Self-guided bike tour in the Loire Valley
11-day cycle in a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Cycling in a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Famous Loire castles
- Delve into culture, cities and vineyards
- Light-hearted cycling and luggage transfer
- Very comfortable accommodation partly with pool
Experience the UNESCO World Heritage Site with its unique Loire castles and their gardens and fountains at your own pace. Our mobile travel app will ensure that you will never stray too far from the itinerary.
On this individual bike tour, you will spend 11 days enjoying the Loire region: an unforgettable bike tour along the Loire through charming villages and towns to the world famous Loire castles!
Itinerary
Day 1: Angers
Arrival in a comfortable guest room in the centre of Angers. Dinner in the town at leisure, at your own expense..
Day 2: Angers - Tour of the Angevin Pays - Plessis-Bourré Castle
After breakfast, participants explore the old town of Angers on foot. Possibility to visit the cathedral and medieval castle. Departure through the hinterland of Angers, the "Pays Angevin" to the shores of Lake Maine and to the castle of Plessis. Return to the guestroom. Dinner in the town at leisure, at your own expense.
Duration of leg: ca. 3hrs - distance covered: 40km
Day 3: Angers - Saumur
The route takes you from Angers Castle to Saumur Castle through the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Nature Park. The stage continues on the wild banks of the Loire through characteristic old villages to the slate quarries of Trélazé. They will be recieved at a comfortable guesthouse in Saumur and end the day with an aperitif and wine tasting. Dinner and overnight stay there.
Duration of leg: ca. 5hrs - distance covered: 54km
Day 4: Saumur - Fontevraud Abbey - Chinon
Participants pass through the vineyards of Saumur-Champigny after breakfast. They can have a break and visit to a wine cellar in Montsoreau if they like, then on to the royal medieval abbey of Fontevraud (guided tour possible). Return to the Loire River via the small town of Candes Saint Martin. 10km to the guestroom in Chinon, overnight stay. Dinner in the town at leisure, at your own expense.
Duration of leg: ca. 3hrs 30min - distance covered: 47km
Day 5: Chinon - Azay-le-Rideau
First stop in the morning in the small town of Savigny-en-Véron, followed up by a stop at the small, beautiful castle Rivau where they can have lunch. Participants then head to the world-famous Loire castle Azay-le-Rideau.Overnight stay and Dinner at the restaurant-hotel in Azay-le-Rideau.
Duration of leg: 4hrs - distance covered: 47km
Day 6: UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Loire Castles Langeais and Villandry
It is finally time for the impressive Langeais Castle near the guesthouse. In the afternoon, participants cycle 11km in the direction of Villandry to Villandry Castle and its famous gardens. Overnight stay and Dinner at the restaurant-hotel in Azay-le-Rideau.
Duration of leg: 80min - distance covered: 22km
Day 7: Azay-le-Rideau - Tours
One of the most beautiful segments of the Loire by bicycle: participants cycle along the banks of the Cher River past the Renaissance castle of Villandry and its famous gardens and fountains to the "Levée" (dam on the Loire). Once in Tours, they can explore the gourmet city by bike. Late afternoon wine tasting of Chenin white wines to end the day. Overnight stay in a comfortable guest room in the city centre. Dinner in the town at leisure, at your own expense.
Duration of leg: 4hrs - distance covered: 53km
Day 8: Tours - Amboise
After breakfast, a 35km cycle takes participants to the moated castle Chenonceaux, the "castle of the ladies". Once they have seen the castle and its gardens, the stage continues on to Amboise. Overnight stay in a small 4-star hotel with pool in the city centre. Dinner in the town at leisure, at your own expense.
Duration of leg: 4hrs - distance covered: 53km.
Day 9: Amboise - Blois
After breakfast, participants cycle towards Clos Lucé, the place where Leonardo da Vinci died (visit possible). As they continue along the Loire route, they will take a side trip to the Château de Chaumont and its magnificent park. Continue to Candé sur Beuvron before arriving in Blois. Overnight in a comfortable 4-star guest room with pool in the city centre. Dinner in the town at leisure, at your own expense..
Duration of leg: 4hrs - distance covered: 43km
Day 10: Blois - Chambord - Blois
After breakfast, participants visit the royal castle of Blois. Cycle trail to Chambord. Gastronomic dinner. Overnight in a comfortable 4-star guest room with pool in the city centre.Dinner in the town at leisure, at your own expense.
Day 11: End of the cycling tour
Participants enjoy a breakfast before making themselves on their way home.
Travel dates
- Apr 15th, 22 – Oct 16th, 22
- From 1.395,- €
- open for reservation
- Enquire now
Indicated pricing per person in a double room
Daily start dates from April to mid- October depending on availability of the guesthouses.
Our journey starts in Angers and ends in Blois.
Optional
Bike rental (including emergency hotline number [not for flat tires], helmet, bottle, etc.): €250/person / 10 days (the bike will be transported to the hotel in Angers where the trip begins)
E-Bikes are available for a surcharge of €120
We can arrange a English-speaking guide for this tour (min. 6 persons).
Services
Price includes
10 nights in a double room in selected, bicycle-friendly and very comfortable guesthouses, breakfast and 4 dinners, luggage transfer, visitor's tax, detailed route description and our mobile GPS-app (the app serves as a travel companion).
Minimum number of participants
Starting from 2 persons!
Travel generally not suitable for persons with reduced mobility.
Last possibility of cancellation by the tour operator: 21 days before departure.
Accommodation & Catering
Participants spend the nights in comfortable, selected 4-star guesthouses (national category). Dinner in gourmet restaurants or at the guest table at the lodging. It is possible to have lunch in cafés, restaurants or brasseries on each of the stages.
Level of difficulty: easy to intermediary
Feasible for anyone who regularly rides a bicycle. The choice of an electric bicycle (EAB) allows you to enjoy your cycling tour to the fullest. Duration of the stages: 80min to 5 hours of cycling per day on small country roads, along the river or on cycle paths. Luggage is transferred from one accommodation to another. All you need is your personal belongings (camera, wallet, etc.) and your picnic.
Getting there
We recommend an eco-friendly train ride to the SNCF station in Angers. You can reach Angers by TGV in 1hr 30min from Montparnasse station in Paris. You will receive detailed information once you have enquired for this trip on our website.
General information and tips on how to get to France can be found here.