The travel agency specialising in self guiding cycling and walking holidays!

The road to Liberation

une aventure humaine et passionnée

Caen
Cherbourg
5 jour(s) / 4 nuit(s)
Easy
d’avril à novembre

Caen, gateway to historic Normandy

The ideal starting point for your cycling tour, Caen is deeply marked by the history of the Second World War. The Caen Memorial is an essential stop to understand the stakes and the course of the 1944 D-Day landings. The city, heavily damaged by bombing, today symbolises reconstruction and peace. From Caen, you can quickly reach the D-Day beaches via dedicated cycle paths.

Port-en-Bessin and the cliffs of Omaha Beach

Cycling westwards along the coast, your route takes you through Port-en-Bessin, a charming fishing port nestled at the foot of the cliffs. Nearby is Omaha Beach, one of the most memorable D-Day beaches, the scene of particularly fierce fighting on 6 June 1944. The cliffs, bunkers and military cemeteries, notably the American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, offer a moment of reflection and a breathtaking view of the English Channel.

Sainte-Mère-Église, symbol of the airborne landings

Deep in the Cotentin Peninsula, Sainte-Mère-Église stands as a major memorial site. This village is famous for being one of the first towns liberated by American paratroopers. The church, with the symbolic paratrooper hanging from its bell tower, is a reminder of the airborne operation on the night of 5 to 6 June 1944. The Airborne museums provide a better understanding of the crucial role these soldiers played in the success of the D-Day landings.

Cherbourg, a strategic objective and port of the Liberation

Your cycling adventure ends in Cherbourg, a strategic port city whose capture was essential for the Allies to ensure the supply of troops. Its deep-water port, one of the largest in Europe, was quickly restored after the Liberation.
Cherbourg marks the end of your cycling tour in a maritime and cultural atmosphere.

Itinerary

DAY 1- Arrival in Caen

Welcome to Caen, the historic heart of Normandy and emblematic city of William the Conqueror’s duchy. Founded in the Middle Ages and marked by the Second World War, Caen offers a rich and contrasting heritage. Visitors can explore the vast Château de Caen, one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe, admire the two abbeys founded by William and Matilda – the Abbaye aux Hommes and the Abbaye aux Dames – or stroll through the historic Vaugueux district. The Caen Memorial, a large museum dedicated to peace and 20th-century history, is also a must-see. With its heritage, culture and relaxed lifestyle, Caen is a wonderful starting point for your cycling adventure.

Night in Caen

DAY 2- From Caen to Port en Bessin

Distance to cover: 71 km (44,1 miles)

Starting from Caen, the route follows the peaceful, flat Orne Canal, with the Pegasus Memorial as the first stop, a moving reminder of the D-Day landings. The route then reaches Courseulles-sur-Mer, a lively port and key location for Juno Beach, before continuing along the coast to Arromanches-les-Bains, famous for Mulberry Harbour and its history museum. The day ends in Port-en-Bessin, a charming little port where nature, seascapes and history come together, offering a beautiful walk between history and the sea.

Night in Port en Bessin

DAY 3- From Port en Bessin to Sainte Mère Eglise

Distance to cover: 76 km (44,22 miles)

From Port-en-Bessin, the route follows the coast to Omaha Beach, a vast beach steeped in history, then on to Pointe du Hoc, a spectacular site overlooking the sea. The route then heads inland towards Isigny-sur-Mer, between the estuary and the marshes, before reaching Carentan and its peaceful landscapes. The stage ends at Sainte-Mère-Église, a key site of the D-Day landings, where heritage and remembrance mark the end of a journey rich in landscapes and emotions.

Night in Sainte Mère Eglise

DAY 4- From Sainte Mère Eglise to Cherbourg

Distance to cover: 66 km (41 miles)

From Sainte-Mère-Église, the route crosses the bocage and marshes of the Cotentin before reaching the east coast of the peninsula. The road leads to Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, a charming port renowned for its Vauban towers and maritime atmosphere. The route then continues along the coastline, between ports and sea horizons, to Cherbourg, where the harbour and port mark the end of this stage rich in landscapes and discoveries.

Night in Cherbourg

DAY 5- Cherbourg

End of stay after breakfast

Accommodation

Standard

À partir de 690 € Suppl. indiv. 190 €

Standard accommodation:

You will stay in small, family-run 2* or 3* hotels.
The welcome is always friendly and the rooms are simple but comfortable.
We know that walking or cycling holidays require a good night's rest between each stage, so the bedding is always of high quality.
Because we organise sporting holidays, we attach great importance to breakfast.
Breakfast is varied and consists of fresh, local produce.

Où vous dormez

  • Caen: Les Quatrans***
  • Port en Bessin: Hôtel Ibis***
  • Sainte Mère Église: Auberge John Steel***
  • Cherbourg: Les Ambassadeurs***

Confort

À partir de 890 € Suppl. indiv. 280 €

Comfort accommodation

You will stay in 3* or 4* hotels.
The rooms are spacious and the hotel offers a wide range of services.
The bedding is of very good quality and the decor is tasteful.
Breakfast is varied, generous and consists of fresh, local products, both sweet and savoury.

Où vous dormez

  • Caen: Le Dauphin****
  • Port en Bessin: Hôtel Ibis***
  • Ste Marie du Mont: Domaine d'Utah Beach***
  • Cherbourg: Hôtel Mercure****

Practical Information

Price Includes

  • 4 nights with breakfast in standard or comfort accommodation
  • 3 days of cycling
  • Luggage transfer between each stage
  • Travel documents: road book, detailed maps
  • GPX tracks and free access to our mobile phone navigation app
  • 24/7 telephone assistance

The price does not include:

  • Meals and drinks
  • Tourist taxes
  • Bike hire
  • Entrance fees and site visits
  • Return transfer to the starting point at the end of the tour
  • Travel insurance
  • Single room supplement
  • Single traveller supplement
  • High season supplement

Options, Supplements and Discounts

High season: 1 June to 30 September 2026

High season supplement: €30

Departures every day

Don’t want to use our luggage transport service?
€190 discount per person (offer cannot be combined with the ‘Group Traveller’ discount)

3-day bike hire:
(Delivery to Caen and collection in Cherbourg included)

Hybrid bike: €130
Electric bike: €185
Racing bike: €190

Solo travellers: €260 supplement

Group travellers (more than 4 people): €90 discount

All prices, discounts and supplements are per person.

How to Get There

Coming by train from Paris:

Paris – Caen: 2 hours (direct train)
From Caen station to your hotel: 30 minutes on foot or by taxi (~€20)

Coming by car:

Free public parking in Caen

 

How to Leave

Returning to Paris by train:

From your hotel to Cherbourg SNCF train station: 15 min walk, then
Cherbourg – Paris: 3 hours 15 minutes

Returning by car:

From your hotel to Cherbourg SNCF train station: 15 min walk, then

Cherbourg – Caen: 1 hour 15 minutes

 

from
€690
per person

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