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

The treasures of the peninsula with the family

une aventure humaine et passionnée

Carentan
Cherbourg
5 days/ 4 nights
Easy
April to November

A bike ride accessible to all

Our bike tour invites you to discover the Cotentin Peninsula at a leisurely pace. Designed for an enjoyable ride, it allows you to cycle at your own pace, fully enjoying the simple pleasure of cycling and the freedom offered by this gentle mode of transport.

An ideal route for families

Suitable for a family outing, this cycling tour favors comfortable and easy-to-follow routes, conducive to a peaceful cycling experience. Young and old alike can share this moment of leisure, making cycling a friendly and accessible activity. The various historical and cultural sites along this bike route provide interesting stops, not to mention the joys of swimming when the weather permits.

Varied landscapes along the route

From the Cotentin Marshes Regional Park to the maritime panoramas, the landscapes are constantly changing throughout your cycling adventure. This diversity gives meaning to the bike ride, transforming each kilometer into an unforgettable experience.

A cycling getaway for your well-being

A family bike ride offers many physical, relational, and educational benefits. It allows you to enjoy a gentle sporting activity that is good for your health and accessible to all ages, while reducing stress through contact with nature. These outings also help strengthen family bonds, as they create moments of sharing, dialogue, and togetherness outside of everyday life. For children, it is an opportunity to learn independence, respect for rules, and discovery of their environment, while developing ecological values related to sustainable mobility and respect for nature.

Itinerary

DAY 1- Arrival to Carentan

Carentan, nestled in the heart of the Cotentin and Bessin marshes, charms visitors with its canals and lively marina. Steeped in the history of the D-Day landings, the town offers museums and memorials to explore.

Night in Carentan

DAY 2 - From Carentan to St Mère Eglise

Distance to cover:  20km or 34km (13 or 21 miles)

You enter the Cotentin Regional Park and take quiet roads to reach Utah Beach and Sainte Mère Église. Don’t miss the highly informative Airborne Museum. Spread across five buildings, the museum guides you in the footsteps of the American paratroopers on D-Day.
If the weather permits, don’t forget your swimsuit so you can enjoy the beautiful beaches this region has to offer.

Night in St Mère Église

DAY 3 - From St Mère Église to St Vaast la Hougue

Distance to cover: 34km or 50km (21 or 31 miles)

Today you will take quiet country roads to reach the coast. If the weather is sunny and warm, don’t forget to bring your swimsuit! You will then drive north along the coast to the pretty fishing village of Saint Vaast la Hougue.

Night in Saint Vaast la Hougue

DAY 4- From Saint Vaast la Hougue to Cherbourg

Distance to cover : 38km  (24 miles)

Between Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue and Cherbourg, the road runs along a wild and unspoilt coastline, dotted with rocky headlands and hidden coves. You will pass through Barfleur, a charming fishing port built of granite, listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France.Further on, the imposing Gatteville lighthouse, one of the tallest in Europe, has been watching over sailors for centuries. The seascapes unfold, combining cliffs, moors and windswept beaches. As you approach Cherbourg, the view opens up onto one of the largest artificial harbours in the world, a truly spectacular arrival.

Night in Cherbourg

DAY 5 - Cherbourg

End of the trip after breakfast.

Accommodation

Standard

FROM 520 € SINGLE SUP 180 €

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 rest between each stage, and the bedding is always of high quality.

PARTNER HOTELS

  • Carentan: le Vauban**
  • Sainte Mère Église: Auberge John Steel***
  • Réville: Aux Moynes de Saire***
  • Cherbourg: Les Ambassadeurs***

COMFORT

FROM 690 € SINGLE SUP 255 €

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.
The breakfast is varied, generous and consists of fresh, local products, both sweet and savoury.

PARTNER HOTELS

  • Carentan Le Vauban**
  • Domaine d'Utah Beach***
  • Saint Vasst la Hougue Les Fuchsias***
  • 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
  • Solo traveller supplement
  • High season supplement

Options, Supplements and Discounts

High season: 1 June to 31 August 2026

Don’t want to use our luggage transport service?
Discount of €80 per person (offer cannot be combined with the ‘Group Traveller’ discount)

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

Hybrid bike: €150
Electric bike: €200

Solo traveller: €120 supplement

Group travellers (more than 4 people): €50 discount

Departures on Thursdays
If departing on another day, supplement: €30

High season supplement: From €40 to €60

All prices, discounts and supplements are per person.

How to Get There

Coming by train from Paris:

Paris – Carentan: 2 hours 40 minutes (direct train)
From Carentan station to your hotel: 5 minutes on foot

Coming by car:

Free public car park in Carentan

How to Leave

Returning to Paris by train:

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

Returning by car:

From your hotel to Cherbourg SNCF train station: 15 minutes on foot, then
Cherbourg to Carentan (around 1hour)

from
€520
per person

Bike rental

On this tour, Normandie Rando offers a range of bike models for hire.
Our bikes are sturdy and lightweight to make your trip as enjoyable as possible.
Depending on your experience and fitness level, you can choose from several types of bikes. All are available in different sizes, with men’s, women’s and children’s frames.

