Calvados Classic Cycle Tour

Experience Normandy at its best on this 3 day break. Ride through an unforgettable setting of rolling hills, orchards & rustic villages, home to cows, cheese, cider & delicious French cuisine.

ROAD BIKE TOURING WITH RARA

During this point-to-point cycle tour you will experience everything great about Normandy. Beginning in the attractive port town of Honfleur, the route hugs one of the regions most prestigious stretches of coastline, then turns inland to the Pays d'Auge. It's a wonderful ride for all seasons. For a few weeks in May, the landscape is transformed by the mass of white-blossomed apple trees. In September the trees are laden with fruit, harvest begins, the crowds thin and the weather remains pleasant.

You'll encounter cows, taste cheeses, cider and fantastic cuisine in an unforgettable setting of rolling hills, orchards and rustic villages. Part of the route will take you along la Route du Cidre where you will have the chance to sample cider, pommeau and calvados at the cider farms that we pass enroute.

The cycling will commence at 1000 every day and average 45km per day. We will stop for lunch around midday and then begin cycling again at 1400. There will be lots of opportunities to stop for chateaux visits and local food tasting. The Tour will finish on day 3 at about 1700.

Day 1
Honfleur to Bevron-en-Auge 2-4 hours, 44.6km

We will meet you at a café on the old port in Honfleur, where we will transfer any luggage you have into our van and transport it onto the next hotel. The tour will start at 10am from Honfleur. You will enjoy gentle cycling along the coast, before riding through the undulating pastoral areas of the Pays d'Auge. You will encounter a few gentle climbs on the first day but you will be rewarded by various opportunities to taste cider and calvados along La Route du Cidre. The ride will finish in the village of Beuvron-en-Auge, rated as one of Frances 100 most beautiful villages.

Day 2
Beuvron-en-Auge to Lisieux 2-4 hours, 46.3km

Continuing through the rolling pastures and apple orchards of the Pays d'Auge we continue on La Route du Cidre. The day begins and ends with two vastly different Normandy style chateaux (visits are optional). There are a few hills, but nothing too strenuous. Along the route there are more opportunities to stop and taste the local wares. The ride will finish in Lisieux, which is the capital of the Pays d'Auge and for centuries was the principal town of the region.

Day 3
Lisieux to Honfleur 2-4 hours, 41.9km

The first half of the day's ride will be flat, as the route hugs the pretty valley of the Touques River. The second half of the ride leaves the valley to head through the hilly St Gatien forest to Honfleur. There is an option to visit the Calvados Boulard Distillery at the Moulin de la Foulonnerie. An interesting guided tour is available, exploring the distillery with its superb copper stills. The tour concludes with a tasting of some excellent cider, pommeau and calvados. We also pass through the town of Pont L'Eveque, home of the famous smelly cheese of the same name, made here since the 13th Century. Towards the end of the route we will pass Manoir des Eveques de Lisieux. It is one of the best preserved manors in Normandy and is open for tours. We will arrive back in Honfleur by 5pm.

RARA ON TOUR SERVICE

RocknRoll Adventures' service will leave you confident that all the practicalities of your holiday have been entrusted to safe hands. Your booking will be managed by a dedicated member of the team to ensure you have one point of contact at RARA, and so receive the best possible service.

With our On Tour service you can offload your luggage to us safe in the knowledge that it will be waiting for you at the hotel. RARA will book your accommodation with evening meals included. All that is left for you to do is settle into the saddle and enjoy the scenery.