Inspiration

5 UNMISSABLE CYCLING ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS

Designed to inspire your programme development, these five must-do cycling activities highlight the key experiences. Easy to integrate into your itineraries, they add value to your stays and respond to your clients’ expectations in the cycling sector.

©Bord du Lot / smav.lot_.47_CRTNA

Table of contents

1. CYCLE THROUGH A SLICE OF FABULOUS
FRANCE

Escape to the French countryside with La VéloFrancette.
The entire bike path covers over 600km from Ouistreham
in Normandy to La Rochelle on the Atlantic Coast. The
section in Nouvelle-Aquitaine starts in Deux-Sèvres near
Thouars. It runs south through the green Thouet Valley,
lovely Petites Cités de Caractère (villages with personality)
and Parthenay (Town of Art and History) to Niort and its
keep. Then La VéloFrancette veers off towards the Atlantic
Coast through the Marais Poitevin Regional Nature Park.

2. GO WITH THE FLOW ON THE FLOW VÉLO

The inspiring bike path between Dordogne and Charentes.
This cool countryside cycling trail on the edge of the South
West runs 350km from Sarlat in Dordogne to Île d’Aix in
Charente-Maritime. After a ride through the Périgord Limousin Regional Nature Park, it runs into Angoulême before skimming along the Charente River and its vineyard setting. Cognac, Saintes and Rochefort are just a few fantastic stops before you set sail for Île d’Aix, the Charente Estuary’s crown jewel.

3. DIVE INTO THE ORLD OF THE GIRONDE ESTUARY, THE BIGGEST ESTUARY IN EUROPE

Go on an epic bike ride around the Gironde Estuary from Bordeaux or Royan (via Lacanau, Montalivet, Mortagne-sur-Gironde and Blaye) taking you past vineyards, forests, heritage and the ocean. A cycling adventure in 5 stages to soak up the most beautiful and untamed landscapes in Gironde and CharenteMaritime. The loop covers 300km and follows the Vélodyssée and Canal des 2-Mers à Vélo bike paths.

4. DIVE INTO THE HEART OF THE REGION ON A TOUR OF THE 3 VALLEYS

Ride some of the Canal des deux-Mers à Vélo, the Dropt Valley bike path and Lot Valley bike path.

This 255km bike loop runs through both the Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne, introducing you to all the scenery and delights that the Entre-deux-Mers (Gironde) and Lot-et-Garonne areas have to offer. Visit: the bastides of Villereal, Castillones, Château de Duras, Château de Bonaguil and industrial heritage in Fumel. Stages: Start point: La Réole train station, Villeréal, Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Tonneins.

5. LA VÉLOSUD: 650KM ON THE GENTLE SLOPES OF THE PYRENEES

If riding from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea over legendary Pyrenean mountain passes sounds right up your street, the Vélosud brings keen cyclists and tourists alike an alternative route on the gentle slopes of the Pyrenean foothills. So getting from Biarritz to Barcarès is just a question of perspective ! No matter the time of year, you’ll be gazing up at the peaks with unobstructed views of the entire Pyrenees mountains as you explore lush valleys bursting with heritage on your bike.
It runs through six départements (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées, Haute-Garonne, Ariège, Aude, Pyrénées-Orientales) connected by the Pyrenees. The different landscapes and cultures will make you want to explore the local treasures every time you take a break. This cycling trek takes you on gentle slopes and fabulous greenways so you can fall in love with the mountain with 13 stages along the mapped route.

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