Cycling The UNESCO Loire Valley - Deluxe

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

Days of Cycling

Terrain:

The cylcing is relaxed on marked and secured cycling lanes along the Loire river.

Day by day breakdown

Day 241.0km/21.0miles

Day 335.0km/22.0miles

Day 448.0km/30.0miles

Day 557.0km/35.0miles

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Itinerary

Expand all

Tours

Angers

Day 1
Arrival in Tours
Enjoy the old and vibrant quarters of Tours city and especially the 'Place Plumereau', a beautiful square with half-timbered houses.
You stay at Hotel Univers
Day 2
Tours to Azay Le Rideau
Cycle to Villandry with its famous Gardens, matchless in Europe and composed of 3 superposed terraces.

Perhaps the Loire Valley's most famous gardens, those at Villandry are enchanting. The symmetry of the beds, trimmed with absolute precision, and the harmony of the floral arrangements... from one terrace to the next, these green expanses are a symbol of perfect beauty. In one spot a labyrinth to get lost in, in another a kitchen garden checkered like an embroidery. The water gardens catch the sunlight and prompt dreams of long summer evenings, while the 'Jardin des Simples' captures the important properties of aromatic and medicinal plants.

Then continue to Sache, where you can visit the house of the famous novelist Honore de Balzac. Arrive in Azay le Rideau where you can admire its Renaissance chateau. Standing on an island in the middle of the Indre River, the Chateau of Azay-le-Rideau, is one of the finest.
You stay at Hotel Grand Mnarque
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3
Azay Le Rideau to Chinon
Discover other marvels, such as the 'Sleeping Beauty' chateau in Usse which has inspired Perrault for its famous fairy tale story. Once upon a time, a chateau surrounded by pretty woodland, and Prince Charming (who else) arriving on his white steed.

Continue to the mediaeval town of Chinon dominated by its castle and famous for its red wine. To combine pleasure for the eyes and the palate, take a break in the vineyards or in a cellar for a tasting.
You stay at Hotel de France
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 4
Chinon to Saumur
Follow the 'Loire a Velo' routes which will lead you to the village of Candes-Saint-Martin. You have a superb view of the confluence of the Loire and the Vienne rivers. Several viewpoints are worth the detour.

Continue to the beautiful village of Montsoreau along troglodyte sites and vineyards before reaching lovely town of Saumur. You have the opportunity to reach Fontevraud abbey, Europe's largest remaining monastic complex which is also the Necropolis of the Plantagenet kings!
You stay at Hotel Anne d'Anjou
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 5
Saumur to Angers
First follow the Loire River before going through the vineyards of Anjou. You will reach the peaceful city of Angers and its chateau which shelters the famous Apocalypse Tapestry.
You stay at Hotel de France
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6
Leave Angers
Depart Angers after breakfast.
Meals included: Breakfast

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

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Essential Info

Visas

France

No visa required for British passport holders.

For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers

Visa regulations can change without notice: please check the current regulations in good time to obtain a visa if one is required.

Vaccinations

France

There are no specific health risks.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts are included

The Loire prides itself on it's cuisine. It is refined country cooking, not heavy but rich in flavours and textures, drawing on the great garden of the Loire valley. Fruit and vegetables abound. Asparagus, artichokes, button mushrooms, cherries and strawberries from the Loire are transported to kitchens throughout France, which demonstrates the quality of the produce. These all provide delicious accompaniments to the duck, venison and wild boar dishes (all hunted locally) and served in sauces using wines from the local vineyards. Fish also features in abundance. With three wide, gently flowing rivers passing through the region, freshwater fish appear on most menus. 'Sandre' (pikeperch) and breme (bream) are especially popular and are usually served in a beurre blanc sauce - made with shallots, butter, dry white wine and vinegar. The majority of the cheese found in the region is goat's cheese. We suggest trying Selles-sur-Cher from the neighbouring Blesois region. Desserts are often based on the fruit from the local orchards. They include 'tarte tatin', a yummy caramelised upside-down apple pie - the invention of two absent-minded sisters in their attempt to salvage a dessert they had dropped on the floor.

