The Great war : The Somme Battlefield by bike

DAY 1 : Arrival in Amiens

Your hotel is located in the city centre, close to the Cathedral. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the largest Gothic building in France. With the highest nave, it could contain twice Notre Dame de Paris!
Untouched by the First World War, plaques have been sealed in memory of the soldiers of the Allied front.
The city also welcomed Jules Verne, who wrote most of his novels here. Finally, Amiens is a pleasant city where you can enjoy a stroll along the canal before starting your journey.

Night in Amiens.

DAY 2 : Amiens to Albert
Distance : 51 km

After picking up your bike, you head east along the Somme River avoiding the traffic. After about 20 kilometres, you reach the Villers Bretonneux sector where, from 24 to 26 April 1918, the Australian Expeditionary Force stopped the German advance, thus avoiding the capture of Amiens! Immerse yourself in the history of the Australian National Memorial and the fascinating Franco-Australian Museum established in the Victoria School.

Continue eastwards, crossing the Hamel Battlefield to the other side of the Somme at Cerisy. Enjoy magnificent views of the river along the way to Albert.

Albert was the epicentre of the great Battle of the Somme and is the main industrial town in the Ancre Valley. The Somme 1916 Museum in Albert, housed in an underground air raid shelter, tells the story of military life during the First World War.

Night in Albert.

DAY 3 : Albert to Arras
Distance : 45km / 62km

After passing the National Necropolis, you leave the town and follow the Ancre Valley northwards before climbing the Thiepval Mound. The offensive launched on 1 July 1916 killed 20,000 British soldiers, making it the 'bloodiest day in its military history'. Thiepval was liberated 3 months later on 27 September 1916.

You pass the Belfast Tower, erected in 1921 in memory of the Ulster Battalion which fought at Thiepval on 1 July 1916. Cross the Anchor and enter Beaumont Hamel Park. Here you will find the memorial to the men of the Newfoundland Regiment who, just out of their trenches, were 'swept away' by German machine-gun fire.

A few more kilometres will take you to the German cemetery at Fricourt and the South African and New Zealand memorials at Longueval.  Your route then passes through the village of Pozières where the Australians, exhausted by constant artillery counter-attacks, were relieved by the Canadians. 14,000 names of soldiers are engraved on the walls of this cemetery.

You then leave the Somme department and drive 20 km through the countryside to Arras, the "Capital" of Artois.

In Flemish Baroque style, Arras was long renowned for the quality of its cloth and has since retained its wealth and influence! Your hotel is ideally located in the heart of the city. You will be seduced by the architecture of the city, from Flemish Baroque to Art Deco style. You can't miss the Belfry and the Vauban citadel, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Relax at the end of the day on the terrace of one of the cafés on the magnificent Heroes' Square.

Night in Arras.

DAY 4 : Arras to Arras
Distance : 52km

You follow the Scarpe River and then turn north for about twenty kilometres to arrive in the great park of Vimy, which was, on 17 April 1917, the scene of a ferocious battle between the German army and the Canadian troops who lost more than 11,000 soldiers. Some would say that "modern Canada was born in the trenches of Vimy". The impressive monument built on the heights bears witness to this event.

After a break in the village of Souchez you climb the hill of Lorette where, in May 1915, French and German troops fought fiercely for the control of the Artois. The cemetery of Notre-Dame de Lorette, home to over 40,000 soldiers, is still the largest French military cemetery.

You then return to Arras on small roads through the countryside, following the river Scarpe.

Night in Arras.

DAY 5 : Arras

End of the tour in Arras after breakfast.

Our 15 years of experience has enabled us to build strong relationships with all our hotel partners. Some of them have become true friends and we have a real trust in them.

Their priority is to make your stay unforgettable and carefree.

And because everyone has their own budget, we offer you different categories of accommodation.

One thing is certain, from small family accommodation to large 5* hotels, a warm welcome is always reserved for Normandie Rando clients.

Because we organise sporting holidays, we attach great importance to breakfasts.

All the establishments we work with offer a varied and copious breakfast made up of fresh and local products.

Standard accommodation

You stay in small family-run 2* or 3* hotels.

The welcome is always friendly and the rooms simple but with all the comfort.

We know that a walking or cycling holiday requires a good rest between each stage and the bedding is always of high quality.

Comfort accommodation

You stay in 3* or 4* hotels.

The rooms are spacious and the hotel offers many services.

The bedding is of very good quality and the decoration is well thought out.

Luxury accommodation

You stay in a 4* or 5* hotel.

The establishments are often part of the historical heritage (old houses, castles...)

The rooms are very spacious and have all the necessary equipment.

The bedding is excellent.

Different bikes available for rental

Because we are not all equipped and because travelling with a bicycle is often not easy, Normandie Rando offers its clients the possibility of renting quality, fully equipped bicycles.

Our bikes are robust and light so that your stay is as pleasant as possible.

They are delivered with a complete equipment:

Helmet
Repair kit including puncture-proof spray, spare inner tube, tyre levers, patches.
Front and rear lights
An anti-theft device
Front pannier with map holder
Rear luggage

We have a perfect knowledge of the terrain and can therefore offer you bikes adapted to the chosen tour.

Depending on your experience and level, you can choose between several types of bikes: They are all available in different sizes in men's, women's and children's frames.

Hybrid Trek

Perfectly adapted to our tours, it is efficient, reliable and very easy to handle.

It is the ideal bike for a successful cycling trip !

E-Bike

You are tempted by a cycling adventure but you are afraid of the unevenness? The electric bike is for you.

With its great autonomy, it will take you with ease on all roads!

Road bike

This type of bike allows you to cover long distances at a sustained pace.

Perfectly suited to regular cyclists.

Children's bike

Our cycling trips are also for families! Of course, we have robust and manageable "Kids" bikes, so that the whole family can enjoy the ride!

We can also offer you additional equipment on request:

Trailer bike / baby carrier / trailer...

Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

Accommodation :
Comfort accommodation starting from 780€
Single room supplement : 220€

You do not wish to benefit from our luggage transport service ?

80€ discount (cannot be combined with the "group travellers discount")

Bike rental for 3 days :
(Delivery and relocation at the end of the tour)

Hybrid Trek : 210€
Road bike : 250€
E-bike : 250€

Solo traveller : 160€ supplement

Group travellers (4 pax & more) : 40€ discount

Departure every Sundays
If departure on another day, 50€ supplement

All prices, discounts and supplements are per person.
A list of our partner hotels is available on request, via our contact form.

Included in the tour price :

• 4 nights in comfort accommodation with breakfast and daily tourist taxes.
• 3 days cycling.
• Luggage transfers  between each stage.
• Bicycle delivery, detailled tour explanations, advices...
• Travel documents : roadbook, detailled maps and GPX tracks

Not included in the tour price :

• dinners.
• Lunches and drinks.
• Entry fees and tickets for cultural and historical sites.
• Travel insurance.
• Single room supplement.
• Bicycle rental.
• High season supplement.

How to get there ?

Coming by train from Paris :

Paris – Amiens : 1h20 min (Direct)

Coming by car :

A16 or A1
Free parking lot in Amiens.

How to go back ?

Getting back to Paris by train:

Arras - Paris: 1h for the fastest train (TGV direct)

Get your car back at the end of your tour :

Train Arras - Amiens : 2h  (Direct)