Tailormade tour Brittany self-drive touring holiday France

9 nights/10 days

Honfleur • Trebeurden • Bayeux

This self-drive holiday to the north coast of Brittany for a stay of seven nights also allows you to experience the scenery of northern France as you drive from Calais through Normandy with an overnight stay near Honfleur on the way out and an overnight stay between Bayeux and the Normandy coast on the way back. Eurotunnel crossing for car and passengers included but Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth to Caen can be arranged instead.
Holiday price guide

Available year-round subject to the opening period of the hotels, from £1,990 per person.

Luxury France self-drive touring holiday to Brittany with overnight stops at Honfleur and Bayeux

Highlights

Estuary of the Somme • Honfleur • Trebeurden • Visit the Pink Granite coast • Bayeux • Visit Arromanches and the Landing Beaches

Day by day

After arriving in Calais via the Eurotunnel, begin your drive through the rolling, chalky fields of the Pas-de-Calais and then the valley of the Somme, into the charming landscape of Normandy, crossing the mouth of the mighty River Seine by the dramatic Pont de Normandie. Your overnight stop is just outside Honfleur. It’s worth trying to arrive early enough in the afternoon to have some free time in Honfleur before reaching your hotel. Honfleur’s harbour is lined by elegant, townhouses and warehouses that are now occupied by an array of restaurants and art galleries.

Today’s drive takes about four hours in total, so you have time to explore the vicinity of Honfleur, perhaps with a drive along the coast to the seaside resort of Deauville or to drive through the delightful Calvados countryside with its apple trees, pasture-land and half-timbered Normandy farmhouses. Your route takes you around the city of Caen and then south-west through the village of Villers-Bocage, scene of a tank battle on 13 June 1944. Further on, stop in the town of Villedieu-les-Poeles, which is famous for copper working. It is here that countless pots and pans have been produced since the Middle Ages. Another key site just off your route is Mont St Michel, a striking island linked by a causeway and upon which perches a mediaeval abbey. Reach the coastal resort of Trebeurden in time to check-in for the evening.

You have six whole days to rest, relax, explore, unwind and venture out. Trebeurden is a small resort at the start of the Pink Granite coast. There are many activities with a focus on the sea from marina, diving, sailing and boat trips, as well as several fine, sandy beaches. From the town itself you can hike along the coastal paths and also discover the regional archaeological heritage by seeking out menhirs, dolmen and covered walkways. There are natural headlands such as Bihit and Castel and just offshore is the island of Milliau, only accessible at low tide. Naturalists will enjoy the bird sanctuary at Sept-Iles, the freshwater marshes at Quellen (now home to many birds, amphibians and Camargue horses) and at Roscoff there is an exotic botanical garden. There are hiking and biking trails in the area and if you leave the car behind, you can always ask the hotel to arrange a car to pick you up – it depends on how adventurous you might want to be. Depending on the dates of your stay, you might be lucky enough to be able to witness one of the several local festivals and events in Trebeurden, mostly to do with the sea, such as sculling championships, a regatta and a festival of the sea. There are also music and folklore festivals.

You retrace your steps towards Bayeux, perhaps taking time to visit the mediaeval Breton town of Dinan, with cobbled streets, ramparts and fine half-timbered houses. Your overnight stop is in the countryside north of Bayeux and a few miles inland from the Normandy Landing Beaches.

Today there is a choice (unless you opt to have an extra night here) of heading north to Arromanches and the Landing Beaches tracing the coast to Caen and perhaps visiting Pegasus Bridge, or driving a few miles south to the charming cathedral city of Bayeux, famous for the tapestry, but also home to a poignant British military cemetery. Then cross the River Seine and it’s back to Calais and your return Eurotunnel crossing.

Special offers for this holiday>

Excellent. So much easier coming to you than trying to book accommodation ourselves. Will certainly come to you again, especially for a self-drive holiday.
Mr D, Sep 2023

Holiday price guide Prices from £1,990 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.

Holiday Code FRSD15

Luxury France self-drive touring holiday to Brittany with overnight stops at Honfleur and Bayeux

Special offers for this holiday>

Excellent. So much easier coming to you than trying to book accommodation ourselves. Will certainly come to you again, especially for a self-drive holiday.
Mr D, Sep 2023

Holiday price guide Prices from £1,990 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.

Holiday Code FRSD15

Our prices include ● Eurotunnel return crossing from Folkestone to Calais for car and passengers
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Campagne double room at the Auberge de la Source, near Honfleur
● 7 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Classic double room at the Hotel Ti al Lannec, in Trebeurden
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Classic double room at the Chateau de la Cheneviere, near Bayeux
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints

Our prices do not include ● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers and meals except breakfast at hotels
● Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
● Local tourist tax, usually between Euros 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel

Additional information Dates
This self-drive holiday can be arranged throughout the year subject to the opening dates of the hotels.
Driving times for this touring holiday
Calais to Honfleur 3 hours
Honfleur to Trebeurden 4 hours
Trebeurden to Bayeux 3 hours 15 mins
Bayeux to Calais 4 hours

Luxury France self-drive touring holiday to Brittany with overnight stops at Honfleur and Bayeux

Hotels included in this tour

Special offers

Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.

Excellent. So much easier coming to you than trying to book accommodation ourselves. Will certainly come to you again, especially for a self-drive holiday.
Mr D, Sep 2023

Holiday price guide Prices from £1,990 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.

Holiday Code FRSD15

Luxury France self-drive touring holiday to Brittany with overnight stops at Honfleur and Bayeux

Highlights of Brittany

Sample the local gastronomy of seafood or cider. The Breton costume is still worn on special occasions, see Nautical fashions, and experience the Folklore festivals.

Festivals in Brittany

Pardons - religious processions on Saints' Days throughout the year.

Climate in Brittany

Average air temperatures in Centigrade: Jan: 9.3, Feb: 8.6, Mar: 11.1, Apr: 17.1, May: 16.0, Jun: 22.7, Jul: 25.1, Aug: 24.1, Sep: 21.2, Oct: 16.5, Nov: 12.1, Dec: 9.3.

Luxury France self-drive touring holiday to Brittany with overnight stops at Honfleur and Bayeux

Highlights of Normandy

Calvados, cider and camembert, horse-races in Deauville in August, markets every day of the week throughout the region, the Route du Cidre, and the summer art exhibitions.

Climate of Normandy

Average air temperatures in Centigrade: Jan: 7.6, Feb: 6.4, Mar: 8.4, Apr: 13.0, May: 14.0, Jun: 20.0, Jul: 21.6, Aug: 22.0, Sep: 18.2, Oct: 14.5, Nov: 10.8, Dec: 7.9. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France.

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