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Inspiration and great deals for your next low-carbon trips
What if we told you that in just two days, you could go from the gardens on the water in Amiens to the sandbars of the Baie de Somme—without ever getting behind the wheel? That’s exactly what our reporters Lisa and Mattéo did, traveling by TER train, e-bike, rowboat, and historic train. Here’s their step-by-step itinerary so you can do it yourself.
Want to calculate the carbon footprint of your trip before you go? Amiens Tourisme has even created a carbon calculator for that.
Article
Things to Do in the Somme Without a Car: Amiens, the Bay of Somme, and Coastal Picardy
First train, first change of scenery: our reporters left Paris Nord around 6:30 p.m. and arrived in Amiens a little over an hour later. Just enough time to drop off their bags and head over to Le Quai for dinner.
For the night, we're heading to From One Island to Another, a socially conscious lodging nestled in the heart of the Marais. A peaceful first night, lulled by the sound of the water, before setting out to explore the Hortillonnages.
“From one island to the next, it’s a real escape! The arrival process is self-guided and well-organized, but by the time we got there, it was already dark. Imagine our delight when we opened the curtains in the cabin the next morning: we were looking out over the marsh, surrounded by nature—it was truly magnificent and very soothing.” - Lisa Abitbol, our reporter
© Mattéo Miossec - The view when you open the curtains in the morning (and the lounge chair where you can relax)
The day begins in the Saint-Leu district, the historic heart of Amiens, with its colorful houses lining the canals. Just a stone’s throw away, the Notre-Dame Cathedral looms large. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, it is the largest medieval building in France, with an interior volume of 200,000 m³.
© Mattéo Miossec - Lisa in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Amiens (impressive even in the rain!)
Our reporters also took the opportunity to explore IC.ON.IC, the visual arts festival, whose street art trail in Saint-Leu is open to visitors year-round.
© Mattéo Miossec - Street Art in Saint Leu
What did Lisa think of it? She simply states that "The city of Amiens is the most undervalued in France" (nothing less than that). “Honestly, I wasn’t expecting this at all. It’s so charming—you go from medieval streets to little winding bridges and, above all, an impressive cathedral that’s twice the size of Notre-Dame de Paris!”
© Mattéo Miossec - The Charm of Amiens in All Kinds of Weather
© Somme Tourisme - The Fruit Island in Amiens
Lunch break at a socially conscious restaurant that focuses on local sourcing, such as Les Halles d'Amiens, with Papoyo.
© Mattéo Miossec - Papoyo, at Les Halles d’Amiens
“I loved the concept behind Papoyo, a small stand in Les Halles. Everything here is homemade using local ingredients, and you can really taste it.” - Lisa Abitbol, our reporter
Pick up the e-bikes at the Amiens Tourist Office. Then head for the towpath, which runs along the Somme River to Camon—a ride of about 15 minutes. It’s your first taste of this landscape of gardens and canals, with not a single car in sight.
© Mattéo Miossec - The Beautiful Gardens of the Hortillonnages
What did Lisa particularly like about Amiens? Its bike paths, which make it easy to get around by bike. "And the Chemin de Halage is a little gem where you can unwind by the water"", she adds". That's pretty rare in a big city!"
In Camon, we park our bikes at the harbor to board the International Garden Festival boat. For two and a half hours, the boat glides between the islets of the Hortillonnages. This mosaic of 300 hectares of gardens, cultivated since the Middle Ages, is crisscrossed by small canals known as “rieux.” Along the way, you’ll pass by some 50 gardens and art installations created by landscape architects and artists: in 2026, the festival runs from May 22 to October 11.
© Mattéo Miossec - Lisa, lost in contemplation of the landscape from her rowboat
Lisa's verdict: It's one of her favorite activities on the loop. “We were able to row a small boat through the hortillonnages to discover their history, which dates back several hundred years! So, even though I wasn’t the best boat driver (yes, I almost ended up in the water twice), I got to discover the works of art hidden on the platforms and admire the flora and fauna of this ecosystem, which is unique in the world.” In short, it’s an activity she highly recommends to anyone who wants to learn about the region’s history.
Boat tours are available from April through October. See our article for all the options:
Article
Things to Do in the Somme Without a Car: Amiens, the Bay of Somme, and Coastal Picardy
It's a 15-minute bike ride back to Amiens. If you have time before your train, head over for a snack at Marmatte (2 Place Gambetta, open until 8 p.m.).
We pick up our luggage, then bike for five minutes to the train station to catch the 5:40 p.m. TER, arriving in Abbeville at 6:06 p.m. with our bikes on board. From Abbeville, we’ll reach Grand-Laviers in about 18 minutes via the Véloroute Vallée de Somme, which is much safer than the local road. This stretch runs along the maritime canal toward Saint-Valery and passes near the Grand-Laviers bird sanctuary.
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And to wrap up this busy day, we're off to At Les Cabanes for the night, in Grand-Laviers, right next to the bike path.
