Cycling the Vineyards of Bordeaux
- Explore the bustling historic city of Bordeaux
- The elegant wine villages of Saint-Émilion and Sauternes
- Indulge in world-famous wines and delicious cuisine
- Ride through peaceful countryside and vineyards
- Uncover the complex history of Cadillac's château
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive BordeauxFrom buzzing brasseries to fine dining, Bordeaux is a fantastic city to kickstart a holiday in France. This cycling-friendly city is worth spending time in to explore its historic center (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), its welcoming squares and numerous galleries and museums. No doubt you'll be looking forward to returning when your ride comes to an end.
Housed in the former Institute of Zoology of Bordeaux, this sophisticated hotel is an 8-minute walk from Bordeaux Saint-Jean train station, and 2km from both Bordeaux Cathedral and the Museum of Aquitaine. There are 2 restaurants, as well as a trendy bar, a rooftop terrace, spa and gardens.
Leave the city behind via pleasant riverside cycle paths as you enter the vineyards of Haut-Médoc and Margaux. With over 20 châteaux, Margaux has the largest number of classified wines in the Médoc, and the town itself makes a perfect spot for lunch as you edge closer towards the ferry over the estuary to reach the citadel of Blaye.
Total ascent/descent: 35m/54m
With a garden and a terrace, Le Clos Réaud offers accommodation and an outdoor swimming pool. The citadel, the banks of the Gironde, the market, wine bars and small traditional restaurants are less than a 10 minute walk away.
Today's ride takes you through the village of Plassac, where you’ll have the chance to visit a Roman villa that is home to some of the best preserved mosaics in France. A little further into the day you enter the vineyards of the Côtes de Bourg appellation. Continue along the official velo route to enter Bourg, a beautiful town which makes a good coffee and snack stop. The Bourg Citadel Museum is located near the castle with its 18th century neoclassical architecture, and where the underground vault remains a vestige that you can discover with guided tours. Returning to the bike, make your way to the vineyards of Pomerol just north of Libourne, most famously renowned for the Pétrus, Le Pin, La Conseillante and Gazin wines (and many more!) The endless rows of vines as your approach Saint-Emilion are breaktaking, with some dating back to the Roman times.
Total ascent/descent: 241m/144m
This family-run hotel is ideally located in the heart of the medieval town with a panoramic view of Saint-Emilion's monuments and vineyards.
La Maison du Clocher is in the heart of the medieval village of Saint-Emilion. Located less than 100 meters from the Monolithic Church and its 68 meter high bell tower.
This easy-going 16km loop ride is for the wine enthusiasts who wish to catch a glimpse of the prestigious wine properties of Saint-Emilion. The route winds between the vines of these renowned châteaux located on the famous limestone plateau around the village. Today is also a good opportunity to spend time exploring Saint-Émilion, whether its a winery tour and tasting, a gourmet picnic or lunch in a wine estate.
Total ascent/descent: 50m/59m
This family-run hotel is ideally located in the heart of the medieval town with a panoramic view of Saint-Emilion's monuments and vineyards.
La Maison du Clocher is in the heart of the medieval village of Saint-Emilion. Located less than 100 meters from the Monolithic Church and its 68 meter high bell tower.
Leave the vineyards behind with a change of scenery as you descend from Saint-Emilion, making your way to Cadillac through rolling countryside with a mixture of vineyards, farmland, hilltop villages and sweeping descents. Enjoy riding on small roads and farm tracks, crossing the river to the beautiful town of Branne, a perfect spot for lunch or refreshments, before finally arriving at the 17th-century château of Cadillac.
Total ascent/descent: 321m/425m
Located in a park of almost 3 hectares with an outdoor swimming pool, the hotel is located within walking distance to the centre of town. There's also an onsite restaurant serving up delicious local cuisine.
