Easy cycling for all with shorter days mainly on the flat, but some gentle ascents.
The season for this holiday is:
10 April 2021 - 30 September 2021
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
°C | 9 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 18 | 13 | 9 |
mm | 81 | 69 | 56 | 53 | 59 | 52 | 44 | 57 | 70 | 78 | 98 | 89 |
6 nights: 10 April 2021 - 30 September 2021
Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above
Starting | Price | Single room |
---|---|---|
10 Apr - 21 May 2021 | £830 | £545 |
22 - 31 May 2021 | £860 | £565 |
1 Jun - 24 Sep 2021 | £890 | £595 |
3rd & 4th person discount | -£25 | |
Single traveller supplement | £25 |
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 £70 per person
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.
6 nights: 10 April 2021 - 30 September 2021
Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above
Starting | Price | Single room |
---|---|---|
10 Apr - 21 May 2021 | £1095 | £545 |
22 - 31 May 2021 | £1140 | £565 |
1 Jun - 24 Sep 2021 | £1175 | £595 |
3rd & 4th person discount | -£60 | |
Single traveller supplement | £60 |
Includes all elements in the 'cycle price', plus standard-class travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras or Ebbsfleet International to Lille or Paris, with onward travel as described below.
Electric bikes available: add £70 per person
Included travel: UK–Paris (Eurostar), Paris–La Rochelle (TGV), approx duration 6h45 out/7h15 home & taxi transfer (out 0h40/home 0h15).
> More about 'by rail' prices
> The 'rail experience': what to expect
If you book your holiday less than 6 months in advance of your travel date, seats may no longer be available at the tariffs on which our prices are based, but we may be able to offer you seats on the same services at a supplement.
6 nights: 10 April 2021 - 30 September 2021
Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above
Starting | Price | Single room |
---|---|---|
10 Apr - 21 May 2021 | £995 | £545 |
22 - 31 May 2021 | £1040 | £565 |
1 Jun - 24 Sep 2021 | £1075 | £595 |
3rd & 4th person discount | -£170 | |
Single traveller supplement | £170 |
Includes all elements in the 'cycle price', plus a return ferry crossing between Dover and Calais with P&O Ferries for your party and one car.
> More information about travelling self-drive
Electric bikes available: add £70 per person
A supplement of £35 per car per single journey applies for outward travel on 26-28 March & 2-4 April 2021, and for homeward travel on 4-5 & 10-11 April 2021. A supplement of £56 per car per single journey applies outward on Fridays & Saturdays 28-29 May & 9 July-14 August 2021 and homeward on Saturdays & Sundays 5-6 June & 17 July-29 August 2021.
Room upgrades (£ per person per night)
Grand Hotel des Bains, Fouras | ||
---|---|---|
'Privilège': 10 Apr - 30 Sep 2021 | £14 | |
Privilège plus: 10 Apr - 30 Sep 2021 | £24 |
Hotel le Champlain, La Rochelle | ||
---|---|---|
'Prestige': 10 Apr - 30 Sep 2021 | £10 |
Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room
Prices include an extra day’s hire of a standard bike. If you are upgrading to an e-bike, add a further £12pp per day.Grand Hotel des Bains, Fouras (B&B) | Double room | Single room |
---|---|---|
10 Apr - 28 May 2021 | £92 | £176 |
29 May - 30 Sep 2021 | £100 | £194 |
Hotel le Champlain, La Rochelle (B&B) | Double room | Single room |
---|---|---|
10 Apr - 30 Sep 2021 | £96 | £182 |
Travelling from the UK
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Aberdeen - Bordeaux (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
Aberdeen - Bordeaux (via Paris) | Air France |
Aberdeen - Paris CDG | Air France, KLM |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Belfast Intl. - Bordeaux | easyJet |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Birmingham - Bordeaux (via Paris) | Air France |
Birmingham - Paris CDG | Air France |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Bristol - Bordeaux | easyJet |
Bristol - La Rochelle | easyJet |
Bristol - Paris CDG | Air France, easyJet |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Edinburgh - Bordeaux | Ryanair |
Edinburgh - Bordeaux (via Paris) | Air France |
Edinburgh - Paris CDG | Air France, easyJet |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Gatwick - Bordeaux | British Airways, easyJet |
Gatwick - La Rochelle | easyJet |
Gatwick - Paris CDG | easyJet |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Heathrow - Bordeaux | British Airways |
Heathrow - Bordeaux (via Paris) | Air France |
Heathrow - Paris CDG | British Airways |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Luton - Bordeaux | easyJet |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
London Southend - Paris CDG | easyJet |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Manchester - Bordeaux | easyJet, Ryanair |
Manchester - Bordeaux (via Paris) | Air France |
Manchester - La Rochelle | jet2 |
Manchester - Paris CDG | Air France, easyJet |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Newcastle - Bordeaux (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
Newcastle - Bordeaux (via Paris) | Air France |
Newcastle - Paris CDG | Air France, KLM |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Southampton - Bordeaux (via Paris) | Air France |
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. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service (£60 for India and Nepal). 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.
