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Bordeaux & St Emilion by Bike

Gironde’s vineyards, rivers & valleys
 
Superior wines | Sample the best from globally celebrated vineyards.
Beautiful Bordeaux | Uncover a city radiating charm and elegance.
Quaint villages | Discover fascinating cultures and traditions en route.
Easy cycling | Rest assured the routes are leisurely – no rushing required.
Historic significance | Fortified stone villages from the Hundred Years War.
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 4 dinners
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • high-quality bicycle
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • Bordeaux & St Emilion by Bike
    Gironde’s vineyards, rivers & valleys
  • Monastery La Sauve
  • Views towards Saint-Émilion © Office de Tourisme Aquitaine
  • Bordeaux
  • Chapelle de la Madeleine © Office de Tourisme Aquitaine
  • Vineyards at St Emilion
  • Bordeaux wine
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 4 dinners
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • high-quality bicycle
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
 

Holiday information

 

A cycling holiday in Gironde

Between the Dordogne and the Garonne, the two rivers which flow into the broad Gironde Estuary just north of Bordeaux, the misleadingly named Entre-Deux-Mers (‘Between Two Seas’) area produces world-renowned wines which are the perfect accompaniment to the fine gastronomy of south-west France. Nowadays, tranquillity reigns over this beguiling region, but the fortified stone villages (bastides) scattered across the varied, gently undulating landscape are testament to a more turbulent era, when ownership of the land was contested by the French and English during the Hundred Years War.
Starting in Bordeaux, capital of the French wine trade, this captivating holiday explores the area to the east – including famous St Emilion – before returning to this elegant, cycle-friendly city for a final night. As you would expect, there are numerous vineyards along each day’s route where you can call in for tastings, but, equally, this holiday is about visiting handsome villages with rich, colourful histories.

 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.

Most places of interest (both in Bordeaux and the villages of Entre-Deux-Mers) are closed on at least one day of the week, and sometimes two outside the ‘main’ season (June to September). If you are interested in visiting a particular place, please check the opening days with us before finalising the dates of your holiday.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 10 11 14 17 20 23 26 26 24 19 13 10
    mm 96 83 73 70 75 57 46 56 74 84 93 97
  • Arrival in Bordeaux
    Night 1: at Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre or Hotel Bayonne Etche-Ona (where you spend one night).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of cycling.
  • Bordeaux to Rauzan: 46km
    Setting off on your bikes, you leave Bordeaux via the elegant, red-brick Pont de Pierre over the River Garonne and initially head along the east bank. You soon join a dedicated cycle trail that you follow for the rest of the day along the route of a disused railway whose defunct stations have been converted into cafés and restaurants. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the importance of wine here, it is not long – barely 10 kilometres into the route – before you find yourselves amid vineyards. You pass through several villages – some with small museums such as that devoted to ‘forgotten’ vegetables – and charming, fortified Créon, the capital of the Entre-Deux-Mers region. We recommend making a short detour to La Sauve, whose ruined abbey is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Just a few steps away is a wine-tasting centre where you may want to linger before completing the remaining quarter of your route to your base for the next two nights, either the Ilot-Vignes or the Refuge du Peintre (the latter is a little further beyond it, making a ride of 51km).

    Alternatively, you may wish to upgrade to the elegant Domaine Malis Castera (52km from Bordeaux).
    Bordeaux to Rauzan: 46km
    Abbaye de la Sauve-Majeure
  • Choice of routes from Rauzan: 37km or 48km

    Circular route from Rauzan via St Emilion: 48km
    This first option follows quiet country roads through a stream valley and across a fertile plain where you may spot storks and herons to reach famous St Emilion, a justifiably popular wine town which straddles the tops of two hills. Admire the sweeping views over the Dordogne Valley while you catch your breath, then take your time to explore the ancient ramparts, castle, hermitage of St Emilion, monolithic troglodyte church and the maze of narrow streets and stone stairways linking picturesque small squares. (If you are staying at the Refuge du Peintre, the distance is 40km, but there is no difference in distance if you are staying at Domaine Malis Castera.)

