anywhere, anytime, including a one-of-a-kind cycling itinerary available on an app

Excluded:

  • Meals other than those listed above
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance 

The abovementioned sample prices are for guidance only and are not binding. The total cost of your holiday will depend on a number of factors, including time of year of travel and choice of accommodation and transport. The actual cost of your holiday is as set out in the Booking Confirmation.

Browse all itinerary examples

Ready? Start planning your holiday