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Cycling the Emerald Coast of Brittany
Cycling the Emerald Coast of Brittany
hybrid :
e-bike :
Duration :
8 days
Comfort :
period:
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
Code:
FRSB312
Nature Culture Coast
From € 735
Cycling the Emerald Coast of Brittany
More Inspiring Photos

An abundance of History, Tradition & Seafood

Bike Tour: Cycling the Emerald Coast of Brittany - 8 days

Through the Breton country of dark granite and emerald- green sea. To Le-Mont-Saint-Michel on quiet tracks with sea views. Along the river Rance to picturesque Dinan and the ‘pirates-nest’ of Saint Malo. By boat to the English flower island of Jersey, and for gourmands/ seafood lovers:  fresh fish, mussels and salty oysters.

Check out our video to discover Mont-Saint-Michel:

FRSB310 - Cycling the Emerald Coast of Brittany
Route
Day 1: Arrival in Mont-Dol
Day 2: Cycling roundtrip via Mont-Saint-Michel
Day 3: Mont-Dol - Saint-Malo
Day 4: Cycling roundtrip on Jersey Island or around Saint-Malo
Day 5: Saint-Malo - Dinan
Day 6: Cycling round trip via Canal d'Ille et Rance
Day 7: Dinan - Mont-Dol
Day 8: Departure from Mont-Dol

Day 1:    Arrival in Mont-Dol

Arrival in Mont-Dol, a flower-bedecked village, situated at the foot of a granite rise in the otherwise flat countryside of this part of the Breton coast. You can take nice walks to the top of the Mont-Dol, from where, in clear weather, you have a wonderful view of the polders and the hills inland.

 

Day 2:    Cycling roundtrip via Mont-Saint-Michel
69 km

By way of a beautiful route through the undulating hinterland you reach, via Dol-de-Bretagne, the small town of Pontorson. Then via a clearly marked track cycling to Le Mont-Saint-Michel is very relaxing. The age-old pilgrimage site with an impressive abbey on a rock protruding into the sea. The ‘Mont’ is very touristic but certainly worth a visit. Then via the Digue de la Duchesse Anne through a flat polder landscape to the bay near Chapelle St. Anne. Finally, the route takes you back inland to the starting point.

Challenge: 69km, 129m ascent, 133m descent

 

Day 3:    Mont-Dol - Saint-Malo
44 km

A wonderful trip along the bay of Saint-Michel with on the way quite often beautiful expansive sea views. You pass the lively fishing village of Cancale, known for its oysters. The oyster banks can be visited when the tide is out. At eateries and restaurants, you can feast on seafood. The Breton coast here isn’t suitable for a visit to the beach. However, on the other side of the peninsula, after a stiff climb, you will find a wonderful golden beach. Along the coast on a quiet path you cycle to the lively port of Saint-Malo.

Challenge: 44km, 149m ascent, 152m descent

 

Day 4:    Cycling roundtrip on Jersey Island or around Saint-Malo
32 km

Today you can spend your time in the historic town of Saint-Malo or cycling around the local area. The walled imposing fortress, the ports, the pleasant shopping streets and the beaches make sure you won’t have a dull moment. You have also got the chance, early in the morning, to take the ferry boat to the British island of Jersey (about 1.15 h) On the island of Jersey you can make a wonderful tour on the extensive track system, with sometimes a stiff climb. At the end of the afternoon or the beginning of the evening you return to Saint-Malo again. If you can’t make up your mind, we suggest you to book an extra night in Saint-Malo. 

If you aim to visit Jersey island (=change of country, which is not part of EU), do not forget to bring your passport.

Challenge: 32km

 

Day 5:    Saint-Malo - Dinan
27 km

A small ferry boat takes you from Saint-Malo to fashionable Dinard. From here you head south on a clear track, straight as an arrow, a former railway, taking you alternately through villages in the country and quiet scenery. After this ‘Voie Verte’ quiet paths take you through green hills of the Breton countryside to Taden castle. A track alongside the Rance takes you to the picturesque Port of Dinan, the town is situated somewhat higher and has a wonderful historic centre.  
Not in the mood for a cycle ride today? In the tourist season, a boat goes daily from Dinard to Port Dinan, and you can take your bikes with you. 

