French Cycling Holiday: Loire Valley Cycling Discovery Tour

Cycle along the banks of the Loire, explore famous wine towns and vineyards, experience the history of the magnificent Chateaux and immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of the Loire Valley.  Our hub and spoke cycling routes will return you back to us each evening to enjoy great food and hospitality.  No continual packing and unpacking on this fixed centre tour!

Each day we have created a unique and flexible Loire Valley bike tour, exploiting our enviable location in the heart of the Loire to the full.   We can cater for a wide range of cycling abilities and adjust the distance of routes if necessary.  Self guided, you are under no time pressure and each route is described with detailed route instructions and accompanying maps - we make navigation as simple as possible.

Our routes cover flat terrain and quiet back roads or dedicated cycle ways.  You are well supported as you cycle and throughout your week we provide you with full backup while you are on the road, so we are only ever a phone-call away from assistance and a lift back if you need one.

Price: £650 for 6 nights/5 days cycling, plus 80 euros bike hire (if required)

Single supplement £100

See our Dates & Prices page for tour start dates and more detailed information on what’s included.

“...we found the cycling tours wonderful .

A lot of thought had obviously been put into the choice of routes enabling modification if necessary for the older & less expert cyclists.”

John & Janet

Cornwall

Call

0033 625 819 851

E-Mail

info@loirelifecycling.com

French Cycling Holidays from LoireLife

Explore the Loire Valley!

Copyright © 2009 LoireLife

French cycling holidays in the Loire Valley. From our Chambre d'hote,  you’ll  enjoy delicious food, friendly company and superb facilities.

Great value cycling holidays in France!

Registered in France Siret Number 512185471 00012

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Day 2    “Lakes & Chateaux”  (42km/26 miles)

The first tour meanders along cycle paths in the nature reserve at Rillé, before taking in the gardens at the Chateau du Lathan .  The cycle paths and takes in two privately owned chateaux at Breil and Gizeux.  Punctuated by a light lunch ‘al fresco’, the afternoon provides a cycle along quiet rural roads to the small town of Gizeux.  Well off the beaten track, this tour gives you a unique insight into the sheer range of chateaux found in the Loire Valley.

Day 3   “Vines, Wines & Markets”  (35km/21 miles)

A morning’s ride through forests and rolling vineyards to the wine town of Bourgueil, in time for the weekly food market.  

Opportunities aplenty here for some market shopping and lunch from one of the stalls or restaurants in this town made wealthy by the local wines.

There is the thousand year old abbey  to explore and a chance to sample the local wine grower’s tasting cave - cut into the rock above Bourgeuil.  The route back wends its way back through hunting forests full of wildlife.

Day 4 “The Loire Chateaux”  (46km/28 miles)

This is what makes the Loire world famous.  This cycle tour takes you through hunting forest, tree covered river valleys and small hamlets to the ancient town of Langeais with its impressive 11th Century fortress.  In the afternoon you can choose from a selection of routes and cycle to the chateaux of Villandry, Ussé or Azay-le-Rideau, or all three depending on your thirst for cycling!  

All the afternoon routes return you back to Langeais for a pick-up, which takes you and your bicycle back to Gue de Ray by minibus.

Day 5  “Rural Anjou”  (35km/21 miles)

A day of rural cycling, away from the hustle and bustle of the famous tourist attractions.

The cycling takes in a country trail through an un-spoilt rural landscape, pretty hamlets, small manor houses, ancient churches, old water mills and still more hidden chateaux!

Lunch is provided by the great restaurant in the small town of Mouliherne, here you can partake in the lunchtime ‘Menu Ouvrier’.

Day 6    “Saumur”  (38km/23 miles)

You head south before crossing the Loire near the artist town of Candes St Martin and the Chateau of Montsoreau.  

In the afternoon you have the flexibility to choose from two routes to cycle onward to Saumur.  

The first route takes you directly to Saumur via the ‘Loire a Velo’ cycleway, past mushroom caves and Troglodyte dwellings, through vineyards and leaving ample time to explore Saumur itself.

The second route enables you to cycle via Montsoreau and Candes St Martin to the Abbbaye Royale de Fontevraud, where English kings of the Middle Ages are entombed.  

We provide a mini-bus pickup from Saumur at the end of the day to bring you back to base, along with any souvenirs you may have picked up!