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Hiker's Brittany
Coastal Trails, Legends of Celtic France, and La Cuisine Bretonne
Repertory Trip: No Future Dates Set
![Hiker's Brittany route-map](javascript:routeMap("/images/trips/europe/france/brittany-map.jpg");)
Trip Details at-a-Glance
| Cost From: | TBA |
|---|---|
| Length: | 9 days |
| Arrive: | Rennes, France |
| Depart: | Rennes, France |
| Lodging: | 8 nights in hotels including a 17th century chateau |
| Meals: | All meals included except 2 dinners |
| Activity: | Hiking / Trekking, Cultural Adventures |
| Trip Level: |
Easy to moderate trails, 3-6 hours a day, van support
explain
|
Highlights
- Hike the Emerald Coast on ancient footpaths
- Sample Brittany’s best regional cuisine
- Visit an oyster farm, discover Brittany’s Celtic heritage, see the standing stones at Carnac
- Explore the walled city of Saint Malo, a medieval seaport
- Enjoy beautiful boutique hotels including a chateau
Choosing the Right Trip
We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
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References
We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.
Email Area ManagerDeparture Notes
Once you have signed up on the trip, we send a complete packing list, relevant health information, and required travel documents.
Resources
Repertory Trip
This is one of our special Repertory Trips offered every two to five years. Future dates have not been set for this trip, but you can see the “Itinerary at a Glance” and the “Full Trip Brochure” below (there may be small changes to the itinerary for the future departures, and prices will be finalized closer to departure). Contact us to receive early notification of the trip dates. These special trips fill very quickly once the exact dates are set!
A rugged peninsula in northwest France, Brittany beckons us with its hundreds of miles of ancient coastal footpaths, Celtic heritage, prehistoric sites, and renowned cuisine. We hike the clifftop trails of the Emerald Coast, see the mystic standing stones of Carnac, and hear the tales of 16th century corsairs—pirate clans who ruled this coast. As we explore this French heartland, we enjoy Brittany’s culinary delights, from fresh oysters to savory Breton buckwheat pancakes (galettes), enjoy a delicious bollee (traditional bowl) or two of the local cidre fresh from the farm, and discover an ancient, rural, and intriguing part of France full of history and tradition. Our delightful bases include medieval Dinan, the breathtaking walled seaport of St. Malo, and a 17th century chateau in Planguenoual .
Itinerary at a Glance
For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure
Days 1-2
Dinan
We meet in Rennes and head to the medieval port of Dinan, with its cobbled streets and half-timbered overhanging houses reveal a perfectly preserved past. The next day we hike through a magical ancient forest full of megalithic monuments.
Days 3-4
The Emerald Coast / Saint Malo
Following part of the Sentier des Douaniers, one of France’s finest hiking trails, we contour Brittany’s spectacular Emerald Coast past watchtowers, lighthouses, and fishing villages nestled in small coves. At hike’s end, we arrive in Cancale, home to probably the tastiest oysters in Brittany—and that is saying something! Our hike the next day brings us around the Bay of Lupin on coastal trails through farms and forests. Our hotel is in beautiful Saint Malo, a dramatic port surrounded by enormous ramparts.
Days 5-6
Frehel Cape / Brehat Island / Domaine du Val
The Frehel Cape is a magnificent place for hiking, with its high cliffs of pink granite and riot of wildflowers. We walk the cape to the Fort de la Latte, an archetypal medieval castle that has defied time and invaders since 937 AD. Our next hike start at Cape Plouezec and brings us along the coast to the ruined abbey of Beauport. Later we boat out to Brehat Island to enjoy its picturesque setting. Overnights are in a lovely 17th century chateau surrounded by forests.
Days 7-9
Bay of Morbihan / Gavrinis Island / Carnac
We head to the Bay of Morbihan (Gaelic for “small sea”), famous for its numerous islands and migratory birds. Our hike across forest, farmland, and beautifully manicured countryside brings us to a gem of a village called Poul-Fetan, and we visit Carnac, a megalithic site with one of the most important standing-stone alignments in the world. We also boat out to Gavrinis Island, once the destination of Christian pilgrimages, with its remarkable chambered burial mound dating to the 4th millennium BC. Overnights are in Carnac Plage. Depart via Rennes on Day 9.
For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure
What the Trip is Like
The trip is rated Level 3, Moderate. We hike from 3 to 5 hours each day (with two days having a total of 6 hours). The trails are not difficult but there are some rugged sections on the coastal tracks. Trip members should be in good shape and have good hiking boots. A vehicle will transfer our luggage between overnight accommodations. On some days, we enjoy picnic lunches with local wine and regional specialties. On “town” days, we often have lunch at local cafes. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the U.S. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 PM. Accommodations are in small hotels and inns.