La Vélodyssée from Nantes to La Rochelle

Free day in the city. As you are welcomed into the City of Dukes, be seduced by its many architectural, cultural and historical relics… Don’t miss the opportunity to get lost in its ports, go and say hello to the famous Elephant de l’Ile des Machines, take a stroll through the covered passages and the medieval district of Bouffas. The Château des Ducs de Bretagne and the cathedral are also well worth a look…
Night in a hotel, on a bed and breakfast basis, in Nantes.

And we’re off! Hop on your bike and keep the Loire as your reference point throughout this stage, letting it lead you to the Atlantic. On the right bank, ride along the quays and take in the beautiful views of the Ile de Nantes and its port on the Loire.  In Couëron, board the Pellerin ferry to cross over to the other bank and reach the pretty Canal de la Martinière. With the St Nazaire bridge in sight, you rejoin the Loire estuary and turn south towards the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. 
Night in a hotel, on a bed and breakfast basis, in St Brévin.

Possibility to take an inland shortcut for a reduction of 13km.

This pretty stage, initially following the coast, gives pride of place to the beautiful beaches and wild coves of the Jade Coast. Do not miss a stop off at St Michel Chef-Chef’s ‘biscuiterie’  to taste their renowned galettes. The fisheries, Pointe St Gildas, Préfailles and the delightful Port de Pornic punctuate your journey. You then leave the Pays de Retz and enter the Vendée. Ride through the marshes and polders of the Baie de Bourgneuf.
Night in a hotel, on a bed and breakfast basis, in Bouin.

The route weaves between marshes and polders, in the heart of the Marais Breton Vendéen. Don’t miss out on a little detour to the Passage du Gois (+6km there and back) with a visit to the Ile de Noirmoutier, which is accessible from the mainland only at low tide via a normally submerged track. You then join the ‘Cote de Lumière’ and its Vendée beaches, via a lovely cycle path behind the dune and passing through the pine forest for a smooth arrival into St Jean de Monts.
Night in a hotel, on a bed and breakfast basis.

This is a very pretty stage, where you will alternate between cycle paths in the forest and the Corniche Vendéenne. Between Sion and St Gilles Croix de Vie, the views are spectacular and well worth a stop for a photo: Trou du Diable, les Rochers des Cinq Pineaux, the Feu de Grosse Terre… Next, moving between the Vendée groves and the coast, you head to the Sables D’Olonne, the starting point of the famous Vendée Globe transatlantic race. 
Night in a hotel, on a bed and breakfast basis.

Leave behind the charming villas on the Sablais seafront to ride along the twisting coastline before sinking into the marshes and on to the pretty forest of Longeville. Here, the beaches are known for their waves and you can take a well-deserved break to admire the surfers’ talents. 
Night in a hotel, on a bed and breakfast basis, in L’Aguillon.

The final stop on this beautiful trip, you leave the Vendée to head into the Charente Maritime. The Marais Poitevin is close by and should be seen. You have two choices today - either you take a fantastic route overlooking the cliffs of Perthuis Breton, before skirting around the Baie de l’Aiguillon to reach La Rochelle, or you follow the Canal de Marans to arrive in the ‘White City’. The towers of the port of La Rochelle are in sight, as well as the cafe terraces where a refreshing, well-deserved drink awaits you. 
Night in La Rochelle in a hotel, on a bed and breakfast basis.

End of trip after breakfast. Don’t hesitate to extend your trip with an excursion to the Ile de Ré, a true paradise for cyclists!