Cycling in France - Loire Valley

Arrive in Tours, a vibrant and captivating city that offers a fascinating blend of history, culture, gastronomy, and natural beauty. This is our gateway to the Loire Valley's famous chateaux, vineyards and picturesque countryside. For those arriving on time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for a short welcome meeting, then head out for an included authentic French dinner at a cosy local restaurant, a perfect opportunity to connect with fellow travellers while enjoying some traditional dishes from the region. Reaching Tours by rail is incredibly straightforward. Direct, high-speed TGV trains depart from Paris Montparnasse and arrive at Tours Centre in just over an hour. Alternatively, frequent TGV services run from Paris Montparnasse to the nearby Saint-Pierre-des-Corps station (a 70-minute journey), where you can catch a quick 5-minute local shuttle train straight into Tours Centre. If you are flying into Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport, you can bypass central Paris entirely: direct TGV trains depart from the airport's terminal station (Aeroport CDG 2 TGV) and run straight to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps in about 1 hour and 45 minutes. From London, you can take the Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, making a quick metro or taxi transfer to Paris Montparnasse, or change at Lille Europe for a seamless connection toward Tours. If you are travelling from the UK and would like to book train travel to and from this we recommend you contact our partners International Rail. For further details see the transport section below. If you are coming from North America and flying into Paris - you can use Trainline to see the fastest routes to make your journey easier than ever. Tours is a historically rich city with deep connections to French culture. Its picturesque old town, with half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets, invites you to explore its many charming alleys, each turn revealing something new, perfect for exploring on foot if you arrive ahead of the meeting time today.

The Loire Valley has some of the best cycling infrastructure in France and has thousands of kilometres of signposted routes. On this trip, we'll spend a lot of our time on 'Voies Vertes', dedicated cycle routes, or very low-traffic lanes where bicycles actually have the right of way. The terrain varies between tarmac and well-maintained gravel paths. After getting fitted for our bikes, we'll set off on the scenic 'Loire a Velo' route, a renowned long-distance cycling path that winds through the heart of this picturesque region. Our first stop will be the charming village of Savonnieres, where we'll take a break and enjoy some refreshments surrounded by lush, green countryside. This region is part of the UNESCO-listed Loire Valley, known for its rolling hills, fertile vineyards, and charming villages. From there, we'll continue to our first grand chateau of the trip, Villandry, celebrated for its breathtaking ornamental gardens, which are uniquely crafted from vegetables. After exploring Villandry, we'll retrace our route back to Savonnieres and then cycle along the narrow strip of land between the Loire and Cher rivers, offering us stunning views as we return to Tours. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 42 kilometres/26 miles. (Total 91 metres/298 feet ascent and 91 metres/298 feet descent).

Today, we'll enjoy a leisurely start giving our tour leader time to transfer our luggage to Amboise. We'll then set off from Tours, reconnecting with the 'Loire a Velo' cycling route. Our first stop is Montlouis for a quick refreshment. We will of course be trying a selection of the renowned Montlouis wine, very comparable to their neighbour across the Loire river, Vouvray, followed by a lunch of local delicacies, including meats, cheeses and breads locally made, all set in a picturesque vineyard with stunning views. We then have a short ride to our hotel where we spend the next two nights. Once we've checked into our hotel, there should be enough time to explore Amboise's Chateau Royal or Clos Luce, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 28 kilometres/17.4 miles. (Total 122 metres/400 feet ascent and 116 meters/380 feet descent).

Today offers a perfect chance to relax and soak in all that Amboise has to offer, but if you're eager to hop back on the bike, your tour leader will guide you to the stunning Chateau de Chenonceau. Today's optional ride is longer and has a few more hills than we have experienced so far on this trip, so we have graded today's ride as moderate. We'll break our journey with a coffee stop in the charming town of Blere, before arriving at the iconic chateau that gracefully spans the River Cher, one of the most photographed Renaissance landmarks in France. After exploring the chateau's elegant interiors or perhaps enjoying a tranquil boat ride on the river, we'll pedal back to Amboise, leaving time to explore any sights you may have missed in this historic town. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 47 kilometres/29 miles. (Total 288 metres/944 feet ascent and 289 meters/948 feet descent).

Today, we bid farewell to the charming town of Amboise and set our sights on our final destination, the regal city of Blois. After a relaxed morning, we'll embark on a scenic ride along the escarpment between the Loire and Cher rivers, offering panoramic views before descending into the lush Loire Valley. Our journey will take us to the enchanting village of Chaumont-sur-Loire. Here, we'll enjoy a leisurely lunch in a local restaurant allowing us to soak in the stunning riverside scenery. After this delightful break, we'll re-join the 'Loire a Velo' cycle route, tracing the river's edge as we continue our journey to Blois. As we approach the city, its historic skyline will gradually come into view. Blois, with its royal chateau and vibrant streets, has a rich history and beauty to be explored during our stay in this charming city. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 45 kilometres/28 miles. (Total 256 metres/840 feet ascent and 218 metse/715 feet descent).

Over the next two days, we'll enjoy circular cycling routes from Blois, and today we'll focus on one of the Loire Valley's most iconic chateaux, Cheverny. Departing from Blois, our journey will first take us to the charming village of Cellettes. From there, we'll embark on a scenic loop that not only leads us to the magnificent Chateau de Cheverny also known as the inspiration of Marlinspike Hall, the castle of Captain Haddock from the Tintin books. We will also pass by a collection of privately owned chateaux. While these estates remain closed to the public, their grand facades offer a glimpse into the lives of those who live here, leaving much to the imagination. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 42 kilometres/30 miles. (Total 177 metres/580 feet ascent and 177 metres/580 feet descent).

Today's journey is taking us to the grandest of all the Loire Valley chateaux, Chambord. As we pedal through the picturesque village of Huisseau-sur-Cosson, we'll traverse the expansive former royal hunting grounds that are home to numerous elegant hunting lodges built centuries ago. Upon arriving at Chambord, you'll have plenty of time to explore this architectural masterpiece, whose sheer scale and Renaissance splendour are unmatched. After time in the chateau's stunning surroundings, we'll make our way back towards the Loire River, following its scenic banks as we return to Blois. Once back, take the opportunity to wander through the city's medieval streets, where history comes alive at every corner, and be sure to visit the Royal Chateau, a key piece of France's regal heritage. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 49 kilometres/30 miles. (Total 260 metres/853 feet ascent and 260 metres/853 feet descent).

Our cycling adventure concludes this morning in the historic city of Blois. After breakfast, you can easily depart via Blois-Chambord railway station, located just 300 metres from our hotel. Returning to Paris is simple, with regular, direct Intercites trains running from Blois-Chambord straight to Paris Austerlitz station in approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. If you are heading to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport to catch a flight, you can either take the train to Paris Austerlitz and use the RER B regional train line from central Paris out to the airport, or take a short regional train from Blois back to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps station in Tours, which offers direct TGV services straight into the CDG Airport train station.