Cycle the Loire Valley

Experience Overview

From magnificent chateaux steeped in Renaissance history to world-renowned vineyards, the Loire Valley is a dream destination for a gentle cycling adventure. On this trip, we ride sections of the Loire à Vélo, a scenic cycling route tracking the Loire river past orchards, vineyards and small villages. Starting in Blois and finishing in Saumur, we take in a host of architectural treasures, including the fairytale Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire and the river-spanning Château de Chenonceau, not to mention enjoying multiple wine tastings along the way.
Profile
— Accommodation: 1 Superior night (hotel), 5 Classic nights (hotels) — Five cycling days; gentle route — Group normally 4 to 16. Minimum age: 16 — E-bikes available for an additional cost — Option to travel by train to your adventure
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 1 Superior night (hotel), 5 Classic nights (hotels) — Five cycling days; gentle route — Group normally 4 to 16. Minimum age: 16 — E-bikes available for an additional cost — Option to travel by train to your adventure
Trip For You
This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us. The route’s terrain is generally flat with some gentle undulation, with an average daily ascent of just over 721ft (220m) and an average distance of 24mi (40km). We ride on a mix of cycle paths (20 percent); signposted routes for cyclists, mostly asphalted (about 70 percent); and roads with little traffic (10 percent). A support vehicle is available on all cycling days; if you would like to use an e-bike for the trip, these are available for a supplementary cost and need to be booked in advance. Please speak to your sales representative for more information.
Group Description
We are accompanied by a local cycling guide for the adventure.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts, four lunches and two dinners are included. For breakfast, the hotels offer a wide choice of cereals, fruit, cheeses and cold meats and a selection of drinks (tea, coffee, milk and fruit juice). Four picnic lunches are included, prepared by the guide or assistant guide. Picnics are an important part of a day’s cycling, and we’ve selected a few products from the Loire Valley for you to try during your stay: rillons from Touraine, rillettes from Tours and goat cheeses (Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine, Selles-sur-Cher, Valençay) accompanied in moderation by Loire wines. We are committed to offering quality regional products on this trip, chosen whenever possible from local producers and including a proportion of organic food. We also aim to reduce packaging (particularly plastic) and recycle what remains. The two dinners are taken in a restaurant with a set menu comprising a starter, main course and dessert. The restaurants were selected to help you explore French gastronomy, including local specialities. Vegetarians can be fairly easily accommodated in this area of France; however, vegans may find the variety of dishes available is rather limited.
Transportation
All transport mentioned in the itinerary is included, except for optional excursions. Transfers during the week are by private, air-conditioned minibus. There will be vehicle assistance available during the cycling in case of bike issues and luggage is transferred between hotels.
Joining Instructions
Key information Start hotel: Hotel Le Monarque Nemours Rennes, 61 Rue Prte Chartraine, 41000 Blois Phone: +33 2 54 78 02 35 Recommended arrival time: We meet at 6.30pm for a welcome briefing and dinner Getting to the start hotel There are direct trains from Paris d’Austerlitz station to Blois, a journey of roughly 1hr 45min. If you’re arriving at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, we suggest you take the Metro to Paris d’Austerlitz station. It’s a straightforward journey and details on how to do this are provided in your Final Joining Instructions. Alternatively, you may prefer to take the Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord and then travel by Metro to Paris d’Austerlitz station. Take an Exodus transfer Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from Blois station to the start hotel. This coincides with the last direct service arriving into Blois in time to make the group meeting at 6.30pm. Speak with your sales representative for details of this. Alternatively, the start hotel is a 15-minute walk or two-minute taxi ride from the train station in Blois if you prefer to take an earlier connection. Make your own way An alternative option is to fly into Tours airport (TUF). From there, it's a 10-minute taxi to the train station, where you can catch a train (35 minutes) to Blois. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative. Departure transfer There’s a group departure transfer to Saint Pierre des Corps train station in Tours, which operates direct services to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, taking 1hr 45min. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your departure time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Weather Information
The Loire Valley climate remains favourable most of the year. The river acts as a line defining the weather and has a significant effect on the regional climate, increasing the temperature. The valley gets rain throughout the year. In the west of the region, the climate is affected by the Atlantic Ocean, bringing milder and wetter conditions. The east has a more continental climate – dryer and hotter in summer, colder in winter. Spring is a wonderful time to visit the Loire Valley, the orchards burst into colour as soon as the weather warms and gets sunnier. Summers in the Loire Valley tend to be warm and sunny. The high temperature usually averages around 23C (73F) in the afternoon, while the average minimum temperature at night drops to a still-pleasant 12C (54F). Summers can be hot. However, thanks to winds from the Atlantic Ocean, hot temperatures are tempered by moderate, cool breezes. The Loire Valley enjoys mild autumns. This time of year is a favourite among food and wine lovers, as this is the time of hunting, ripening of the grapes and figs, and the grape harvest, while the leaves brighten the scenery with their warm autumn colours.
Tipping
Although optional, a tip for the leader and driver at the end of the trip is greatly appreciated. As a guideline, we recommend a contribution starting from €20 per person. It is customary to leave a small tip when eating/drinking in cafés and restaurants.

Highlights