Your spring challenge: cycling around Bassin
New season, new challenges! What if, this year, you were to take on on a tour of Bassin...by bike ? 62 km in circumference, but more than 330 km of cycle paths. Quite a playground for young and old, all year round !
Preparing for your trip 📝
The Bassin tour can be done in a day, on a manual bike for the more sporty or on an electric bike. But our advice is to take it easy, and to take several days to fully enjoy our local treasures.
To make life easier, here's our checklist essentials to take with you :
- Flask
- Weather-appropriate clothing (and it can change from moment to moment, with the rhythm of the tides!)
- Cap, sun cream and sunglasses (always depending on the weather)
- Bike panniers or suitable rucksack
- A little snack to keep you going (or more for those who would like to picnic of course)
- Your Arcachon Bassin tourist map, to be collected from Bassin Tourist Offices ! It contains all the practical computing for your stay, including Points of interest not to be missed !
- (For the more adventurous, don't forget to stamp your travel diary! You can find all the information here!)
- And of course...a bike! Don't have one to spare? Contact one of our rental companies, They're all around Bassin in Arcachon!
Here are our practical tips:
- We're leaving early to try and make the most of it a maximum in the morning ! The North Bassin, in particular the arrival on the Lège-Cap Ferret peninsula or the road to the Dune du Pilat on the South Bassin, can be a real challenge. a little sportiers.
- I plan my journey ahead, using the tools at my disposal! From Arcachon to Le Teich (commonly known as Sud Bassin), 21 numbered and coloured routes so you can travel in complete safety. From Biganos to Lège-Cap Ferret (Nord Bassin), the Vélodyssée will be lit up along 35 km, thanks to a bioluminescent floor that will allow the route to be seen more clearly. secure roaming 100% even at night!
- Make sure you take note of all the practical information you need to get around with peace of mind! All the information relating to self-service inflation pumps, secure parking facilities or electric recharging points can be found at over here!
- In summer, keep an eye on safety instructions in the event of forest fires ! All the official information are available here !
- Are you looking for a accommodation providers, rental companies, restaurants, tourist offices, visitor sites and leisure activities, located along cycling routes? Some of our professionals have «Accueil Vélo» : they have chosen to welcome you - you, your bike, your panniers... - by complying with quality standards.
- Do you have a breakdown or technical problem during your journey? Our group of bike hire companies is at your disposal! They'll do everything they can, free of charge, to make sure you can leave without a hitch!
Are you ready? Let's get cycling around Bassin!
For the occasion, we will be following Emmanuelle (aka Manue) on her journey, surrounded by family and friends. In total: 4 adults and 5 children (so yes, yes, it can be done!). The time to’a long weekend, from the first light of spring, Here they go for an adventure, some might say an epic! She tells us all about it:
Day 1: From Andernos, via the Heart of Bassin, Le Teich to Gujan-Mestras
" 8am departure from’Andernos, bikes checked, panniers loaded, children over-excited... all at a gentle pace to warm up the calves as you make your way along the road. the Vélodyssée ! Another option: via a of the Tour de Gironde à Vélo, which passes through Bassin, from Arès to Mios!
The route is shaded, the soft spring green always moves me, the revival is here. The children pedal at full speed, the grown-ups keep pace ... at this rate we're going to do this Bassin tour in a day!
For a change from the cycle path, at Audenge you branch off towards the church to follow the route of Santiago de Compostela and join the port of Biganos, colourful huts...
We'll get our strength back for’a snack on the tables in the port and we tie up the bikes to do the route Terra Adventure Relax your muscles and enjoy a variety of pleasures! 1 hour later Poï'z (little pins that you have to find at the end of your quest Terra Aventura) in our pockets, we put our bikes back on... The little legs are starting to get tired, except for the youngest, who is happy to be back on the road again... in her seat behind Mum 🙂
But we were clever because the next picnic stop is nearby... We continue on the chemin de St Jacques of Compostela, then pick up the track that runs alongside the main road before weaving our way along a footpath to reach the port of Le Teich and its belvedere.
