Castles of the Loire

Self-guided Lifestyle Cycling Tour from $1,316 NZD

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8 Days
  • 2012
  • Best time to travel: May - June / September - October
  • Availability Guide:
  • Current date selected
  • Plenty
  • Limited
  • Closed or too close to departure (Call Us for options)

Enjoy easy cycling through the 'Garden of France', famed for flowers, vineyards and 1000+ castles.

The Loire Valley is THE place to go for medieval to Renaissance architecture. You'll see the region's most famous and beautiful châteaux and palaces, including Villandry, Blois, Chambord, Chaumont and Ussé, to name but a few.

Discover the lifestyles of yesteryear's rich and famous. Enjoy the historic yet sophisticated towns, and try the many wines, famed for their fruity character. Wine has been grown here for 2000 years.

Tours to Tours

Tours Val de Loire
  • Lifestyle
  • Grade
  • Departures every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 19 March to 06 November
  • EUR210 single room surcharge
  • EUR210 half board
  • EUR85 bike hire
  • EUR6 helmet hire per week
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Castles of the Loire Fitness and Preparation

The Loire Valley's gentle, quiet roads and beautiful cuisine are the perfect ingredients for this self-guided tour. We'll give you maps and take care of all the details for you — luggage, transfers, and many meals.

You'll stay each night in comfortable, centrally-located hotels with ensuite bathrooms. Breakfast is provided, but you may wish to upgrade for 7 3-course dinners.

Enjoy this regal and elegant region of France.

Mild Tours

Mild tours have an expectation that you have an interest and possibly some experience in the activities. Routes chosen will require a reasonable level of fitness and experience on different terrains mild tours are suitable for increasing your activities and pushing yourself to new limits.

Fitness required

An average level of fitness is required, you will need to be doing some form of exercise two-three times a week during the build up to this tour.

Full Itinerary

DAY 1

Arrival Day: Tours

No cycling

Arrive in vibrant Tours with its beautiful avenues and boulevards. The locals here pride themselves on speaking the purest dialect in France. Take some time to visit the city's highlights, including the historic district and gothic cathedral. In the afternoon, you'll receive your detailed tour information and bike fitting.

Meals: None

DAY 2

Tours to Chinon

Cycling: approx 60 km

Ride alongside the Loire River, France's longest river, to Château de Villandry, famous for its terrace gardens and fountains. Next, follow the Loire's tributary, the River Cher, to Château de Langeais, built for military purposes. Next it's the enchanting Château d'Ussé, also known as the 'Sleeping Beauty castle'. Then cycle through small towns and back roads to Chinon, famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon. Its castle on the Vienne River was the primary home of Henry II.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 3

Chinon to Fontevrau to Chinon

Cycling: approx 55 km

Be prepared for time travelling: your first stop is Fontevraud Abbey, a perfectly preserved UNESCO World Heritage Site. Henry II, Richard the Lionheart and Eleanor of Aquitaine were buried here. Bike onwards to scenic Saumur, a town of about 30,000 famous for its white button mushroom caves, top class local wines, and of course, its beautiful castle. After a rest in the castle park, cycle back through beautiful vineyards to Chinon.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 4

Chinon to Crissay to Azay-le-Rideau

Cycling: 45 km

Travel north through forests and ancient vineyards to the artists' haven of Crissay. Crissay features 15th century houses and is one of France's most beautiful villages. See the Renaissance castle of Azay-le-Rideau, described by Balzac as 'a diamond with a thousand facets'. Its foundations rise straight out of the River Indre. Enjoy the surroundings of this former defensive fortress with its colourful history, and spend the night in the village.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 5

Azay-le-Rideau to Chenonceaux

Cycling: 60 km

Ride alongside the Indre river and, after a short ascent, rejoin the Cher. Cycle on meadow pathways to beautiful Blois. Along the way, you'll discover a beautiful gallery with two floors in the form a bridge that spans the river, from which you can see the magnificent castle grounds. Next, a tour highlight for many — the famous castle of Chenonceaux. This was the beloved home of Henry II's mistress Diane de Poitiers until Henry's widow Catherine de Medici had Diane cast out.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 6

Chenonceaux to Blois

Cycling: 45 km / 75 km

Today, you have two options. For a shorter trip, travel to Castle Chaumont, and then to Blois. Check in to your hotel, then explore the town and perhaps visit Blois Castle with its galleries, balconies and oriels. Blois was the base city for many kings and therefore has much historically important architecture. For a longer trip, pass the Montrichard, Cherverny, and Villesavin castles en route to Castle Chambord, the Loire Valley's biggest and most magnificent castle. It stretches as far as the eye can see.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 7

Blois to Tours

Cycling: 70 km

Today, follow the Loire past golden sandbanks. This part of the Loire features rock apartments built into limestone. Cross the river to visit Château d'Amboise, the king of all castles, which has hosted 5 kings and a Roman emperor! A must-see: Clos Lucé, a mansion very close to the castle where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years. Next, cycle along hidden paths and through vineyards and wine cellars via the village of Rochecorbon to Tours.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 8

Departure Day: Tours

No cycling

C'est la vie! Today your journey ends. One more substantial breakfast, and it's time to say goodbye to the majestic beauty of the Loire Valley.

Meals: Breakfast

Hi, I am Nathalie, I can help you plan your France cycling escape.

Nathalie_236x184

+64 3 982 9933

Email: reservations@globaladventureguide.com

Tour Inclusions and Exclusions:

Tour Includes:

  • 7 nights accommodation in 2 and 3 star hotels - twin share
  • 7 buffet or extended French breakfasts
  • Daily luggage transport between accommodation
  • Maps and Information

Tour excludes:

  • International Flights and/or Travel Visas or Travel Insurance
  • Lunches and Dinners
  • Bike hire
  • Personal Welcome in Tours - Sup. € 30 per pers
  • Drinks & snack bars
  • Tips