"We had a purely positive experience. The self guided trip is so well organized and included everything we needed. The chateaus or hotels were well chosen and were part of the wonderful experience.."
- 2009 client, Loire

This is a self guided cycling tour, but you are not alone! Learn more!
self guided cycling tours

Loire Valley Deluxe

This Loire Valley Cycling Tour -- the luxury hotel option to visit the charming Loire Valley by bicycle -- offers the perfect itinerary for rejuvenating both mind and body. The tranquil waters of the Loire, Indre, and Cher rivers flow through the heart of this scenic region known for its vineyards, orchards, and magnificent castles. The flat-to-rolling terrain is perfect for cycling and is filled with trees and colors.

For many visitors, the Loire Valley conjures images from the fairy tales of childhood. This tour starts in Amboise, an important cultural town with both a castle and historical sites. The cycling will take you to chateaux that are visiting such as Chenonceau and Azay le Rideau, and also the kind you stay in such as Chateau d'Artigny - one of the most famous in the whole of France. You will also cycle through some important wine regions and have the chance to explore some well known gardens. All the best of the Loire Valley by bicycle! Blog Articles about the Loire Region:

Loire Valley Wine | 5 Things You Didn't Know About the Loire | 5 Foods to Try in the Loire Region | 3 Must Visit Towns in the Loire | 5 Reaons to Cycle in the Loire Valley!

Featured in - The Australian - 'Travel & Indulgence' Section


Exerpt from the Travel & Indulgence section, artice The Spin Cycle by Susan Bredow - "We feel especially cheerful because the idea of cycling through the French countryside has always appealed and now we are finally doing it. We have booked a Grand Loire Deluxe trip with operator "Discover France" because the riding is graded easy to moderate...

Read More - Article Page 1, Article Page 2


Tour Details


Maps & Profiles

NOTE: Please click on the profile image to see the complete profile in true relief; the thumbnail version below is automatically made small and this distorts the actual relief of the terrain.

LOIRE_Trip map_Grand Loire

Tour Map

Total Distance: 219 km
Total Uphill: 1385 m
Total Downhill: 1333 m

Itinerary

Click on a day to see that days itinerary.

DAY 1 DAY 2

Day 2 - Ride To Chenonceau: Today is a perfect way to get started; you have a loop tour out to the Chateau of Chenonceau and back to Amboise. Along the way you will cycle some quiet back country roads and drop into the hamlet of Chenonceau and the stunning castle there which is famously perched over the Cher River. This famous castle is where Henri II and Catherine de Medicis and Diane de Poitiers played out their love stories. 30 or 50km. (B,D)

LE CHOISEUL

4

Amboise

DESCRIPTION OF HOTEL: On the outskirts of the town of Amboise, Le Choiseul is composed of th...

DAY 3

Day 3 Amboise to Wine Country. Depart for vineyards of Montlouis, but not without first taking the option to visit the strange Pagode de Chanteloup near to Amboise. The tour continues on through the vineyards of the region to Montbazon just south of Tours and your deluxe lodging at the Chateau Artigny. 42km. (B,D) Read about chateaux on this trip

CHATEAU D'ARTIGNY

4

Montbazon

DESCRIPTION OF HOTEL: (16k Tours) A magnificent 18th century style edifice built by the famo...

DAY 4

Day 4 Azay le Rideau. You start with a nice ride through rolling countryside to the site of the castle of Azay le Rideau. Here, alongside the Indre River, this is one of the more classical chateaux from the Renaissance period. After a visit you will start cycling toward Luynes with a nice and relatively long countryside ride at 55km. Arrive at the deluxe Domaine de Beauvois for the night. (B,D)

DOMAINE DE BEAUVOIS

4

Luynes

DESCRIPTION OF HOTEL: (Tours 10km) This 16th and 17th century manor house, surrounded by 350...

DAY 5

Day 5 to Saumur, starts with a vehicle transfer to the wine town of Chinon. Chinon is famous for its castle as well; dating back to the sagas of Joan of Arc and medieval times. From Chinon, after a visit, you will have a leisurely ride toward the famous and historic Abbaye of Fontevraud. This double monastery with royal heritage dates back to the year 1110. It is still a functioning abbey and open to visitors and then on to your hotel nearby with gastronomic dinner. 56km (B,D)

LE PRIEURE

4

Saumur

The Loire, its islands, and the surrounding valley as far as the eye can see. In this land of castle...

