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  • Loire Valley 

Loire Valley by bike – Cool Version

From Tours to Saumur

From
440€/person
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Presentation of your trip

From 2000, the Loire Valley has been registered among UNESCO’s World Heritage list, from Sully sur Loire (South East of Orleans), until Chalonnes sur Loire (South West of Angers). Get on your bikes to discover the last wild European river and its rich heritage following the cycling ways of the ‘Loire à Vélo”. From Tours, enter the “Garden of France” and discover the specialties of this region : troglodytic houses, vineyards, mushroom caves, “pommes tapées and fouées”… Stroll into the Sleeping Beauty’s chateau and the royal Abbey of Fontevraud. End the tour in Saumur, capital city of horse-riding.

  • DestinationLoire Valley
  • TypeFree
  • Length of trip5 days and 4 nights
  • ActivitiesCycling/All Terrain Biking
  • Physical level
LaRébenne-Loire-velo

Collection

The Loire by bike

Possible periods for this trip

  • Jan.
  • Feb.
  • March
  • Apr.
  • May
  • June
  • Jul.
  • August
  • Sep.
  • Oct.
  • Nov.
  • Dec.
Description of the tripProgramTravel conditionsDates and price

Trip details

Highlights

  • A route in the heart of Loire Valley, registered on UNESCO World Heritage list
  • The various tourist sites en route
  • Leave your bikes at Saumur at the end of your trip !
  • Riding on the longest French designated cycling track

Complementary informations

  • Accommodation in selected or premium hotels or guest houses
  • 5 days, 4 nights – 4 cycling days

Program

  • Day 1

    Arrival in Tours

    • Type of accommodation : B&B

    Arrival at Tours hotel. Free evening in the capital city of the Loire Valley chateaux. Get lost in the little streets of the ancient city. With its ubiquitous architectural heritage, the Plumereau square is the heart of the ancient and contemporary city, well worth while stopping for a drink.

  • Day 2

    From Tours to Azay le Rideau

    • Distance : 34 km
    • Type of accommodation : B&B

    Leave Tours and the Loire river temporarily to reach the Cher river banks. Villandry is waiting for you and invites you in its different levels of gardens. Then, give the Cher river the slip to join a chateau built on an island over the River Indre: Azay le Rideau.
    Night in Azay le Rideau - B&B.

  • Day 3

    From Azay le Rideau to Chinon

    • Distance : 37 km
    • Type of accommodation : B&B

    Find again the River Loire and discover the chateau of Rigny-Ussé, also called the Sleeping Beauty’s chateau. Then, ride towards the South until Chinon. You cross the famous classified vineyards to arrive to the 12th century castle famous for the interview between Joan of Arc and the future king Charles VII. Do not hesitate to taste the local wines.
    Night in Chinon - B&B.

  • Day 4

    From Chinon to Saumur

    • Distance : 38 km
    • Type of accommodation : B&B

    After this pleasant ride, get on your bike and ride to discover Fontevraud and its royal abbey, one of the biggest in Europe. Founded in 1101, the abbey moved little by little to become a jail. You will also discover the troglodytic cliff houses on your way to Saumur. It is the area of the mushroom farms and sparkling wine cellars. Arrival in Saumur, dominated by its majestic chateau. It’s a bit of a climb up to the chateau but your efforts will be rewarded by the superb panorama that is offered to you.
    Night in Saumur - B&B.

  • Day 5

    Loop around Saumur

    • Distance : 32 km
    • Type of accommodation : B&B

    Go toward the impressive château de Brézé crossing the pretty local villages. This chateau is formerly a troglodytic fortress coupled with a ground level Renaissance château. Do not miss the tour of its underground galleries… Ride then in the countryside. You are now back in the horse-riding capital city, the famous Cadre Noir opens its doors to you during a tour into the wings of the National Riding School. After the tour, take your time to taste the good Saumur sparkling wine in one of the numerous troglodytic caves of the city. Leave your rental bikes at Saumur train station and travel on light ! End of the trip.

