The “Vélomaritime” with the family

This holiday is designed for families, with some of the shortest stages in the Normandie Rando catalogue: 18 km on the first day, 21 km on the second, 36 km on the third and 13 or 32 km on the last day (your choice). A child who can cycle independently, generally from the age of 8–9, can complete this tour without difficulty. For younger children (from 2–3 years old), tag-along bikes, child carriers and trailers are available to hire on request. The terrain is flat and safe, particularly the greenway along the canal between Caen and Ouistreham, which is perfect for the first few days.

Quite the opposite: they are deliberately kept short to leave time for everything else. At 18 km on Day 2 and 21 km on Day 3, you’ll actually be cycling for 1½ to 2 hours during the day, including breaks. That leaves the whole afternoon for the beach at Ouistreham, a visit to the Juno Beach Centre in Courseulles, or simply an ice cream at the harbour. On Day 5, you can even opt for the 13 km stage—less than an hour’s cycling—to enjoy Bayeux. This isn’t a trip where you cycle all day: it’s a trip where cycling is the thread linking moments of enjoyment.

This tour follows the official La Vélomaritime (EV4) route, renowned for the quality of its cycle facilities. The first stage follows the Caen-to-the-Sea Canal greenway – a flat, car-free, protected and shaded path. The subsequent stages run along the coast on dedicated cycle paths or quiet back roads. The route has been specifically chosen for its family-friendly nature: no dangerous sections, no busy roads, no steep climbs. You will always be cycling away from the main roads.

A helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout your stay. As the stages are very short (18 to 36 km), it is always possible to take extended breaks, stop at the beach or slow down without compromising your arrival at the hotel. Every hire bike comes with a full repair kit. You’ll also have a route guide, detailed maps and a GPS app on your phone. If a child gets really tired, the stages are short enough for a parent to accompany them at a very gentle pace without the day turning into a nightmare.

Every day brings its own share of discoveries suitable for children. Day 2: the canal with its locks and boats, then Pegasus Bridge and its interactive museum – children love seeing the bridge and learning about the history of the D-Day landings. Arrival in Ouistreham for the beach and the harbour. Day 3: Sword Beach and Juno Beach, with the Juno Beach Centre offering exhibitions tailored for young people. Day 4: the impressive remains of the artificial harbour at Arromanches, visible from the beach; the Longues-sur-Mer battery with its bunkers to explore; and arrival in Port-en-Bessin to watch the fishing boats come in. Day 5: Bayeux, its medieval streets and its cathedral. History is never abstract; you can see it, touch it and experience it at every stage.

Yes, and it’s actually one of the best things about this family tour. The route follows the coastline for three days. Ouistreham offers large sandy beaches with lifeguards in season, ideal for children. Courseulles-sur-Mer has fine sandy beaches directly accessible from the town centre. Even in Port-en-Bessin, the beaches are nearby. As the stages are short, you’ll always have free time in the afternoon to enjoy the sea. It’s a cycling holiday, but also a seaside holiday.

This is the key advantage of a holiday organised by Normandie Rando: you don’t carry a thing. Every morning, your luggage—including the children’s bags, beach gear, and everything a family needs—is collected from your hotel and delivered to the next one. You’ll find everything in your room by evening. You set off each day with just the bare essentials in your handlebar bag: water, sun cream, snacks. For a family, this service makes all the difference: no car to load, no suitcases to lug about, no logistical stress. You cycle light, in every sense of the word.

Yes. Normandie Rando offers sturdy and easy-to-handle children’s bikes, available in several sizes. For very young children who can’t pedal yet, tag-along bikes (where the child rides behind a parent, attached to the adult’s bike), child carriers and trailers are available on request. All adult and children’s bikes come with a helmet, repair kit, lights and a lock. Delivery is to Caen and collection is in Bayeux, with no hassle for you.

The price includes 5 nights’ accommodation in a hotel with breakfasts featuring fresh, local produce, daily luggage transfers between each stage (5 transfers), a comprehensive route book with mapped itineraries, GPX tracks for the 4 stages, access to the mobile navigation app and 24-hour telephone support. This is a fully organised holiday: accommodation booked, route mapped out, logistics managed. On a per-night basis, this works out at €126 per person, all-inclusive of accommodation, breakfast, luggage, guiding and assistance. For a family, this is a budget comparable to a standard hotel stay, with the added bonus of a cycling adventure and daily discoveries.

The Standard package offers family-run 2- or 3-star hotels with a warm welcome, quality bedding and generous breakfasts, such as the Hôtel la Pêcherie in Courseulles or the Villa Andry in Ouistreham. The Comfort package upgrades to 3- or 4-star hotels with more spacious rooms and superior services: the Hôtel du Dauphin in Caen with dinner included, La Crémaillère in Courseulles, the Hôtel de la Marine in Port-en-Bessin or the Hôtel d’Argouges in Bayeux. For families, the Comfort package offers larger rooms – a real bonus when travelling with children – and charming hotels that fully enhance the experience.

For groups of four or more, a discount of €40 per person applies, saving a family of four €160. If you prefer to carry your own luggage, a discount of €60 per person is also available (cannot be combined with the group discount). These discounts are automatically applied to your quote.

This is one of its major strengths. The itinerary takes in the D-Day sites in a logical and practical order: Pegasus Bridge on Day 2 (children see the bridge and the memorial, and understand the parachute drop), Sword and Juno Beaches on Day 3 with the Juno Beach Centre (interactive exhibitions, stories adapted for young people), then the impressive remains of the artificial harbour at Arromanches and the bunkers at Longues-sur-Mer on Day 4. History isn’t in a book; it’s under their feet, before their eyes, with every turn of the pedals. These are holidays that create memories and knowledge. Many parents report that their children return from this trip having understood, for the first time in a tangible way, what the D-Day landings were like.

The holiday is available from March to November – one of the longest periods in our catalogue. For families, the Easter school holidays (April), the long weekends in May and June, and the summer holidays are the most popular times. July and August are ideal for swimming, but the high season (1 June to 31 August) incurs a supplement of just €30 per person. Departures are available on Mondays and Tuesdays (€40 supplement for any other day). As family accommodation is limited, early booking is recommended, especially for school holiday weeks which fill up quickly.

Simply fill in a quote request on the holiday page. The Normandie Rando team will contact you to tailor the holiday to your family’s needs: number and ages of children, type of bikes (adult, children’s, tag-along bikes, trailer…), choice of accommodation package and departure dates. You can also call us directly on 02 31 65 74 08 for a personalised discussion; the team is fully familiar with families’ needs and will be able to advise you. The quote request is free and non-binding. It’s the easiest way to check availability and receive a personalised quote for your whole family.