Overview
An eight-day, self-guided cycling holiday along the Emerald Coast of Brittany, so called because of its blue-green waters, which are in deep contrast to the rugged granite coast. This carefully crafted itinerary takes you along the Emerald Coast’s most shining jewels, including the Natura 2000 protected section of the coast, the UNESCO and Holy Island Mont-Saint-Michel, the maritime marvels of Saint-Malo and Dinard, and the picture-perfect riverside town of Dinan. With fine seafood and wine at every turn, enjoy finding freedom in Brittany, a very unique part of France. There is also an optional day trip to the Channel Island of Guernsey, which you can also explore by bike. Hybrid and e-bikes are available on this tour.
- Mont-Saint-Michel
- Breton coastal fortresses
- Optional trip to the Channel Island of Guernsey
- Dinard
- Dinan
- Saint-Malo
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Mont-Dol
Arrival in Mont-Dol, a magnificent medieval village built on a rocky outcrop, emerging from the otherwise flat landscape like a film set. If you have enough time, head out on a walk to the top of Mont-Dol to take in the views.
- Accommodation: B&B Château Mont-Dol or similar
Day 2: Loop via Mont-Saint-Michel | 69km
Set off inland through rolling terrain to reach the medieval town of Dol-de-Bretagne before continuing on to the town of Pontorson, home to a church that was constructed by the same architects who built the Romanesque Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel. Note that there is also a lovely market here on Wednesdays. Continue along a relaxed route to the stunning island of Mont-Saint-Michel, an age-old pilgrimage site with an impressive abbey surging up out of the sea. Cycle out to the tranquil Chapelle St. Anne, with lovely views back to Mont-Saint-Michel, before circling back inland to return to Mont-Dol for a second night.
- Cycling for the day: 69km ↑130m ↓130m
- Accommodation: B&B Château Mont-Dol or similar
Day 3: Mont-Dol to Saint-Malo | 44km
Cycle along the west side of Mont-Saint-Michel Bay, stopping off in the fishing town of Cancale to feast on local oysters or visit the oyster banks if the tide is out. Finally, roll along a quiet path into the historic walled port town of Saint-Malo, with a beautiful Old Town, beaches and impressive maritime heritage. It’s also a wonderful place to spend the next couple of nights.
- Cycling for the day: 44km ↑150m ↓150m
- Accommodation: Hôtel des Marins or similar
Day 4: Rest day in Saint-Malo or optional Guernsey loop ride
You have two options today. Either spend the day Saint-Malo or take an early morning ferry to Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands, where some superb cycling trails await. We also recommend booking an extra night in Saint-Malo to get the best of both worlds and enjoy both options.
Daily ferry departures from mid-July to the end of August (but outside peak season, there are no departures on Tuesdays and Thursdays).
- Accommodation: Hôtel des Marins or similar
Day 5: Saint-Malo to Dinan | 27km
Take a boat to the fashionable seaside resort town of Dinard, on the other side of the River Rance from Saint-Malo, and cycle south following a former railway line, or Voie Verte, as far as Taden, home to Château de la Conninais, Château de La Garaye and the ruins of Château de la Garaye. Continue on to Dinan, a handsome medieval city that’s enclosed by nearly 3km of ramparts.
- Cycling for the day: 27km ↑120m ↓115m
- Accommodation: Hôtel De La Porte Saint-Malo or similar
Day 6: Loop via Canal d’Ille et Rance | 49km
Take some time to explore the Old Town, 14th-century castle, galleries, shops and restaurants of Dinan before taking on a circular route, much of it following the Canal d’Ille et Rance, a peaceful track with a few locks and villages along the way. Return to Dinan for a second night in this beautiful town.
- Cycling for the day: 49km ↑200m ↓215m
- Accommodation: Hôtel De La Porte Saint-Malo or similar
Day 7: Dinan to Mont-Dol | 44km
Relax on a tranquil track along the River Rance before cycling through rolling farmland to the ancient episcopal town of Dol-de-Bretagne. Before cycling into the town, take a break to see the Menhir du Champ-Dolent, a standing stone over 9m high which is shrouded in folklore. In Dol, we recommend visiting Cathédrale Saint-Samson to see its vast ceiling, walking along Grand Rue des Stuarts past magnificent 12th- and 13th-century houses, before finishing your day off where the trip began, at Mont-Dol.
- Cycling for the day: 44km ↑205m ↓215m
- Accommodation: B&B Château Mont-Dol or similar
Day 8: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- B&B Château Mont-Dol (Mont-Dol)
- Hôtel des Marins (Saint-Malo)
- Hôtel De La Porte Saint-Malo (Dinan)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Accommodation is on a B&B basis. Items for picnics can be purchased in the villages where you’re staying, or you can have your lunch in a restaurant along the way. There is no shortage of dinner options, either at your hotel or at nearby restaurants.
Difficulty and terrain
The daily distances are 27-69km varying from flat to hilly terrain along the route. This holiday is appropriate for the occasional rider with difficulty rated at easy to moderate (read more about difficulty grades). You can also rent an e-bike on this tour. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from the beginning of March until mid-November. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that you there is more choice regarding the start date of a trip, simply select the desired day of the week to start.
The best time for cycling is between May and September when the weather is generally good, and the average daily temperatures are 22-24C and up to 25C in July and August.
For more information, please see our blog on the Best time to go to France.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Rennes, with alternative airports in Brest or Paris.
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to France without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with train stations in Dol-de-Bretagne, just 4.5km from Mont Dol, where the tour begins and ends. Dol-de-Bretagne station is a 40mins train journey from Rennes (40mins) and 2h 22mins from Paris. For more details, see the national rail operator SNCF Connect.
UK Visa and entry requirements:
From 09 April 2026, the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirement will also apply to travel to the Crown Dependencies, including the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey).
You can view the full list of countries that this applies to here and apply for your ETA here, or on the UK ETA app. The ETA costs £16 and usually takes up to three working days to be processed, although we advise applying as early as possible, in advance of your travel dates. People travelling with an Irish passport don’t need an ETA.
You can read more about the UK entry requirements on our blog.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 overnights with breakfast as detailed in the itinerary
- Luggage transfer on the cycling days (one piece per person, max 20kg)
- Local Tourist Tax
- Detailed digital holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps. Please note, that the information pack for this tour is digital only and will be emailed to you prior to departure.
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Bike rental
- Return ferry tickets to Guernsey and Dinard
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Bike rental: hybrid bikes and e-bikes available
- Extra nights on request
- Printed tour information delivered to first hotel
Bike rental
If you would like to rent a bike from us, we can offer you good quality SCOTT hybrid or e-bikes in excellent condition with appropriate gears and equipment for the trip. All bicycles (whatever the model) are equipped with a pannier, handlebar bag, spare tube, tools, pump, helmet and lock. Sample pictures attached below, note that the exact models might be different depending on the availability, but the standard will be the same.
