Heading for Saint Malo

This tour is aimed at regular cyclists who are comfortable covering distances of 60 to 80 km and are ready to tackle a few more challenging stages (94 to 109 km on days 5 and 6). This is not a race: you cycle at your own pace, on secondary roads and cycle paths, with breaks whenever you like throughout the day. The route is progressive; the first stages (66 to 80 km) allow you to get into the swing of things before the longer days on the west coast of the Cotentin. It’s a challenge accessible to anyone who cycles regularly, without being a competitive cyclist.

Yes, and it’s a wise choice for a trip of this scale. The e-bike (€320 for 7 days, delivered to Caen, collected in Saint-Malo) allows you to maintain a comfortable pace on the longest stages, particularly Day 6 (109 km along the west coast of the Cotentin), without overexerting yourself. The battery range is more than sufficient to cover each day. With an e-bike, you turn a sporting challenge into a fun adventure, without sacrificing any of the experience. Many experienced cyclists opt for this choice on long trips to better enjoy the scenery and stops.

Yes. Several stages offer a choice of two distances: 72 or 80 km between Port-en-Bessin and Sainte-Mère-Église, 73 or 88 km between Sainte-Mère-Église and Cherbourg, 94 or 100 km between Cherbourg and Carteret, and 80 or 104 km between Granville and Pontorson. You can tailor your day to suit your fitness level, the weather or your desire to explore. Both options are marked on the maps and in the GPS app provided.

This is precisely the role of Normandie Rando and what sets this trip apart from one you organise yourself. The 8 accommodations are booked for you before your departure. Each morning, your luggage is collected from your hotel and delivered to the next one: you’ll find it in your room by evening. You set off each day with just the essentials in your handlebar bag. The route book, detailed maps, GPX tracks and mobile app guide you from stage to stage. A 24-hour telephone helpline is available should you need it. In practical terms, your only responsibility is to cycle and enjoy yourself.

You have two options. You can take a direct TGV from Saint-Malo to Paris Montparnasse (approx. 2 hours 50 mins), then a train from Paris to Caen (2 hours). If you prefer to return directly to Caen, a train journey via Rennes is possible, but takes longer (around 6 hours). The smoothest option for most travellers is to return via Paris, booking your tickets in advance. Free public parking is available in Caen to park your vehicle for the duration of your stay.

Every hire bike comes with a full repair kit: puncture repair spray, spare inner tube, tyre lever and patches. You also have front and rear lights, a lock and panniers. In the event of a more serious problem, Normandie Rando’s telephone assistance is available 24/7 to find a solution. On a 7-day trip, this peace of mind is no small matter — it’s what allows you to set off with complete peace of mind.

The price covers 8 nights in a hotel with breakfasts featuring fresh, local produce, daily luggage transfers throughout the entire route (8 transfers), a comprehensive route book with mapped itineraries, GPX tracks for all 7 stages, access to the mobile navigation app and 24/7 telephone support. On a per-night basis, this works out at €165 per person all-inclusive (accommodation, breakfast, luggage logistics, guiding and assistance) – a price that would be difficult to achieve if you were to organise a trip of this scale yourself by booking 8 hotels, coordinating your luggage and mapping out your 7-day itinerary.

The Standard package accommodates you in family-run 2- or 3-star hotels, selected for their warm welcome, quality bedding and generous breakfasts. The Comfort package upgrades to 3- or 4-star hotels with more spacious accommodation and superior services, such as the Domaine d’Utah Beach, the Mercure Hotel in Cherbourg and Granville, or the Alba Hotel in Saint-Malo. On a 7-day cycling holiday with demanding stages, the quality of your night’s rest directly impacts your enjoyment and energy levels the following day. The €270 difference is spread over 8 nights, amounting to approximately €34 more per night for significantly superior comfort.

Yes. For groups of 4 or more, a discount of €150 per person applies, saving €600 for a group of 4. If you prefer to carry your own luggage, a discount of €400 per person is available (cannot be combined with the group discount). Departures are available every day, which makes group planning easier.

This is the most comprehensive tour offered by Normandie Rando. Over 7 days of cycling, you will pass through: the D-Day beaches (Pegasus Bridge, Juno Beach, Arromanches, Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Sainte-Mère-Église), the wild Cotentin Peninsula (Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, Cherbourg, Cap de la Hague, Goury Lighthouse, Nez de Jobourg), the entire west coast of the English Channel (Carteret, Portbail, the oyster farms, Granville ‘Monaco of the North’), the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel with the abbey, then Cancale and its oysters, before the triumphant finish within the walls of Saint-Malo. No other cycling holiday in France brings together so many iconic sites in a single linear route.

Day 5, from Cherbourg to Carteret, is often the most memorable part. You cycle along the Cap de la Hague, the north-western tip of France, through landscapes of rare power: the Goury lighthouse battered by the waves, the Bay of Écalgrain, the vertiginous cliffs of the Nez de Jobourg, then the immense dunes of Biville and Hattainville. It is a wild, almost deserted coastline, where the wind and light change with every kilometre. Arriving in Carteret, facing the sunset over the sea, is a fitting reward for the effort of this ambitious stage.

Yes, Mont-Saint-Michel is a full stage in Day 7. After leaving Granville and crossing rolling countryside to La Lucerne Abbey, the route reaches the bay and offers spectacular views of the Mont. You’ll have plenty of time to visit Mont-Saint-Michel before continuing on to Pontorson. It’s one of the highlights of the trip: seeing Mont-Saint-Michel from the bay by bike, after days on the road, takes on an emotional dimension you won’t forget.

The tour runs from April to November, with daily departures. For a tour of this duration, May, June and September offer ideal conditions: long days, pleasant temperatures for cycling, magnificent light along the coast and reasonable crowds at the tourist sites. The high season runs from 1 June to 30 September (supplement of €50 per person). For an 8-night stay with 8 partner hotels, accommodation availability fills up quickly; booking several months in advance is strongly recommended, particularly for the stops in Granville, Mont-Saint-Michel and Saint-Malo.

Simply fill in the quote request form on this page. The Normandie Rando team will contact you to put together your bespoke holiday: choice of accommodation package, type of bike (hybrid bike at €220, e-bike at €320 or gravel bike at €360 for 7 days), departure dates and additional options. Requesting a quote is free and non-binding; it’s simply an opportunity to ask any questions and check availability. You can also call us directly on 02 31 65 74 08 for a personalised discussion. A holiday of this scale deserves a proper chat: that’s what the team is here for.