Cycling holiday along the River Seine, France

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION
Human-powered transport
Cycling is at the heart of this eight-day journey from Paris to Deauville. Travellers cover approximately 450 km by bike, following the Seine à Vélo from the French capital through the Seine Valley and Normandy to the Côte Fleurie.
The daily stages are completed by bicycle rather than by motorised transport. This allows travellers to experience the landscapes, towns and villages along the Seine at a slower pace.
Reducing the need for motorised transfers
The journey has been designed as a continuous point-to-point cycling route, so no motorised transfers are required between the daily cycling stages.
Our one-way bike service allows travellers to collect their bicycles in Paris and finish the journey in Deauville without having to transport the bicycles back to the starting point themselves.
Paris is connected to national and international rail services, while Deauville-Trouville has a railway station with connections towards Paris. Travellers therefore have the option of travelling to and from the itinerary by train rather than by private car.
Accommodation
Wherever possible, we favour small-scale, independent and locally operated accommodation along the route.
When information is available from accommodation providers, we also take into consideration specific measures such as reducing water and energy consumption, limiting single-use plastics, recycling waste, reducing unnecessary laundry and using environmentally responsible cleaning products.
We do not require all accommodation providers to meet a specific environmental certification, so these practices may vary between properties.
Vegetarian and vegan options and local food
Travellers are encouraged to discover seasonal and locally produced food during their journey and are provided with recommendations for independent restaurants, cafés and regional producers along the route.
Vegetarian and plant-based options are recommended where available. The journey crosses Île-de-France and Normandy, giving travellers opportunities to discover products associated with the regions they are travelling through, including Normandy apples, cider and cheeses.
Choosing independent restaurants and regional producers also means that part of the travellers’ spending goes directly to businesses located in the destinations visited.
ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
Travelling through the Seine Valley and Normandy
The itinerary uses established sections of the Seine à Vélo, cycle paths, greenways and existing roads between Paris and the Normandy coast.
Along the way, travellers encounter riverbanks, forests, agricultural landscapes, villages, wetlands and the Seine estuary. The route also passes through or close to natural areas including the Parc naturel régional des Boucles de la Seine Normande and the Marais-Vernier.
Travellers are asked to remain on designated cycling routes and marked paths, particularly around wetlands, riverbanks and other sensitive natural environments.
Raising traveller awareness
Each traveller receives a digital roadbook containing practical recommendations for their journey, including guidance on behaviour in natural areas.
Travellers are asked to stay on marked paths, respect rules applying to protected areas, avoid disturbing or feeding wildlife, keep noise to a minimum and take their waste with them when bins are not available.
These recommendations are particularly relevant around the Seine, wetlands, the Seine estuary and other natural areas encountered along the route.
Travellers are also encouraged to carry reusable water bottles and bags and to use recycling facilities where these are available.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY
The itinerary includes overnight stops in different communities between Paris and the Normandy coast. Travellers therefore spend several days travelling through towns, villages and rural areas along the Seine rather than travelling directly from Paris to Deauville.
Wherever possible, we select independent hotels, guesthouses and locally operated accommodation. Our roadbook also recommends independent restaurants, cafés, shops and regional producers along the route.
Travelling by bicycle gives travellers the opportunity to stop in smaller communities along the itinerary for meals, refreshments, visits and overnight stays.
The journey also introduces travellers to regional cultural and gastronomic heritage. The itinerary includes a visit to the Fondation Claude Monet in Giverny, associated with the artistic history of the Seine Valley and Impressionism, as well as an experience centred around Calvados production in Normandy.
EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
We work with tourism providers located along or close to the itinerary, including accommodation providers, cultural attractions and other local businesses.
Wherever possible, we choose locally operated providers. This means that expenditure on accommodation, visits and other services is made with businesses operating in the destinations through which travellers pass.
We and our operational partners are expected to comply with applicable employment legislation and working standards in France, including legal wage and employment requirements.
The trip can be undertaken with conventional bicycles or e-bikes. Offering both options allows travellers with different cycling preferences and experience levels to choose the type of bicycle that best suits them. Travellers can also complete the daily stages at their own pace.