Itinerary from Paris to Northern France from 6th to 16th August

I wonder what you mean by northern France.

Whether you mean Bretagne, Normandie, or Hauts-de-France (or something else), a suggestion would be to do an Internet search using the terms

voie verte vélo [region name]

Where the phrase [region name] is the French region you're interested in visiting. You could also try a department name (the regional subdivisions in white text on the linked map). Departments have identifying numbers that provide useful shorthand and also form the beginning of postal codes.

A "voie verte" is a greenway, often paved, and generally open only to bicycles, skaters, and pedestrians. They're generally closed to motorcycles, motorized scooters, automobiles, and horses, though you might come across maintenance trucks on them doing work. They usually would constitute the easiest bike routes. If you want something more challenging, you might start your search by using France Vélo Tourisme.

Think of a region as being somewhat analogous to a state in the U.S. and a department as being somewhat similar to a county in the U.S. They're smaller and profoundly different politically, of course, but it might help keep them straight.

I realize that's just internet searching and you seem to be looking for personal experience, but I thought it might be helpful until you hear from others with personal suggestions.

Actually meant Loire valley area visiting Rouen Mont Miche Normandyl etc and carrying on further if time allows to Dordogne and Carcassonne area.

It would be better if you didn’t lump those areas into “Northern France” which to me is Alsace- Lorraine and Champagne. Carcassonne is not far from Spain and we visited it en route to Barcelona.
With ten days choose two to three places you are interested in visiting. Normandy and Brittany, or Burgundy, etc. You can plan a wonderful trip. Look at a planning map for driving routes. Then come back to this forum and ask more questions.

6th of what?

Assuming you do not mean 6th of March, but some warmer month, then I think you must choose among these destinations.

Loire would be flattest place for cycling. Combine that with Normandy and Brittany and you've got a great trip.

Rouen makes a great day trip from Paris, so you might do that and add a day to Paris.

or

Take the 2-hr TGV to Bordeaux, spend 5 nights in the Dordogne (not kidding, 6 would be better), move on to the Lot and points south (Carcassonne if you really want).

A shame you are locked into Paris return but if you return the car in Bordeaux or Nimes there are direct fast trains thta will deliver you to the airport before noon, assuming you have a late enough deprture.

You do not have enough time to connect all these dots in any sort of satisfying way in 10 days.

Yes August I meant. We have 10 nights so I guess could see quite a bit. Any info appreciated on where to stay and visit.

Brittany and/or Normandy would normally have pleasant cycling weather in August, though these days you have to be prepared for a short spell of very high heat even in those areas.

10 nights so 8 days, assuming your last day is flying home. 8-/12 if you get to first destination quickly from Paris.

How far should we try go if we need to fly back on 16th August and have the drive to CDG? I thought of maybe getting to Arles, but maybe that is a bit too adventurous in the time we have|?

It could be very hot in Arles in August. That doesn't mean you can't go there. I wouldn't try to go both to northern France and down to Provence in the time you have unless I had an overwhelming reason to do so. It would mean a lot of travel time, which would reduce the time available for sightseeing or bicycling.

The mainland around Le Mont-Saint-Michel is very flat, wind can be a challenge there.

The same for Les Boucles de la Seine downstream from Rouen. Nice is biking the roads with those typical Norman cottages like you can find in Vieux-Port / Azier and Marais Vernier. In the latter nice view from the lighthouse over the Seine valley. Or visit one of the medieval abbeys there.

No idea where to rent bikes, but if you can rent a car bicycle rack too you can take them with you for biking around wherever you like.

The OP isn't getting a lot of good ideas, partly because "Northern France" is moving around a lot, including Arles. If you want a good visit to Normandy and the Loire, that's quite doable in the time you have, including bike riding in the Loire area. Via Michelin is helpful in planning driving trips, though it often underestimates times because it doesn't account for traffic or any stops. The simplest thing to do from Paris would be a train to Rouen, rent a car there, visit places like Bayeux, Mont-St-Michel, and St-Malo, then south to whatever towns along the Loire appeal to you. Start north on the 15th, overnighting somewhere within a few hours of CDG (Chartres? Do you like great cathedrals?). Drive to CDG on the 16th and turn in the car before 15:00. Allow three hours at CDG before your flight home -- after dropping the car.

Bahn.com shows you train schedules, in case that helps. I had thought there might be a TGV from Loire area to CDG on the 16th but I didn't find one that made sense.

Some research with a guidebook, RS or other, would give you a better idea of just what you want to see and do. People on this forum are best at answering specific questions, the more focused the better.

Purchase a copy of Rick Steves Planning Map of Europe. It will give you a better idea of what you can see in Northern France. Also, get the Rome2Rio app for your iPhone or iPad...may be available on Android also. It will give you not only distances, but transportation time estimates and available modes of transport.
Arles is most definitely in Southern France and will be very crowded with French tourists in August plus hotter than blazes.
The Loire Valley is southwest of Paris but only an hour or so by train. Cycling there could be fun as the roads are pretty flat. The caveat is that...yes...there will be hordes of wine-imbibing tourists in cars in August and the roads are narrow. So, this would not be a relaxing time to bike there...it will be challenging and maybe scary. I would think it would be the same in Normandy, only the tourists will be drinking Calvados rather than wine!
Can you travel to France in months other than August?

