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Caen to Cantabria
September 2024
Our Caen to Cantabria tour will take you through some of the finest regions of France and into Spain for an easy return to Portsmouth on the Santander ferry. You will ride through Normandy, the Loire Valley, the ancient Poitou region, Cognac, Dordogne and Gascony before traversing the Pyrenees at St Jean Pied de Port, for centuries the crossing point for pilgrims on their way to Santiago to Compostella. Five days in Spain will end in Santander, in the Cantabria region, where the ferry return with take you back to where you began two weeks earlier - you may even spot some whales in the Bay of Biscay as you relax on deck. Spectacular scenery is guaranteed!
The ride is graded 'expert' as to ride for 15 days in a row is a big ask for most people - even the pros on the Tour de France don't do this. The route gets more challenging as you ride south with the Spanish section offering some good climbs; however the gradients are mostly shallower than many hills back home and it should be within the grasp of all regular cyclists.
Meals are included as follows: Breakfast every day; picnic lunch on 4 days; dinner on 11 nights.
Daily distances range from 41 miles to 80 miles with the great majority being in the 60 - 70 mile range (see daily descriptions for details of individual daily distances). If you have never done a ride like this before the key, as always, is steady progress at your own pace and we will ensure that you are looked after by our support team. As the ride progresses you will find out what routine suits you and adapt your speed or strategy accordingly; we have great experience and one of the most satisfying aspects of the job is helping people to achieve a ride across France successfully.
Highlights include:
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Beautiful lush Normandy and its produce
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The Loire Valley and its chateaux
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Cognac, an elegant town known the world over
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Beautiful unspoilt Gascony
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Pau, a civilised town at the gateway to the impressive Pyrenees
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The tranquility of the Pyrenees
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Sublime scenery of the Basque country
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Sophisticated Santander
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Hotels of character & quality
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Cake & Coffee stops
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Opportunity to continue straight onto our Spanish end to end ride in 2023 thus creating a truly epic ride from Caen to Cape Trafalgar!
Your Next Adventure Awaits
What you need to know...
Start Location
Caen / Ouistreham
Finish Location
Santander (Spain)
Country/Region
End to End (UK and European rides)
Grading
Expert
Shortest Day
64 km / 39 miles
Longest Day
134 km / 83 miles
Total Days
16
Total Miles
925
Departure Dates & Prices
Month | Dates | Tour Price | Single Supplement* | Bike Hire From | Enquire | Book | |
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September 2024 | 7th to 22nd September 2024 | 7/9/24 to 22/9/24 | £2,995 | £895 | Check Availability | Book Now |
*A single supplement is only payable if you would like a guaranteed room to yourself. If you are happy to share with another traveller of the same gender, no supplement is payable.