Best Order and Transport

Wow, the forum is busy with lots of posts. This got no replies and quickly went to the dreaded second page, so I’m bumping it up.

More than a year in advance of train travel is way too early to know what schedules will be available. However, from Chartres you will likely need to return to Paris to reach Bourges. Trains to Bourges depart from Gare Austerlitz, as do trains to/from Amboise.

https://www.sncf-connect.com/

Tammy.

I'm no French rail expert by a long way, but I've just got out a paper map and paper SNCF rail Schedules, because I'm an old fossil and have such things. Bourges has a rail station on the Tours to Lyons regional line.

From Chartres continue down the line to Le Mans, change for Tours and change again for Bourges.

From Bourges the train direct to Les Aubrais-Orleans for the shuttle to Orleans.

Then train Orleans to Amboise.

Then Amboise to Tours, change at Tours back to Le Mans, change for the TGV to Rennes.

The Rennes to Mont St Michel bus. Rennes to Paris.

Everything up to the Le Mans to Rennes train is TER or Inter Cities- so no need to book.

Between Orleans and Rennes there is an argument for going via Paris (into Austerlitz, out of Montparnasse). I'm personally not a fan of that when there is a perfectly viable alternative. I'm not talking Paris in that regard in particular, I'm talking any city with multiple stations.

Likewise you could argue the case for going back to Paris from Chartres then the direct train to Bourges [or do Orleans first]. But you can look at the schedules and see what works best for you.

I don't think there is a definitive correct way to order Bourges, Orleans and Amboise as long as you end with Rennes and MSM.

Having said that if you did Chartres to Le Mans, then Rennes and MSM, you could have an option 3, add Nantes as another city (train from Rennes) then Nantes to Bourges etc. I've not checked if the twice daily Nantes to Bourges train still exists or if that is nw a change at Tours.

At least I've given you something basic, for others to improve on.

Thank you for your replies. Can someone elaborate on the bus from Rennes to MSM? How and where do I book that? I really need an RS guidebook, waiting on my library!

Good morning Tammy, you make me feel better, already planning out for spring of next year. I’m already dreaming of 10-14 days in Paris in February and checking hotels, flights, map locations of restaurants etc and feeling a little silly. I leave in a week for Italy and have another trip in Oct to Rouen and then an RS tour to the Loire. But it’s always on to the next trip, eh? Good luck on your plans and on your big move.

Lyndash, I usually have several trips in the planning stage at the same time. Its my favorite hobby. I’m working on a 4 month trip next spring, so there is a lot of planning that needs to happen!

The Rennes to MSM bus- TT and booking- https://keolis-armor.com/en/5ey-Going-to-Mont-Saint-Michel.html

Thank you isn31c!