Normandy discovery

The tour is classified as a ‘moderate challenge’, suitable for regular cyclists. The stages range from 30 to 75 km, with a choice of distance each day. Day 2 offers a 57 km or 75 km loop from Bayeux, and Day 4 offers a short 30 km or long 55 km route towards Cabourg. This flexible format allows you to tailor each day to your fitness level and sightseeing preferences. The terrain alternates between flat sections along the coast, gentle rolling hills in the Pays d’Auge and cycle paths along the Seine. An electric bike (€280 for 6 days) is available to make the longer stages easier, particularly in the Pays d’Auge.

It is the only tour that crosses Normandy from end to end, from Bayeux to Rouen, combining the D-Day beaches, the Pays d’Auge, the Côte Fleurie, the Risle Valley and the Seine Valley in a single trip. No other tour brings together so many facets of Normandy: the legacy of the Second World War, the medieval heritage of William the Conqueror, the bocage and cider farms, elegant seaside resorts, the Impressionist port of Honfleur, the thousand-year-old abbey of Bec-Hellouin, a barge crossing of the Seine and arrival in Rouen, the ‘city of a hundred bell towers ’. Whereas other tours focus on a single theme (D-Day, the Côte Fleurie, cycling along the Seine), this one brings them all together. It is Normandy in its entirety.

Both tours follow the same route from Caen to Rouen (Pays d’Auge, Honfleur, Le Bec-Hellouin, the Seine). But ‘The Duchy of Normandy’ starts in Bayeux and adds two key days at the beginning: a full day on the D-Day beaches (Omaha Beach, the American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, Pointe du Hoc) and a stage from Bayeux to Caen via the Longues-sur-Mer battery, Arromanches, Gold Beach and Juno Beach. If you want to combine the D-Day sites with the Pays d’Auge, Honfleur and Rouen in a single trip, this is the tour for you. If you’d prefer to travel directly from Caen to Rouen without visiting the D-Day beaches, “From one capital to another” is the shorter and more affordable option.

Day 1: arrival in Bayeux, free time to visit the cathedral, the medieval centre (which survived the bombings) and the town’s gourmet restaurants.
Day 2: loop to Omaha Beach, the American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer with its thousands of white crosses facing the sea, and, as an optional extension, Pointe du Hoc and its crater-riddled cliffs.
Day 3: the Longues-sur-Mer battery, the remains of the artificial harbour at Arromanches, Gold Beach, Juno Beach at Courseulles-sur-Mer, then arrival in Caen with its castle and the abbeys of William the Conqueror.
Day 4: Pegasus Bridge, entering the Pays d’Auge with its orchards, stud farms and cider farms, and Beuvron-en-Auge, one of the most beautiful villages in France, or Cabourg beach.
Day 5: crossing the Pays d’Auge via Beaumont-en-Auge, a gastronomic stop (andouillette, cheese, cider), and arrival in Honfleur, an Impressionist gem with its Vieux Bassin.
Day 6: Pont-Audemer, the wild Risle Valley, and Bec-Hellouin Abbey, where Benedictine monks still live.
Day 7: narrow country lanes, crossing the Seine by barge at La Bouille, and arrival in Rouen with its Monet cathedral, Gros-Horloge clock tower and medieval alleyways. Seven days, seven worlds, the whole of Normandy.

The first two days of cycling are entirely devoted to the D-Day beaches. On Day 2, a loop from Bayeux takes you to the American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, Omaha Beach and, as an optional extension, Pointe du Hoc. On Day 3, the route to Caen passes through the Longues-sur-Mer battery (the only one still to retain its firing guns), the Mulberry artificial harbour at Arromanches, Gold Beach and Juno Beach at Courseulles-sur-Mer. These are the four most iconic sites of the Western Allied sector, visited in an order that follows the geographical logic of the D-Day landings. After these two days steeped in emotion and history, the tour moves on to the Pays d’Auge, offering a striking contrast between remembrance and the gentle pace of life.

Yes, on several occasions. On Day 2, the vast sandy beaches of Omaha Beach are accessible. On Day 3, the beaches of Gold Beach and Juno Beach offer beautiful stretches of fine sand. If you choose the extended itinerary on Day 4, Cabourg and its 4 km of Belle Époque beach are an ideal seaside stop. As the itinerary is flexible, you have free time every afternoon to enjoy the sea, before heading into the Normandy countryside for the second half of your stay.

This tour takes in the highlights of Norman gastronomy. Bayeux kicks off the trip with its top-quality restaurants. The Bessin countryside (Days 2 and 3) offers local butter, cream and cheeses. The Pays d’Auge (Days 4 and 5) is the heart of the Normandy region: farmhouse cider, calvados, camembert, livarot and pont-l’évêque. In Beaumont-en-Auge, andouillette and cheese washed down with cider are a tradition. Honfleur offers its seafood restaurants and gourmet food shops overlooking the Vieux Bassin. And Rouen rounds off the trip with its narrow streets full of restaurants and shops selling local produce. Every day is also a culinary treat.

These are two of the most surprising moments of the trip. Le Bec-Hellouin (Day 6) is a tiny village in the Risle Valley, dominated by a Benedictine abbey founded in the 11th century where a community of monks still lives. You can explore its gardens in soothing silence, and you’ll stay in a charming guesthouse in the heart of the village. The next day (Day 7), you board the La Bouille ferry with your bike to cross the Seine in a matter of minutes, facing the chalk cliffs and the Château de Robert le Diable. These two experiences mark the transition from rural Normandy to the Seine Valley, and travellers often cite them among their favourite memories.

Normandie Rando takes care of everything. Every morning, your luggage is collected from your hotel and delivered to the next one. You’ll find it in your room in the evening. A comprehensive roadbook with mapped routes, GPX tracks and a mobile navigation app guide you from stage to stage. Every hire bike comes with a helmet, a full repair kit, lights and a lock. A helpline is available 24/7. The only day you stay at the same hotel is Day 2 (a loop starting from Bayeux), which makes organisation even simpler. Over 8 days, you don’t have to worry about any logistics: you cycle, you explore, you enjoy.

Both towns are directly connected to Paris. Paris Saint-Lazare to Bayeux by direct train: approximately 2 hours 20 minutes. Your hotel is a 15-minute walk from the station. On the return journey, Rouen to Paris Saint-Lazare: 1 hour 40 minutes, with Rouen station just 15 minutes from your hotel. If you’re travelling by car, free public parking is available in Bayeux. To collect your vehicle, the Rouen–Bayeux train journey takes approximately 2 hours 20 minutes. A private transfer is also available on request.

The price includes 7 nights’ accommodation with breakfasts featuring fresh, local produce, daily luggage transfer between each stage, a comprehensive route book with mapped itineraries, GPX tracks for the 6 days of cycling, access to the mobile navigation app and 24-hour telephone support. On a per-night basis, this works out at around €137 per person all-inclusive: accommodation, breakfast, luggage logistics, guiding and assistance. For an 8-day trip covering the whole of Normandy from Bayeux to Rouen, including the D-Day beaches, the Pays d’Auge, Honfleur and fully managed logistics, this offers remarkable value for money.

The Standard package offers family-run 2- or 3-star hotels and a charming guesthouse: Le Saint Patrice in Bayeux, Hôtel Les Quatrans in Caen, Villa Les Mots Passants in Cabourg, Hôtel du Dauphin in Honfleur, L’Atelier de Tess in Bec-Hellouin and Hôtel Le Vieux Carré in Rouen. The Comfort package upgrades to 3- and 4-star hotels: the Hôtel d’Argouges or Le Churchill in Bayeux, the Hôtel du Dauphin with dinner included in Caen, the Mercure with a swimming pool in Cabourg, the Hôtel Le Cheval Blanc in Honfleur, and the Hôtel Littéraire Gustave Flaubert in Rouen. The €290 difference is spread over 7 nights, amounting to approximately €41 extra per night. On an 8-day trip packed with sightseeing and experiences, the comfort of your accommodation directly contributes to your enjoyment and the quality of your rest each evening.

For groups of 4 or more, a discount of €50 per person applies. If you prefer to carry your own luggage, a discount of €150 per person is available (cannot be combined with the group discount). Departures are scheduled for Mondays and Fridays (€40 surcharge for any other day). The high season runs from 1 June to 30 September (€40 surcharge). Bike hire is available at €180 (hybrid), €280 (e-bike) or €300 (gravel) for 6 days, with delivery to Bayeux and collection in Rouen.

The tour is available from March to November. May and June offer ideal conditions: apple trees in bloom in the Pays d’Auge, magnificent light on the D-Day beaches, and moderate visitor numbers at memorial sites and accommodation. September and October adorn the Risle Valley and the bends of the Seine with spectacular autumn colours. June, around the D-Day commemorations, adds an extra emotional dimension to the first two stages. For a 7-night trip with 7 different accommodation stops, availability fills up quickly, especially in Honfleur and Le Bec-Hellouin. Booking several weeks in advance is strongly recommended.

Fill in a quote request directly on the tour page. The Normandie Rando team will contact you to personalise your tour: choice of accommodation package, type of bike (hybrid, e-bike or gravel), departure dates, short or long routes for each day, and any optional extras (extra night in Rouen, private transfer, etc.). You can also call 02 31 65 74 08 for a personalised consultation. The quote request is free and non-binding. It’s the first step towards experiencing Normandy from end to end, from the D-Day beaches to the medieval streets of Rouen.