An optional loop ride takes you to the south of Cadillac to the hilltop village of Sauternes, where some of the world's best sweet white wine is produced. From the village is a nice panorama of the vines, and it's a great place to grab lunch at one of its restaurants before returning to Cadillac. Sauternes 'Fête le Vin' at the end of May provides the opportunity to taste some great wines. On the return to Cadillac, spend time exploring the 17th-century château and learning about its fascinating history. What was once a Duke's fine home, the château was seized during the French Revolution and in 1818 the State housed France's first women's correctional facility here, and it remained a prison for 130 years, eventually closing in 1952 as a result of controversy. Extensive restoration work has since taken place, and is now a museum reflecting the château's dual history, particularly the prison.
Total ascent/descent: 231m/232m
Located in a park of almost 3 hectares with an outdoor swimming pool, the hotel is located within walking distance to the centre of town. There's also an onsite restaurant serving up delicious local cuisine.
The return to Bordeaux starts with a lumpy (but beautiful!) ride through the countryside towards the town of Creon, with plenty of options for lunch and refreshments on its square. It's then an easy cycle along the old railway line back to Bordeaux, with a cycle alongside the city's river. It's no surprise that there's a wine museum here, as well as the Bordeaux Wine Gallery. Both are worth a visit and provide tastings, or perhaps have a well-deserved drink in one of the city's many bustling squares. The city really comes alive at night, with locals cycling into town to socialise. If you spot a sunset, we recommend a stroll to 'The Water Mirror' to view spectactular reflections of both the historic buildings and the sunset.
Total ascent/descent: 349m/352m
Housed in the former Institute of Zoology of Bordeaux, this sophisticated hotel is an 8-minute walk from Bordeaux Saint-Jean train station, and 2km from both Bordeaux Cathedral and the Museum of Aquitaine. There are 2 restaurants, as well as a trendy bar, a rooftop terrace, spa and gardens.
If you wish to explore Bordeaux further, we recommend adding another night for a fantastic city break.
Other Information
Is it for me?Perfect for travellers who want to explore one of the most famous wine regions in the world in the saddle, with time to visit prestigious wine estates, explore the region's castles and citadels, and indulge in fine wines and mouth-watering cuisine. The tour is perfect for relatively fit individuals seeking to spend much of the day on the bike, experiencing a region and discovering its variety over longer distances. E-bikes are available for hire should you wish to have some battery-powered assistance on the undulating terrain.
Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.
Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling
Foodie, Wine, E-Bike
The overall grade for this tour is moderate, with daily distances ranging from 48km to 65km. The grade is determined on the basis of the entire trip. Individual days may vary in terms of difficulty, i.e. some rides may be slightly more difficult or easier than the overall grade. Daily total elevation gains range from 35m to 349m. We have built in two rest days (with optional loop rides) should you wish to take breaks and explore. The terrain is rolling, with some longer or steeper ascents and descents on quiet country roads, cycle paths and easy farm tracks, with the occasional short stretch on busier roads as you approach towns. E-bikes are available on this tour should you need battery-powered assistance on the undulating terrain. They will not only make the riding easier, they'll also allow more time to visit the many wine estates on the route, enjoy long lunches with a glass of wine, and allow more time to relax and recover at the end of a days ride.
We use a mixture of 3 and 4-star hotels and comfortable B&Bs.
We hand-pick the accommodation to ensure you enjoy every minute of your stay. A warm welcome, traditional hospitality, and delicious local food and drink come as standard.
Details of the accommodation we normally use are detailed below. These are subject to availability, and early booking is highly recommended for June-September in particular, as this is a popular area.
We book en suite rooms as standard. If there are no en suite rooms available in an overnight location, we may book a room with shared facilities, but we'll always let you know first if this was the case.
Alternate Accommodation
We'll always try and use the hotels’ shown in the accommodation information. Occasionally, because of limited availability, we may have to accommodate you in alternative hotels which aren’t listed in the description. The alternative accommodation will be of the same or better standard than those described. In case alternative accommodation needs to be booked, supplements may be payable, and we’ll advise you accordingly.
Single Rooms
If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable.
Meals
Breakfast is included each morning. In France this is generally a light continental breakfast. Lunches and dinners are not included so that you are free to choose from the surrounding options. If there isn't a restaurant at your accommodation there will be options nearby. For lunch, you will pass through towns and villages en route where you can purchase provisions for a picnic lunch. Most days will have suitable lunch stops in towns should you prefer this. We have included recommendations and tips and hints in both your Information Pack and in our App.