Trek Hybrid Bike

Perfectly suited to our itineraries, it is high-performing, reliable, and very easy to handle. It’s the ideal bike for a successful cycling holiday!

E-Bike – Electric Assisted Bicycle

Tempted by a cycling adventure but worried about the climbs? The electric bike is made for you.
With excellent battery range, it will carry you effortlessly along all roads!

Gravel

The performance, features and handling of a road bike combined with the comfort of an hybrid. Our gravel bikes are made from aluminium with a carbon fork and 35mm tyres; ideal for our most challenging routes.

Children’s Bike – On Request

Our cycling holidays are also designed for families! We of course offer “Kids” bikes—sturdy and easy to handle—so the whole family can enjoy the ride!

All bikes are delivered with a full set of equipment:

  • Helmet

  • Repair kit including a puncture repair spray, a spare inner tube, tire levers, and patches

  • Front and rear lights

  • A lock

  • A front pannier with map holder

  • A rear rack

Additional equipment available on request:

  • Tag-along bike / child seat / trailer…

Feel free to contact us for more information.

FAQ

Is this cycle tour suitable for children and beginners?

Yes, the tour is designed as a “leisurely ride” with quiet roads and easy routes, suitable for all abilities. Young and old alike can enjoy the experience at their own pace. Children’s bikes, trailers and tandem bikes are available to hire so that the whole family can join in.

How long is the trip and how many kilometres do we cover?

The tour lasts 5 days and 4 nights, with 3 full days of cycling. The distances are 34 km, 34.5 km and 47 km depending on the stage, totalling approximately 115 km between Carentan and Cherbourg.

What sites and points of interest are visited during the tour?

The route runs alongside Utah Beach and the Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mère-Église, dedicated to the American paratroopers of D-Day. It then passes along the Channel coast, through Barfleur (listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France), past the Gatteville lighthouse, and ends in Cherbourg with a view of one of the world’s largest artificial harbours.

When can we go on this trip?

The tour is available from April to November. The high season runs from 1 June to 31 August 2026 and incurs a supplement of €40 to €60 per person.

What is the price of the trip and what does it include?

Prices start at €520 per person for Standard accommodation and €690 for Comfort accommodation. Included are: 4 nights’ accommodation with breakfast, luggage transfer between each stage, a route book with detailed maps, GPX tracks, access to the navigation app and 24/7 telephone support.

What else should I budget for apart from the advertised price?

Meals and drinks, entrance fees to attractions (museums, etc.), tourist taxes, bike hire, return transfer to the starting point and travel insurance are additional costs.

What types of bikes can be hired and at what price?

Normandie Rando offers the following for a 3-day hire, including delivery to Carentan and collection in Cherbourg: a Trek hybrid bike for €150, an electric bike (e-bike) for €200 and a road bike for €200. Children’s bikes are also available, as well as additional equipment such as trailers or child seats on request.

What is the difference between Standard and Comfort accommodation?

The Standard option consists of small, family-run 2* or 3* hotels offering simple comfort and well-maintained bedding, ideal for a good night’s rest between stages. The Comfort option offers 3* or 4* hotels with more spacious rooms, featuring generous breakfasts made with fresh, local produce.

Are there any discounts available on this trip?

Yes. Groups of more than 4 people receive a discount of €50 per person. Travellers who wish to manage their own luggage without using the transfer service receive a discount of €80 per person (cannot be combined with the group discount).

How do I get to Carentan from Paris at the start of the trip?

By train, the direct journey from Paris to Carentan takes approximately 2 hours 40 minutes. The station is a 5-minute walk from the hotel where the trip begins. Free public parking is available for travellers arriving by car.

How do I get back from Cherbourg at the end of the trip?

The holiday ends in Cherbourg after breakfast on the 5th day. The SNCF station is a 15-minute walk from the hotel. The journey from Cherbourg to Paris takes approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes. For those travelling by car, a train from Cherbourg to Carentan (approximately 1 hour) allows you to collect your vehicle left at the start of the holiday.

On which day must you depart?

Departures are scheduled for Thursdays. It is possible to depart on another day, but this incurs an additional charge of €30 per person.

What happens in the event of a mechanical problem or unforeseen circumstance during the trip?

Normandie Rando provides a 24/7 telephone helpline throughout your stay. Each hired bike also comes with a full repair kit (puncture repair spray, inner tube, patches, tyre lever) to deal with minor everyday incidents.

Do you need to be able to find your own way along the route?

No, the agency provides a route book with detailed maps, as well as GPX tracks and free access to a mobile navigation app. The route is signposted so you can cycle with complete peace of mind, without worrying about finding your way.

Is travel insurance included in the package?

No, travel insurance is not included in the price. We strongly recommend that you take out personal insurance before you leave so that you are covered in the event of cancellation, injury or unforeseen circumstances.

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