geocalia
Day itinerary · 48.64° N · 1.51° W
The abbey mid-morning, the omelette at La Mère Poulard and, in the afternoon, two hours barefoot or in boots over the sands with a bay guide. By TGV and coach from Paris.
Part of Mont-Saint-MichelEnglish Channel
The plan
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
TGV from Montparnasse to Rennes
Le Passeur shuttle and climb up the Grande Rue · online ticket
book on Zenchef; confirm it is open that day
3 Boulevard de l'Avancée, 50170 Le Mont-Saint-Michel · +33 2 33 89 68 68
Découverte de la Baie · €17 · time depends on the tide, fifteen minutes beforehand
+33 2 33 70 83 49
a short round of the wall walk
shuttle to Le Verger and the 16:45 coach to Rennes
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Most people who go to Mont-Saint-Michel see the bay from above. On this day you walk on it: after the abbey and lunch on the mount's omelette, you leave through the ramparts gate with an accredited guide and take a two-hour round over the sands, among channels and quicksand, with the island towering above you. All without a car, by TGV and coach from Paris, and all on foot once there.
6:50 · TGV to Rennes and coach. An hour and a half by train and the direct Keolis Armor coach at 8:45, which reaches Le Verger at 10:00.
10:15 · The abbey. Free shuttle, climb along the Grande Rue and the abbey with the ticket bought online. Free for under-18s and EU youths up to 25.
12:30 · The omelette at La Mère Poulard. At the entrance to the village, since 1888. The classic omelettes cost €45; the tasting menu to share, €45 per person with starter and dessert, minimum two. Book and confirm that it is open that day.
14:00 · Two hours on the sands. The Découverte de la Baie guide waits to the right of the main gate, at the foot of the ramparts. About 3 km, €17 for adults and €12 for ages 3 to 14. The time changes every day with the tide: choose the date using the calendar on its website and adapt lunch.
16:15 · A while on the ramparts. If you have time to spare, climb to the wall-walk to see the bay you have just walked.
16:45 · Return. Shuttle to Le Verger, coach to Rennes, at 18:00, and TGV to Paris.
If you are travelling with children, yes: the walk on the sands is what they remember most. If the afternoon walk does not fit with the return coach, the alternative is to sleep over nearby.
Where to eat
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
What to order: the classic omelette (€45) or, to try several, the tasting menu to share (€45 per person, minimum two); for dessert, Annette's crème caramel
What to order: the traditional complete galette (€10) or the Normandy Delight with Vire andouille and camembert (€16), and a salted butter crêpe (€7)
What to order: the bay's pré-salé lamb, the house speciality; at lunchtime, the €29 farm menu with starter, main and dessert
Map
With where to park at each one.
Getting there
When to go
All year, on the days when Découverte de la Baie schedules afternoon walks: its times change with the tide and in winter they run mostly in holidays and at weekends. From April to October you go barefoot; in winter, in boots or neoprene.
Tips
Look at the guide's calendar first and then buy the train.
In winter, boots or neoprene booties, hat and gloves; in summer, shorts.
To clean your feet before getting back on the coach.
Questions
Yes, but always with an accredited guide: the tide comes in fast and there is quicksand.
€17 for adults and €12 for ages 3 to 14; free under 3.
Between €110 and €160 per person with the abbey, omelette, walk and coach, without the TGV.
Return to the mainland on foot by the footbridge and the dam: 40 minutes with the best view of the mount.
More plans like this
geocalia.com/en/france/normandy/mont-saint-michel/itineraries/mont-saint-michel-bay-walk-and-abbey
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.
Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/france/normandy/mont-saint-michel/itineraries/mont-saint-michel-bay-walk-and-abbey
