No region in France is as representative of the country's royal splendor as the Loire Valley. With grand chateaux, hilltop villages, and lazy rivers that wind through forests and vineyards, the Loire offers a feast for the senses that proclaims, "This is France!" Join us for six days exploring the most spectacular castles and countryside in France, while enjoying leisurely rides and two-night stays in Azay-le-Rideau and Amboise.
If this sounds great but you'd like a longer tour check out our 10 day, Castles of the Loire Valley Plus! Chinon and Angers tour, which extends this itinerary by 3 days.
Day 1: Arrive in Beaugency, France
Highlights: 11th century keep; stroll the Loire river banks
Meet today in Beaugency, a town whose rich architectural styles have made it one of the quintessential towns of the Loire. After settling into our hotel, you can visit the medieval town center crowned by its 11th century keep. We'll fit bicycles this afternoon and enjoy a stroll along the Loire river banks at your leisure. We'll have a special welcome dinner together.Lodging: Hotel de la Sologne
Day 2: Chambord & St Dyé
Highlights: Château de Chambord, designed by Leonardo da Vinci
The Château de Chambord is the highlight of today's ride. Some say Leonardo da Vinci designed this opulent 400-room château when he lived at the royal court. The château nearly bankrupted the French treasury before its completion in 1685. You'll have plenty of time to visit the castle before pedaling back to our hotel in the charming village of St Dyé-sur-Loire later this afternoon. We'll enjoy a dinner together this evening made by a local chef.Today's ride: 38 km (24 miles)
Lodging: Manoir Bel Air
Day 3: Amboise
Highlights: Châteaux of Blois and Chaumont; medieval town of Amboise
We're off to Amboise today following the banks of the Loire river on our way to the impressive castle of Blois which Henry James described as "one of the most beautiful and elaborate of all the old royal residences in this part of France." Our next stop is Chaumont with its spectacular gardens, park, and castle perched over the Loire river valley. From there we'll bicycle to the town of Amboise which boasts the manor house of Le Clos Lucé where Leonardo da Vinci came to spend the last three years of his life upon invitation from the French king Francis I. Leonardo is buried in the castle's chapel. Today's ride: 60 km (38 miles)Lodging: Hotel Le Clos d'Amboise or Le Manoir des Minimes
Day 4: Chenonceau Castle
Highlights: Château de Chenonceau; canoe trip down the Cher River
We head off toward the Cher River this morning where we'll regroup to canoe to the famous castle of Chenonceau. The castle forms a bridge across the river, one of the tributaries to the Loire. We'll leave our canoes here for a free afternoon to explore the castle, once occupied by Diane de Poitiers, mistress to Henri II. After the king's death in 1599, Queen Catherine de Medici reclaimed the castle and evicted de Poitiers. You can still explore the two separate gardens created for these two women. Dinner is together tonight. Today's ride: 45 km (28 miles)Lodging: Hotel Le Clos d'Amboise or Le Manoir des Minimes
Day 5: Azay-le-Rideau
Highlights: Château of Azay-le-Rideau, quiet roads
We're on our bikes crossing the Cher and Indre river valleys west, through vineyards, past wheat fields, and through French writer Honoré de Balzac's favorite countryside to our hotel in Azay. Once in Azay-le-Rideau, make sure to visit its fairy-tale chateau: one of the most striking in all of France. Balzac once described this chateau as "a diamond set in the Indre River valley." Our hotel this evening is a charming country inn just a short distance from the chateau. Dinner is on your own. Today's ride: 61 km (38 miles)Lodging: Hotel Grand Monarque
Day 6: Châteaux de Langeais and Villandry
Highlights: Castles of Langeais and Villandry; ornamental gardens
Today, we'll suggest a ride to the Château de Langeais, and then on to the Château de Villandry, the last of the large châteaux built along the Loire during the Renaissance. You'll want to visit the spectacular, ornamental gardens before heading back through rolling farmland into Azay-le-Rideau. We'll be back in Azay-le-Rideau before our final dinner together this evening.Today's ride: 36 km (22 miles)
Lodging: Hotel Grand Monarque
Day 7: Farewell
Highlights: Bon voyage!
Our tour ends after breakfast today. We hope you've had time to relax and get to know the Loire on this cultural and historic exploration! Catch a train back to Paris and continue exploring France, or other parts of Europe. Either way, bon voyage!If this sounds great but you'd like a longer tour check out our 10 day, Castles of the Loire Valley Plus! Chinon and Angers tour, which extends this itinerary by 3 days.
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HighlightsCanoe trip, Riding through farm villages and vineyards, French villages of Beaugency, Azay-le Rideau, Amboise, Spectacular castles and gardens including Chambord and Chenonceau
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Includes"The Usual" plus... Use of a quality 27-30 speed bicycle; 7 days, 6 nights accommodation; 4 dinners with wine & 7 breakfasts; entry to Chambord and Chenonceaux
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CountriesFrance
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Begin/EndBeaugency/Azay-le-Rideau
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Arrive/DepartParis: Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) or Orly Airport (ORY)
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Total Distance240 km (148 miles)
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Daily DistanceAverage per day 48 km (30 miles)
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What to ExpectA region perfectly adapted to discovering by bicycle the majestic Renaissance castles through beautiful rural countryside and woodlands. Delicious food and wine fit for a king or queen.
