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Lyudmila
Find inner peace while trekking in northern France, in Normandy. We invite you to walk along the Alabaster Coast (Côte d'Albâtre) — about 120 km from Dieppe to Étretat. This route runs along the border between land and sea: bright chalk cliffs, long beaches and small fishing villages steeped in history.
The cliffs of the Alabaster Coast were created by the sea and wind. Their whiteness, natural arches and wide panoramas from the capes form a landscape that cannot be confused with anything else. This is a place where nature and time show their rhythm.
During your trip, you will travel through the land that inspired the Impressionist artists. You will see medieval architecture, experience the measured pace of life in small coastal towns, and sample the local cuisine — oysters, fish, and cider.
To make your journey more comfortable, you can additionally order a luggage transfer service.
In one week, you will experience what usually takes several separate trips. Each day is planned to make you fall in love with the unique combination of nature, history, and art of the French region.
Your luggage travels from hotel to hotel! The program is specially designed for those who appreciate lightness. Traveling with a light backpack is designed in such a way that allows you to have more time for rest, relaxation, and more opportunities for exploration, without limiting yourself with a heavy backpack.
All overnight stays will be in pre-booked hotels or guest houses, where you can take a shower, charge your smartphones and cameras, and try the local cuisine.
When hiking along the ocean coast, every step seems to take you further away from everyday life, immersing you in deep thought, where the sound of the waves becomes the only companion to your inner peace.
You will enjoy a rich author's program – only the most interesting and best locations, a deep immersion in local culture, a careful selection of traditional restaurants, and the most responsible introduction to the region's nature.
The most convenient way is to arrive through the Paris airport. From there, take a bus or train to the city of Dieppe. Participants will arrive at the hotel throughout the day.
The town of Dieppe will enchant you with its panoramic terraces and wonderful atmosphere. During this 8-day walking adventure, you will discover many charming villages along the route. Each of them boasts its own unique character. Today, we will take a leisurely stroll through the narrow streets of Dieppe and experience the history of the town, which was originally a herring fishing port, then a banana port, and later France's leading port for scallop fishing.
Let's end the day with a get-together at a restaurant.
In the morning, we will enjoy a classic French breakfast. We will not waste any time: we will leave the big city and head west along the coast. Today, we will walk a little over 18 km through the countryside. Along the way, we will encounter gorges, beaches, lighthouses and small churches. We will enjoy stunning views of the entire Côte d'Albâtre. The day ends in Quiberville-sur-Mer, a small, quiet and authentic seaside resort, ideal for recharging your batteries after a long walk along the cliffs of Normandy.
Distance: ~18 km.
Approximate duration of the hike: ~6 hours
The second day of walking will be quite leisurely, as we only need to walk 15 km along the English Channel to reach Veules-les-Roses, "the most beautiful village in France" between the sea and the countryside. You will enjoy walking through the narrow streets between half-timbered houses or along the banks of the Veules, the smallest river in the country, listening to the water splashing in the mill wheels. The Veules, which flows through the village, reaches the sea through a gap in the high chalk cliffs, offering a view of the sandy and pebble beach. There is a good reason why so many artists, poets and writers have fallen in love with this place.
Veules-les-Roses is one of the oldest villages in the Pays de Côtes region. In the 19th century, it became a popular resort, appreciated by artists such as Victor Hugo. The pleasant, relaxed atmosphere makes Veules-les-Roses a wonderful place for a seaside holiday, with plenty of local restaurants specialising in delicious fresh fish and oysters.
Distance: approx. 15 km.
Approximate duration of the hike: 5 hours
On this third day of walking, participants will cover 21 km, most of which will be through fields, to reach Veulettes-sur-Mer. This small seaside resort, known as the "pearl of the Côte d'Opale", is surrounded by chalk cliffs. Its 1,200-metre beach, strewn with white pebbles washed up by the waves, is one of the most pleasant places to relax in summer.
Distance ~21 km.
Approximate duration of the trip: 7 hours
Today is a fairly difficult stage*, with 27 km of magnificent scenery between Veulettes-sur-Mer and Fécamp. The route passes by Cap Fainé, the highest point of the Côte d'Albâtre, offering an exceptional view of the entire coastline. Fécamp, a former mortar port devastated by bombing, attracts little attention despite its wide harbour, two sandy lighthouses and large pebble beach, which give it undeniable charm. Once a thriving fishing port, it is famous for its cod fishing. This beautiful seaside town has been designated a "Town of Art and History". Fécamp, an intimate gem on the English Channel.
*If you feel tired in the afternoon, you can take a taxi to Fekam from one of the villages along the route at your own expense — a great option to give yourself a little rest.
Distance ~ 27 km.
Approximate duration of the trip: 9 hours
Today we will slow down a little. But that doesn't mean we'll be lying on the beach (we will do that too, but closer to the evening). In the morning after breakfast, a fun attraction awaits us: we will ride along an abandoned railway line near Fécamp. A bike train is a combination of a bicycle and a train. Two participants pedal, while three others enjoy the moment. We will ride along a 5-kilometre stretch of old railway track. Transport will take us there, and we will return on foot through forests and fields.
