Motorbike Tours

France Tour June 2026 - Calais to the Dordogne

This tour started just south of Calais, headed south to the Dordogne then north to Troyes and north East towards Verdun. A total of 6 nights and 7 day's riding.

First of the 2 tours planned for 2026. The first in France itself and the second a combination of Spain and then back through France.

Right is the overview of the total route as shown in BaseCamp and details of the tour are given below. Weather was exceptional hitting 30 degrees and every day was perfect blue skies and sunshine. All hotels were booked via the Logis website and many had the Logis top quality ´´Table Distinguee´´.

NOTE: the map overview is in Basecamp but I no longer provide the daily trips as GPX files. If anyone wants them please send an email.

Hotel Le Fiacre

Day 1. The Hague to Quend, France - 393 km

Day 1 again a trek to get through Belgium to France. The usual hotel in Montreuil sur Mer was available but the restaurant was closed so we opted for a slightly more expensive location in Quend closer to the French coast and just up from the Baie de Somme. I rode alone along the coast all the way to Quend, leaving at 1030 and arriving at 1630. Weather enroute was warm with clear skies and a very pleasant ride to the hotel. The hotel itself was the Hotel Le Fiacre, which had a great heated outside pool which I took advantage of upon arrival. My riding partner for this trip, Karl, had arrived earlier from Calais and the tunnel. After a pleasant evening meal it was early retirement in aniticpation of day 1 of our tour south.

Beautiful open coutryside and scenery

Day 2. Quend to Bagnoles de L'Orne - 337km.

A lovely start to the day with blue skies and sunshine and soon the temperature was already into the late 20´s. We headed due south along the coast for the first 50 km past the Bay of the Somme and then crossing the River Seine at Rouen by free ferry service. We stoppeed for a dtink in a beautiful village with an old covered market. Some of the scenery enroute was spectacular. Then we headed inland to about 100 km south of Caen and the old tourist town of Bagnoles de L'Orne. Clearly a long since retired tourist town with its large refurbished railway station, the lines long since gone, and a large number of huge old 19 century hotels all clustered around a large lake. Some of the old hotels were converted and our hotel was the Villa Bois Jolli a quaint 19 century hotel with a great menu. Again a great day's riding and after dinner early retirement for the next days adventure.

Drinks stop just south of Rouen

The Hotel Le Bois Jolli

View towards hotel in Veluire

Day 3. Bagnoles de L'Orne to Velluire. - 310km.

Again spectacular weather greeted us the following morning and around 0930 we were off heading South passing in between Le Mans and Rennes towards Nantes. The roads in many parts were a little tame with sections of very long straights and little curves to get inspired by.

Anyway the trip took us into Parc National du Marais Poitevin which was very pretty. Towards the end of the trip we did get some smaller and more twisty roads before arriving at our overnight stop in Velluire - the Hotel Auberge de la Riviere. An absolutely stunning location right on the river Vendee, safe parking, a great restaurant and a room which opened up right onto the river. A really lovely dinner accompanied by a resident stray cat. Really lovely location which made up for the somewhat less challenging riding to get there! Early retirement and ready for day 4!

view from the hotel room

Great open countryside

Day 4. Velluire to Dordogne - 337km

Another bright start and blue skies. Temperatures were quickly up in the late 20's by 1100. The route took us South East, again some quite straight sections but the closer we got to the Dordogne river the better the roads. As we hit the river area the scenery changed. At some points we were riding along roads carved out of the ancient river bed with cliffs rising above us clearly with the erosion showing from millions of years of river presence long since gone and limited to the river Dordogne itself. The hotel was the Hotel L'Atelier d'Epicure. Upon arrival looked a bit deserted but once inside was spectacular. Great spacious rooms with aircon and a heated pool. Menu was the top Logis menu and everything was very modern. Location for parking was up a slight hill right outside your room. Couldn't be more secure. Probably the best hotel on the tour!

Drinks stop on the way to the Dordogne

Parking right outside the room!

A short visit to the Ossaury at Verdun at 0730 in the mornig to try out my new drone!

Day 5. Dordogne to Yzeures sur Creuse - 315 km.

Again a tremendous start to the day with blue skies and temperatures rising quickly to over 30 degrees. The roads out of the Dordogne were just as spectacular as coming in. A lot of heavy traffic around Sarlat was to be expected but soon we were out on great open winding roads. The route took us directly north past Limoges and into some low lying country. Hotel stop was in the small village of Yzeures sur Crease and the hotel de Le Relais de la Mothe. A lovely hotel but with on street parking only. A great dinner, airco for comfort and after dinner an early night for the next day's riding.

Hotel Relais de la Mothe

Drinks Stop, somewhere in France

Lovely villages en route

Day 5. Yzeures sur Creuse to Maison Les Chaource - 350km

Another gorgeous day ahead with again blue skies and soaring temperatures. Thankfully the Macna cooling vest was getting its fair use! This part of the tour took us North East again better roads the closer to the Champagne area we ventured. Crossing the Loire and passing the wine growing area of Chablis we headed again into the wide expanses of the north eastern part of France to our stop just south of Troyes in the village of Maison les Chaources. This part of France has some really amazing winding roads. Not too hilly but great open expanses of farmland. The hotel was great. Very secluded, great Spa and an absolutely amazing menu! Best food of the whole trip. Hotel was the Hotel Aux Maison.

break on the way to Champagne

Lovely pool and Spa at the hotel

Hotel Aux Maison, Maison Les Chaource

Lum=nch stop on the way to Verdun

Day 6. Maisons les Chaource to Les Trois Domaines - 319km.

Again, just for a change another blue skies day and temperatures were already climbing. Lovely roads leaving the hotel and on into the outskirts of Champange area. The route took us south and then north again through vast expanses of arrable countryside and because of the recent hot weather the farms were already harvesting, so a lot of heavy farm traffic on the roads.

Final leg of our France tour and we headed to an old favourite The Relais de la Voie Sacree for our overnight stay and dinner.

We had decided to skip breakfast on the final day on the Sunday but I did make a quick detour to the Ossuary at Daumont to test out and fly my drone. The results are posted above.

A realy great trip with Karl.

Looking forward to the Spain / France tour in September!