© Mattéo Miossec - A very cozy room in a beautiful setting
“Nicolas and François, the two owners of Les Cabanes, gave us a warm welcome. We arrived soaked from the rain, and what a relief it was to discover these accommodations! Luxurious cabins, beautifully appointed with huge floor-to-ceiling windows that look right out onto the great outdoors and really help us unwind. Personally, I couldn’t resist taking advantage of the huge bathtub to immerse myself in the sense of well-being that the place provides. Not to mention the ultra-king-size bed where I slept so soundly—a true little slice of paradise that I definitely plan to return to!” - Lisa
© Mattéo Miossec - Lisa enjoying the view from her room's terrace while having breakfast
Leave around 8:15 a.m. to ride your bike to Le Crotoy. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes on a regular bike, a little less on an electric bike. Allow plenty of time so you don't have to rush to catch the little train!
© Mattéo Miossec - Off to Le Crotoy!
In Le Crotoy, take some time to stroll along the harbor and admire the bay.
© Mattéo Miossec - Guaranteed Disconnection
Lisa's Return: The Route from the Lodging At Les Cabanes The route to the town of Crotoy is very convenient and, above all, very scenic. “We ride along the canal on a well-maintained and incredibly pleasant bike path. And the icing on the cake is arriving in Le Crotoy, where we gradually take in the sea air and the views of the bay. Simply magnificent!”
Head to Le Crotoy train station to board the Somme Bay Railroad, a historic steam or diesel train, depending on the day. It runs on the “Bains de mer” network, created in 1887 to serve the bay’s seaside resorts. The trip to Saint-Valery-sur-Somme passes through Noyelles-sur-Mer and takes about an hour, during which time you’ll travel alongside salt marshes and wetlands. Bikes are allowed on board, of course.
© Mattéo Miossec - Perfect for resting your legs after a morning walk
A quick tip: Try to arrive 30 to 45 minutes before departure so you can settle in at your own pace. And keep an eye on the schedule: starting September 28, the train will no longer run on Mondays and Fridays!
© Mattéo Miossec - A train that takes you back in time
“I think this was the first time I’d ever ridden a steam train, and I really felt like I was stepping back in time. We were lucky enough to be right up front and watch the engineer load coal to get the train moving. The ride is really enjoyable, and we could admire the scenery from between the open-air cars or through the large open windows—where I had the pleasure of sticking my head out to take in the views (a little tip, though: watch out for the trees!)” - Lisa
© Mattéo Miossec - It makes you want to hop on board, doesn't it?
We arrived in Saint-Valery around noon. For lunch, there are two places to choose from, depending on what you're in the mood for.
© Mattéo Miossec - Lisa at the Mouton snack bar
Next, head to the medieval quarter. Here, you don’t really need a set plan: the best thing to do is take your time and get lost in the narrow streets that wind their way up to the upper town, among colorful houses, flower-adorned facades, and glimpses of the bay. We recommend doing what our reporters did: spend an afternoon in slow to get lost in the city.
© Mattéo Miossec - Lisa in the flower-lined streets of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
On your way, stop by the Herbarium of the Ramparts. Tucked away in the old town, this community garden occupies the former garden of the nuns at the hospital, which was once used for to feed, care for, and clothe the sick. Abandoned after they left in 1964, it was restored beginning in the 1990s around the only remaining remnant: an old apple tree.
© Mattéo Miossec - Exploring the Herbarium des Remparts
Today, visitors can wander through a cheerful “orderly jumble” of medicinal, aromatic, edible, and dye plants, surrounded by old walls made of flint and pebbles. More botanical than merely decorative, it’s the kind of place you enter out of curiosity and where you can easily lose track of time. Allow about 45 minutes for the visit.
Then continue your stroll toward the city walls and the waterfront. From the city's high points, the view of the bay gradually opens up, before descending toward the marina and the waterfront.
© Mattéo Miossec - View of the Bay of Somme from the upper town of Saint-Valery
What does Lisa think? “The city is definitely worth a visit! We walked through some truly charming little streets, like Rue des Moulins and Rue des Pilotes, with all their colorful houses. The highlight is when you reach the top and take in the magnificent view of the bay. And don’t forget the chapel and the Herbarium des Remparts—they’re well worth a visit.”
As you can see, it's a city where you'll probably want to stick around!
One last push on the pedals: a 23-minute bike ride to the Noyelles-sur-Mer train station, with a stop to buy some picnic food for the train. The 6:46 p.m. TER train brings our reporters back to Paris Nord at 8:57 p.m. It stops in Amiens, where they took the opportunity to return their bikes.
We'll let our reporters have the last word:
“Well, it’s time to head back to Paris. And what’s crazy is that there’s a direct train from Noyelles-sur-Mer that takes us all the way to Gare du Nord in Paris! Even though we knew that, my mind still has a hard time wrapping its head around the fact that in such a short time, we can find ourselves in such a different setting. That’s kind of the lesson of this loop trip: you don’t have to go to the ends of the earth to have wonderful adventures in breathtaking landscapes. ” — Lisa
If you have one more day, the bay still has plenty to offer:
And if you want to cycle the entire Amiens–Baie de Somme route, the Véloroute Vallée de Somme is waiting for you. Good news for cyclists: in 2026, the Baie de Somme destination was ranked among the top 30 Cycling Destinations in France.
Article
Things to Do in the Somme Without a Car: Amiens, the Bay of Somme, and Coastal Picardy
A micro-adventure organized in partnership with Somme Tourisme, Destination Baie de Somme, and the Baie de Somme Picardie Maritime Regional Nature Park.
This guide is produced in partnership with:
Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
