Loire Valley Bike Tour
- Region: France
- Destination: Loire
- Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
- Level: Weekend Rider
- Price From: $4295
- Single Supplement: $ 900
| limited space | ||
| Jun 9 - Jun 14, 2013 | $4695 | Call to book |
| limited space | ||
| Jun 23 - Jun 28, 2013 | $4695 | Call to book |
| Jul 21 - Jul 26, 2013 | $4695 | Book Now |
| Aug 4 - Aug 9, 2013 | $4695 | Book Now |
| Sep 15 - Sep 20, 2013 | $4695 | Book Now |
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Cycle through a land of enchantment, with regal châteaux dotting the countryside at every turn. Wander quiet roads amongst acres of fertile land and orchards of fresh fruit. Step back into the Renaissance and a time of kings and queens. Exploring the Loire Valley on a bike tour brings you face-to-face with this magical region, into its subterranean troglodyte cellars, enchanting châteaux, and medieval villages. Indulge in local delicacies like foie gras in Amboise, eat straight from the garden at Château de Villandry, and taste fascinating wines at Cheverny. We’ll feel like royalty ourselves.
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Tour by Day
Day One: Welcome to the Loire Valley
Your guides will greet you at the Blois train station and whisk you away to the nearby Château Cheverny, where our adventure begins. Toast our arrival with a light lunch and the region’s sparkling wine. Tour the château grounds, strolling across centuries of French history, and admire the sixteenth-century château filled with original canvases, tapestries, and period furniture that make it a site to behold. Watch the pack of hunting dogs take to the grounds for their daily exercise before your bike fitting. We’ll set off on a gently rolling ride through forests, vineyards, and never-ending fields of grain. Arrive at the beautiful hotel, hidden away in the woods above the Loire River. Tonight, the hotel’s two-Michelin-starred chef will spoil us with regional specialties.
Meals: Light Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Blois, Chambord, Mont-sur-Chambord, Onzain
Accomplished: 21 miles / 33 km
Day Two: Amboise Through da Vinci’s Eyes
Cycle through the towns of Pocé-sur-Cisse and Limeray and a panorama of rich farmland. We’ll pass along roads lined with the underground troglodyte cellars that differentiate the Loire from other winemaking regions. Visit the Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci is said to have arrived holding the Mona Lisa and spent the final years of his life. We’ll enjoy a scenic lunch with local wine and cheese in Amboise. Then choose to go on a loop ride through the vineyards of St. Martin Le Beau or visit the Château d’Amboise. Tonight we’ll enjoy the great meal our favorite Amboise restaurant has to offer.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch/ Dinner
Destinations: Onzain, Pocé-sur-Cisse, Limeray, Nazelles-Négron, Amboise
Accomplished: 15 miles / 24 km (Optional extra 10 miles / 16 km)
Day Three: Vouvray Loop
Explore the Vouvray vineyards as you cruise past rows of delightfully versatile Chenin Blanc vines. Today’s ride along scenic, rolling hills will take us through one of our favorite Vouvray producers. We’ll take a tour of the vineyards and the property’s own troglodyte cellars before enjoying a tasting followed by a gourmet picnic lunch. Delight at a selection of local wines, from sweet to dry and even sparkling, paired with regional goat cheeses and other delights. This afternoon we'll take a relaxing ride through the rolling hillsides of Vouvray on the way back to Amboise, were you can enjoy some shopping or down time at the hotel. Tonight you are free to dine wherever you’d like, however you’d like.
Meals: Breakfast / Picnic Lunch
Destinations: Vouray, Chançay, Vernou sur Brenne
Accomplished: 25 miles / 40 km
Day Four: Back to the Renaissance at Chenonceau
Cycle the beautiful route to Château de Chenonceau for a tour of the castle and its dueling gardens of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici. Chenonceau is home to a vast collection of Renaissance furniture and sixteenth- and seventeenth-century tapestries and artwork. A gourmet picnic of the region’s best cuisine awaits us, from goat cheese to rillettes and foie gras. Following lunch, we’ll reach the gorgeous town of Montbazon, home to the Donjon of Montbazon, one of the oldest strongholds in France. We’ll make a gentle climb to our next extravagant hotel and have dinner tonight at one of one of our favorite restaurants, la Chanceliere.
Meals: Breakfast / Picnic lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Amboise, Chenonceaux, Cormery, Veigné, Montbazon
Accomplished: 33 miles / 54 km
Day Five: The Famed Château de Villandry
Follow the Cher River along a peaceful bike path on this morning’s ride. Arrive at the Château de Villandry, erected around 1536, and the last of the large Renaissance châteaux built in the Loire Valley. Wander its extraordinary mazes and elegant water garden, as well as the aromatic herb gardens. Indulge in a fresh and delectable lunch at the château gates. We’ll be treated to the unique flavors of ice cream inspired by the garden before cycling back to Montbazon to relax. Tonight we dine amidst stunning valley views for our final dinner, prepared by the Château’s own chef.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Montbazon, Savonnieres, Château de Villandry
Accomplished: 30 miles / 48.5 km
Day Six: Au Revoir
Enjoy a peaceful breakfast at the château and perhaps a stroll through the grounds, saying goodbye to the Loire Valley however you see fit. Your guides see you off at the St. Pierre Des Corps TGV train station in Tours.
Meals: Breakfast
