Self-Launched Cycling the Grand Crus of Bordeaux
6 days · Bordeaux, France
Exodus charges £1,590
No-markup version: ~£445 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Pedal through some of the world's most iconic wine country on this self-launched cycling adventure across the Bordeaux vineyards. Following the same route from Entre-deux-Mers to Médoc, you'll visit Cadillac, Saint-Émilion, Blaye, and Margaux at your own pace — swapping the tour operator's package price for a hired bike, free GPS apps, and budget-friendly guesthouses. All costs are approximate estimates per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Arrive in Bordeaux and get settled. Bordeaux is well connected by Eurostar and TGV from Paris (around £50–80), or budget flights via Ryanair/easyJet from UK airports. Check into a budget hotel or hostel in the city centre — places like Hôtel de la Presse or Auberge de Jeunesse Bordeaux are solid options. Pick up your rental bike today so you're ready to roll first thing tomorrow. Cycle hire shops like Bordeaux Vélo offer quality hybrid or road bikes from around £15–20/day. Download the Komoot or Wikiloc app and load the Bordeaux wine route GPX tracks for free navigation. Spend the evening exploring the UNESCO-listed city centre and grab dinner in the Saint-Pierre quarter.
🚌Arrive by TGV from Paris (~£50–80) or budget flight from UK. Local tram/bus to city centre (~£2).
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Bordeaux centre (e.g. Auberge de Jeunesse Bordeaux, ~£25–35/night in dorm or budget double)
- →Pick up rental bike from a local hire shop (e.g. Bordeaux Vélo, ~£18/day)
- →Download free GPX cycling route via Komoot or Wikiloc
- →Explore Bordeaux city centre and Place de la Bourse
- →Dinner in the Saint-Pierre quarter
Bordeaux to Cadillac — Entre-deux-Mers
Bordeaux to Cadillac
Set off from Bordeaux on the well-marked cycling path heading south-east through the Entre-deux-Mers appellation (48 km / 30 miles). The route hugs quiet country lanes through the fortified village of Créon and into the golden vineyards fringing the Garonne. Arrive in Cadillac, a compact fortified town encircled by its medieval walls. Stop at a local cave (wine cellar) for a tasting — many winegrowers offer free or low-cost tastings directly. Overnight in Cadillac at a chambre d'hôtes or small guesthouse.
🚌Self-guided cycling (48 km on marked cycling paths and quiet lanes). No additional transport needed.
🛏Chambre d'hôtes or budget guesthouse in Cadillac (~£30–45/night)
- →Cycle Bordeaux → Créon → Cadillac via Entre-deux-Mers cycling path (48 km)
- →Wine tasting at a local cave in the Entre-deux-Mers appellation (~£5–10)
- →Walk Cadillac's medieval ramparts and town centre
Cadillac to Saint-Émilion
Cadillac to Saint-Émilion
A beautiful 50 km ride through the Entre-deux-Mers vineyards, weaving between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. Pass through Rauzan with its striking medieval château (free to view from outside, small fee to enter). Arrive in the jewel of Bordeaux wine country: Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO World Heritage village perched on a limestone plateau. Book a self-bookable walking tour of Saint-Émilion's underground monolithic church via GetYourGuide (~£12), or join a wine tasting at one of the many estates lining the village. Stay the night in a guesthouse or budget hotel in or near the village.
🚌Self-guided cycling (50 km on quiet lanes and vineyard paths).
🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in/near Saint-Émilion (e.g. Logis de la Cadène area, ~£35–50/night)
- →Cycle Cadillac → Rauzan → Saint-Émilion (50 km through Entre-deux-Mers vineyards)
- →Visit Rauzan medieval château (~£4 entry)
- →Self-bookable guided visit to Saint-Émilion's monolithic church and catacombs via GetYourGuide (~£12)
- →Wine tasting at a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru estate (~£10–15)
Saint-Émilion to Blaye
Saint-Émilion to Blaye
The longest day of the route at 64 km, heading north through the Côtes de Bordeaux vineyards towards the Gironde estuary. The reward is Blaye — a spectacular 17th-century Vauban citadel overlooking the Gironde, a UNESCO-listed fortress and one of France's most impressive military heritage sites. Entry to the citadel grounds is free; a small museum inside costs around £4. Taste the Blaye-Côtes de Bordeaux reds and dry whites at a local producer. Stay overnight within or near the citadel town.
🚌Self-guided cycling (64 km — the longest day; mostly flat with some rolling vineyard terrain).
🛏Guesthouse or small hotel in Blaye (~£30–45/night)
- →Cycle Saint-Émilion → Blaye via Côtes de Bordeaux vineyards (64 km)
- →Explore the Vauban Citadel of Blaye (grounds free, museum ~£4)
- →Wine tasting at a Blaye-Côtes de Bordeaux producer (~£5–8)
Blaye to Bordeaux — Crossing the Gironde & Médoc
Blaye to Bordeaux via Médoc
Begin with a highlight of the whole trip: a short ferry crossing of the Gironde estuary from Blaye to Lamarque (~£5 including bike). On the western bank you enter the legendary Médoc. Ride through Fort Médoc (a second Vauban fortress, free to explore) before joining the famous Bordeaux Wine Route through the world-renowned Margaux appellation. Pass Château Margaux's gates and explore the village. The route continues on quiet roads through hedged fields and moorland back into Bordeaux (61 km total). Celebrate with dinner and wine in Bordeaux this evening.
🚌Bac (ferry) Blaye to Lamarque with bike (~£5–8). Self-guided cycling (61 km) back to Bordeaux.
🛏Return to Bordeaux hostel or budget hotel (~£25–35/night)
- →Ferry crossing Blaye → Lamarque with bike (~£5–8)
- →Visit Fort Médoc Vauban fortress (free entry)
- →Cycle the Bordeaux Wine Route through Margaux appellation (61 km total)
- →Optional wine tasting in Margaux village (~£10–15)
- →Celebratory dinner in Bordeaux
Depart Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Return your rental bike this morning (check the hire shop's drop-off time). Enjoy a final breakfast in one of Bordeaux's many boulangeries before heading to the station or airport. Bordeaux Saint-Jean station has regular TGVs to Paris (from ~£50), or catch a budget flight home. If your departure is late, spend a final morning visiting the Cité du Vin wine museum — a striking architectural landmark with excellent wine exhibitions and a panoramic tasting floor (entry ~£20, bookable directly online).
🚌TGV Bordeaux → Paris from ~£50, or budget flight to UK airports.
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Return rental bike
- →Optional visit to La Cité du Vin wine museum (~£20, book direct at laciteduvin.com)
- →Final breakfast at a local boulangerie
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£445 | £1,590 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,145 per person (72%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£445
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Cycling the Grand Crus of Bordeaux cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £445 per person for 6 days in Bordeaux, France. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £1,590 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £445 — a saving of roughly £1,145 (72%) per person.
How long is the Bordeaux, France trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Bordeaux, France.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a cycling, culture, foodie trip through Bordeaux, France, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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