Great that you want to go to northern France. That's not Normandie if that is what you have in mind. Northern France is from Paris to the Belgian border, straight up. I have spent weeks on end in the summer in Northern France in July and August. Weather-wise it's bit cooler than in Paris.

You head to Amiens on the Somme, which can be considered as north. Northern France is the Pas-de-Calais area, the "department" of Nord Pas-de-Calais. Main cities in the north are Amiens, Arras, Lille.

With a car going around in the north, you'll have tremendous flexibity seeing towns and villages like Albert, Frevent, St Pol, Cambrai, St Quentin, Douai, Beauvais, Lens, etc. in addition to the cities. Parts of the north is known as "Germinal country" in French literature, if you're interested in that.

OK so we are more focused now. Thought of staying in Paris for 3 nights till 6th then drive to Hornfleur for 1 night and the drive to sleep in Bayeux for 2 nights. Following that I think we will stay in Mont St Michel for a night and then maybe 2 nights in Amboise. Someone said that staying in Sarlat would be nice so booked there for 2 nights and that takes us to 14th of August. What would be the next best thing to do as we need to be in CDG at 15.00 on 16th. Also very happy to get advice on best things to do in the itinerary I have planned. Obviously can be changed as most were made on Booking so I can cancel/ Another piece of advice is about a car. Best place to hire online?

Sarlat is quite far away and not worth it for two nights. You'll spend 1.5 days on the road there and back for just one full day there. I encourage you to reconsider, removing those two nights in Sarlat and adding one night to Bayeux and one to Amboise (so that you get two full days for Bayeux area and two days for Loire Valley).
You then find yourself with 2 nights before the flight, right?
Last one should be close enough to Paris. With a 6PM flight, Chartres could work. The remaining one could be spent in Amboise (plenty to do for three days in the Loire Valley especially for a keen biker!) or added to the Mont Saint Michel area, in which case I'd stay two nights in St Malo or Cancale.

We really want to see Sarlat area as it is supposed to be amazing. Is there anything we could shorten on the way or would you say we are being too adventurous?

Um. Jmensky.

The Dordogne is a really special place. If that is the place that is calling to you, head right there. You will not be sorry.

I suggest one way to do that in my earlier reply to you.

Here's what not to do: travel all the way there and only stay a few nights.

So, adding to the above, that would mean skipping the whole Normandy / Mont St Michel area. Paris-Sarlat-Amboise-CDG works well as a route
Going from Amboise to CDG is not what most would recommend but with a 6pm flight, there's very little risk.

As mentioned before weather can be really hot in August, especially in regions more inland like the Dordogne. Speaking for myself I would still look more for something along the coast.

I agree with Balso and Adam and others about your latest itinerary -- Paris, Normandy, Loire, Dordogne and back to Paris in ten days or less -- too rushed and spread out geographically. But you asked about getting back to CDG from Sarlat. My suggestion would be to use the Bahn.com website I provided above to look for a fast train (TGV) from Bordeaux to Paris on the 15th, or from Bordeaux straight to CDG on the 16th, arriving at least three hours before your flight time. If there's a train that works, drop the car in Bordeaux. If not, drive up to the Paris area on the 15th so you're close enough to CDG on the 16th.

Probably the best way to get a car is through Auto Europe, a US-based broker that works with numerous rental companies. Their website is easy to use, they have a good record for rates and reliability, and they're helpful with problems and changes if necessary. When you make a reservation through them, you download a voucher to present at the car rental office. It's worked well for me and seemingly for others on this forum and elsewhere.

Yes, Sarlat is a great destination, and so is the surrounding area. Likewise the other areas you want to see. Many people would tell you to spend your whole time in Paris. I hope you'll focus on a few choices instead of trying to "do it all," but it's your trip. Good luck!

Tnx for all the help. The Paris part is before the 6th so we have from 6th till 16th. I looked at train option but of course it is a Sunday which makes it a bit difficult. I really want to do the Sarlat area as I heard it is lovely. Just can't decide what to cut out. Maybe if we do a 3rd night in Sarlat till 15th and then try find a train back from Bordeaux as you say on 16th either staying a 4th night in Sarlat or the last night in Bordeaux. Really not closed on what to do....

Whether it's a Sunday has little influence on TGV trans from Bordeaux to Paris or CDG. But be aware of two things:
- Saturday 15 Aug and Sunday 16 Aug will be very busy travel days, so book tickets early
- Try not to drive from Sarlat to Paris on Saturday 15 Aug; traffic will be horrendeous. Long-distance traffic is generally very bad across France on Saturdays in summer.
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