Day 1 :   Arrival in Nantes

When you arrive in Nantes, take the time to discover this modern yet historical city with its cathedral, its castle and its small shopping streets. Transfer on your own to your hotel. Train from Paris to Nantes with mandatory reservation (2 hours).

Day 2 :   From Nantes to Saint Brevin

Distance 1 : 37 Miles - 59 Km 
Elevation gain 1 : 130 Meters 

Start from the big city of Nantes and ride along the Loire Estuary, passing through some small towns to find yourself riding along the Canal de la Martinière. The last part of this day you will feel the force of the ocean with the passage in Paimboeuf and its port. Then the arrival in St Brevin where you will admire the Bridge of Saint Nazaire and finally the Atlantic Ocean which opens to you.

Day 3 :   From Saint Brevin to Bouin

Distance 1 : 44 Miles - 70 Km 
Elevation gain 1 : 295 Meters 

Today you will ride along the beaches to reach the town of St Michel-Chef-Chef. Continue along the ocean to reach the Pointe de Saint Gildas where you can admire the superb view. Then you will make your way to Pornic, be sure to take time to visit this very nice town. Follow the ocean on the ridge, where finally you enter the marshes to reach the charming village of Bouin.

Day 4 :   From Bouin to Saint Jean de Monts

Distance 1 : 35 Miles - 56 Km 
Elevation gain 1 : 165 Meters 

This day is mainly spent in the heart of the Marais Breton, enjoying these unique landscapes where fauna and flora are diverse. We recommend a stop at the Barre du Monts to visit the Ecomuseum of the Marais Vendéen and the Port de Fromentine facing the island of Noirmoutier. The end of the itinerary is in a superb pine forest up to the village of Saint Jean de Monts.

Day 5 :   From Saint Jean de Monts to Les Sables d'Olonne

Distance 1 : 34 Miles - 55 Km 
Elevation gain 1 : 160 Meters 

Starting along the ocean and its sandy beach you then go to the rocky coast to reach small villages like Saint Gilles Croix de Vie. Do not hesitate to stop there for a stroll. On the second part of the itinerary you will find a more wooded landscape with an alternating between forests and marshes to reach Les Sables d'Olonne, a famous city known for its sailing event : Le Vendée Globe.

Day 6 :   From Les Sables D'Olonne to La Tranche sur Mer

Distance 1 : 27 Miles - 44 Km 
Elevation gain 1 : 200 Meters 

Ride along the rocky coast passing bays such as Cayola Bay, where you can admire exceptional viewpoints. Don't forget to take some snacks today, as you will pass through only one village on the route. This part is really rugged and will make you feel the force of the ocean on these rocks. You enter a little inland to pass through the middle of the marshes, then enter the forest and finally finish at La Tranche sur Mer.

Font de Gaume is a cave that houses a collection of prehistoric polychrome cave paintings. Prehistoric people living in the Dordogne Valley first settled in the mouth of Font de Gaume around 25,000 BC. The cave was forgotten until the nineteenth century when local people rediscovered the cave. Paintings were discovered and date back from around 17000 BC, during the Magdalenien period. The caves most famous painting, a frieze of five bison was discovered accidentally in 1966 while scientists were cleaning the cave.

Day 7 :   From La Tranche sur Mer to La Rochelle

Distance 1 : 45 Miles - 73 Km 
Elevation gain 2 : 125 Meters 

Today you discover the Marais Poitevin Regional Nature Park, crossing it on wheels….the best way of course! It is composed of many canals and is called the ‘’Green Venice’’. You will be able to admire this abundant nature and then head down to La Rochelle, a magnificent fortified harbor city.

Day 8 :   Departure from La Rochelle

Today is departure day, you can take your time getting started in the morning, have breakfast and depart at your leisure from La Rochelle by train for Paris or other destinations. (Depart on your own). Other cycling itineraries are possible if you wish to extend this type of tour a little longer.