Hey everyone!
My friend and I are currently planning a month-long bikepacking trip starting in St. Malo and ending in Bilbao, and we’d love some recommendations for cool places to stop, sights to see, or even hidden gems along the way!
So far, we’ve planned to pass through:
- Mont St-Michel
- Angers
- Saumur
- Bordeaux
- Saint-Émilion
- Dune du Pilat
- Biarritz
- San Sebastián
- Hondarribia
We’re taking it slow and camping most of the way, so we're super open to detours, scenic routes, historic villages, cultural spots, hikes, beaches, or great places to eat. We’re both into nature, history, food, and meeting locals.
Any suggestions or must-sees would be massively appreciated!
Below is a rough map of our route
Thanks in advance
by YeetDaSneek
11 Comments
If you end up doing it, I would suggest you reach out to bikepacking.com since that region in France has 0 itinerary logged on their map.
Could make for a good article if you can write and shoot pictures worth publishing!
Go up into the medoc north west of bordeaux and visit more chateaux. Its what i wished i did riding through, more chateaux and more wine. How many km are you hoping to ride a day? Having ridden around Brittany and along the Atlantic coast a month seems like a long time for that route, unless you are taking it very chill like 50km a day which is totally cool!
I did Nantes – > San Sebastian in 2023.
Take your time for San Sebastian and discover pintxos in the small bars along the city.
Royan is a cool stop for it’s futurist modernist/brutalist architecture
I currently live in San Sebastián for 4 months and I’ve done the last part between Bordeaux and San Sebastián last week (4 Day trip). In this area I recommend Bayonne and Biarritz. In this area you can find amazing campspots behind the dunes (don’t get caught, the fines for wildcamping in the dunes are high because they are very protected, but I’ve done it many times and usually it’s chill) and as soon as you get over the boarder to Spain, the scenery is going to change completely from flat to mountains and I have to say I like the Spanish side much more from a nature perspective. So try to plan in some more times to climb some of the mountains here that are close to the sea. The views are breathtaking. As soon as you get into Spain you should drive over the Jaizkibel mountain (possible with the bike) and if you have time for a hike, I really really recommend Monte Ulia from San Sebastian – Pasaia.
The coastline between San Sebastián and Bilbao is just breathtaking. Try to plan in enough time for it
And if you need some wildcamping spots shoot me a message, I have found a few nice ones
Have fun Sounds like an amazing trip
Why not La Rochelle through the vineyards to Bordeaux.
Why not EuroVelo1?
[https://en.eurovelo.com/ev1](https://en.eurovelo.com/ev1)
camping -app . EU on mobile will show the cheapest tent pitching. Also lists showers and electricity. Free app
Also I want to do this. So tips welcomed
If I were you. I’ll choose Anger => Nantes. Then follow the velodyssée in th west coast
I’d recommend Soulac and going down the coast from there, flat and beautiful with great food