Backroad cycling France

A superb cycling tour that takes you from chateau to chateau along the Loire and Cher riversRef CN41

A charming circuit in the heart of the Loire, this tour follows the wonderful Loire River, as well as the Indre, the Cher and the Vienne, taking in numerous Unesco World Heritage classified châteaux along the way: Amboise, Chenonceau, Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau, Langeais,... An enchanting cycle tour that makes the most of a superb cycle network along tranquil waterways, all the while discovering the immense cultural and architectural heritage of the region. An opportunity to visit the area’s many wine cellars and vineyards, as well as the troglodyte caves of Turquant and Souzay-Champigny. To top it all off, the majority of the itinerary is on green lanes and dedicated bike routes.

Self-guided tour: from 355€ - Details Duration : 3 or 4 days | Level : Customer satisfaction :
- 5 reviews
+33 458 140 435 A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.
Book this tour
Physical level :  

  • Your profile:

    Not especially sporty, but you enjoy biking occasionally.

  • Tour profile:

    Distance: 25 to 35 km per day depending on the route profile. Altitude gain: 500 metres maximum accumulated over the day.
This tour is E-bike compatible

Highlights

  • An exceptional cultural and architectural heritage: The famous châteaux of Chenonceau, Amboise, Langeais and Villandry
  • A circuit that takes us off the beaten track, into the heart of a well-preserved rich natural environment
  • Easily accessible from Paris and the regions
  • A sporty yet leisurely weekend, just waiting to be discovered!

Description

  • Accommodation:

    Hotel, guest house

  • Luggage transport:

    Only your daypack; your baggage will be carried by vehicle

Comments

  • This trip exists in 2 versions : V1=1 wheel / V2=2 wheels
  • E-bike rental on this tour available.
  • Special offer for private groups. Please ask us for a quotation.

Detailed itinerary (3 days)

Detailed itinerary (3 days)

Day 1: Tours - Amboise

Itinerary start: France Bike Trips services begin on day 1 at 9am in Tours with the baggage drop off (rendez-vous close to the railway station). On request we can book the previous night's accommodation for you in Tours.

A secure car park is available next to the train station. The "sud" section offers the cheapest tarifs. For more info:  www.resaplace.com. If you arrive by car, a train service is avalable in order to return to Tours from Langeais at the end of your trip.

Beginning in the city of Tours, we follow the magnificent Loire River, taking the time to appreciate the many châteaux and charming country manor houses along the way. The tranquillity of this great river, the longest in France, quickly works its charm with its thickets and leafy hedgerows, its fields and pastures, its isolated hamlets and farms. The river is also an oasis for a large variety of maritime and continental birds. As we reach Montlouis, the small amount of elevation gained so far is enough to offer beautiful panoramic views of the Loire. We then arrive in Amboise, the first notable historical site of our tour. The town has a rich and colourful past with its Royal château and the Clos Lucé, former residence of Leonardo de Vinci. The charming cobblestoned streets and street side cafés offer plenty of opportunities to explore and relax. Night in Amboise.

Distance covered: approx. 25 km / Altitude gain: approx. 150 m

Day 2: Amboise - Azay-sur-Cher

We gain a little altitude this morning in order to reach the forest of Amboise which we cross before taking the time to visit the fabulous Château de Chenonceau, built in 1513. After our visit we continue our journey by means of a little known route that offers an unforgettable view of the château from the banks of the Cher. We follow the river along its quiet banks bordered with weeping willows, vegetable gardens, charming country houses and "chalands" (small flat-bottomed barges) on riverside moorings. We reach our overnight stop, Azay-sur-Cher, nestled on the banks of the Cher River.

Distance covered: approx. 35 km / Altitude gain: approx. 150 m

Day 3: Azay-sur-Cher - Langeais - Tours

The tranquil waters of the Cher lead us gently on to the city of Tours. We skirt round the south side of the city, following the banks of the river, before winding our way through fields and pastures to reach Villandry and its 16th century château, famous for its splendid geometrical gardens. We make the most of the beautiful late afternoon light which sets the château, gardens and water garden ablaze. We then reach the “Bec du Cher”, meeting point of the Cher and Loire rivers. We find ourselves once again on the banks of the Loire, which seems surprisingly large after the previous day’s riding along the comparatively narrow Cher... The "chalands" drift peacefully on the slow current of the river, accompanied by a wealth of birdsong from the abundant variety of birds to be found along the river's banks. We reach a small suspension bridge, enabling us to cross the Loire and join the village and château of Langeais. An optional visit of the Château de Langeais and a stroll through the narrow lanes of the village, dominated by the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church, before we head to the train station and return to Tours.

Distance covered: approx. 40 km / Altitude gain: approx. 100 m

Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.

Itinerary end: France Bike Trips services end in Tours with your baggage collection close to the SNCF railway station at 6pm. On request we can book an early baggage pick-up. We can also book the following night's accommodation for you in Tours (see the supplementary services). Return to Tours by train at the end of your bike trip: many TER trains run between Langeais and Azay-le-Rideau and Tours (trains accept bicycles, 20-30 min train ride).

Detailed itinerary (4 days)

Detailed itinerary (4 days)

Day 1: Tours - Amboise

Itinerary start: France Bike Trips services begin on day 1 at 9am in Tours with the baggage drop off (rendez-vous close to the railway station). On request we can book the previous night's accommodation for you in Tours.

A secure car park is available next to the train station. The "sud" section offers the cheapest tarifs. For more info:  www.resaplace.com. If you arrive by car, a train service is avalable in order to return to Tours from Azay-le-Rideau at the end of your trip.

Beginning in the city of Tours, we follow the magnificent Loire River, taking the time to appreciate the many châteaux and charming country manor houses along the way. The tranquillity of this great river, the longest in France, quickly works its charm with its thickets and leafy hedgerows, its fields and pastures, its isolated hamlets and farms. The river is also an oasis for a large variety of maritime and continental birds. As we reach Montlouis, the small amount of elevation gained so far is enough to offer beautiful panoramic views of the Loire. We then arrive in Amboise, the first notable historical site of our tour. The town has a rich and colourful past with its Royal château and the Clos Lucé, former residence of Leonardo de Vinci. The charming cobblestoned streets and street side cafés offer plenty of opportunities to explore and relax. Night in Amboise.

Distance covered: approx. 25 km / Altitude gain: approx. 150 m

Day 2: Amboise - Azay-sur-Cher

We gain a little altitude this morning in order to reach the forest of Amboise which we cross before taking the time to visit the fabulous Château de Chenonceau, built in 1513. After our visit we continue our journey by means of a little known route that offers an unforgettable view of the château from the banks of the Cher. We follow the river along its quiet banks bordered with weeping willows, vegetable gardens, charming country houses and "chalands" (small flat-bottomed barges) on riverside moorings. We reach our overnight stop, Azay-sur-Cher, nestled on the banks of the Cher River.

Distance covered: approx. 35 km / Altitude gain: approx. 150 m

Day 3: Azay-sur-Cher - Villandry

The tranquil waters of the Cher lead us gently on to the city of Tours. We skirt round the south side of the city, following the banks of the river, before winding our way through fields and pastures to reach Villandry and its 16th century château, famous for its splendid geometrical gardens. We make the most of the beautiful late afternoon light which sets the château, gardens and water garden ablaze. Overnight stay near Villandry.

Distance covered: approx. 30 km / Altitude gain: approx. 150 m

Day 4: Villandry - Azay-le-Rideau - Tours

We join the “Bec du Cher” this morning, meeting point of the Cher and Loire rivers. We find ourselves once again on the banks of the Loire, which seems surprisingly large after the previous day’s riding along the comparatively narrow Cher... The "chalands" drift peacefully on the slow current of the river, accompanied by a wealth of birdsong from the abundant variety of birds to be found along the river's banks. A short detour takes us to a small suspension bridge, enabling us to cross the Loire and join the village and château of Langeais. An optional visit of the Château de Langeais and a stroll through the narrow lanes of the village, dominated by the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church, before we continue our journey along the banks of the Loire. A welcome break in the small port of Bréhémont, with panoramic views from the terrace of its café, before we leave the Loire behind us and head to the banks of the Indre. Fields, hedgerows and thickets of leafy trees give way now and then to reveal splendid country manor houses. We visit the Dufresne Museum, home to an impressive collection of vehicles, machinery and antique objects from the 1850's through to the middle of the twentieth century. A little further on, and in a completely different style, we arrive at the Château de l'Islette on the banks of the Indre. The many “barques” (small boats) entice us to take a tour on the water. The château was host to the tumultuous love affair between the two famous sculptors Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin, who produced some of their greatest work here. A few more pedal strokes take us to the magnificent Château d'Azay-le-Rideau. Built on an island in the middle of the Indre, the château is one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture, built under the reign of François the 1st. Our tour finishes with a short ride to the nearby train station where we take the train to come back to Tours.

Distance covered: approx. 30 km / Altitude gain: approx. 100 m

Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.

Itinerary end: France Bike Trips services end in Tours with your baggage collection close to the SNCF railway station at 6pm. On request we can book an early baggage pick-up. We can also book the following night's accommodation for you in Tours (see the supplementary services). Return to Tours by train at the end of your bike trip: many TER trains run between Langeais and Azay-le-Rideau and Tours (trains accept bicycles, 20-30 min train ride).

Return to Tours by train at the end of your bike itinerary: many TER trains runs between Langeais or Azay-le-rideau and Tours. Approximately 20 or 30 minutes per journey and 6€ per person. TER trains accept bicycles. It's up to you to check the timetables and book with the SNCF.

Dates

This tour can be booked anytime from March to mid-November.

Costs and services self-guided tour

Price per person :

Single-room supplement will be automatically charged in the case of odd-numbered groups

The 3 day tour:

The price includes:

  • 2 nights in guest houses and  2* hotels in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities
  • 2 breakfasts
  • 1 dinner (Azay-sur-Cher)
  • Daily baggage transfers (only 1 baggage item per person for this tour, max 20kg)
  • A carefully designed itinerary
  • Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book including maps (digital format) and GPS tracks
The 4 day tour:

The price includes:

  • 3 nights in guest houses and  2*/3* hotels in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities
  • 3 breakfasts
  • 2 dinners (Azay-sur-Cher, Villandry)
  • Daily baggage transfers (only 1 baggage item per person for this tour, max 20kg)
  • A carefully designed itinerary
  • Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book including maps (digital format) and GPS tracks
Reductions for children:

France Bike Trips offers reductions for children aged 12 or under (applicable only if children share same rooms as parents). Please contact us for more details.

What is not included:
  • Return train to Tours on the last day (approx. 6€ per person)
  • International flights
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see paragraph below)
  • Bike rental
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Insurance, assistance
  • Any additional baggage
  • Lunch meals
  • Drinks at the accommodation
  • Visits to châteaux, museums, monuments and sites
  • Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
  • All personal expenses
  • Everything not mentioned under  “the price includes".

Supplementary services

(prices per person)

Single room accommodation (2 nights) 85 € / 

Single room accommodation (3 nights) 125 € / 

Extra nights in Tours:

Extra night in Tours in hotel 2* or 3 *, double room, including breakfast 85 € / 

Extra night in Tours in hotel 2* or 3 *, single room, including breakfast 125 € / 

Bike rental: see below

Bike rental

Standard bikes and e-bikes are available for rent.

Standard bike (3 days) 70 € / 

Standard bike (4 days) 80 € / 

E-Bike (3 Days) 110 € / 

E-Bike (4 Tage) 135 € / 

Helmet 5 € / 

All bicycles are equipped with a rear rack, a bike lock, a puncture repair kit, and a pump (helmet and rear panniers upon request).

Electric bikes offer pedaling assistance, greatly reducing the effort needed to cover a given distance compared to a classic "human-powered" bicycle. They offer an alternative solution in two cases: 

  • You do not feel able to complete a level 1 wheel (lowest level) circuit. With electric assistance, this trip becomes accessible. 
  • You would like to complete a circuit with a person who is fitter than you and you are worried that you will be unable to keep up, or that the other person will find your pace too slow.

Rear pannier hire, pair (3 days) 15 € / 

Rear pannier hire, pair (4 days) 20 € / 

Handlebar bag (3 days) 9 € / 

Handlebar bag (4 days) 12 € / 

Please confirm your height and bicycle choice on your trip booking form.

Equipment for family trips

Child Bike (3 Days)
145 cm maximum		 40 € / 

Child Bike (4 jours)
145 cm maximum		 50 € / 

Child seat (3 days)
min. 12 months, max 22 kg 		15 € / 

Child seat (4 days)
min. 12 months, max 22 kg		 20 € / 

Child trailer (3 days)
min: 18 months, max 30 kg		 45 € / 

Child trailer (4 days)
min. 18 months, max 30 kg		 60 € / 

Tag-along bike (3 days) 45 € / 

Tag-along bike (4 days) 60 € / 

Private groups / Custom tours

You are a group of friends, a family, a company or a cycling club and you would like to organise a private cycling tour on the dates of your choice. This option is available for guided and self-guided tours.

  • If you are interested in one of the tours presented on our website, we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in your group.
  • If you are interested in a custom version of one of our tours, with specific requirements (tour duration, accommodation type, vehicle assistance, airport transfers, bike rental, etc.), we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in the group and the group's specific requirements.

For more information or to receive a quote, please contact us by phone at +33 458 140 435  or by email at info@france-bike-trips.com.

Booking procedure / Cancellation

How to book

In order to make a booking please fill in the online booking form on the "booking" page of your chosen tour. At the end of the booking process you will be transferred to our bank's secure payment page in order to pay a 30 % deposit.

Last minute booking

All self-guided bookings made within 21 days of tour departure will incur a surcharge of 15 € per person.

Expert advice
  • Unsure which tour to book?
  • Interested in a custom version of one of our tours?
  • Not sure if a particular tour is suitable for your riding style?

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm (French time) by phone - +33 458 140 435 or by mail - info@france-bike-trips.com.

Tour confirmation

In order to confirm our guided tours, we need to reach a minimum number of participants (usually 5 persons are necessary). Therefore booking a guided tour does not necessarily mean the tour is confirmed. In the unlikely event that we are unable to confirm your chosen tour, we will offer you the opportunity (no less than 21 days before departure) of switching to another (confirmed) tour, or receiving a full refund.

Self-guided or custom tours: We confirm bookings of self-guided tours and custom tours directly after booking.

In both cases, please await our final booking confirmation before making any travel arrangements.

Balance payment

Tour balance payment must be made no less than 30 days before tour departure. Your travel documents will be sent to you once we have received your balance payment. Road books and maps will be sent to you 3 weeks before departure.

Cancellation

In the event that you are obliged to cancel your tour France Bike Trips will reimburse the entire sum paid for the tour, minus the following cancellation charges:

  • More than 60 days before departure: 5 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 60 and 31 days before departure: 15 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 30 and 21 days: 30 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 20 and 14 days: 50 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 13 and 7 days: 70 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Less than 7 days before departure: 100 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium

Full details of our sales conditions are available here

Travel insurance

It is important to be correctly insured when embarking on a cycling holiday. We recommend checking the details of your travel insurance (if you have one) and, if necessary, subscribing to our contract below. Please note that France Bike Trips is simply an intermediary between you and the insurance company.

You can choose between these travel insurance contracts while completing your booking form:

  • I subscribe to the "comprehensive multi-risk" insurance cover (4.5%), minimum premium of 15 €:
    This contract covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage, holiday interruption and cancellation. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "cancellation only" insurance cover (2.5%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers cancellation only. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "repatriation & assistance" insurance cover (1.6%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage and holiday interruption. To see the full contract, click here.

Recommendation:
If you choose to take out a travel insurance policy with another insurance company, please check that the search and rescue coverage is suitable: area covered, expenses included, risks covered (as an indication, a minimum cover of 15 000 € is recommended). Please note that credit card insurance rarely offers this type of coverage.

Getting there

By train: From Paris Montparnasse train station to Tours train station (about 1h by TGV train).
https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

By plane:

  • From Roissy - Paris Charles de Gaulle airport: head to Tours train station.
  • From Orly or Beauvais airport: join the Paris Montparnasse train station and head to Tours.