Challenge: 27km, 121m ascent, 116m descent

 

Day 6:    Cycling round trip via Canal d'Ille et Rance
49 km

The town of Dinan offers a lot of opportunities to spend a day there. There are many galleries, shops, restaurants and terraces. In addition to this you can also go for a ride through the green Breton hills, south of Dinan. On the way, you sometimes imagine yourself to be in South English Cornwall. The massive, black grey granite farmhouses are striking, in summer often surrounded by splendid blue hydrangeas. For a great part of the route you follow the tow path along the Canal d’Ille et Rance, a lovely and quiet track with on the way some locks and villages. It’s simple to cut short the route if necessary. 

Challenge: 49km, 203m ascent, 217m descent

 

Day 7:    Dinan - Mont-Dol
44 km

You start in a relaxed way on the track along the Rance. After a dam, where the enormous contrast between tides is remarkable, you have to step on it to get up out of the valley. Through undulating farmland, you go on to the old, once prosperous (cathedral) city Dol-de-Bretagne. Here you can admire the impressive Menhir du Champ-Dolent. Also visit the beautiful St. Samson Cathedral, dedicated to one of the seven Breton saints and walk the Grand Rue des Stuarts amongst  magnificent old houses from the 12th and 13th century. From here it’s not far to Mont-Dol where your trip ends. 

Challenge: 44km, 204m ascent, 215m descent

 

Day 8:    Departure from Mont-Dol

After breakfast end of the trip.

 

Accommodation

All accommodations are carefully selected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services. 

We choose comfortable 3* hotels and charming B&Bs where all rooms have private en-suite bathrooms and every morning breakfasts are included. 

B&B Les Demeures de Mont-Dol
B&B Les Demeures de Mont-Dol
Hôtel France et Chateaubriand*** (Saint-Malo)
Hôtel De La Porte Saint-Malo*** (Dinan)
Bike rental

If you don’t bring your own, you can rent a bicycle (hybrid or ebike) from us. You will find your rental bikes waiting for you at your first hotel. The hotel reception staff will give you the keys for your bikes and direct you to the bicycle shed. All bikes are provided with chain locks.  The frame and saddle height are set to your height, although you might want to adjust your saddle to be in the most comfortable position. We also recommend doing a first small test drive of couple of hundred meters to be comfortable with gears, brakes etc. If you have an issue with your bike, you can contact the service provider (name of bike rental in your reservation) directly. Or you can always call us on our emergency phone number.  

Our hybrid touring bikes are at least 21-speed gear. You can find all the information regarding our rental bikes below.

Experience the advantages of an electric bike on your cycling holiday, particularly when there's a significant gap in ability and experience among cyclists. An e-bike provides a gentle boost up hills, allowing you to easily keep pace with your companions. With a small electric motor and battery, e-bikes make bike trips more achievable, and their batteries can be conveniently charged at hotels. While you still need to pedal, the e-bike significantly reduces the effort required. Familiarity with e-bikes is advised due to their quicker acceleration and heavier build compared to regular bikes, attributed to the electric motor.

Instruction video hybrid bike and e-bike

Please note: Depending on the trip, different models apply

 

Our hybrid bikes have at least 21-gears with hand brakes. 

The hybrid bikes are very good quality. Depending the trip, different model apply: Scott, Giant, Trek, Koga, ...

 

Whenever there is a big difference in level of ability, experience the many benefits of an electric bike on your cycling holiday. An e-bike will help you keep up with your fellow cyclists and give you a gentle boost up hills. An e-bike makes a bike trip more achievable. The e-bikes have a small electric motor and battery, which can be charged at the hotels. You still have to pedal: it just makes pedaling much easier. Some experience with e-bikes is recommended, as the bikes accelerate faster and are heavier than regular bikes because of the electric motor.

The E-bikes are very good quality. Depending on the trip, different models apply: Scott, Giant, Trek, Koga, ...

 

For some trips, we can give you the possibility to rent a Racing bike, more details on request.

For some trips, we can give you the possibility to rent a Tandem bike, suitable for two adults only. More details on request.

For children who are at least 125 cm, we can also arrange bikes (these are 24”or 26” for children that are bigger than 140 cm). The child bikes come with at least 7-gears and hand brakes. The maximum body height for a child’s bike is 155 cm. 

Please note: for some tours, different models apply.

