# Cycling Around the Bay What to do en Arcachon Bay · Arcachon Bay Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/nouvelle-aquitaine/arcachon-bay/things-to-do/cycling-around-arcachon-bay · Revisado: 2026-11-12 - Duración: 6 h A 79 km loop of the bay on cycle paths and pine forest, closed by the Cap Ferret – Arcachon boat; flat, best in two days or in sections. What it is The Arcachon bay is made for cycling: it has more than 330 km of cycle paths between its communes, almost all flat and many shaded by pines. The Boucle du Tour du Bassin d'Arcachon, the circuit proposed by France Vélo Tourisme as part of the Vélodyssée, goes all the way round in 79 km through ten communes, and is closed by the boat between Cap Ferret and Arcachon. With no climbs worth mentioning, the challenge is the distance: do it in two days or pick a section. The full loop, step by step From Arcachon, along the south and east of the bay: Arcachon – La Teste-de-Buch – Gujan-Mestras. You leave along the city's paths (27 km of tracks within Arcachon, from the pointe de l'Aiguillon to Le Moulleau) and continue past the Gujan-Mestras oyster ports. Le Teich. You pass the Teich Bird Reserve. Biganos and Audenge. Small ports and the Domaine de Certes-Graveyron, 530 hectares of natural area. The train from Bordeaux stops at Biganos-Facture. Andernos-les-Bains, Arès and Lège. The north of the bay, with the Andernos pier and the Arès and Lège-Cap-Ferret salt meadows nature reserve. To the north, 35 km of the Vélodyssée have road markings that glow at night. The Cap Ferret peninsula. You head south through the oyster-farming villages to the jetée Bélisaire. Boat to Arcachon. The UBA shuttle crosses in about 30 minutes to the jetée Thiers and closes the loop. The circuit alternates cycle paths and, in some communes, stretches of shared road (13 per cent of the total). It has no signposting of its own: follow the local signs and bring the GPX track that can be downloaded from the France Vélo Tourisme website. In sections Arcachon – Gujan-Mestras via the ports: a short, flat stretch, good with children. The Cap Ferret peninsula, village to village: cross by boat and pedal between the oyster cabins. Arcachon – Dune du Pilat: the dune is on the Vélodyssée and its welcome area has bike racks and lockers. The boat with your bike The UBA's Arcachon – Cap Ferret shuttle runs from the jetée Thiers to the jetée Bélisaire. It admits unloaded bikes of up to 25 kg; electric ones with the battery removed, and not those with an integrated battery. Check the timetable before setting off: the France Vélo Tourisme website insists on this, because the last boat sets your day. Hire In Arcachon, Vélos d'Albret hires all year, and at La Hume, in Gujan-Mestras, Bee's opens from February to November; both have leisure and electric bikes, by the day or by the week. More details in bike hire. Getting there with your bike By train from Bordeaux, the TER reaches Biganos-Facture in about 30 minutes and Arcachon in about 53. In summer you must reserve a space for your bike on the train. Water, shade and forest The paths under the pines give shade, but the stretches by the water are in the sun. There are free-to-use bike pumps along the Arcachon and La Teste tracks. The Landes de Gascogne forest has a high fire risk: in dangerous periods access to the forest may be restricted, so check the day's rules before setting off. With children The paths are flat and mostly separated from traffic, perfect for children who already cycle on their own or ride in a seat. Choose a short stretch with a goal: the dune or an oyster port. Beware of the stretches shared with cars. Lo organiza: Union des Bateliers Arcachonnais (UBA) (https://bateliers-arcachon.com/navettes/arcachon-cap-ferret-2/) ## Cómo llegar y contacto - Coordenadas: 44.65, -1.1 ## Cerca de aquí - [L'Huître Papillon](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/nouvelle-aquitaine/arcachon-bay/where-to-eat/huitre-papillon), a 2.5 km - [Gujan-Mestras Oyster Ports](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/nouvelle-aquitaine/arcachon-bay/things-to-do/larros-oyster-port), a 2.5 km - [Aire des 3 Coccinelles](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/nouvelle-aquitaine/arcachon-bay/where-to-stay/aire-des-3-coccinelles), a 3.5 km - [Le Patio](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/nouvelle-aquitaine/arcachon-bay/where-to-eat/le-patio), a 4.8 km - [Arcachon Market](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/nouvelle-aquitaine/arcachon-bay/where-to-eat/arcachon-market), a 5.2 km - [Hôtel La Pergola](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/nouvelle-aquitaine/arcachon-bay/where-to-stay/hotel-la-pergola), a 5.3 km - [Hôtel Le Dauphin](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/nouvelle-aquitaine/arcachon-bay/where-to-stay/hotel-le-dauphin), a 5.6 km - [Boat to the Île aux Oiseaux and the Stilt Cabins](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/nouvelle-aquitaine/arcachon-bay/things-to-do/ile-aux-oiseaux-boat-trip), a 5.6 km ## Consejos ### Check the last boat's time The loop is closed by the Cap Ferret – Arcachon shuttle: if you miss it, you are left going round the bay. ### Download the GPX track The circuit has no signs of its own; the France Vélo Tourisme track avoids getting lost at junctions. ### Reserve your bike on the train in summer The Bordeaux – Arcachon TER requires a reserved space for bikes in season. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How many kilometres is the bike loop of the bay? 79 km according to France Vélo Tourisme, through ten communes. The Cap Ferret – Arcachon boat closes the circle. ### Can you take an electric bike on the boat? Yes, if the battery is removed and it weighs under 25 kg. Those with an integrated battery are not admitted. ### Is it hard? Not because of the climbs, which are almost nil, but because of the distance. Do it in two days or in sections. Destino: [Arcachon Bay](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/nouvelle-aquitaine/arcachon-bay.md)