How far is the Vélodyssée?
** Vélodyssée** is the French section ofEuroVelo 1, a European cycle route linking Norway to Portugal.
In France, the route measures some 1300 km and crosses three major regions:
- Bretagne
- Pays de la Loire
- Nouvelle-Aquitaine
The route starts at Roscoff, in Finistère, and ends at Hendaye, on the Spanish border.
What makes the Vélodyssée particularly enjoyable is that over 70% of the route is on cycle paths or greenways, often away from traffic. This makes for long, stress-free rides, and makes the route accessible to a wide public.
But covering these 1300 km inevitably requires a bit of time.
How many days to do the whole Vélodyssée
The duration depends above all on your daily pace.
Here are the most common estimates for completing the entire Vélodyssée.
In 2 weeks
Cyclists used to long distances often cover 80 to 100 km per day.
In this case, it's possible to complete the Vélodyssée in 14 to 16 days.
This is a dynamic pace, with few rest days and fairly long stages.
In 3 weeks
This is the most common format.
With 50 to 70 km per day, the Vélodyssée is generally completed in 20 to 23 days.
This pace makes it possible to enjoy the trip:
- swimming breaks
- visits to towns
- detours to beaches or ports
It's often the right balance between sporting adventure and discovery.
In 4 weeks
For a more leisurely trip, many cyclotourists choose a full month.
With 30 to 50 km per day, the route becomes very accessible, even for beginners.
This also leaves time to enjoy some emblematic stages such as:
- Nantes
- La Rochelle
- the Bassin d'Arcachon
- the Basque Country
How many kilometers per day on the Vélodyssée
The number of kilometers covered each day directly influences the total duration of the trip.
Here are some realistic benchmarks.
Sport cyclists
80 to 100 km per day
Regular cyclists
50 to 70 km per day
Quiet travellers or families
30 to 50 km per day
These distances remain accessible, as the route is mostly flat, particularly in the Landes and Vendée.
The only slightly more hilly areas are:
- on the Brittany coast
- around Nantes
- in Basque country, near the end of the route
With an electric bike, some travelers easily increase their daily average.
If you don't want to carry your own bike, several towns on the route also offer a bike hire in Arcachon or a bike hire in Biarritz to cover certain sections.
Doing the Vélodyssée in a week: which sections to choose
Not everyone has three weeks ahead of them. Fortunately, the Vélodyssée can also be explored in sections.
Here are a few portions ideal for a week-long trip.
Nantes → La Rochelle
Approximately 300 km.
This section crosses the Vendée and skirts numerous seaside resorts such as Les Sables-d'Olonne or Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie.
La Rochelle → Arcachon
A route much appreciated for its maritime landscapes.
It takes in:
- Rochefort
- Royan
- the Gironde estuary
- the Médoc
Arcachon → Biarritz
Probably one of the most beautiful stretches of the route.
It passes through:
- the Dune du Pilat
- the Landes forest
- the Basque coast
Some towns are ideal for starting this type of trip, thanks to the services available, notably bike hire in Lège-Cap-Ferret or bike hire in Andernos-les-Bains.
Tips for organizing the duration of your trip
To estimate the time needed, a few criteria are important.
Your level of cycling
If you ride regularly, 60 km per day remains a comfortable distance.
For a first cycling trip, it's best to plan for 40 km per day maximum.
The type of bike
An electric bike often enables you to increase distances without excessive fatigue.
It is also very useful in windy conditions, which are not uncommon on the Atlantic coast.
Time for sightseeing
La Vélodyssée passes through many remarkable towns and landscapes.
Taking the time to visit:
- Nantes
- La Rochelle
- le Bassin d'Arcachon
- Bayonne
can turn the trip into a real exploration of the Atlantic coastline.
The Vélodyssée is usually completed in 2 to 4 weeks to link Roscoff to Hendaye.
Sports cyclists can complete the 1300 km in two weeks, while the majority of travelers choose three weeks to enjoy the route. One month is a very comfortable way to experience the adventure.
But the beauty of La Vélodyssée lies in its flexibility. You can cover the whole route or just a few hundred kilometers, depending on the time you have available.
Whatever the duration you choose, pedaling along the Atlantic remains one of the most beautiful ways to discover France's west coast.
