Cycle the Loire Valley

Discover fairytale chateaux and prestigious vineyards on a gentle riding trip through the Garden of France

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.

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony though practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Is this 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.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Vaccinations and Health

France

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Visa

France

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter France. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/france
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/france
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/France.html

Food & Drink

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.

Weather

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.