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  • Loire Valley 

The Loire by Bike from Tours to Saumur

A Gentle Journey Along Europe’s Last Wild River

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From
680€/person
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Presentation of your trip

From Tours, set off into the "Garden of France" and discover the region’s unique heritage and local delights: troglodyte dwellings, renowned vineyards, mushroom caves, traditional pommes tapées (flattened dried apples), delicious fouées (wood-fired bread rolls), and much more. Explore the fairy-tale Château of Sleeping Beauty and the magnificent Royal Abbey of Fontevraud. Cycle along the Loire à Vélo route beside Europe’s last great wild river, taking in its exceptional natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage. End your journey in style in Saumur, France’s equestrian capital and home of the world-famous Cadre Noir.

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

Famous route

The Loire by bike

Possible periods for this trip

  • Jan.
  • Feb.
  • March
  • Apr.
  • May
  • June
  • Jul.
  • August
  • Sep.
  • Oct.
  • Nov.
  • Dec.

DescriptionProgramPratical informationDates and priceContact

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

  • Self-guided cycling holiday
  • A 5-day, 4-night cycling journey with 4 days on the bike

Program

  • Day 1

    Arrival in Tours

      Arrive in Tours and check in to your accommodation, ready to begin your cycling adventure the following day in the best possible conditions.

      Take the opportunity to explore the historic heart of Tours, the gateway to the Loire Valley châteaux. Wander through its charming streets and be sure to visit Place Plumereau, the lively heart of the medieval old town and one of the city's must-see landmarks.

    • Day 2

      From Tours to Azay le Rideau

      • Distance : 34 km

      Leave Tours and the Loire behind for a while and follow the route towards the banks of the Cher River. Villandry awaits, with its magnificent gardens laid out across three terraces.

      Then leave the Cher and continue on to a château built on an island in the Indre River: Azay-le-Rideau. The famous French writer Balzac described it as a “faceted diamond set in the waters of the Indre, raised on stilts and adorned with flowers.”

    • 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

    Pratical information

    • Luggage

      Luggage is limited to the day's gear and a picnic. Luggage is transported by vehicle. Please allow 1 piece of luggage per person, maximum 15kg/luggage. Luggage is transported daily between 8am and 6pm, so please have your luggage ready to go by 8am every morning. 
      In order to respect the weight limit and facilitate the stowage of luggage in the vehicles, we inform you that rigid suitcases are no longer accepted. 
      Please bring soft bags.

    • Luggage

      Simply carry what you need for the day — we’ll take care of transferring your luggage from one accommodation to the next. Each participant may bring one soft-sided bag weighing up to 20 kg, clearly labelled with the booking holder’s name.

    • Formalities

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

    • 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

    • 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

    • Food

      Breakfasts are included in your stay, allowing you to start each day of cycling in the best possible way. Lunches and dinners are not included, giving you the freedom to choose, along your route, the restaurants, markets, and local hidden gems where you can discover the flavours and specialities of the region.

    • Difficulty level

      You are in good physical condition and practise cycling or another sport fairly regularly.
      The stage is 32–38 km per day with no difference in altitude.

    • Accompanying

      Self-guided tour : Set off on the date that suits you and make the most of your cycling holiday with complete peace of mind. We take care of everything: booking your accommodation, transporting your luggage and planning your itinerary.

      All you have to do is cycle! With your roadbook and our navigation app, you can follow a route we’ve designed for you, at your own pace and entirely independently.
      An ideal package for combining freedom, comfort and peace of mind whilst discovering the most beautiful cycling routes.

    Dates and price

    Information

    Travel on the dates that suit you best—you are free to choose your own departure day according to your schedule and preferences.

    Enjoy a carefree cycling holiday with every detail taken care of. We arrange your accommodation, organise daily luggage transfers, and prepare your itinerary in advance. Once you're on the road, simply follow your roadbook and dedicated navigation app, allowing you to cycle at your own pace without worrying about the logistics.

    The perfect way to combine freedom, independence, and complete peace of mind.

    Freedom Package Rates

    Price TTC per person

    3* hotel, double room (5 days)
    Dates A*
    2 pers.735 €
    3 pers.730 €
    4-5 pers.680 €
    6 people and +650 €
    3* and 4* hotels, double room (5 days)
    Dates A*
    2 pers.930 €
    3 pers.925 €
    4-5 pers.890 €
    6 people and +840 €

    * Travel periods
    • Dates A: 1 avril to 31 octobre

    Options

    Single Room Supplement

    Single occupancy accommodation for the entire tour:

    • 3-star hotels: €220 per person
    • 4-star hotels: €290 per person

    Bike Rental

    We offer two types of bicycles for hire. Your bike will be delivered to your first accommodation, and at the end of your trip it will be collected by our transport provider.

    Bike rental includes either a standard bicycle or an electric bike, a pair of rear panniers, a handlebar bag, and a helmet. All bikes are equipped with a luggage rack, a small repair kit, a lock, and a pump.

    Please remember to let us know your height when making your booking so we can provide the right bike size.

    • Standard bike (4 days): €175 per bike
    • Electric bike (4 days): €250 per bike

    The price includes

    • accommodation in a double or triple room
    • breakfast
    • transport of one piece of luggage per person (max. 20 kg)
    • tourist taxes
    • access to our smartphone navigation app
    • a personalised itinerary (PDF format)
    • the ability to track your booking via your personal MyLaRébenne account
    • full organisation and logistics for your stay
    • 24-hour telephone support

    The price does not include

    • Transportation to the meeting point
    • Lunches
    • Dinners
    • Drinks and personal expenses
    • Personal bike equipment (e.g. helmets and gloves)
    • Bicycles
    • Entry to tourist sites
    • Insurance

    Request for quote or information

    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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