Navigation is straightforward with GPX tracks provided in our app. Some of the routes follow official national velo routes for some of the way and are sign-posted, though we encourage you to remain vigilant as we do take you off these routes eventually.
- 7 nights accommodation in 3 and 4-star hotels and B&Bs
- All breakfasts
- Luggage transfers
- Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure app
- 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our UK office
- Travel to and from Bordeaux
- Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks
- Travel Insurance
- Personal Equipment
- The ferry to Blaye on Day 2
- Bike hire (standard hybrid and E-bike)
- Bike hire (standard hybrid and E-bike)
- Extra nights
You can begin your trip on any day of the week from 1st April to 31st October.
April through to the start of June and late September into October will have warm days with cool nights. The weather in this part of France is varied, it can be hot one minute and then torrential rain and thunderstorms the next. Please be prepared for all seasons. We recommend you enquire with the hotel reception staff about the day’s weather forecast before you set out each morning. This part of France can get hot in the summer, and you can expect temperatures of about 35 – 39°C in July and August. Spring and Autumn are much more pleasant for cycling and are usually around 21°C-22°C.
This tour starts and finishes in Bordeaux. The best Airports are either Bordeaux or Paris.
Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport is easily connected to the city centre with a regular tram service (every ten minutes) from outside the terminal near Hall B (look for Line A). It's just a 35 minute journey to the centre and costs €1.70 per person. A Taxi rank is located outside of Hall A should you prefer this option, and costs approximately €30 during the day and €45 at night.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is also a great hub for this tour, with the high-speed TGV trains running directly between the two cities. It's either a 2h15 train journey to Bordeaux St Jean station from Paris Montparnasse station, or a 4-hour journey if coming directly from the airport.
For more information on trains, tickets and prices from Paris, please visit the sncf website.
This tour starts and finishes in Bordeaux. The best Airports are either Bordeaux or Paris.;
Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport is easily connected to the city centre with a regular tram service (every ten minutes). It's just a 35 minute journey to the airport and costs €1.70 per person. A taxi costs approximately €30 during the day and €45 at night.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is also a great hub for this tour, with the high-speed TGV trains running directly between the two cities. It's either a 2h15 train journey between Bordeaux St Jean station and Paris Montparnasse station, or a 4-hour journey if going directly to the airport.
For more information on trains, tickets and prices from Paris, please visit thesncf website
Luggage transfers between overnight locations are included in the tour. We request that you have only one piece of luggage per person, and it should weigh approximately 15kg.
At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.
The distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.
Hire of a standard hybrid bike or E-bike is available. Hybrid bikes be an Escape bike or a Trek bike.
Bike & E-Bike Hire
Included with bike hire is a pannier rack, 1 pannier bag, phone holder, bottle cage, toolkit, puncture repair kit, and use of a helmet (which is an extra cost). We recommend that you bring your own helmet for your own comfort.
For some battery-powered assistance on longer days, and to ease ascents, we recommend hiring an e-bike (either a Trek bike or Vitality bike) . The rechargeable battery on your bike will be your reliable riding partner, getting you to the top of hills or to your final destination with more energy in the tank for an afternoon swim or simply for exploring. E-bikes are growing rapidly in popularity so please make sure to request one at the time of booking so we can secure availability for your trip and avoid disappointment.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance that covers you for the activity, emergency evacuation and hospital care.
This trip is graded moderate, with daily distances ranging from 48km to 67km. Once you have left the towns and cities much of the cycling is on quiet country roads, farm tracks or cycle paths. You will encounter some rolling terrain, and we can arrange the rental of e-bikes if you'd prefer a power-assisted ride.
To get the most out of the trip we recommend a good level of fitness, and it's a good idea to get out on your bike for a couple of consecutive days in the lead up to your trip so you can get used to riding back to back days. However, it’s not all about the cycling. Each day there are plenty opportunities to visit historic sights and sample locally produced food and wine.
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