Cycling In France Loire Valley

Cycling In France Loire Valley
Bountiful vineyards, fruit orchards and delightful villages all explain why the beautiful Loire Valley is known as ‘The Garden of France’. On this relaxed ride we follow quiet country roads from Chenonceax to Chinon: we explore the medieval château perched on an island in Azay-le-Rideau, visit Leonardo da Vinci’s final home at Clos Lucé and discover the elegant Fontevraud Abbey in Anjou.

Cycling In France Loire Valley: Tour Highlights:
Châteaux of the Loire Valley – Explore the magnificent chateaux by bike in the ‘Garden of France’
Food and Wine – Experience fine local cuisine and optional wine tasting
Montrichard – Bustling market town with a rich Medieval heritage
Chateau of Chenonceau – The Ladies’ Chateau spanning the Cher river and is among the most photographed of the Loire

Why Book this tour Cycling In France Loire Valley
Unlike many other operators, we include the hire of your bike in the overall cost of the holiday: you don’t need to bring your own or pay extra to hire one locally. We also provide a support vehicle, spare parts and take care of day to day bike maintenance. All you need bring is your own helmet.

Cycling Information
On this tour we cycle 235 km over six days (an average of 39 km per day) with further optional rides available. Two of the cycling days are circular routes and therefore optional. We cycle mainly on tarmac country lanes and gravel tracks. Maps are provided to cycle individually or in groups while the tour leader drives the support vehicle, except on circular routes when the tour leader will cycle with the group. We have graded the route as easy.

Climate
France
Across France, from April – August, weather conditions are generally warm and pleasant with moderate rainfall; Autumn temperatures are a bit lower and the winter months (though colder) remain mild. The summer months on the Mediterranean Coast in the south tend to be warmer than the rest of France and have less rainfall, and also more mild winters; freezing conditions are nearly unheard of. The mountainous areas of the Alps, Juros and Pyrenees can be quite different. During summer the morning and evening temperatures are considerably cooler and it becomes much colder in winter with heavy snowfall. Western France, along the English Channel, there can be very strong winds and frequent rain during the winter months Nov – Apr. Wine harvesting takes place in late August/early September.

Cycling In France Loire Valley: Day 1: Join tour Chenonceaux
We start our tour in the tiny village of Chenonceaux, home to one of the most famous and beautiful chateau in France.
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Room Available
Included Meals: None

Cycling In France Loire Valley: Day 2: Circular ride to Montrichard for wine tasting or chateau visit
Having had a chance to familiarise ourselves with our bikes, we start by exploring the area around Chenonceaux. There is the opportunity to cycle east of the village to Montrichard where we can taste the local wines of the Cher region, or visit the 17th century château of Gue Pean, a gentle introductory ride. Alternatively, you can just follow the local backroads through small, quiet villages. In the afternoon you may like to tour the large Monmousseau winery or visit the Mushroom Museum or a troglodyte dwelling.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 30 to 45 kilometres depending upon option chosen
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Room Available
Included Meals: Breakfast

Cycling In France Loire Valley: Day 3: Cycle along forest paths to Amboise
After an optional visit to the chateau we pedal through the village of Chissay. We cycle through the tranquil forest and several pretty villages to our overnight stop at Amboise. On arrival you may choose to visit Clos Lucé, the house where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last 3 years and now a museum dedicated to his life and work and the Royal chateau on the banks of the Loire.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 25 to 40 kilometres depending upon option chosen
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Room Available
Included Meals: Breakfast

Cycling In France Loire Valley: Day 4: Pedal a cross country route to Azay-le-Rideau
A longer days’ cycling on cross country routes via St Martin-le-Beau and Nitray to Cormery, a town famous for its macaroons, and then along the River Indre, with optional visits to Pont-de-Ruan and Sache, home of Balzac and now the site of an excellent museum of literature.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 54 kilometres
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Room Available
Included Meals: Breakfast

Cycling In France Loire Valley: Day 5: Spend the day exploring Azay
We spend the day in Azay, where we can visit the château and walk in its gardens along the banks of the River Indre. For those wanting to explore further, south-east of Azay is the troglodyte village of Villaines-les-Rochers, now famous for its willow basketweaving. Or north of Azay is Villandry, with its beautifully recreated Renaissance garden, one of the finest in the whole of France.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 38 kilometres (optional)
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Room Available
Included Meals: Breakfast

Cycling In France Loire Valley: Day 6: Cycle to Chinon through the fairy tale scenery
South-west of Azay, en-route to Chinon and situated between the banks of the Loire and the Forest of Chinon, is the Château d’Ussé – a truly romantic château and reputedly the setting for the fairy tale ‘Sleeping Beauty’. On the north bank of the river are the vineyards of Bourgeuil, famous for their velvety red wines. A variety of routes to Chinon are possible, depending on your preferences.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 35 kilometres
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Room Available
Included Meals: Breakfast

cycling the loire valley: Day 7: Cycle the ‘Wine Route’ of Chinon or explore the town
Today we suggest you walk through the cobbled streets of the old town of Chinon and up to the château, where Joan of Arc identified the Dauphin, or cycle the circular ‘Wine Route’ of Chinon southeast along the River Vienne experiencing the famous Chinon vineyards as you go. Alternatively, you can take a westerly direction with the option to visit Fontevraud Abbey, which houses the tombs of the Plantagenet Kings including Henry II and Richard the Lionheart.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 43 kilometres
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Room Available
Included Meals: Breakfast

Cycling In France Loire Valley: Day 8: Tour ends St. Pierre-des-Corps train station in Tours
After breakfast we drive to St. Pierre-des-Corps train station in Tours where the tour ends.
Included Meals: Breakfast

Cycling In France In The Loire Valley Pricing due to currency fluctuations and seasonal changes please inquire for the best possible price.


Cycling In France Loire Valley: What’s Included:

Cycling In France Loire Valley: Bike Details
Your included bike is a 21 gear Trek T10 Navigator hybrid and will be the correct frame size for your height. A 16-litre pannier and water bottle holder are included as well as the facility to fit your own pedals or saddle if you wish to bring them. A support vehicle carries the luggage from point to point and is driven by the tour leader. Maps are provided to cycle individually or as a group. We provide spare parts and take care of the day to day maintenance. All you need to bring is your own helmet.

Cycling In France In The Loire Valley What’s NOT Included:

Cycling In France Loire Valley: Equipment
We strongly advise that you bring your own helmet with you, as helmets cannot be provided locally. Cycle glasses (to protect against dust, insects, pollen, sun etc) , cycle gloves (padded for more comfort) and a water bottle or water delivery system (eg camelback or platypus). You may choose to bring your own gel seat cover for added comfort.
International flights
Any extra local transport (subways, taxis, buses) unless covered by the included passes
Baggage handling & luggage forwarding

Accommodation changes and upgrade are available for all our Cycling Tour, make an inquiry now