    Circular route from Rauzan via Sauveterre: 37km
    Full of history, from the Middle Ages to the Second World War, the second option is a very pleasant and varied circuit leading along the final section of the disused railway to Sauveterre-de-Guyenne, a 13th-century bastide with four fortified gates and a central square where a bustling market is held on Tuesdays. From here, you explore gently undulating scenery, passing through another charming fortified village, Blasimon, to return to Rauzan. Like those of Blasimon, Rauzan’s peaceful streets belie a turbulent past – particularly during the Hundred Years War – upon which you can ponder as you gaze across the surrounding scenery from the top of Rauzan’s majestic circular castle keep or admire the stalactites and stalagmites in the village’s Célestine Cave, which served as a hideout for two members of the French Resistance. (If you are staying at the Refuge du Peintre, the distance is 47km, or it is 49km from Domaine Malis Castera.)
    St Emilion
    Circular route via St Emilion: 48km
    Circular route via Sauveterre: 37km
  • Rauzan to Cadillac: 30km
    Today's route takes you past vineyards and small villages, before an exhilarating freewheel into Cadillac offering splendid views along the way. (If you are starting from the Refuge du Peintre or Domaine Malis Castera, you have a slightly longer ride of 35.5km or 36.5km, respectively.) In the afternoon, explore the historic streets of the town, visit the château, or relax by the pool in the garden. Your accommodation for your two nights here is the Hotel du Château de la Tour.
    Rauzan to Cadillac: 30km
    Château in Cadillac
  • Circular route from Cadillac: 26km
    Today, we suggest a gentle circuit on the south side of the river which allows you to see the famous Sauternes and Graves vineyards, and the picturesque châteaux of the area. The scenery here is quite different to previous days as you explore this fertile plain.
    Circular route from Cadillac: 26km
    Scenery on the circular route from Cadillac
  • Cadillac to Bordeaux: 40km
    Your final route begins with a gentle section along the Garonne valley, followed by a few short sharp hills to conquer before continuing with an easy cycle along the old railway line back to Bordeaux.

    There is plenty of time to explore this elegant city, its broad avenues creating a wonderful sense of space. Of the many grand 18th-century buildings (which have been restored to their former glory in recent years), it is worth seeking out the City Hall, the Grand Theatre and the Stock Exchange. There is a museum of fine art (housing works by Rubens and Delacroix, among others) as well as a museum of contemporary art, plus, as you would expect, a wine museum, where you can end your visit with a tasting or two. For more serious tastings, including some grands crus, be sure not to miss the Max Bordeaux Wine Gallery. Finish the day as the people of Bordeaux do: with a stroll or a cycle ride on the quais running alongside the river.
    Cadillac to Bordeaux: 40km
    Bordeaux
 

Accommodation

You stay in a pleasant mix of accommodation (see our page about chambres d’hôtes for more information on French guesthouses). To make your holiday all the more special, opt for our upgrade accommodation for your second and third nights.

In some places we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. All are hand-picked by us and, unless there is a price implication (in which case we will contact you to discuss your options), we will tell you which one we have booked for you on your booking confirmation.

Wherever you stay in Bordeaux, it is worth adding an extra night to see more of this vibrant city.
 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 6 nights: 01 April 2025 - 31 October 2025 & 01 April 2026 - 31 October 2026

    Start any day except Saturday | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    23 Jul - 30 Sep 2025 £1068 £0
    1 - 25 Oct 2025 £998 £0
    1 - 30 Apr 2026 £1228 £0
    1 - 31 May 2026 £1288 £0
    1 - 30 Jun 2026 £1328 £0
    1 - 31 Jul 2026 £1288 £0
    1 Aug - 30 Sep 2026 £1303 £0
    1 - 25 Oct 2026 £1243 £0

    Includes accommodation, meals, bike hire, luggage transfers and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus cycling notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Electric bikes available: add £107pp in 2025 or £113pp in 2026

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Bordeaux or Bergerac
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Paris CDG.  To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Bordeaux (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Aberdeen - Bordeaux (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Belfast Intl. - Bordeaux easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Bordeaux (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Bergerac Ryanair 
    Bristol - Bordeaux easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Nottingham East Midlands - Bergerac Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Bordeaux Ryanair 
    Edinburgh - Bordeaux (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Bordeaux easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Bergerac jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Bergerac Ryanair 
    Liverpool - Bordeaux easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Bergerac British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Bordeaux British Airways,  easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Bordeaux British Airways 
    Heathrow - Bordeaux (via Brussels) Brussels Airlines 
    Heathrow - Bordeaux (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Bordeaux easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    London Southend - Bergerac Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Bergerac jet2,  Ryanair 
    Stansted - Bordeaux Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Bergerac jet2 
    Manchester - Bordeaux easyJet,  Ryanair 
    Manchester - Bordeaux (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Bordeaux (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Newcastle - Bordeaux (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Southampton - Bordeaux (via Paris) Air France 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Paris CDG.  To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

