Cycling the Vineyards of Bordeaux

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 45-70km (25-45miles). 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 35-350m (115-1150ft).

We have built in two rest days (with optional loop rides) should you wish to take breaks from cycling and explore the towns. 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. 

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 & Solo Travelers

If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable.  This tour is not available to solo travelers.

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 our information.

Navigation is straightforward using the Macs Adventure App which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone.

You can begin your trip on any day of the week from April to October. We highly recommend booking in advance due to limited accommodation options in Blaye and Cadillac, which tend to fill up quickly.

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. This part of France can get hot in the summer, and you can expect temperatures of about 35-39°C (95-102 F) in July and August. We recommend setting off on your bike early during these months to avoid cycling in the hottest part of the day. Spring and Autumn are much more pleasant for cycling and are usually around 21°C-24°C (69-75 F).

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 no more than 23kg/50lbs. You can also send with the transfer a small piece of hand luggage of no more than 30l in size (a small backpack for example).

You can add additional pieces of luggage for a charge. This needs to be pre-booked.