While the children, between 2 crisps and 1 sandwich, enjoy themselves in the wooden playground next to the bathing pool of Le Teich, the friends bring out a small aperitif to congratulate each other on their success. timing respected!
After a nice break under thehe gentle rays of sunshine and light bags, we set off again along the path that runs alongside the Teich Ornithological Reserve The view of Bassin is magical! Part of the route gets off the ground, which allows us to pick some flowers to make it a A beautiful bouquet for mothers.
Then we go back to the track alongside the railway line from Le Teich to Gujan-Mestras. And we arrived relaxed at our accommodation, Camping de Verdalle (Gujan-Mestras) where we had booked 2 canvas bungalows for 2 nights.
Everyone goes about their business, the men go shopping for the evening meal, children have fun and I even have time to read a chapter before joining friends for a pasta and board games evening and an early night, because tomorrow we have another day ahead of us...
Day 2: La Teste de Buch and its Dune du Pilat, Arcachon and the seafront
After a night's sleep (not entirely restorative let's not exaggerate either), a bike check and a good breakfast, Here we go again, a little lighter! And yes, that's the advantage of sleep 2 nights in the same place, we just picnics in our bags. 😉
We're heading for the Dune of Pilat (located at La Teste de Buch), motivation is at an all-time high! We may live in Bassin, we still love climbing the Dune... To make the route more enjoyable and because we have the time, we have decided to go via the port of La Teste and the salt meadows to reach the port of L'Aiguillon (in Arcachon).
The walk was bucolic...almost chaotic, especially as my friend Steph’ has broken a link in its chain. Memo to ourselves : in addition to puncture repair kits, pumps and bandages, take chain links !
In our misfortune, we almost arrived on Arcachon and a bike hire company repairs his chain. The whole thing gives us a well-deserved break: the children play on the sand and the adults relax in a bar while the repairs are carried out. As we were running a little late and our stomachs were crying out for food, we decided to to stay on the beach for a picnic.
We're not wasting any more time, we really want to spend the afternoon at the top of the Dune ! We got back on our bikes and rode along the track from Arcachon to Moulleau via Pereire. The route is hilly, but well worth the diversions!
There's no end to marvel at Bassin, the sun is always with us even if it's cooling off a bit... It's a good thing we're going to warm up when we see the coast that awaits us on the way to the Dune! (PS: Personally, I push my bike up the mountain, so I have a good excuse: I've got a 20kg girl to look after!)
And then there's the Dune to climb...it's been a sporting weekend ! Just sit back and admire...the kids are tireless !
17h : it's time to go home to our tents. We take the fast return option by the straight track, It's a good thing it goes all the way down, so we'll be on the trail! On the programme this evening: rest, shower, aperitif, pizza and, above all, nobody asks for anything else before going to bed.
Day 3: Crossing the Bassin by shuttle from Arcachon to the Lège-Cap Ferret peninsula, Arès and back home!
Monday is a public holiday and the last day of our tour! The enthusiasm is still there, it's better than being at school!
We pack up, load the bikes and set off again along the track to reach the Thiers pier in’Arcachon. Going back to the other side of Bassin is out of the question: we cross by boat!
Departure 11am with UBA shuttles to cross. For those with electric bicycles, don't forget to’remove battery before mounting !
A some thirty minutes later, We have arrived at the Bélisaire jetty on the in Cap Ferret. Not far away stands its famous lighthouse, but we'll pass this time (we went there this winter).
(Almost) after the effort, the comfort: we treat ourselves to a restaurant on the edge of Bassin, with the Dune in the background. We end our journey on the cycle path between forest and sand dunes to Ares, before taking on a final stretch of the Vélodyssée. Our legs are tired, but our heads are full of memories!"