    Where a price range is given, the price you pay depends on your date of travel.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Bordeaux

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    own taxi (0h45) or shuttle bus (1h) Bordeaux airport to hotel pay locally flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    own taxi (0h45) or shuttle bus (1h) from hotel to Bordeaux airport pay locally flexible

    Connecting travel options - flying via Bergerac

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Bergerac to Bordeaux St Jean (1h30), taxi or tram Bordeaux St Jean to hotel (0h10, pay locally) £24-£25 1700
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi or tram hotel to Bordeaux St Jean (0h10, pay locally) rail Bordeaux St Jean to Bergerac (1h30) £24-£25 1300
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 6 reviews
  • Ms M Hunter
    New Zealand
    05 September 2023

    Meals at l'Îlot Vignes were fabulous and the host was lovely. Having a swimming pool available at I'Îlot Vignes and Cadillac was lovely at the end of a hot ride. The whole trip was wonderful - thank you!!

  • Mr M Mell
    Melton Mowbray
    07 June 2023

    The highlight was undoubtedly our experience at L'ilot Vignes which was truly exceptional in every regard

  • Inntravel regular customer
    16 September 2022

    An excellent cycle holiday choice. Easy access to and from Bordeaux airport by bus (and it would appear a new tram route is in the process of being added). Highlight for us was the day's cycle to St Emillion. The accommodation and food was terrific, especially L'llot Vignes, where the hospitality was second to none (but don't arrive before it opens at 4pm). We added an extra night in Bordeaux at the end of the holiday and felt this was a good choice as the city has lots to offer.

  • Ms J Seville
    Switzerland
    12 September 2022

    L'Ilot Vignes was delightful and the host, Pierre-Yves was warm and generous beyond expectation. All the cycling was through lovely and varied countryside; we were lucky to be there in September with grapes ripe and ready for harvest. The day spent in Cadillac was well worth it, for the Saturday market, the ducal palace, and the Maison des Vins museum and tasting. We were glad to have an extra day in Bordeaux at the end to enjoy the walking tour and the beauty of the city. 

  • Mrs K Willis
    Wadebridge
    29 August 2022

     

    L'llot Vignes was wonderful.Lovely house, garden and swimming pool. The food was the best overall. really delicious and prepared with huge care, Our hosts were so kind and thoughtful. Our family wanted to stay there for the whole week.We loved it. We all loved seeing St. Emilion and would go back to Bordeaux at the drop of a hat. And the cycling was wonderful, mainly gentle and cycling through the vinyards was a treat, with glimpses of some wonderful chateaux. We loved it all.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Nic
    18 August 2022

    The cycling was fantastic and the routes were so enjoyable.  Our meals at L'ilot Vignes were exceptional as well as our stay. Stopping for lunch in Creon on the first day of cycling was perfect. At the end of the cycling when we got back to Bordeaux we took a 1/2 wine tour to Medoc-Margeaux which was excellent and for us to part of the region we had not cycle.  
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • Our chosen bike rental shop will provide you with a hybrid bike with 18, 21 or 24 gears; a waterproof map case on handlebars; panniers/saddlebags; pump; puncture repair kit; and a lock. Electric bikes are available as an upgrade (see price panel), subject to availability, and must be requested at the time of booking.
  • While we would always recommend that you take your own well-fitting helmet, they can be hired locally for a small fee. Please let us know at the time of booking if you would like to hire a helmet.
  • Yes, we will provide GPX tracks for this holiday prior to departure so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. (We also provide maps and our tried-and-tested route notes, which remain the principal means of navigation).
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. On mornings when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation so that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our cycling holidays in Europe page.
  • You are responsible for damage to or loss of the rental bike while it is hired to you. Always be careful to lock it up, ideally to an immovable object, and remove all easy-to-steal accessories whenever you leave it unattended.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to France, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The official language is French. The currency is the Euro. French time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Price from
£997.5pp | 6 nights
Bordeaux & St Emilion by Bike. 6 nights
Price from
£997.5pp
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