A tag-along bike is a good option for children between approx. 100 cm and 125 cm, as they can pedal themselves and at their own pace but don’t have to worry about other traffic.

The tag-along bikes cannot be rented for all our tours

Please note: depending the trip, different models apply.

Child trailers can be rented for a maximum of two children who are up to 100 cm (max. 35 KG in total).

Please note: for some tours, different models apply.

 

 

Bell

All our rental bikes come with a bell.


Brakes

All our adult bikes come with hand brakes. 


Childseat

For children older than 30 months (max. 22 kg) it is possible to rent a rear child seat. This is also possible with e-bikes.


GPS

For some tours, it is possible to rent a GPS device, more details on request.


Helmet

Helmets are not mandatory in France (if the cyclist is over 12 years old) but strongly recommended. The helmet is mandatory for children under 12 years. If you rent a bike with us, helmets are included. Please advise us, if you bring along your own.


Lights

All our rental bikes come with lights.


Locks

All our rental bikes come with a lock.


Pannier

All our rental bikes come with at least a rear pannier and with a handlebar bag to put a roadbook/map if you wish.


Pedals

The rental bikes come with regular pedals, so no click-in/SPD pedals. On request we are able to supply these pedals on certain trips. 
If you wish to bring your own click-in/SPD pedals, please let us know prior to booking too.


Quickrelease

All our bikes come with a quick release system, which makes it very easy to adjust the height of the saddle and the handle bars. 


Repairkit

There is one small puncture kit included, which can be found in the pannier. If a rental bike has another problem, we always advise you to go to a bike repair shop.


Saddle

Saddles can be adjusted in height.
Our saddles don’t come with a gel cover. If you usually cycle with this, we recommend you bring them with you.


Water bottles

French Bike Tours does not provide water bottles. We can also not guarantee that there are bottle holders on the bikes. You will always receive at least 1x pannier, so you can always store your water bottle in your pannier.


Article 1 Bike Rental Price

The bike rental price is determined by the rates mentioned on the French Bike Tours website at the time of the booking; or as subsequently agreed.

Article 2 Payment

a. The rental price and any other due sums regarding the rental agreement must be paid before the bike is handed over to you.

b. If, for whatever reason, you cannot make use of the bike(s) you have rented, French Bike Tours will not be held responsible for any resulting expenses or damage.

c. In the case of the article 2b, the client remains obliged to pay the full rental price and any other amounts mentioned in the invoice, in accordance with our General Terms and Conditions of Booking, unless the client can prove that his not being able to use the bike was the consequence of a defect that was already present at the beginning of the rental period.

Article 3 Rental Period

a. The rental period runs from the morning of the first cycling day (day 2) to the end of the holiday (last cycling day), as stated in the booking confirmation.

b. Extension of the rental period is possible only after approval by us and according to the (extension) rates as mentioned in article 1.

c. No refunds are possible after the rental period begins. If you return the bike(s) to us before the end of your holiday, the rental agreement will automatically be terminated and you will not get any of your money back.

d. At the end of the last cycling day of your holiday, the bike(s) must be returned to the hotel from where it was/they were issued, no later than the time stated in the booking confirmation.
If you book a one way tour tour you can leave the bike at the last hotel of the trip. 

e. If the bike(s) is /are not returned by the return time stated in the booking confirmation, we will continue to charge you rent until such time as the bike(s) is/are returned to us or is/are received by us. In the event of late return, the rates as mentioned in article 1 will continue to apply, plus a fine of €25 per day. We also reserve the right to demand payment for any costs and/or damages suffered by us due to late return of our rental bike(s).

f. Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, in the event of late return of our rental bikes, we reserve the right to dissolve the rental agreement without judicial intervention and immediately claim back our bicycles where ever they may be and from whomever has them. French Bike Tours also holds this right in the event that the client does not comply with any of the other conditions stated in this rental agreement.

Article 4 Improper Use

a. The bicycle(s) may only be used for its/their intended purpose and only by the cyclists listed in the rental agreement.

b. The bike(s) must be returned to us in the same (clean!) state in which you received it/them.

c. You must take excellent care of the bicycle(s), as if it/they were your own. You must take every precaution against damage, loss or theft.

d. The bicycle may not be used on the beach; or on sandy paths in the dunes unless a paved path is unavailable.

