I've always wanted to visit Mont Saint-Michel in France! Since I'm in London right now, I figure the best route is via Rennes. So I flew directly into Rennes, where my friend met me after driving down from Paris. We settled in and spent one night there, enjoying the city before our main adventure. The next morning, we drove straight from Rennes to Mont Saint-Michel. To truly soak up the experience, we booked a one-night stay at the Relais Saint-Michel. This was the perfect base for our planned activities: an exhilarating morning quicksand tour across the bay, followed by plenty of time to explore the iconic abbey and island of Mont Saint-Michel.

We made the smart choice of checking into our mainland hotel first, which allowed us to use the free "Le Passeur" shuttle bus to the Mount. The bus ride was quick and convenient, offering a fantastic first view of the iconic abbey as we approached the causeway. This effortless transfer, included with our parking, avoided a long walk and let us start our climb up the steep, winding village streets feeling fresh and ready to explore the medieval wonder.

The quicksand tour was an incredible, muddy adventure! The short pants and towel were essential for this barefoot experience, allowing us to wade through shallow water and sink into the notorious quicksand. Our guide demonstrated the safe "corkscrew" technique to get out. The tour lasted about 1.5 to 2 hours, and while exhilarating, we finished completely coated in mud!

If you have some time after arriving at Mont Saint-Michel, you can take photos outside. I personally find the area around it offers better views than the main walkway for framing your shots.

After our exhilarating quicksand tour, we were starving! We were so glad to find the restaurant is still open for a late lunch. It was conveniently close to our hotel, and with its great reviews and reputation, it was the perfect, cozy spot to warm up and refuel after our morning adventure.

The history of Mont Saint-Michel Abbey spans over a thousand years, but you won't actually see a lot of decoration inside. You can complete the visit in about one to two hours. I highly recommend renting the audio guide—the content is very informative, and it includes simulated images showing the abbey's vibrant colors from the past.

The sheer magnitude of Mont Saint-Michel in mid-August was breathtaking, even with the summer crowds. Winding up the narrow, ancient path toward the abbey, I was struck by a powerful fusion of history and the present.

As you walk up the main street, you'll pass a smaller St. Peter's Church. Inside, you can purchase a candle from an automated machine and light it to pray for your loved ones.

The most unforgettable sight was the Iron Horse, a towering metal sculpture named "Zeus" from the Paris 2024 Olympic opening ceremony. Stationed on the Abbey's West Terrace until early September, this modern masterpiece against the medieval architecture was a jaw-dropping contrast—a perfect photo-op blending the legacy of the Olympics with the monumental history of the site.

The room contains the installation of the giant wooden wheel (or treadmill). Mont Saint-Michel once served as a prison, and this wheel was installed during that time to transport supplies and food up to the higher levels.

After exploring the Abbey Church, your path naturally leads to my absolute favorite area: the Cloister Courtyard. This was the private space for the monks—a place for reflection and quiet contemplation. With its elegant, symmetrical design, delicate carved capitals, and beautiful roofing, it's a hugely popular spot for photos, so expect it to be very crowded!

As the sun sets, you can admire the sight of Mont Saint-Michel bathed in a golden glow from a distance.

The night view of Mont Saint-Michel is truly captivating, and it was also very cold. Fortunately, we chose to spend the night here.