Cycle Bordeaux

A brief encounter with Bordeaux.Average 29/32miles daily with a maximum of 33 miles. Three days cycling place-to-place

A gentle 7 night tour that with 4 to 6 days of cycling wanders up the Garonne's right bank through several of Bordeaux's better apellations. It crosses the river at St Macaire and then ambles through Graves vineyards to Bazas before discovering the Sauternes and returning to Bordeaux by way of Podensac. The route and accommodation mix aims to give you a real experience of this corner of southwest France - comfortable, self-assured and determined to enjoy "the art of living" despite the pressures of modern life. You may take home only a few bottles but are likely to also pack stacks of golden memories.

Cycling trips combining carefree exploration of the vinyards, and hamlets of rural life and the riches of an historic and chic city. A hub and spoke holiday that spends 3 nights in Bordeaux with the choice of 5 day-rides exploring the mellow Garonne landscapes and 3 nights in Uzeste or Villandraut with the choice of 4 more circle routes (or the option of snoozing in a hammock until the next meal) plus a final night in Bordeaux.

Bergerac to Bordeaux

From the neo-classical elegance of Bordeaux's waterfront to a beach on the Languedoc coast we follow a route that takes in Gascon villages, Cathar martyrdoms, La Ville Rose, Abbey cloisters, canal aquaducts, Carcassone's citadel, Roman relics, vin de pays and cassoulet - Whether you choose Edith Piaff, Jaques Brel or something more contemporary for your soundtrack, the countryside is timeless as the landscapes transform through vineyards to maize and orchards and on to wheat and sunflowers before reverting to vineyards (now with olive trees and sage).

The tour begins with a gentle ride out of Bordeaux alongside the Garonne to reach the Roger Lapebie cycle path at Latresne. This ex-railway route follows the verdant valley of the Pimpine through the Entre Deux Mer vineyards to reach the bastide town of Creon and afterwards La Sauve Majeure - an important pilgrimage waypoint for those heading for Santiago de Compostela. Depending on your route the following day you could be welcomed at one of several chambre d'hotes that we favour. The accommodation can give an inside view of french domestic life and often the opportunity to sample french domestic cuisine as opposed to the restaurant variety.

A 7 night cycle tour for those who appreciate Bordeaux's supremacy as the wine cellar of France or who just want to enjoy rural France at a leisurely pace. It leaves Bordeaux on a long-distance cycle path to reach Chateau Dardenac for a first night and then next day takes you on to St Emilion where you have time to enjoy both the town and the many opportunities for sampling 'Grand Cru' or less famous names. Heading south across the valley bottom you then recross the Dordogne to briefly regain the cycle path before heading to St Macaire on the Garonne. Here you spend two nights that allow you to explore the Sauternes and other white wine terroirs before turning north to follow the Garonne valley through Graves vineyards to spend a night at Martillac in the Pessac-Leognan vineyards . Here you might link to make a circuit of this AOC or book a tour of a prestige chateau such as Chateau la Louviere or Chateau Smith Haute Lafite. The final ride into Bordeaux is then a short one and provides time to enjoy further wine discoveries in the city itself or perhaps just a little shoppng therapy in the Triangle d'or.