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Inspiration and great deals for your next low-carbon trips
Here’s our favorite itinerary for exploring one of France’s most beautiful regions by train. From Charente-Maritime to the Basque Country, passing through Gironde and Béarn, the New Aquitaine It brings together a wide variety of atmospheres all in one place: the Atlantic coast and its ports, the Bordeaux vineyards and their wine routes, the beaches and surfing of the Basque Country, and the peaks of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. It’s enough to take you through a variety of worlds in a single week, without ever leaving the train.
Here, we’re offering you our all-inclusive one-week tour, designed to let you seamlessly connect between TER, Intercités, and TGV INOUI trains—all without any stress—as you travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Bordeaux vineyards and the Pyrenean valleys.
How many days does it take to visit Nouvelle-Aquitaine by train? Allow 7 days for a complete itinerary, from La Rochelle to the Pyrenees, without a car. Note: This itinerary is designed for those who want to get a broad overview of the region in just one week, but of course, we highly recommend taking your time at each stop and spreading this itinerary out over two weeks if you can!
What are the steps? La Rochelle → Bordeaux → Cérons → Bayonne/Biarritz → Pau → Bedous → back to Paris.
Where can I make a reservation? To view the complete itinerary on our train trip planner, including all booking links, It's here.
Which trains should I take? TER, Intercités, and TGV INOUI are all you need to travel from one stop to the next without ever having to drive.
Can we shorten the route? Yes, in 4 to 5 days if you skip a stop (for example, Cérons or Pau).
La Rochelle is directly accessible by train from Paris (about 3 hours by direct TGV), Bordeaux, Nantes, and Poitiers, making it an ideal starting point for a car-free trip through Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
© Les Conteurs - La Rochelle
It’s the perfect city to slip right into relaxation mode: the three towers of the Old Port silhouetted against the light, the scent of the sea in the air as soon as you step out of the train station, and the arcaded alleyways of the historic center where you can wander aimlessly. You can then easily explore the coastline by bike thanks to The Vélodyssée, the bike route that runs along the entire Atlantic coast and passes right through the city, winding through sea spray and shaded paths.
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Title: What to do in La Rochelle in 2 days?
Head back to La Rochelle train station to take a direct Intercités or TER train to Bordeaux Saint-Jean: the trip takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes, during which you’ll experience a complete change of scenery, traveling from the Charente coastline to the pale-stone facades of the world’s wine capital.
Bordeaux's famous reflecting pool
You can't visit Bordeaux without making a detour to the Cité du Vin, this venue with its immersive exhibition design tells the story of wine and its civilizations, offering visitors the chance to inhale aromas and listen to stories, before enjoying a panoramic wine tasting overlooking the Garonne, a glass in hand as they watch the sunset over the river.
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What to do in Bordeaux and its surroundings for a weekend
The best part about Bordeaux is what’s around it! Take the TER train to Cérons Station, just 30 minutes from Bordeaux Saint-Jean. Once there, you can rent a bike (electric or regular) to explore the The Bordeaux Wine Route through Graves and Sauternes, from castle to castle, between rows of golden vineyards and small country roads.
On the Bordeaux Wine Route through Graves and Sauternes - © Rosalie Borde
And to learn more about the castles in the area, we recommend checking out Rosalie's Micro-Adventure, who explored several castles with you.
The majestic Château de Cérons - © Rosalie Borde
The perfect opportunity to learn about the Graves and Sauternes appellations, meet passionate winemakers, and taste a few wines in the coolness of a cellar, before taking the TER back in the opposite direction to Bordeaux Saint-Jean for the night.
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Bordeaux without a car: 3 days of wine, cycling, and lifestyle
Head back to Bordeaux to catch a TGV INOUI or a TER to Bayonne. This is where the Basque Country begins, and you’ll be spoiled for choice: beaches, surfing, villages, and the aroma of pintxos are waiting for you right outside the train station.
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What to do in Bayonne in 48 hours?
The Beautiful Colors of Bayonne
From Bayonne, you can reach Biarritz by train in just about 10 minutes, then continue on to the beaches of Anglet, where you can hear the roar of the Atlantic waves long before you catch a glimpse of the ocean. From Biarritz, you can also take a bus to Bidart. On the agenda: relaxing with your feet in the sand or a surfing session—it’s up to you to choose how you want to spend your day.
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What to do in Biarritz in one day?
We're saving the best for last on this itinerary! Head back to the Bayonne train station to catch a train to Pau.
The charming city of Pau and its castle, seen from above
In Pau, head to the the castle where Henry IV was born (born in 1553 in this castle), which remains one of the most striking historic monuments in Béarn. Next, enjoy your first views of the Pyrenees from the famous Boulevard des Pyrénées, where the snow-capped peaks stand out against the horizon on clear days.
From Pau, continue on to Bedous by TER, the current terminus of the Béarn line, which reopened in 2016 after being closed for more than 30 years. It’s one of the most scenic train rides in all of Nouvelle-Aquitaine: the Pyrenees They gradually grow larger behind the train window, until they completely frame the Aspe Valley.
Once you're in Bedous, it's time to set out on some lovely hikes in the Aspe Valley, with the scent of the forest floor, crisp mountain air, and silence—for a truly rejuvenating experience far from the hustle and bustle of the Basque coast.
The village of Borce in the Aspe Valley
For the final leg of the trip, take the TER train from Bedous to Pau, then head to Paris-Montparnasse to wrap up the week on a relaxing note.
In just one week, you’ll have experienced a range of radically different settings: the Charente coast, the Bordeaux vineyards, the beaches of the Basque Country, and the peaks of the Pyrenees—all without ever having to get behind the wheel.
This itinerary can, of course, be adjusted depending on how much time you have. You can easily condense it into 4 or 5 days by skipping a stage, or, conversely, extend it by staying a little longer in Bedous to enjoy the Aspe Valley. To create your own version and find all the practical information region by region, head to our Guide to Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Ready to get started? Find every step of this itinerary—including calculated connections and direct booking links—on our train trip planner:
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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.