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Rating101
Mostly flat riding or on gently rolling terrain. Some days have a few short hills while only a couple can be considered steep. -
Notes
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Terms
| Dates | Price | Single Supplement* |
Next Step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 06 - 12, 2013 | $3200 | $500 | Book It |
| *We are happy to match solo travelers who would like to share a room with someone of the same gender. If no match exists, due to hotel pricing, we will charge 50% of the single supplement rate. This fee will be collected at the time of the final payment. If a roommate assignment is available this fee will be refunded at the conclusion of the tour. | |||
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Here on ExperiencePlus.com
- France Trip Planner
Read up on country customs, airport information, culinary specialites, and more! - History, Romance & Revenge in the Loire Valley
Tour leader Jonathan Hancock says, "This tour has all the elements of a blockbuster or best-seller: romance, liaisons, murder, revenge, forced weddings, and charismatic historical figures." - We Are ExperiencePlus! Meet your Tour Leaders
We'd like to introduce you to your tour leaders. We believe we have the best bicycle tour leaders out there, click through to see a slideshow about them.
Elsewhere on the Web
- Restaurant Basics in France
Ordering, meal times, and customs at the restaurant in France - Small Hotels in Paris
Travel and Leisure recommends affordable small hotels in Paris. Enjoy one pre or post-tour! - Travel Diary: Castles of the Loire Valley, France
Tour Leader John Giebler gives us some history and memories day-by-day on tour in the Loire Valley
Click on the "pins" for details about each day's highlights.
Map Key
Start
City (on route)
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City (not part of route, provided for reference)Fun, friendly, and not too hard for those of us who hadn''t been on bikes in years. I loved the trip. I had to be persuaded to go, I dragged my feet, I complained about it during the months preceding the trip, and then I had a great time. Thank you.
Linda Z., Sherborn, MA
This was our first experience on a tour and I was surprised how wonderful it was to have all the details taken care of ....means, hotels, details, etc. Really wonderful and fun!
Janet S., Boulder, CO
A fantastic, fun experience with the right blend of biking and wandering chateaux, gardens, and relaxing. A great group and experience!
Margaret H., Vashon, WA
Both tours I have been on with ExperiencePlus! have been wonderful - well-organized, interesting, and well-supported! I tell everyone who will listen to check out ExperiencePlus!.
Sandra T., Boulder, CO
The route was beautiful. I love the Loire Valley. It was great for my first bike tour!
Marilynn B., Fairfax, VA
As you can tell, both my husband and I had a wonderful time. We couldn''t have had better guides - we adored them. I appreciated how they helped us bridge the differences in our cultures and feel very at home in France. I loved how we felt totally supported yet autonomous at the same time. Most of the time, it was just a few of us riding through the beautiful countryside of France but we had a wonderful, friendly group of fellow travelers and positive, energetic tour leaders close-by. It is the best of both worlds! I strongly recommend this tour to people looking for a lovely way to tour France. I really hated to say good-bye to everyone!
Jeanne H., Rocky River, OH
Overall the trip exeeded our fondest wishes! We had had mixed feelings about taking our 10 and 11-year-old granddaughters on a bicycle trip abroad -- but your attentive staff and and the fexibility of each day's agenda gave us a sense of both freedom and security. The equipment supplied was perfectly-suited to our needs, routes were well marked, staff and other bikers touched base frequently, and the countryside welcomed us with beauty and charm all along the way! Best of all, we were able to move along -- visiting sites and admiring vistas -- at a pace comfortable to us without feeling as tho we were holding others back.
Gerry F., Labadie, MO
For the third time in three years I am writing to tell you what a fabulous time I had on one of your bicycling tours. This year I went to the Loire. I loved it!! The scenery was gorgeous - sunflowers, wheat fields, vineyards, forests and, of course, the fabled châteaux dotting the riverbanks and hillsides. And, the tour leaders were top notch - they were friendly, helpful and supportive. Their knowledge of French culture enriched our experiences and helped us enjoy the country even more.
Ellen N., Portland, OR
I have been on several bike vacations with a wide variety of companies. Your operation was a great surprise and happy experience from beginning to end! I am already planning to do your Venice to Pisa tour!
Linda P., New York, NY
I really like your pre-trip information mailings about France, getting ready for the tour, etc. It was an excellent way to anticipate the trip!
Barbara R., San Diego, CA
I am embarrassed by how long it has taken me to write this, yet ironically, it is sort of a compliment to you that six weeks later I still marvel at what a perfect trip you conducted down the Loire Valley and what a completely delightful experience the entire week was for me. It was like floating...dream-like...every concern unobtrusively or happily taken care of by our consummate hosts.
Andrew A., Dallas, TX
I have recommended this tour and your company to everyone I come in contact with. This was the best vacation I have been on in years. It was so relaxing because everything was taken care of for me. For days I did not even have to think!
Barbara W., Sacramento, CA