The Loire is undoubtedly one of Europe's finest wine producing regions with many of the separate wine areas producing red, white, rose and sparkling wines. Distinctive whites include Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume, Vouvray and Muscadet; for reds, try Chinin, Bourgueil and Saumur. Anjou is by far the most popular rose.

Weather

The Loire valley is blessed with fantastic weather for cycling. The spring and autumn seasons experience mild climates with temperatures averaging 16-20 degrees Celsius. The summers are generally warmer with temperatures reaching the high 20s. There is always the chance of rain so it is best to be prepared for this with a waterproof layer, it is also good to have a warmer layer for the early mornings and evenings.

Is this trip for you?

Cycling Conditions
Classification: Self-Guided
No. of days cycling: 4
Terrain and route: This gentle and unhurried cycling holiday follows marked and secure tracks along the 'Loire e Velo' cycling path.

Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodations, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next. Your bikes will be delivered to the start hotel, all set up relevant to your height and ready to go. Our local agent will be on call throughout the trip should you need.

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. Where possible we stick to cycle tracks and quiet roads to make the journeys as pleasant as possible, however, on occasion we have to use busier routes into larger towns and cities.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local agent is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Call for general departures:

1 844 227 9087

Call for private group trips:

1 844 227 9087

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

Accommodation

Hotels

HOTEL L'UNIVERS, TOURS
Right in the center of Tours, close to the train station and the tram, our 4-star hotel with its real “Grand Hotel” feel welcomes you to a truly mythical establishment facing the town hall. The Tours L’Univers hotel and restaurant is one of the city’s historic hotels. Since its opening in 1846, the hotel has hosted many famous guests whose portraits you can contemplate in the impressive gallery overlooking the vast lobby, a genuine trip down memory lane... Discover all the authenticity of this unique hotel, from the spa and well-being area to the rooms, where the unique decoration blending tradition and modernity invites you to step into another world.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.

HOTEL LE GRAND MONARQUE, AZAY LE RIDEAU
Hôtel Grand Monarque is an 18th-century post house, located at the heart of the Loire Valley in Azay-le-Rideau, 150 m from its famous castle. It features a lounge bar.
The hotel with stone walls and exposed beams is set within a large tree-lined courtyard. The spacious guest rooms are uniquely decorated with antique furnishings and each have a private bathroom.

HOTEL DE FRANCE, CHINON
The beautifully restored 16th-century residence is set in the land of famous writer Rabelais in the heart of the medieval quarter of the old town of Chinon and in the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Natural Regional Park.
Decorated harmoniously, the spacious and air-conditioned rooms and suites at the Best Western Hotel De France each have their own unique character. They are all equipped with modern en suite facilities and fitted with lovely furniture. Free Wi-Fi internet access is also available.
This romantic hotel combines comfort and warmth with tradition, all just steps away from the cobbled streets of a city with a tremendous historical and cultural heritage.

HOTEL ANNE D'ANJOU, SAUMUR
This hotel dated from 17th century offers to the visitors a unique experience. The façade, listed as a “Historical Monument”, its sumptuous staircase surmounted with a“Trompe l’Oeil” ceiling, drawings of Percier & Fontaine, architects of the emperor Napoleon 1st … so many testimonies of the passed which you will contemplate with emotion.

HOTEL DE FRANCE, ANGERS
Hôtel De France is located opposite Angers-St Laud TGV Train Station, close to the city centre and the medieval Château d'Angers. Rooms are beautifully furnished and equipped with modern facilities. You can enjoy a hot buffet breakfast at the Hôtel De France in the dining area or have breakfast served in your room from 07:00 to 11:00. The friendly and attentive staff at the Hôtel De France will be happy to help you plan your stay in Angers 24-hours a day.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.

Call for general departures:

1 844 227 9087

Call for private group trips:

1 844 227 9087

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

See all experts

Call for general departures:

1 844 227 9087

Call for private group trips:

1 844 227 9087

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.