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SPECIALTY BIKE TOURS |
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loire valley CASTLES family vacationWe have created a once in a lifetime Loire Valley bicycle trip for the entire family. The DuVine cycle routes are gentle with many options, our award winning regional restaurants are sublime and every chateaux/hotel we select is luxurious with lavish swimming pools. Bicycle daily at your own pace; past fairy-tale castles and lush countryside - watch your children fall in love with this lovely region of France. Reserve your royal family vacation in the Loire Valley today.
Sunday Rendez-vous at the Amboise train station where your guides will greet you and whisk you away to the nearby Manoir St. Thomas hotel, where you will spend the next two nights. Enjoy a welcome toast of the regions sparkling wine during your bike-fitting, safety talk and map review. Next we'll warm up for the week with a light 25 km loop ride through scenic farmland before visiting the palatial chateau d' Amboise. Wet your appetite for French royal history with stories of Charles VII and Anne of Brittany. Admire the view of the medieval town and the Loire River far below from the very same terrace Catherine de Medici hung hundreds of menacing Huguenots after their failed attempt to overthrow the Catholic throne in the 16th century. Afterwards it's your choice to stroll around town or relax by the pool for a couple of hours before a convivial gourmet dinner around the corner at the Alliance restaurant. 15 miles to 25 miles loop ride.
Monday Today we'll cross the river on our way to the medieval chateau of Chaumont. You'll get a first glimpse of the extensive Touraine wine growing region and, why not, stop for an impromptu tasting in one of many small independent wine producers before lunch in Onzain. Afterwards we'll cross back over the Loire and visit the formerly fortified castle of Chaumont, with its magnificent gardens and dramatic views. On the way back to Amboise, stop to tour the cellars with our friends at Plou & Fils before indulging in a thorough tasting of every red, white, rosé, and cremant they have to offer. Visit the famed Patisserie Bigot in Amboise, kids of all ages will love this! Enjoy dinner on your own in Amboise, where many delectable options are within a short stroll from Le Manoir St. Thomas. 25 miles loop ride.
Tuesday Enjoy your last buffet style breakfast at Le Manoir St. Thomas before pedaling up the hill to Leonardo da Vinci's former residence, Clos Lucé, where he spend his final years designing the first helicopter, finishing La Joconde, and enjoying visits from his friend the King François 1ère. We'll cycle through stretches of provincial countryside and fields of sunflowers on our way to Montrichard. Enjoy a typical café lunch on the tree-lined terrace at the foot of the Black Falcon's 10th Century fortified castle before another wine tasting at the Caves Monmousseau. If you've ever dreamed of sleeping in a fairytale castle, you're in for a treat at the Chateau Chissay. Not only is it a spectacular chateau, but the award winning chef will tantalize your taste buds tonight at "The King's Table" restaurant. 20 to 30 mile bike ride. Mostly flat
Wednesday Breeze down the hill of the Chateau Chissay, recalling memories of last night's sumptuous formal dinner all the way to nearby Chateau Chenenceau, arguably the most romantic abode of the whole valley. We'll spend the better part of the morning admiring the bedrooms, studies, and reception halls of the generations of kings, queens, and their lovers who called Chenenceau home at one point or another. The dueling gardens of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici showcase French gardening at its finest. After a rolling spin through vineyards, sunflowers and colorful wildflowers, we'll enjoy an idyllic gourmet picnic along the banks of the river Cher before arriving at the Domaine de la Tortiniere in Montbazon. Children will enjoy visiting cave dwellings and to wander through a petting zoo filled with farm animals. 35 mile bike ride.
Thursday After a sunny morning breakfast on the terrace, enjoy a gentile ride to the bustling village of Azay-le-Rideau. Spend time perusing the quaint shops and artists' galleries before lunch on your own with the family or your favorite traveling companion. Rendez-vous in front of the picturesque riverside chateau before embarking on a trip back in time through the Renaissance era when the chateau was realized. Enjoy seeing portraits of many of the main characters from the Valois Dynasty. Option to Discover Ussé, the castle that inspired the author of Sleeping Beauty. Take some time to explore the gardens before one last wine tasting in town before the bucolic ride back to La Tortiniere. Relax by the luxurious pool before a farewell cocktail with your new friends and our final 4 course meal in the castle's private dining room. 28 mile loop bike ride.
Friday After breakfast and perhaps a stroll through the castle's grounds, say goodbye to the Loire Valley however you see fit. Take a last loop ride around the medieval town of Montbazon. We'll see you off at the train station in Tours as you head on to your next destination. Total satisfaction achieved. Loire Valley bicycle tour itinerary for printing Request a brochure or Reserve your bicycle trip
Friendly Family Pricing: When children share a room with two adults, youths receive a 10% discount off the trip price. $2,995.00 adults and $2,605 for kids. Read what our past travelers say about us. Over 10 years, our memorable bike trip experiences speaks for itself:
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