Connecting travel options - flying via Bordeaux
Outward route | Price per person |
Latest flight arrival time |
---|---|---|
rail Bordeaux to Rochefort (2h10), taxi Rochefort to hotel (0h20) | £42 | 1400 |
Homeward route | Price per person |
Earliest flight departure time |
---|---|---|
taxi last hotel to La Rochelle (0h15), rail La Rochelle to Bordeaux (2h30) | £33 | 1500 |
Connecting travel options - flying via La Rochelle
Outward route | Price per person |
Latest flight arrival time |
---|---|---|
direct taxi La Rochelle airport to hotel (0h35) | £48 | flexible |
Homeward route | Price per person |
Earliest flight departure time |
---|---|---|
direct taxi last hotel to La Rochelle airport (0h20) | £10 | flexible |
Connecting travel options - flying via Paris
Outward route | Price per person |
Latest flight arrival time |
---|---|---|
coach Paris CDG to Paris Montparnasse (1h15), rail Paris Montparnasse to La Rochelle (3h), taxi La Rochelle to hotel (0h40) | £102 | 1200 |
Homeward route | Price per person |
Earliest flight departure time |
---|---|---|
taxi last hotel to La Rochelle (0h15), rail La Rochelle to Paris (3h), coach Paris Montparnasse to Paris CDG (1h15) | £96 | 1600 |
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 >
We’ve travelled with you many times and by and large loved it. We weren’t enamoured of this trip. Sea access was actually quite annoying. We managed to get into the sea at the far end of Ile de Ré just after the tide had turned and in the evening at Fouras. Ile de Ré was a shock. We cycled right to the end in the hope of getting some peace. Horrified to find gift shops, cafes and huge crowds at the lighthouse. Nothing ’slow’ there! La Rochelle eating out. Inclusive meal on the first evening (Saturday) great. Many restaurants then closed on Sunday until Tuesday evening. Your recommended ones were closed. We had to eat in the restaurants by the marina which were fairly mediocre, pizza & tourist based.
The choice and variety of the cycle routes was excellent. La Rochelle, Rochefort and Marans are all gems in their different ways. A personal highlight was the ride into La Rochelle. The included meal at La Bonne Femme was also excellent.
Great holiday. Organisation was very good and everything went to plan. Hotels felt very French and special. The bikes were really comfortable.
We’ve travelled with you many times and by and large loved it. We weren’t enamoured of this trip. Sea access was actually quite annoying. We managed to get into the sea at the far end of Ile de Ré just after the tide had turned and in the evening at Fouras. Ile de Ré was a shock. We cycled right to the end in the hope of getting some peace. Horrified to find gift shops, cafes and huge crowds at the lighthouse. Nothing ’slow’ there! La Rochelle eating out. Inclusive meal on the first evening (Saturday) great. Many restaurants then closed on Sunday until Tuesday evening. Your recommended ones were closed. We had to eat in the restaurants by the marina which were fairly mediocre, pizza & tourist based.
The choice and variety of the cycle routes was excellent. La Rochelle, Rochefort and Marans are all gems in their different ways. A personal highlight was the ride into La Rochelle. The included meal at La Bonne Femme was also excellent.
Great holiday. Organisation was very good and everything went to plan. Hotels felt very French and special. The bikes were really comfortable.
We found cycling over to Île de Ré fine, and so long as you don't go too far across the island would recommend it on your own bikes to save the time getting buses and hiring other bikes. This holiday could easily be made a 7 night holiday by doing a night in Châtelaillon-Plage which is very nice.
