Cycling in the Royal Loire Valley

4 Days from

USD 1,849

Cycling

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays, Short Breaks

Activity :

Cycling

Activity Levels :

1 out of 7 - Leisurely

Ages :

12+

Trip Code :

C03LX

Live the chateau lifestyle during your stay in the Loire Valley!

What could be more romantic than being prince or princess for a moment and staying in a chateau Hotel ?

The magnificent landscapes of the Loire Valley invite you to relax and escape. Let yourself be seduced by the magical atmosphere of the Loire chateaux and enjoy the excellent cuisine and wines of the region.

Exploring the chateaux of the Loire Valley is a real journey back in time, transporting you to the Middle Ages or the Renaissance and teaching you more about the history of France. Follow in the footsteps of the kings and queens of France by visiting the royal chateaux of Amboise and Chenonceau. Learn more about famous personalities such as Leonardo da Vinci at the Chateau du Clos-Luce. All these treasures, set in the picturesque landscape of the Loire Valley, have been classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Highlights

Stay in a 4* chateau hotel in the royal city of Amboise
Splendour of the 'jewel' in the Loire crown, the Renaissance Chateau de Chenonceau and Chaumont sur Loire with its extraordinary gardens.
Ride from chateau to chateau through the vineyards and taste the Loire Valley's delicious wine.

Key Information

3 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in 4 star hotels
All breakfasts and 1 evening meal
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Route directions and maps

Countries visited: France

What's Included

3 nights single-centre accommodation in a 4-star hotel
All breakfast and 1 evening meal
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Route directions and maps
High quality bikes

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Visas and vaccinations
Single accommodation (available on request, compulsory supplement)
Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
Transfers for Land only (available on request at additional cost)

Day 2

45 km / 28 miles

Day 3

48 km / 29.8 miles

Itinerary

Arrive in the royal charming town of Amboise. Visit the flamboyant Royal Palace and the elegant Clos Luce, a C15 manor house where Leonardo da Vinci lived and worked for the last few years of his life. His workshops house 40 giant models of some of his most spectacular creations, the first plane, helicopter and tank, and the beautifully landscaped gardens bring life to his botanical drawings and geographical designs.

Alternatively cycle to wine village Montlouis, famous for their fine white wines and explore the troglodyte caves en route. Here you'll find wine tasting possibilities and the option to visit Chateau de la Bourdaisiere and its wonderful gardens. (33 km / 20.5 mi)

To perfectly end your day, enjoy a dinner in a local restaurant. (included)

Meals Included: Dinner

Gentle pedalling through the forest of Amboise will bring you to the superb Chateau de Chenonceau with its famous arches majestically spanning the river. Described by Flaubert as floating 'on air and water', it's arguably the most beautiful of all the Loire landmarks. This chateau was the scene of a famous rivalry in French history: that of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici.

Enjoy a walk in the heart of the Diane de Poitiers's garden, then the Catherine de Medici's one. Take a breath, under the shadow of one of the huge park trees, at the rhythm of the river murmur which will tell you stories about these 2 rival women.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Leave for a while the Loire banks to reach the picturesque Vouvray vineyards, surrounded by troglodyte houses, and famous for its fine and elegant white wines! On the way you will admire superb Renaissance private châteaux such as château de Valmer (remarkable for its Italian and vegetable gardens), and the beautiful château de Jallanges as well. And don't hesitate to stop for a visit to a local wine producer to sample a glass of Vouvray wine!

Meals Included: Breakfast

Ride along the peaceful Loire river through quaint villages to Chaumont sur Loire overlooked by its imposing chateau. Enjoy a romantic stroll through the extraordinary gardens. The International Garden Festival at the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire is a must for art and garden fans. (45 km/ 28 mi)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

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

Vaccination

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.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts and 1 evening meal is 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
Average daily distance: 42km
No. of days cycling: 3
Terrain and route: This gentle and unhurried cycling holiday through the heart of the great Loire Valley. You will ride through vineyards and forest going from chateau to chateau via quite cycling routes or longing peaceful river 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, 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.

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.

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This trip is available on request. Please proceed with your booking online or contact our Sales Team for assistance.

Cycling in the Royal Loire Valley

Live the chateau lifestyle during your stay in the Loire Valley!

Itinerary

Essential Info

Visa

France

Vaccination

France

Eating and Drinking

Weather

Is this trip for you?

Cycling In The Royal Loire Valley

Manoir Saint Thomas, Amboise