Marais Poitevin bike tour: Baudet du Poitou donkeys and boat ride

A day that moves between water, paths and the animals that shaped the marsh

A full-day bike tour of Marais Poitevin in France combines a guided boat ride through the canals, a picnic lunch of local products, a 20-kilometer bike ride across the marshland, and an exclusive visit to an animal park where you meet and learn about the Baudet du Poitou: a rare donkey breed that nearly vanished and is now being saved by dedicated breeders. A French-speaking guide leads the whole day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Marais Poitevin by boat and bike

• Arrive in the heart of Marais Poitevin
• Guided traditional boat ride for 1h30
• Picnic with local products in ornithological park
• Guided 20km bike ride with landscape stops
• Meet and cuddle Baudets du Poitou donkeys
• Visit artisanal soap factory using donkey milk

The experience

The day starts on the water. You board a traditional boat for a guided 90-minute drift along the preserved waterways of the wild Marais, where the landscape unfolds without the noise of an engine. The boat moves slowly enough that you can read the terrain and spot the detail a faster pace would miss. After the water comes solid ground: a picnic lunch at the ornithological park, built from Marais Poitevin products (stuffed maraichin, raw Vendée ham, salad, cheese and briochette, with coffee or tea), prepared by a local caterer in Damvix.

The bike ride covers 20 kilometers total, split into two loops with stops for explanation and landscape reading. You ride from the Birds of the Marais Poitevin park toward Saint George du Rex, then return through the park Du Coq à l'Âne. The paths stay flat and follow the contours of the marsh rather than fighting them. Between the cycling, you visit a handmade soap factory run by Cornet, which uses donkey milk, a know-how almost unique in France, to make its products. The factory sits inside the animal park, so the visit flows naturally into the day's centerpiece.

The exclusive part happens at Elosparc, the animal park where you meet the Baudets du Poitou themselves. A breeder named Quentin brings you into their enclosure to meet and touch the donkeys, then tells you their history: what they were bred for, how they nearly disappeared, and what it takes to save them now. This access to the animals' own space is exclusive to this tour. Other visits to the park do not include it. The whole day runs about seven and a half hours, with a professional guide present throughout.

What’s included

• Traditional guided boat ride for 90 minutes along the waterways.
• accompaniment of a professional French-speaking guide for the entire day.
• guided bike ride across 20 kilometers of marshland paths.
• visit to an animal park where you meet Baudet du Poitou donkeys in their enclosure.
• guided tour of a craft soap factory using donkey milk.
• picnic lunch of local products including stuffed maraichin, raw Vendée ham, salad, cheese and briochette, with coffee or tea.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 7 Apr 2027

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Youth (9 to 11 years) · Child (5 to 8 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 19

Live guideFrench

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Original Vélo Tour

Is this one for you?Small groups work best here because the exclusive access to the Baudet du Poitou enclosure depends on moving as a manageable party through the animal park. A full day mixing water, paths and animals suits travelers who want to move between different landscapes and rhythms rather than stay in one place.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 11 years); Child (5 to 8 years); Infant (under 5).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is a Baudet du Poitou and why does this tour focus on them?

The Baudet du Poitou is an emblematic French donkey breed that nearly vanished but is now being preserved by passionate breeders. This tour includes an exclusive visit to their enclosure at Elosparc, where you meet them and learn their history directly from the people saving them.

How much of the day do I spend on a bike, and is the ride difficult?

The guided bike ride covers 20 kilometers split into two loops with stops for explanation, and the terrain is flat marshland. You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The pace includes rest breaks and landscape reading rather than speed.

What does the boat ride show you that you would not see from the bike paths?

The traditional guided boat ride drifts for 90 minutes along the preserved waterways of the wild Marais, letting you see the landscape from the water and move at a pace that lets detail emerge. The paths and the water show different sides of the same marsh.