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The Châteaux of the Loire by bike from Blois to Saumur

Price per person

From 765€

Type of stay

Voyage à vélo

Location

Blois, Saumur - France

Duration

7 days

Difficulty

Departures

Daily from April to October

Capacity

2 people minimum

Reference

Cyclo 40

Your stay

Les Châteaux de la Loire à vélo. The best of the Loire by bike from Blois to Saumur

This magnificent route along the Loire, Europe’s last wild river, takes you to some of the Loire Valley’s most famous châteaux by bike: Château de Chambord, Chenonceau, Blois, Amboise and Cheverny. You’ll also discover some of the Loire Valley’s most famous vineyards, including Chinon, Montlouis and, of course, Saumur. Gentle daily bike rides between exceptional historical heritage, winegrowing heritage and enchanting natural landscapes. It’s not for nothing that the Loire Valley was given the appellation of “Garden of France” in the 15th century, justified at the time by the art and gentle way of life that reigned in this region, and which was then, for a long time to come, conducive to the development of the art of gardens, omnipresent in the parks of sumptuous châteaux.

Cycling vacations on the central section of the famous “Loire à vélo”, France’s oldest bicycle route, 800 km long. We invite you to discover it from Blois, capital of Loir et Cher, via Tours in Indre et Loire, to Saumur in Maine et Loire. You’ll criss-cross these 3 unmissable départements on cycle paths and greenways.

Mainly along the Loire, the itinerary nonetheless features a few essential detours along three other rivers: the Cher, spanned by the Château de Chenonceau, the Indre and the Vienne, dominated by the royal fortress of Chinon on its rocky outcrop.

As an optional extra, we recommend that you opt for the “Châteaux Pack”, which opens the doors to Parks, Gardens and Châteaux all along the route.

You'll enjoy :

Enjoy the stopover towns: Blois, Amboise, Tours, Saumur
The vineyards of Montlouis, Chinon and Saumur-Champigny
The main castles: Chambord, Amboise, Chenonceaux …
and the Villandry Gardens!

Back to travel

Daily program

Day 1 - Arrival in Blois

Discover the charming town of Blois along its cobbled streets criss-crossed by staircases, and its castle.

Day 2 - Loop from Blois to Chambord (and Cheverny)

For your first cycling tour, follow the banks of the Loire and then continue through the rich forest of the Domaine de Chambord, where a stopover is in order to visit the Loire Valley’s most famous and majestic château. In all its Renaissance splendor, the Château de Chambord boasts no fewer than 440 rooms. You can also explore its 5433-hectare park, before taking to the country roads in the direction of Blois.
Possibility of joining the Château de Cheverny, remarkable for its sumptuously furnished and decorated apartments, which inspired Hergé’s vision of Marlinspike in the adventures of Tintin!

Day 3 - Blois - Amboise

Follow the “Loire à Vélo” cycle paths through pretty little villages to the Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire, which majestically overlooks the Loire and the little town, before reaching the town of Amboise and its royal château. The château’s chapel houses Leonardo da Vinci’s tomb, and a few streets further on, you can see the genius’s last home: the Clos Lucé manor house.

Day 4 - Amboise - Tours (via Chenonceaux)

Set course for the famous Château de Chenonceau, one of the most beautiful châteaux in the Loire Valley! Elegantly straddling the Cher River, this castle with its singular history and feminine touch was the scene of the rivalry between Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis. Follow the Loire à Vélo cycle route for a stopover in the vineyards! Pedal through the vineyards of Montlouis and discover the many cellars that house this famous sweet or sparkling white wine. Then join Tours and its typical half-timbered houses in its old quarters.

Day 5 - Tours - Chinon

This leg of the tour includes a visit to Villandry, with its famous terraced French-style gardens, and the Château de Saché, home of the famous writer Honoré de Balzac and source of inspiration for his novels. Pedal on to Langeais and its 15th-century chateau-like fortress. Then on to the Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant in Ussé. Storyteller Charles Perrault was inspired to write his famous tale by the multitude of its roofs, belfries and dormer windows! Then on to the medieval town of Chinon.

Day 6 - Chinon - Saumur

Before leaving Chinon, discover the many cellars where Rabelais’ famous red wine is aged. Next, head for Fontevraud Abbey, one of the largest monastic cities in the West and home to the recumbent remains of the Plantagenets. Then on to the pretty town of Saumur, the finish point of this cycling tour.

Day 7 - Departure

Departure after breakfast.

rates

Price per person

	Comfort version (2 and/or 3*)	Superior version (3*)	Deluxe version (3 and/or 4*)
7 days – 6 nights : Half-board package (6 dinners) :	765 € +260 €	945 € +270 €	1290 € +290 €

Price includes

6 nights in 2- and 3-star hotels with breakfast (in double/twin rooms)
Route book (map and directions)
Luggage transfer at each stopover (1 piece of luggage weighing 20 kg per person)
24/7 technical assistance

Supplement

VTC bike rental (helmet not included): €90
Electric bike rental (helmet not included): €180
Pack Châteaux: €100

Further information

We take care of transporting your luggage every time you change accommodation, so you can travel light and enjoy your day’s hiking.

Leave your luggage at the reception desk of your accommodation before departure.

At the end of the afternoon, you’ll meet them at the reception desk of your new accommodation or directly in your room.

Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (maximum 23 kg).

Your travel file corresponds to the documents or files you receive prior to your trip (generally one month before) and/or on arrival at your first accommodation.

It includes :

A welcome letter with key practical information:

Baggage transport times
Details of delivery and collection of rental bikes if required
Your local contact and emergency telephone number(s)
Any additional information

Travel logbook including map with route (at the appropriate scale) and directional, tourist and practical information

Any necessary vouchers to be given to the service provider(s)

On request and depending on the tour:

Download the “Evazio” application onto your smartphone for GPS navigation with visual (reading the route on your smartphone screen) and/or spoken guidance. The application also contains practical and tourist information. Once the trip has been downloaded, no Internet connection is required.
Loan of a GPS device with pre-recorded tracks
Send GPX tracks of each stage for use with your own navigation device

On this tour, we can provide you with a choice of the following, upon reservation:

A VTC bike suited to the tour and the route (UNISEX model)

velo vallee loire gitane

An electric bike adapted to the course (UNISEX)

velo vallee loire scott e sub

With equipment :

Bag 1

Handlebar bag

Repair kit

Anti-theft device

1 rear bag
1 handlebar bag
1 repair kit
1 anti-theft device
1 charger (for electric bike)

For younger children, depending on age and size, we can offer

Children's bikes

Bicycle follower

Follow Me Tandem Loire Valley

Second trailer

A child’s bike
A baby seat
A trailer
A follower bike
A Follow-Me Tandem

The bike is adjusted to your size and delivered to the first accommodation.

At the end of the tour, the bike must be left at the last accommodation with its equipment. We’ll take care of collecting them.

This tour is available in “comfort”, “superior” or “luxury” categories.

Hotel categories :

Comfort: The tour features mainly 2 and 3-star hotels (or equivalent comfort level) and bed & breakfasts.
Superior: The tour features mainly 3- and 4-star hotels (or equivalent level of comfort) and charming bed & breakfasts.
Luxury: The tour features mainly 4- and 5-star hotels (or equivalent level of comfort).

For the duration of your stay, our telephone assistance service is available: