Hiking in Brittany

Brittany has rich traditions and a culture all its own

We hike the spectacular coast of Brittany from one medieval village to another. Along the way, we enjoy the best of Brittany, sampling the famed local cuisine and discovering the ancient Celtic heritage of this French heartland.

Photo by Rocco Fasano / Lonely Planet Images

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Hiker's Brittany

Coastal Trails, Legends of Celtic France, and La Cuisine Bretonne

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 bollée (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 .

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

Details

  • 9-day trip begins and ends in Rennes
  • 8 nights in hotels including a 17th century chateau
  • All meals included except 2 dinners
  • Easy to moderate trails, 3-6 hours a day, van support

Tour Costs

$4695 (11-15 members)
$5095 (6-10 members)

Single supplement: $625

Prices are for 2010 dates

Departures & Leaders

Jun 12-20, 2010  Nicos Caravellas
   Richard Bell, Mike Browder
Sep 21-29, 2010  Nicos Caravellas
   Stefano Baldi

Suggested Reading

Reading list, click here.

Itinerary at a Glance
Hiker's Brittany route-map

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
Fréhel Cape / Brehat Island / Domaine du Val

The Fréhel 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 Bréhat 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-Fétan, 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.

This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure