Details of the Loira´s castles trip
Travelling through the Loire by bike is magical. Not just because of the châteaux you’ll pass, but because of the fantastic forests, rivers and wildlife you’ll see. Ideal for families looking for a comfortable cycling trip.
The Loire Valley by bike can be done in several ways:
4 stages, 4 nights and 5 days. From Blois to Amboise
8 stages, 9 nights and 10 days. From Orléans to Tours
Option 1: Bloise-Amboise
The adventure starts in Blois, and follows the Loire River cycling along quiet country roads, crossing the vineyards of Touraine and seeing a multitude of castles. The whole area through which the Loire river cycling trip passes is an area of great cultural interest and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The jewel of the tour is the Château de Chambord, with an area the size of Paris, 365 chimneys and 440 rooms, which is impressive to see.
Other castles such as the Clos Lucé, Leonardo da Vinci’s last place of residence, or the Château de Chenonceau, more famously known as the “women’s castle”, are also worth a visit.
Day 1: Arrival at Bloise
The day before you start cycling is a good time to visit the Renaissance town of Blois and its Royal Castle.
Day 2: Bloise-Cheverny 24/40/68km
The first stage will take us to one of the main attractions of the trip: the Château de Chambord, with its 440 rooms, its more than 300 chimneys and its magnificent location amidst huge trees. Continuing the route, we will cycle up the path along the Crosson stream to Cheverny, where a visit to the castle is a must.
Day 3: Cheverny-Mosnes 39/46km
Today we have two route options. On the one hand, you can visit the art gallery of the Château de Beauregard. Here you will find more than 300 portraits of famous Europeans who shaped history between the 14th and 17th centuries. The other option is to cycle through vineyards until you reach the Fougeres -sur- Bieve lift bridge. The route then takes you along a long road from the Loire to Chaumont-sur-Loire. This town is famous for its fairytale castle and also for the International Garden Festival. Finally you will reach the charming village of Mosnes.
Day 4: Mosnes-Amboise 11km
On today’s stage you will cycle to the beautiful medieval town of Amboise. The medieval tonneau is linked to the French royal family and is where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years. Explore the many cobbled streets and the unique architectural features of the Château d’Amboise, where you will see one of the best overall views of the Loire Valley.
Day 5: Visit Chenonceau´s castle 45/75km
Finally, you will visit the Château de Chenonceau (known as “The women’s castle”), a 15th century castle with a fascinating architecture, which has been restored, built and saved by successive women. You can then continue cycling along the river Cher to find the underground city next to Bourre. It will be quite an experience to see what life was like in that cave.
After today’s stage, the cycling tour will come to an end.
Option 2: Orleans-Tours
This option of a tour of the Loire Châteaux by bike starts in the historic city of Orléans. Through 10 wonderful days, you will reach Tours along the Loire River.
You will visit the main châteaux of the Loire Valley: Blois, Chambord, Amboise, Cheverny, Beauregard, Chaumont, Le Clos-Lucé, Chenonceau… all while cycling smoothly between small villages and crossing vineyards. It is important to note that the trip along the Loire River by bike is an area of great cultural interest and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 1: Arrival at Orleans
The day before you start cycling will be a good time to get to know the village, it´s history and streets.
Day 2: Orleans-Beaugency 39km
Day 3: Beaugency-Blois 49km
Day 4: Blois-Cheverny 24km
Day 5: Cheverny-Chaumont region 29/50km
Day 6: Chaumont region – Amboise 11/22km
Day 7: Circular route in Amboise
Day 8: Amboise-Chenonceau Amboise 45/70km
Day 9: Amboise/Tours 26/34km
Day 10: End of the trip
Price includes:
Optional services not included:
What is it like to do the Loira´s castles trip
Usual accommodations for the trip
You will enjoy bed and breakfast in 2-3* hotels and B&Bs chosen for their quality and safety. They will allow you a pleasant rest after the bike rides.
I am only one person, can I still book?
Yes, you can book as a single traveler.
Is it possible to rent a bike?
Yes, this trip can be done with either your bike or ours. You can choose it during the booking process, hybrid or electric mountain bikes are available.
Is the daily luggage transfer between accommodations included?
Yes, every day we will take your luggage to the next hotel. You only have to leave it at the reception desk, and we will take care of everything. Normally it will already be at the hotel when you arrive.
Is it possible to cancel?
We want to be as flexible as possible. Therefore, in case of unforeseen circumstances, we will do our best to change the dates of the trip free of charge so that you can travel within the same year, as long as you let us know at least 3 weeks in advance.
And if your plans change and you want to cancel the trip before the start date, the following handling fees will apply:
– with more than 30 days, the management fees will be 20% of the amount of the trip.
– between 30 and 15 days, the handling fee will be 50% of the amount of the trip.
– with less than 14 days, the amount to be paid will be 100% of the amount of the trip.
In order to have more flexibility, we recommend taking out travel, assistance, CR and cancellation insurance. Check with us the conditions. Please note that the price of the insurance is not refunded once contracted in case of cancellation or modification.
Are there roads?
Practically the entire trip is on Vias Verdes, tracks or asphalt roads. If you make the stage to Valencia, there are a few kilometers of link that are made by road where you should drive with caution.
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