Omelette Delice, 2 Rue des Cloutiers in La Rochelle, in the market area, was a fabulous find for a different kind of restaurant experience. Omelette themed with plenty of different fillings, this made a welcome change from the usual three course meal.
We had a lovely holiday, with pretty ports and seaside towns to see. Everywhere is cycle-friendly. La Rochelle has a great range of ice-creams from guava to cactus to basil. We saw beavers in and around canals.
The cycling was lovely and we enjoyed the routes. We were blessed with fantastic weather which always helps.
A great holiday and exactly as described. The bikes were good although lacked the usual map case arrangement and I wish I'd brought our own. The advice about taking the bus over to Ile de Re is good and we were glad we took the first bus in the morning and enjoyed the place with fewer people around.
We really enjoyed staying in Fouras and La Rochelle, and Rochefort was a really interesting destination (a pity that the transporter bridge has been virtually dismantled during restoration!). The Ile d'Aix made for a lovely outing on a sunny day and we enjoyed the Napoleon Museum there. The cycling network on the Ile de Re, much of it apparently on former island railway lines, is a delight and you were, I think, wise to deter us from cycling all the way from La Rochelle. Fans of railway architecture will marvel at the stations in La Rochelle and Rochefort!
This tour is an excellent new addition to Inntravel cycling tours, perfect for anyone who is new to cycling holidays as it's so convenient and very pleasurable. We normally choose grade 2, but this was brilliant for relaxing cycling whilst enjoying the beauty of the sandy beaches, interesting islands and lovely typical french towns and villages en route. We extended our stay at La Rochelle and as the weather was 28/30 degrees we cycled back to Chatelailion Plage spending a leisurely day on the beach, perfect!
Tips: Clients should ask hotels to confirm with taxi company actual arrangement for transfers.
The ferry with cycles to Ile d'Aix is easy, but as emphasised in the Notes, times are very much dependent on tides. Not much cycling but what a lovely visit.
Fouras must be one of the best towns in France for picnic provisions from shops and daily market - all within a short walk from the hotel.
If intending to cycle on the Ile de Re, an early start is recommended - bus times are not always convenient to allow visits to the better beaches/villages by cycle or by bus.
The nearest restaurants to the Hotel Champlain are not open on Sundays and Mondays - visits to the old harbour area are needed on those days.
The proposed cycling routes are sometimes subject to "Route Barre" when it is necessary to refer to the excellent maps provided to find an alternative way.
We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday. The hotels were all in great locations. The Inntravel recommendations for Restaurants were ’spot on’. The routes were on good cycle paths with beautiful scenery. The bikes were comfortable and sturdy.
Fouras is a delightful little town. One day on Ile d'Aix is about the right length of time. We enjoyed heading out South towards Rochefort using the IGN map. Rochefort is well worth a visit which we did by car (in a thunder storm) as well as crossing the Charente and visiting the villages on the South bank. La Rochelle is full of attractions and history. Your notes were very useful and we could have spent the whole time there but Ile de Re is a 'must' and one day is insufficient. By the time you have taken the bus, collected a local bike hire in St Martin, you have to decide to either head West or not in which case you miss out places like La Flotte. We had booked an extra day and I'm glad we did because we managed to head North to Port de Plomb and other villages in that area.
We had a problem with bike delivery which was resolved to our satisfaction. This was put down to a misunderstanding. As we were the first people on this holiday, we are sure it will not happen again. Taxi was excellent; staff at both hotels were also excellent; lady at 1st hotel with bike problem and lady at 2nd hotel with Ile de Re route (more on that later).
The booked dinner at third party was very good and the people lovely. We found the routes varied and interesting although the ride along the canalside on the last day did become a bit tedious with the long straight sections knowing you would be travelling back on them. We heard and saw loads of frogs, swallows, and cuckoos. We did cycle (against Inntravel's advice) to Ile de Ré from the hotel. We covered 88.5km to the lighthouse at the other end and only covered the same ground for a short distance in the middle. It was lovely weather around 24/26 degrees and little or no wind. The countryside and towns were amazing - no litter, no fly tipping. On the last night we had our meal at The Omelette Delize which you might not consider for an evening meal but it was exceptional - a thick omelette rolled with a choice of several fillings on a piece of toasted bread with chunky potatoes, lovely desserts. The attention to detail had to be seen, by a young couple who deserve to do well. Can't remember the street but it is just off the street you return on from the canal ride nearing the hotel with several eating places and bars.