Normandy Biking

“The level of service by Sebastian and Dimitri was excellent. Both were very attentive, knowledgeable and flexible. They were personable and engaging. The specialized tour to do the Canadian war sites – battles, memorials and cemeteries – accommodated everyone’s interests. Juno Beach and Vimy were memorable but we really liked all the sites. Also the visit to the Benedictine Monastary was very interesting. The preparation (timing, purchasing of tickets, etc.) done by Sebastian and Dimitri made visits to the various sites seem effortless. We were very satisfied with the selection of restaurants and the food exceeded our expectations. Overall we were quite satisfied with the hotels. Some of the hotels were exceptional both in the rooms and in the overall property. We loved all the meals everywhere. We had some picnic lunches and the variety of food and snacks provided by Sebastian and Dimitri was outstanding. The maps & route instructions were easy to follow and the daily briefings were very much appreciated. We were able to discuss options and adjust the route and site visits depending on weather. Ride options were good but some distances were quite long. This was unavoidable due to our request to visit certain sites. There were more hills and steep climbs than expected. E-bikes were a definite asset for some. The van and guides were always available and the technical support was excellent. We noticed that Sebastian and Dimitri were in constant communication in meeting our needs. What did we enjoy most about our trip? Hard to say – scenery, site visits, food, wine, service, cohesiveness of the group – all great.”

“All aspects of the trip came together to make a very enjoyable and memorable tour. Our guides were exceptional and travelling with friends made everything easier and more fun. The area was extremely beautiful and although we had been through parts of it before many years ago, the opportunity to bike through the countryside and in historic towns and villages enhanced our experience greatly. The terrain was slightly more hilly than anticipated but a good challenge and for the most part, manageable. Ferme de la Ranconniere was exceptional. It was fun to have open air meals on occasion when weather and timings permitted. The Bayeux tour was exceptional and the guide extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. The cider tasting and Benedictine Abbey (DOM) were also very enjoyable. The historic sites were appreciated and for the most part very well done. Great bike – really appreciated having a lighter frame, particularly on the hills. The technical support provided by the guides was excellent. They were very thorough and helpful in fitting our bikes and rigorously tested our brakes before starting out every day. They loaded and unloaded the bikes efficiently whenever we needed to do transfers. The comradery of the group was exceptional and the guides fit in very well. Learning more about and seeing WWI and WWII sites was very moving and gave more meaning to those points in history. The cultural aspects of the tour were also extremely enjoyable – France is a beautiful country with delicious cuisine. Our drop-in at the community centre/coffee shop was very fun, particularly when Dimitri started playing the drums and one or two of the group started dancing. I personally enjoy active holidays so touring by bike was perfect. It was our first trip and I would like to do more. Having many of our meals and most of the tipping managed by Great Explorations made everything so much easier and also reduced the need to regularly visit bank machines or carry excessive amounts of cash.”

Normandy was a destination my sister and myself wanted to make in order to find our uncles grave at the Canadian cemetary. The guides helped to make this a memorable experience and even picked roses for us to place on the grave.

Great scenery, great food, great hotels plus history.

A well organized trip with two very capable leaders. Good hotels, good restaurants and good biking routes. The leaders went out of their way to accommodate our wishes. I will definitely recommend Great Explorations.