  • End of trip

Travel conditions

  • Luggage

    Carrying is limited to business of the day and picnic. Luggage is carried by vehicle. Please allow 1 bag per person, maximum 15kg/bag.

  • Attendees

    From 2 people.

  • Formalities

    • A valid official ID.
    • We recommend travel insurance with repatriation included. 
       

  • Accompanying

    Free Ride:
    Equipped with the orientation material we give you: maps with highlighted route and detailed topoguide, you go alone to discover circuits designed by our team. You are guided by carefully prepared directions, for maximum precision.

  • Food

    For each step, we have established a qualitative selection of restaurants of different categories with their contact details. We chose them according to different criteria, such as, the kitchen, of course, but also the quality of service, the quality/ price ratio and the atmosphere.
    For reservations, there are two options:

    You select and make the reservation yourself in the restaurant of your choice.
    You send us this list with the restaurants you have chosen and we make the reservations for you free of charge.

    Picnics and dinners are not planned.

  • Accommodation

    Nights in double room in hotels. In Bed and Breakfast formula (night and breakfast included).

    We have selected our accommodations for their quality of welcome and comfort: to enjoy, thank you to book as soon as possible.

    You can choose your accommodation category:

    • Version hotels Selection: you sleep in comfortable rooms for 2 people in hotels or guest rooms, category ** or ***. Sheets and towels are provided. A bathroom is reserved for you. (Single room option - See rates on our website).
      Extra night in B&B, selection version in Tours or Saumur: contact us
    • Upscale hotel version: We have selected our accommodations for the quality of their welcome and comfort in the category charm and upscale character. Places are very limited, in order to enjoy it we invite you to book as soon as possible. You sleep in rooms of 2 people upscale hotels with bathroom and private bathroom. Sheets and towels are provided. (Option single room - See rates on our website).
      Extra night in B&B, upscale version in Tours or Saumur: contact us

  • Difficulty level

    You have a good physical condition and practice fairly regularly cycling or other sports activity.
    Stage from 32 to 38km per day, no difference in altitude.

  • DEPARTURE AND MEETING POINT

    Arrival in Tours (37).

    How to get there:
    By car: Highway A10, direction Tours
    By train: Train station of Tours-centre or St Pierre des Corps+shuttle
    By plane: Airport of Tours then shuttle to the city center

  • Options

    • Train return with your luggage: http://www.voyages-sncf.com/,
    • Free restaurant reservation (if requested),
    • Formula 3 or 4 days: tailor-made program from the 3 or 4 stages you choose yourself,
    • Additional accommodation before or after the stay,
    • Single room supplement,
    • Bike rental.

Dates and price

Information

Free departure dates: you choose your own departure dates according to your availability.
For constituted groups, we adapt the level, duration, price and program on demand.

Free departure from

Price TTC per person

Version hotels Sélection
Registration at 2 people495€
Registration at 3 people495€
Registration at 4 people460€
Registration at 6 people440€
Premium hotel version
Registration at 2 people640€
Registration at 3 people640€
Registration at 4 people595€
Registration at 6 people585€

Options

Single room supplement (Selection formula): 130€
Single room supplement (Premium formula): 175€

The price includes

- Bed and breakfast accommodation,
- Detailed guidebook with map extracts,
- The card holder,
- The carriage of luggage,
- Free restaurant reservation (if requested),

The price does not include

  • Dinners and lunches/ picnics,
  • Accommodation on return to Tours and Saumur,
  • Drinks,
  • Personal expenses,
  • Personal bike equipment (helmets, gloves),
  • Bicycles,
  • Transportation to the meeting point,
  • Return to Tours by train with your luggage,
  • Entries in the tourist sites,The parking lot,
  • Insurance.

The destination

  • Loire Valley

    The Loire Valley offers of course magnificent panoramas on the river, but also the unmissable castles of the Loire, natural parks, charming villages, a unique gastronomic offer. To say, the Loire Valley is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since November 30, 2000 as a cultural landscape. Nothing but that!

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