Western Normandy

The tour is classified as a “moderate challenge”, suitable for regular cyclists. The stages range from 28 to 74 km, with a choice of distance available almost every day. Day 2 offers a 28, 46 or 62 km loop from Bayeux, providing a gentle warm-up. Day 3 is the most demanding (64 or 74 km from Bayeux to Carentan via Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc), but the terrain is flat along the coast and undulating through the bocage. The following days (49 to 61 km) are more consistent. Day 7 towards Mont-Saint-Michel offers 37 or 65 km depending on the options. An electric bike (€290 for 6 days) is available to tackle each stage with complete peace of mind, particularly the Bayeux-Carentan leg.

Yes, it is the only tour in the Normandie Rando catalogue that combines Normandy’s two most iconic sites in a single linear journey. The first two days of cycling are dedicated to the D-Day beaches (Gold Beach, Juno Beach, Omaha Beach, the American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, Pointe du Hoc). The following days take you through the bocage, the Cotentin marshes and along the west coast to Granville. And the final two stages take you via Avranches to Mont-Saint-Michel, with around three hours to visit the abbey and the island town. It is a route that begins in remembrance of 6 June 1944 and ends before the Wonder of the West. No other tour offers this itinerary.

Day 1: arrival in Bayeux, a self-guided tour of the cathedral, the medieval centre spared from the bombings, and the town’s excellent restaurants.
Day 2: a loop to the coast featuring the Longues-sur-Mer battery, the remains of the artificial harbour at Arromanches (Gold Beach), and, as an optional extension, Juno Beach at Courseulles-sur-Mer.
Day 3: the most intense day, featuring the American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, the German cemetery at La Cambe and a journey through the Cotentin marshes to Carentan.
Day 4: a complete change of scenery with a drive through the bocage, rolling hills, isolated dairy farms and arrival in Agon-Coutainville overlooking the sea.
Day 5: the west coast with the spectacle of oyster beds at low tide, narrow paths between land and sea, and arrival in Granville, a pirate town perched on its rock.
Day 6: Narrow roads winding between the sea, salt marshes and bocage; opportunity to visit La Lucerne Abbey; and arrival in Avranches with its spectacular view of the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel (dinner included).
Day 7: descent towards the bay, sheep in the salt marshes, the German ossuary at Mont d’Huisnes, and finally arrival opposite Mont-Saint-Michel for a visit of around 3 hours, before heading to Pontorson. Seven days of beaches, bocage, coastlines and tides, crowned by the Wonder.

Yes, on several occasions. On Day 2, the beaches of Gold Beach and Juno Beach offer vast stretches of sand. On Day 3, Omaha Beach is accessible. At Agon-Coutainville (Day 4), the immense white sandy beaches of the west coast are perfect for swimming. And in Granville (Day 5), the beach lies at the foot of the Pointe du Roc. As the stages are flexible, you’ll always have free time at the end of the day to enjoy the sea. The spectacle of the tides, which transform the landscape twice a day between Agon-Coutainville and Granville, is a unique bonus of this coastline.

This tour takes you through varied regions, from Bessin to the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. Bayeux kicks off the trip with its excellent restaurants. The Norman bocage (Days 3 and 4) offers dairy products, cider and farmhouse cheeses. The west coast between Agon-Coutainville and Granville reveals its oysters at low tide and its ‘sea farmers’ who work to the rhythm of the tides. Granville, a major fishing port, offers scallops, lobsters and seafood platters. Avranches (Day 6, dinner included) is a gastronomic stop in its own right. And the arrival in the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel introduces you to the famous salt-meadow lambs. Every day is a culinary highlight.

Yes, this option is explicitly offered on the page. From Pontorson, Normandie Rando can organise additional stages to reach Saint-Malo via the Brittany coast and Cancale. This is an ideal option if you wish to extend the adventure by a few days and end your trip in the pirate city. Contact the team when requesting a quote to discuss this.

Normandie Rando manages everything from the first to the last day. Every morning, your luggage is collected from your hotel and delivered to the next one (7 transfers in total). You’ll find it in your room in the evening. A comprehensive roadbook with mapped routes, GPX tracks and a mobile navigation app guide you through each stage and every distance option. Each hire bike comes with a helmet, a full repair kit, lights and a lock. A helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The only day you stay at the same hotel is Day 2 (a loop starting from Bayeux), which simplifies logistics at the start of the trip.

Bayeux is accessible by direct train from Paris Saint-Lazare in around 2 hours 20 minutes. Your hotel is a 15-minute walk from the station. Free public parking is available if you are travelling by car. On your return, Pontorson station is a 2-minute walk from your hotel. Trains connect Pontorson to Paris via Rennes in around 3 hours 30 minutes. If you need to collect your car in Bayeux, a direct Pontorson-Bayeux train is available in around 2 hours 30 minutes.

The price includes 7 nights’ accommodation with breakfasts featuring fresh, local produce, one dinner in Avranches, daily luggage transfer between each stage, a comprehensive route book with maps for all loops and distance options, GPX tracks, access to the mobile navigation app and 24-hour telephone support. On a per-night basis, this works out at around €147 per person all-inclusive: accommodation, breakfast, dinner in Avranches, luggage logistics, guiding and assistance. For an 8-day trip linking the D-Day beaches to Mont-Saint-Michel via the west coast and Granville, with fully managed logistics, this represents excellent value for money.

The Standard package offers family-run 2- or 3-star hotels with a warm welcome: Le Saint Patrice in Bayeux, the Hôtel Le Vauban in Carentan, La Villa Julia in Agon-Coutainville, the Hôtel Ibis in Granville, La Croix d’Or in Avranches and the Hôtel Montgomery in Pontorson. The Comfort package upgrades to 3- or 4-star hotels with character: the Hôtel d’Argouges or Le Churchill in Bayeux, the Mercure in Granville, and superior rooms in Carentan and Pontorson. The €145 difference is spread over 7 nights, amounting to approximately €21 more per night. On an 8-day trip with stages of up to 74 km, a good night’s rest directly contributes to your enjoyment and energy levels for the following days.

For groups of 4 or more, a discount of €50 per person applies. If you prefer to carry your own luggage, a discount of €100 per person is available (cannot be combined with the group discount). Departures are scheduled for Mondays and Fridays (€30 surcharge for other days). The high season runs from 1 June to 30 September (€50 surcharge). Bike hire is available at €190 (hybrid), €290 (e-bike) or €300 (gravel bike) for 6 days, with delivery to Bayeux and collection in Pontorson.

The Bayeux Tapestry Museum is currently closed for renovation work, with a reopening scheduled for October 2027. Bayeux remains, however, a fascinating town to explore on the first evening: its Gothic cathedral built in honour of William the Conqueror, its medieval historic centre spared from bombing, its lively narrow streets and its many gourmet restaurants make it the perfect destination to immerse yourself in the Norman atmosphere.

The tour runs from March to November. May and June offer ideal conditions: magnificent light on the D-Day beaches, pleasant temperatures for cycling, and moderate visitor numbers at Mont-Saint-Michel and along the west coast. June, around the D-Day commemorations, adds an extra emotional dimension to the early stages. Summer allows you to enjoy swimming at Agon-Coutainville and Granville. Autumn dresses the bocage in spectacular colours and offers a contemplative atmosphere with views of Mont-Saint-Michel. For a 7-night trip with 7 different accommodations, availability is filling up fast. Booking several weeks in advance is strongly recommended.

Fill in a quote request directly on the tour page. The Normandie Rando team will contact you to personalise your tour: choice of accommodation package, type of bike, departure dates, possible extension to Saint-Malo and any other options. You can also call 02 31 65 74 08 for a personalised consultation. The quote request is free and non-binding. It’s the first step to experiencing Normandy in all its glory: from the D-Day beaches to Mont-Saint-Michel, from the legacy of D-Day to the Wonder of the West, all in a single cycling trip.