Article 5 Damage, Loss and Theft

The renter will be held responsible for damages to or loss of the bicycle(s) or parts of it, as well as bicycle keys and chains and locks, for such an amount as is determined by us according to standard market prices. You must understand that you are not insured for damage to the bicycle(s) or for any damages to third parties.

Article 6 Costs During the Rental Period

Any charges and taxes regarding the rental bicycle(s), such as fines and ferry tickets, are to be paid by you. You will also be required to pay all costs ensuing from the use of the bicycle(s) such as parking fees, maintenance and repairs. 

Practical info

7 Nights included

3* hotels and charming B&B

Tourist tax included

Breakfast included, Halfboard optional on request

Maps and tourist information on all the places of interest

24/7 Bilingual Emergency hotline

Luggage transport to your next accommodations. Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (20 kg maximum)

For time tables and further information check the website of SNCF or rome2rio for all French National trains (SNCF).

We strongly advise you to download the sncf mobile app prior to departure.

If you want to travel on a train with your bike, you can find more information via this link.
 

Parking possibilities at the first accommodation in Mont-Dol

GPS tracks are available on request

Arrival info

The closest airports to Saint-Malo are Dinard (DNR) and Rennes (RNS).

You can get to Rennes by the TGV (high speed train) from Paris gare Montparnasse (approx. 1h30) and take a regional train (TER) to Dol-de-Bretagne (approx. 40 min). On the end of your trip you can take a train from Dol-de-Bretagne. 

For timetables and further information check the website of SNCF or rome2rio for all French National trains (SNCF).

From Paris to Mont-Dol (approx. 4h - 380 km/236 mi). Acces to driving routes see the website ViaMichelin.

Reviews

30-08-2024

We had such a great time The accomodations were fantastic. The service from FBTs was top notch. There was a lot of variety in the scenery and we appreciated that most riding was on trails or quiet roads


Janice MACDOUGALL - CA

03-08-2024


Thomas DALEY - US

18-06-2024


Pamela MAGEAU BELL - CA

12-06-2024

The bike trip was very enjoyable with the cycle route ranging from coastal cycle paths, green ways and quiet country roads passing through pretty villages. The maps and App instructions were easy to follow.


Mary-Jane TAYLOR - AU

08-04-2024

French Bike Tours did an amazing job of keeping our route off major roads, and on beautiful backroads, with lots of variety and charm along the way.


Allison WONG - CN

29-03-2024

We greatly appreciated the accommodation given to us, in modifying the Emerald Coast of Brittany tour down to the 4 nights/days we had available. Everything went like a charm - maps, hotel reservations, bike condition and set up, luggage transport, etc. We will definitely recommend French Bike Tours to friends & family, and will consider another tour destination ourselves in the future!

Allison W.

14-06-2023

The booking of the trip was efficient and staff were always very helpful. The accommodation was great especially in Mont-Dol and Dinan. B&B Château Mont-Dol and Hôtel De La Porte Saint-Malo) and the hosts were friendly and helpful. The accommodation in Mont-Dol and Dinan was fantastic and we would recommended both hotels to anyone traveling on the area. One of the joys of the trip was finding places for lunch along the route in places like Cancale, Saint-Sulliac, Le Tronchet and on the way to Dinan. The Routes were a great mix of countryside, forest, canal and sea adding to our adventure. The luggage transport was also fault less. We would happily recommend this French Bike Tours. The MY FBT was a really good resource.

Chris B.

25-09-2022

It's hard to say which parts were the best we had 7 days of great adventures, if you’re looking for a great cycling holiday you can't go wrong. Pros, great routes quiet lanes and cycle tracks transport of baggage worked well, we had a lazy day in St malo due to age cycling every day was almost too much, already planing our next adventure.

The first and third hotels were amazing, quiet, friendly and spotlessly clean. The other hotel was very good great location but not as friendly, I didn't expect to pay to have our tandem locked up in the garage.

25-07-2020

Me and my partner had a fantastic trip organised by this company. Great hotels along our route and no stress regarding the luggage. It was great to be able to relax and enjoy the scenery around us. Thank you for a great break away! Connor Johnson

25-07-2020

It was so nice to get away and have everything arranged for us, fantastic communication with the organisers too. The entire trip was stress free and the hotels were just amazing. We had the pleasure of riding through some of the most scenic areas of France. From start to finish it was simply beautiful! Georgia Furniss

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