Discover Normandy on two wheels on a seven-day journey from Paris through one of France’s most captivating regions. Leaving the capital behind, we follow winding country roads towards the Seine Valley and the historic heart of Normandy, combining great riding with some of the region’s most iconic sights.
The route takes us through medieval towns and picturesque villages, along the dramatic cliffs of Étretat and the beautiful Normandy coast, before reaching Honfleur, Bayeux and the historic D-Day landing beaches. We continue west to the spectacular Mont-Saint-Michel, riding through the rolling countryside, quiet backroads and characteristic bocage that make Normandy such a rewarding region to explore by motorcycle.
With a carefully selected mix of scenic roads, history, culture and French gastronomy, this tour offers a complete introduction to Normandy, from the banks of the Seine to the shores of the English Channel.
Paris
This is a relaxed road tour designed to enjoy Normandy at its best, with a mix of flowing country roads, small villages and scenic coastal stretches. Riding days are balanced to leave plenty of time to stop, explore and enjoy the places we visit rather than simply covering kilometres.
The tour is entirely on paved roads and suitable for riders comfortable with normal road riding. Expect a varied pace, from narrow country lanes through the Norman bocage to open roads along the coast, with regular stops for viewpoints, historic sites, local food and coffee.
We leave the bustle of Paris behind and head west, quickly trading city streets for the quiet roads and rolling countryside of the Vexin. Our first day follows the Seine towards Normandy, with a stop in Giverny, the home of Claude Monet, before continuing through picturesque villages and along the river to Château Gaillard.
By late afternoon, we arrive in Rouen, where medieval streets, timber-framed houses and the impressive cathedral make for a perfect first evening in Normandy.
Approx. 180–220 km
Rouen → Étretat → Honfleur
From Rouen, we ride north through the Norman countryside until the landscape suddenly opens onto the English Channel and the spectacular white cliffs of Étretat.
After time to enjoy one of Normandy’s most iconic views, we continue along the coast and across the Seine estuary towards Honfleur. With its colourful old harbour, narrow streets and lively terraces, it’s the kind of place made for parking the bikes and enjoying the evening on foot.
Approx. 200–250 km
Honfleur → Côte Fleurie → Pays d’Auge → Suisse Normande → Bayeux
Today is all about discovering Normandy from the saddle. We begin along the elegant Côte Fleurie before turning inland into the Pays d’Auge, where quiet roads wind between orchards, green pastures and traditional half-timbered villages.
The scenery becomes hillier as we reach Suisse Normande, giving us some of the most enjoyable riding of the tour before making our way north to historic Bayeux, our home for the next two nights.
Approx. 250–300 km
Bayeux → Arromanches → Omaha Beach → Pointe du Hoc → Utah Beach → Bayeux
A very different day awaits us as we explore the coastline that became the stage for one of the defining moments of the 20th century.
Rather than rushing from one site to another, we take our time along the landing beaches, visiting places such as Arromanches, Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc and the Normandy American Cemetery. Between the historic sites, quiet coastal roads and small villages give us time to take in the landscape and the scale of what happened here.
With no luggage to pack and another night in Bayeux, today is deliberately more relaxed and leaves plenty of time for the places we visit.
Approx. 150–200 km
Bayeux → Cotentin Peninsula → Granville → Mont-Saint-Michel
We leave Bayeux and head into the Cotentin Peninsula for one of the tour’s bigger riding days. Small country roads take us across a quieter and wilder side of Normandy, eventually bringing us back to the coast.
From here, we turn south towards Granville and Mont-Saint-Michel. As the kilometres pass, the landscape begins to open up until one of France’s most recognisable silhouettes finally appears on the horizon.
Few places make quite an arrival like Mont-Saint-Michel, and tonight we get to experience it without having to rush back onto the road.
Approx. 300–350 km
Mont-Saint-Michel → Domfront → Normandy-Maine → Perche
After a morning near Mont-Saint-Michel, we begin our journey back east, but there’s no reason to take the direct road.
Instead, we spend the day riding through rural Normandy: forests, farmland, old stone villages and wonderfully quiet roads through Domfront and the Normandy-Maine Regional Park.
There are fewer famous landmarks today, and that’s precisely the point. It’s a day to simply enjoy the motorcycles, the countryside and the pleasure of travelling through a part of France most visitors pass straight by.
Approx. 280–330 km
Perche → Chartres → Chevreuse Valley → Paris
Our final morning takes us through the peaceful countryside of the Perche before reaching Chartres and its magnificent cathedral.
After lunch, we avoid the obvious highways for as long as possible, taking the smaller roads through the Chevreuse Valley for one last enjoyable ride together.
Eventually the countryside gives way to the streets of Paris, bringing us back to where we started seven days earlier, after a week of coastal roads, Norman villages, great food, remarkable history and some of northern France’s most beautiful landscapes.
Approx. 200–250 km
