YOUR FRENCH ROAD TRIP!
Hi Chellise & Mike,
We’re so excited for your visit! Below you will find a couple itinerary ideas based on what we discussed. I think the van trip will be sweet and we’re excited to caravan with you for a few days to get you started. The nice thing with the van is you have a bit more flexibility in terms of weather, where you want to go, what you do, etc. So use these couple of options as inspiration but feel free to make final decisions when you arrive! :)
Option #1
Brittany is truly an awesome region that kinda feels like it’s own country. The coastal landscapes range from dramatic coastline with big crashing waves to stunning turquoise water beaches. There are loads of are enchanting medieval cities and lush green countrysides. There’s plenty to do and see and les Bretons are some of the friendliest folks you’ll come across in France.
Highlights:
Visit medieval walled-cities
Go to the international photography festival in a quaint village
Explore charming seaside towns
Shop at wonderful markets and eat all the oysters!
Tour the famous salt marshes
Take a day trip to one of the many nearby islands
Do some beautiful coastal walks with stunning landscapes
Pros:
Not as much driving, no toll roads. Easy loop drive.
Won’t be too many tourists around (though, maybe in some bigger towns and some beaches)
Cons:
No mountains, the terrain is mostly flat with rolling hills plus very pretty beaches/dramatic coastline.
Food will be mostly French (this could also be a pro depending on your desires). Lots of seafood, crepes, all the butter and cheeses!
Loose Itinerary Suggestions for Your Trip
DAY 1/JULY 8
Arrive in Paris, train to Nantes that afternoon. Settle in/chill. Check around our area, early drinks/dinner.
DAY 2/JULY 9
Tour of Nantes. Big walking day (or biking if you prefer). Go out that night (or see how you feel).
DAY 3/JULY 10
Excursion day. Options to check the town of Clisson/picnic by the river, visit a winery, bike along the Loire or Erdre river.
Option 1 BRITTANY
DAY 4/JULY 11
ROAD TRIP! Pick up your van and head to our closest coast for a day at the beach in Pornichet. Visit Guerande (cute village and cool salt marshes to see), stay in the area.
DAY 5/JULY 12
Go to La Gacilly photo festival, visit Rochefort en Terre (quaint stone village with castle).
DAY 6/JULY 13
Visit Vannes (great coastal town). If time/weather permits do a day trip to a nearby island (10 minute ferry to an island with the best oysters ever and great hiking).
DAY 7/JULY 14
Drive to Perros Guirec known as the Pink Coast for cool rock formations/coastal hiking. Visit Cap Frehel for more gorgeous wild coast with a rad old fort.
DAY 8/JULY 15
Options: visit Dinard lovely seaside village with nice beach, explore Saint Malo (touristy but in a good way), lay around a chill beaches if you feel, check out port town of Cancale (great seafood restos).
DAY 9/JULY 16
Visit Dinan (medieval city). You could also make time to visit Mont Saint Michel (#1 visited landmark in France. Very cool but full of tourists!). Head back to Nantes, return van. Stay over in Nantes (you’re welcome to stay at ours that night).
DAY 10/JULY 17
Train to Paris
DAY 11/JULY 18
Paris
DAY 12/JULY 19
Head home
Brittany Route Plan
Option #2
The Basque Country bridges the Southwest of France into Spain. It’s boasts stunning landscapes of both the mountains of the Pyrénées and the Atlantic ocean. The villages have their own unique architeture and vibe - not typically French feeling. You can spend your days hiking coastal trails, visiting many nice villages in the hillsides, eating yummy Spanish-influenced foods, or splashing in sea.
Highlights:
Visit the gorgeous small cities of Bayonne, Biarritz and Sean Jean de Luz
Cross over into Spain to lay around the beach and eat tapas
Hike along a stunning coastline
Venture into the Pyrénées mountains
City visit on the way back: Bordeaux or check some wineries
Pros:
Varied landscapes of steep mountains and the sea.
Spanish-influenced food and architecture.
Cons:
Further drive from us and you will back-track (same route back for the fastest way home).
Toll roads. Tolls will cost around 100 euros + extra gas for longer distance.
Loose Itinerary For Your Trip
DAY 1/JULY 8
Arrive in Paris, train to Nantes that afternoon. Settle in. Check around our area, early drinks/dinner.
DAY 2/JULY 9
Day in Nantes. Big walking day (or biking if you want). Go out that night (or see how you feel).
DAY 3/JULY 10
Excursion day. Options to check the town of Clisson/picnic by the river, visit a winery, bike along the Loire or Erdre river.
Option 2 Pay Basque
DAY 4/JULY 11
ROAD TRIP! Get an early start, head South. Mid-way stop at Dune du Pilat or just plow through (would add a couple extra hours). Visit Bayonne.
DAY 5/JULY 12
Visit Biarritz, Sean Jean de Luz. Cross border to Hondarribia, Spain.
DAY 6/JULY 13
Options for a beach day, visiting cute town of Hondarribia or amazing coastal hiking.
DAY 7/JULY 14
Morning hike or drive to San Sebastian, Spain. Tapas bar hopping. Drive to Etxlar and visit, drive up mountain and cross back to France side.
DAY 8/JULY 15
Visit characteristic Basque towns of Sare, Ainhoa, and Espelette.
DAY 9/JULY 16
Head back North. Opt to stop in Bordeaux or famous wine village of Saint Emilion. Drive back and stay over in Nantes.
DAY 10/JULY 17
Train to Paris.
DAY 11/JULY 18
Paris
DAY 12/JULY 19
Head home
Pays Basque Route Plan
Extra Notes
These will be pretty full days but you can go and hard or slow as you want. That’s the beauty of the van. JP and I almost always get up early to drive somewhere/do an activity/wander around, have a picnic lunch, take a post-lunch siesta in a sweet spot, then go for more exploring. The most awesome discovery I love about living in France is that summer hours are LONG! Sunset is usually around 10pm! It’s kind of amazing and gives you plenty of daylight hours for DOING & SEEING. We’ll typically decide where we want to stay for the night around 6 or 7 though so we can set up camp, cook, drink, hang. We can also definitely check some special restaurants along the way too!
Local Camper Van rental places I found
Road Surfer
Indie Camper
Black Sheep
Freedom Camper
Most of these places range around 100-130 euros per day (Freedom Camper was the cheapest, around 90ish per day but is a more basic model).
Not all of these site are in english so let me know if you have questions. I would recommend booking this soon though as they don’t have many and will likely get taken for summer months.