Cycle Toulouse - Bordeaux

Another big item on our Euro bucket list - an A-B cycle across France with nothing but 2 panniers. ✅ I was a little nervous as had taken on the time of route and accom planner and had gone a little off piste…

Day 1: Toulouse > Moissac (75km)

After a LOT of planning and logistics, we had our rented bikes and were on the road for day 1 - 75km along the famous Garonne canal out of Toulouse. It was cloudy, a little chilly and a little monotonous, but we were just so excited to be on our adventure. The bikes were heavy, so we were grateful for the flat start to ease us in. A gorgeous lunch in Moissac awaited us, a quick train to Marmande (we had limited days so decided to skip a bit of the canal to have more time in the wine countryside), and a lovely, if not basic local farm stay at the end where we all bunked up! Wine. Pasta. Sleep. Reset.

Day 2: Marmande > Sainte Foy La Grande (48km)

The sunshine was back and this was the most gorgeous ride through the French countryside. Quaint little towns, winding country roads through vineyard after vineyard and fields of sunflowers. 🌻 Dreamy. A quick wine tasting, a few wrong turns (sorry James) and a spot of off roading and we were in the lovely town of Sainte Foy La Grande munching on steak and sipping wine by the river at Brasserie Du Boucher. A cracking find! The accom this night was the best of the trip - La Carreterie - Maison de Famille - a gorgeous guest house in the fields with a pool, massive garden, beautiful French style rooms and amazing breakfast. Heaven. We chilled by the pool, cycled back into town for a local dinner, then joined the local party with 4 bottles of wine in hand. 🥴

Day 3: Sainte Foy La Grande > Saint Emilion > Château La France (76km)

Another beautiful ride, this time through the amazing Bordeaux chateau wineries to the gorgeous wine town of Saint Emilion. It certainly lived up to the hype with winding cobbled streets, great cafes and restaurants and wine shops on every corner. A long boozy lunch here made for a very tough 20km to our accom in 30 degree heat! 🥵 This was the toughest part of the 4 days for sure, but the wonderful Chateau La France awaited us…well the guesthouse of the Chateau did. 🤫

Day 4: Chateau La France > Bordeaux (26km)

The final day and we hit the road early to get to Bordeaux in time for lunch. A short one to finish, well it could have been shorter, but I was on directions and we all know how that ends… in the back of a national park hiking our bikes up hill apparently!! You can only imagine James’s disgust. 🙈 We absolutely loved Bordeaux. Full of culture and amazing architecture, it was buzzing. A quick bike tour and we finished with a huge seafood lunch, because why not! 🦀

James was off back to Toulouse on the train and Dan and I had a lovely night in Bordeaux.

THE MOST AMAZING ADVENTURE!! 🇫🇷🚲Read more