If you wish, we can visit:
In the evening, if we still have energy, we will climb up to the Notre-Dame-du-Salut church. Sailors used to come here to pray before setting out to sea. We will sit on top of the cliff and contemplate the beauty of the surrounding area over a glass of wine.
Distance ~13 km.
Approximate duration of the hike: 4 hours
As they say, save the best for last. Today we will enjoy the last day of our trip. The route will take us along the coast through villages. On this day, we will need to walk 17 km to reach Étretat and its legendary cliffs, not forgetting to stop in Hipoire, a charming fishing village that embodies the essence of the perfect Normandy postcard with its enchanting coastal landscapes.
This section of the route to the cliffs offers breathtaking views of chalk arches carved by the sea and wind. Two of the three famous arches are visible from Étretat: Porte d'Aval and Porte d'Amont. The third and largest arch, Manneporte, is not visible from the town, but that is where we are headed. The gradations of white, green and blue colours create magnificent pictures, even more impressive at sunset. Étretat is one of the main attractions of Normandy.
Dinner at a restaurant.
Distance ~ 17 km.
Approximate duration of the trip: 6 hours
After breakfast, we will visit the neo-futuristic gardens of Étretat. The history of their creation is as follows: "At the end of the 19th century, it was fashionable for wealthy Parisians to buy property in Normandy, particularly in the town of Étretat. In 1905, French comic actress Madame Tébault followed the trend but made a more original choice, building a villa on top of the Falaises d'Amon, a place full of mystery and romanticism. She named the villa "Roxolana" after her heroine, the legendary wife of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, whom she played in the theatre. Inspired by the beauty of this place, which was so appreciated by Impressionist artists (from Claude Monet to Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot), she also decided to create a garden that would offer such a magnificent view of Mont Haut and the English Channel. Today, this place is part of the "Great Gardens of the World" route, an international association of outstanding landscape spaces. One of the most famous gardens in Étretat is the Garden of Emotions. The trimmed plants resemble seabed landscapes, and sculptures of emotional faces are placed among them.
We conclude our programme in this beautiful location and trust that we have created unforgettable memories for you. Participants decide for themselves when to return home. The tour programme ends at 12:00. If you have time, we recommend visiting Rouen, where every street is a masterpiece.
Depending on weather conditions, the condition of the group and general preferences, the team leader has the right to make changes to the route..
To participate in the trip, you must not have any medical conditions that are incompatible with active tourism: list here.
After the trip, we recommend the following trekking routes:
In summer, Normandy has a temperate maritime climate. Daytime temperatures usually range from +17°C to +22°C, and nights are slightly cooler. There may be rain, but not too often. Overall, summer in Normandy is comfortable and ideal for hiking.
On the route, the group stays in colourful little towns. These are hotels in one- or two-storey buildings; rooms for 2-3-4 people with internet, hot water and breakfast.
It is possible to accommodate two people in one bed. Single occupancy is also possible at an additional cost, subject to availability.
In hotels, French breakfast (le petit déjeuner) usually consists of something sweet, such as croissants, baguettes, jam buns, boiled eggs, as well as coffee or juice. Included in the tour price. For lunch, the team leader buys snacks for the whole group. If desired, the group can have lunch at a beach café at their own expense.
Participants choose their dinner according to their wishes and preferences – this is a great opportunity to taste local delicacies.
Dinner is not included in the programme price.
During the day, participants must walk 15 to 27 km along the coastal area. The route is not easy: rocky sections, numerous ascents and descents await you. There is a bus connection to the villages, but not to all of them, so you will have to take a taxi. Therefore, we do not recommend this track for families with children under 15 years of age.
In addition, if you suffer from vertigo or are afraid of heights, this route may be difficult for you.
The minimum group size for this programme is 5 participants. We have calculated the costs for smaller groups as well, increasing them only slightly so as not to lose money.
This will allow us to confirm the date earlier, and you will have the opportunity to buy tickets and plan your unforgettable trip!
| Number of participants | Value |
|---|---|
| 5 and more | €1280 |
| 4 | €1350 |
| 3 | €1480 |
| 2 | €1850 |
Total amount of mandatory expenses not included in the price: from €400 + flights.
Depending on your preferences, you will need money for souvenirs and the main expense item - food.
If the prepayment amount is too high for you at the moment, but you want to book a place, write to a consultant and they will divide it into convenient parts.
👉 Please read: payment methods and refund conditions in case of cancellation or departure from the route
Dear friends, we kindly request that you refrain from accepting 500 euro banknotes. We consistently encounter issues when settling accounts with our partners in Europe. Thank you for your understanding.
*Please note: the consultant will help you select and search for airline tickets and recommend insurance, but purchasing is not part of their job. Participants do this themselves or contact our partners. All contact details are provided in the article: tickets, hotels and insurance