Island Delights tour

This self-drive tour is a discovery of contrasts through the varied landscapes of the French Atlantic coast and some of its magnificent islands, accessible by bridge.

The Charente Maritime is an ideal region for a well deserved break and its excellent roads will take you to the heart of the department with ease. So come and explore the salt marshes, the nature reserves with their wealth of birdlife, the long unspoiled sandy beaches, the fabulous port of La Rochelle and the resort of St Jean de Monts which comes alive during the summer.

You will find each island has its own individual charm - the Ile d'Oléron is the largest and the oyster capital where you can enjoy pleasant strolls around forests, villages, ports, forts and Romanesque churches. Or sample the excellent seafood at a variety of restaurants to choose from.

The Ile de Ré, nicknamed ‘La Blanche’ because of its immaculate white houses, is linked to the mainland by a magnificent 2.9km long bridge. It is reputed to have the same hours of sunshine as the Côte d´Azur and has stunning beaches to relax on. It is also a paradise for cyclists with 100km of paths to follow so you may want to take your bikes or hire them locally.

Discover the island’s delightful little villages, the Vauban fortifications in St Martin de Ré, (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the bell tower of Ars en Ré. Climb the Phare de la Baleine or taste some of the 77 flavours of ice creams at a famous glacier.

Rochefort is a city that has managed to preserve its fascinating nautical heritage - learn all about it by visiting the magnificent La Corderie Royale, the Maritime Museum and the frigate L'Hermione.

You can combine any of our car and motorcycle tours, or you can even plan your very own itinerary from scratch using any of our hotels in France. Perhaps you just want to add a few nights to one of these routes? Anything is possible - just ask!

• 2 nights in Rochefort

• 2 nights on the Ile de Ré

• 1 night in St Jean de Monts

Tours can start on any day from any town on the itinerary but must follow the route in either direction. Approximate tour distances are calculated from the first to the last location. Should any location be unavailable we'll advise alternatives.

Route planning

For route planning you may wish to visit Google Maps, viamichelin.com or theaa.com.

Hotel directions

With your travel documents you will find an information sheet for each hotel which has been booked for you giving directions together with some further details.

Arrival

Unless stated, you will be expected to arrive at each of the hotels pre-booked for you by 6pm each day. This should allow you time to have a fairly leisurely drive between hotel stops but if you find you will be arriving later than this please ring and advise the hotelier so that your room is held for you.

Extra charges

Details of which meals are included at your hotels are shown on your travel documentation and on these pages. All additional meals, drinks, phone calls etc must be paid for prior to departure from the hotel.