Mont-Saint-Michel bay walk

Where it is & how to get there

• From Genêts: Most guided crossings start in Genêts, on the north side of the bay, about 7 km from the Mont.
• From the Mont: Shorter guided walks leave from the island itself.
• Booking: Book with a licensed guide through the tourist offices of the bay.

The story of the bay walk

The bay of Mont-Saint-Michel has some of the highest tides in continental Europe, with a difference of up to about 14 metres between low and high water. At low tide the sea retreats for kilometres, leaving a vast landscape of sand, channels and quicksand.

Pilgrims once crossed these sands on foot to reach the Mont, and many lost their lives. Today walking across with a qualified guide is a magical experience. A new dam on the Couesnon river (2009) and a light bridge (2014) replaced the old causeway road, helping the sea to surround the Mont again.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• Only walk on the sands with a certified guide. The tide and quicksand are dangerous.
• Never cross the bay alone: tides and quicksand make it dangerous without a guide.
• Walk barefoot or in old trainers, wear shorts and bring a dry change of clothes.

What's around the bay walk

• GenêtsVillage where most crossings begin.
• TombelaineRocky islet and bird sanctuary in the bay.
• AvranchesTown with the Scriptorial museum of the Mont's manuscripts.
• The damViewpoint over the Couesnon and the bay.

Questions travellers ask