DAY 6

Day 6 is a loop ride to visit the town of Saumur and its chateau: the great Chateau de Saumur itself stands high above the town, and the nearby Chateau de Beaulieu which stands just 200 metres from the south bank of the Loire river. The Saumur castle was originally constructed in the tenth century by Thibault le Tricheur, comte de Blois, as a fortified stronghold against Norman predations. Return to your same hotel and gastronomic dinner. 53km (B,D).

LE PRIEURE

4

Saumur

The Loire, its islands, and the surrounding valley as far as the eye can see. In this land of castle...

DAY 7

Day 7 - Departure Day . After breakfast, you can depart at your leisure. Trains from nearby Saumur to Tours and Paris are possible. Added nights can be arranged. (B)

Add-on Day Options

Add Ons: A classic add-on is to pickup a car and drive to Mont St Michel, Normandy, and back to Paris. We can arrange cars, hotels, and suggest driving routes.



General Tour Information

Grand Loire Deluxe Cycling Tour
6 Nights / 7 Days

Self Guided Dates
Tour departs any day, subject to hotel availability. April through October.

Level - Average riding 46 km/day.
Level 2: moderate riding with some longer days at 55km. (2)


Details - Arrival city is Amboise, which accessible via train from Paris to St Pierre des Corps. 1hour by TGV; or direct to Amboise at 1hour 35min. Departure from Saumur to Paris Montparnasse at 2 hours 20 min by train.

Book a Hotel in Loire Valley
What is self-guided touring?

Misc Info - Triples and larger rooms are occasionally available, booking in advance required.

Optional Services:

Travel insurance, Paris museum & metro passes, Paris day tours, Lido shows, and other services. Cell phone rental and luggage storage services.

Note: prices subject to change based upon currency fluctuations. See Booking Terms and Conditions.

What's Included

gps and road book for cycling tours in france

The Trip Includes:
BEST 4 star chateaux lodging in the region, all breakfasts, all dinners, route maps and cue sheets, daily bag transfer, taxi transfers where mentioned, emergency technical support with bilingual local contact, orientation upon arrival. We also include free travel planning to add Paris hotels,car rentals, France hotels, trains, airport transfers, and more.


To learn more about the road books and GPS units we included, visit this link: GPS & Road Book Details
For hotels included in this tour, please see the Itinerary tab; each hotel is shown for each day.

Lower Price Option: A slightly lower price version of this tour is available, please inquire.
Additional Night Amboise: 359 euros/double including breakfast and dinner.

Tour Rates

Price

- Deluxe - 4 stars hotels

Deluxe Double Occupancy

1792 €/person

Deluxe Single Occupancy

2420 €/person

***Bike Rentals are available for a supplement of 105 euros, please see the Bike Rental tab for all details about the bikes we offer.

(convert from euros)

Photos & Videos

Virtual Tour

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Bike Info

Bike Rentals:
bike rental discover france cycling tours Scott Sportster P3/P4 & P40 hybrid rentals - the best rental bike available in the region!
Bike Equipment: Scott Sportster P3/P4 or P40 hybrid; see details on this page including a virtual photo tour, specs and all information.

Rental Rate: 105 euros/bike for the duration of the tour. This includes all the gear shown as well as bike delivery, set up, and bike return. Every bike is given an inspection by our mechanics in the bike shop before they go out again. Pedals with or without straps available. Clients can bring their own Clipless pedals to be changed over.



Scott Sportster P3/P4 & P40 hybrids; see link for full details and picture. Helmets and add on materials included in the rental rate of 105 euros.



You are important to us; so we make you thoroughly prepared and include:
Pre-trip travel documents: you will receive extensive information as a customer prior to your departure, see below. Upon confirmation of your tour we will send you some general information about preparations including passport info, training tips, and reading lists, cell phone rental, travel insurance, and more!

Upon final payment, we will send to you a complete list of documentation by email including Hotel List, contact numbers, itineraries, a packing list, regional information about sites, culture, regional specialities, important towns and historical sites, general France travel information, bike travel tips, vouchers, train travel tips, language phrases, holiday info, tour details, culture and customs tips, and much, much more!

Other Tours: Travel for this region
Loire Valley Biking Tours
Loire Valley Walking Tours

Bicycle Tour Regions
Alsace Burgundy Dordogne/SW Loire Valley Rhone-Alpes
Brittany Champagne Languedoc Normandy Provence