By car:
Route planner: en.mappy.com

Coming back:

You can return to Tours by taking the train from Anger (about 1h) : https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

Route navigation

You will receive an email 2 weeks before departure, containing all the information necessary for your upcoming tour, including the following navigation tools:

Our dedicated smartphone app

Follow your route with comfort and ease! Thanks to the Velorizons navigation app, download the full trip itinerary to your smartphone, view route maps and profiles, access the list of booked accommodation, services and useful contacts, and use the integrated route guidance (visual and vocal) for navigation.

►See the mobile app presentation video

To benefit fully from the app navigation system, we strongly recommend attaching your smartphone to the bicycle handlebar using a dedicated mount. An example can be viewed here.

Velorizons app compatibility
Operating systemAndroidAppleWindows PhoneBlackberry
CompatibilityVersion 8.0 minimumiOS 8.0 minimum. iPhone compatible, iPad compatible if GPS equippedNon compatibleNon compatible
A detailed Road Book

Your tour road book will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The road book contains:

  • Full colour maps with highlighted routes,
  • Step-by-step route description,
  • Route profiles
GPS tracks

Tour GPS tracks will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The tracks are in .gpx format, compatible with all GPS devices/apps.

Car sharing

If you sign up for a guided tour, we offer you the opportunity to see if you can carpool with other participants to get to the point of departure. To do this, go to "Car sharing" in our website. By entering the complete reference and the date of departure of the tour (available on the registration confirmation that we have sent you), you have access to route details and emails of other participants who wish to carpool.

Groupe size and guiding

For guided trips we limit the size of our groups from 5 (min) to 12 (max) persons  in order to ensure security and conviviality.

You will be guided by English-speaking French mountain bike guides.

No size limitation for self-guided trips.

Accommodation

We favour comfortable accommodation with warm hospitality. For more details, please see the "Costs and services" section.

For private groups and self-guided tours it is possible to choose alternative accommodation (upgrade) depending on availability.

Food

"L'art de la table"

We pay very careful attention to the quality and the variety of your meals.  Fresh and local produce will be served wherever possible.

Depending on the meals included in your chosen tour:

  • Continental breakfasts taken at the accommodation
  • Cold picnics for lunch (mixed salad, bread, cold meats, cheese and fruit). Each participant carries his picnic in his daypack
  • Hearty dinners (3 to 4 courses, with local dishes)

Please check the "Dates & Prices" section for meal plan details.

Baggage

During the day you carry only a daypack for additional clothing, water, food, camera, etc. The rest of your baggage is transferred each day to the following nights accommodation.

Health

We strongly recommend having a medical check-up before your holiday.

Our / Your state of mind

- A "group" tour: If you join a guided tour, you will be part of a group for several days. This is a superb opportunity to meet new people and share some magical moments. However, a group tour requires that each person show friendliness, openness and mutual respect for their fellow travellers.

- An "adventure" tour: despite the most careful preparation, adventure tours can present unforeseen events. Accepting these risks will help you enjoy your trip to the full, in the knowledge that your guide, our local partners and the entire France Bike Trips team will offer you the most suitable solutions to any given situation.

Bike and plane / train

If you decide to bring your own bike, be aware that transporting a bike by plane or train is no longer an issue. However a few simple guidelines help to optimise the transport and avoid potential damages that could occur.
Your bike must be transported in a designated bike bag (standard size 120x90cm). This maximal size allows you to travel with your bike as "hand luggage" in any TGV and SNCF trains.
It is very important that you protect your bike in the bag. After having deflated the tires, removed the wheels (by removing the quick release mechanisms), pedals and rear derailleur (which is left hanging on the chain), we recommend you wrap your bike inside the bag in a sheet of dense foam (thickness of 3 to 5 cm). A piece of cardboard or rigid plastic positioned between the foam and the inside of the cover can be beneficial to provide more rigidity.

Once folded up the bike bag will take up very little space and will be transported by the assistance vehicle during your tour.

Bike bags are available directly from France Bike Trips at a cost of 70 euros, plus postage.

Your equipment

Equipment provided by France Bike Trips on guided tours:
  • A group first-aid kit
  • A bike repair kit and tools
Personal equipment to bring:
Baggage

All your luggage must fit in two bags: a daypack and a travel bag.

1/ Daypack

This is the bag you will keep with you each day whilst riding. This bag should not be too large (up to 30 litres).

It will contain: a picnic lunch, camera, waterproof and extra clothing, etc.

Each day, your guide will advise you on what to bring in your bag according to the route and the weather.

2/ Travel bag

This is the bag that will be transported from one accommodation to the next by vehicle. It should contain all the belongings you will not use during the day.

IMPORTANT: Your luggage transported from one accommodation to the next must fit in a single bag and must not exceed 20kg.

List of equipment to pack in your bag the day of departure:
For your head
  • A cap or other head protection against the sun
  • A hat or headband
  • A bike helmet.
For your upper body
  • Two base layers (made of synthetic or natural breathable fabrics)
  • A warm shirt or a sweatshirt
  • A fleece
  • A waterproof jacket
For your legs
  • Two good quality cycling shorts
  • Trousers
  • Casual short
  • A swimsuit.
For your feet
  • Comfortable sports shoes 
  • Sports socks
  • Sandals (not obligatory, but nice during breaks and in the evening...).
For your bike

If you rent a bike from France Bike Trips, this material is not necessary.

  • 2 spare tubes and a puncture repair kit
  • Lubricant for chain and derailleur
  • A pump
  • A spare derailleur hanger
Various
  • A pair of cycling gloves
  • A bike lock
  • 2 bike bottles 75 cl (or Camelbak)
  • A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin; Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.

Self-guided formula

Self-guided tour "user guide"

Active autonomy: what you need to know for our self-guided tours

In order to achieve the planned tour programme, you must:

  • Guide yourself with the highlighted maps and road book;
  • Choose suitable start times adapted to the lengths of the daily stages as well as your own riding pace, and leave an adequate safety margin of time;
  • Obtain daily weather forecasts from your hosts, and take into account the weather conditions when planning journey times;
  • Arrive at the booked guest houses and hotels listed in the programme on the given dates; 
  • Bring the necessary personal equipment to carry out the tour. France Bike Trips equipment list constitutes the necessary minimum;
  • Carry insurance policies and emergency telephone numbers with you at all times;
  • Be familiar with basic first-aid steps;
  • In the event of any problems during your trip, contact France Bike Trips (contact information in your travel documents). Possession of a mobile phone that works in France is strongly recommended.

Self-guided tours are undertaken without a guide and at your own risk. France Bike Trips cannot be held liable for any route error, misconduct, personal imprudence, inadequate planning or inappropriate reactions in the event of incidents.

Any programme change of your own initiative is under your responsibility and at your expense. 

Having said this, with our advice and good preparation, you should be able to look forward to a wonderful, trouble free holiday. Enjoy your trip!

Average tour rating:

5/5 - 5 Reviews
Clive G. | Participant rating:
"I was very happy with the holiday we had and feel like we got good value for money.
The only thing that would stop me using France Bike Trips again is that I would be prepared to pay more to have this type of experience with better accommodation and an improved food experience as it was quite basic, which to be fair was at all stages made clear."
Tom B. | Participant rating:
"We loved it so much 14 of have rebooked to go away with you to Alsace this June"
Emma R. | Participant rating:
"I usually do not book package tours, but since our family was very inexperienced with bikes, we chose to go through France Bike Trips. For me, not having to make so many decisions made the long weekend more relaxing and fun. The app was sometimes a little tricky to use but most of the time it was genius: just follow the route and go! We are such beginners that the route, even though it would very much be a "slow weekend" for others, was challenging. We modified the last day to reduce the time on the bike since we were already pretty sore! But even though none of us had even been on a bike for over a year and one of our kids was pretty wobbly at the beginning, we did most of the route and had an amazing time. For much of the way, you are on dedicated bike paths, which is great. There are one or two stretches where you share with cars on busy-ish roads or go through a busy intersection, but these were exceptions. The castles were so much fun! We went in late October and it was absolutely lovely. Leaves falling on the path by the Cher, the vineyards turning rusty bronze. So beautiful. And yes...we did occasionally walk our bikes up some hills...no shame! "
Beth W. | Participant rating:
"We had the time of our life. Beautiful scenery and wonderful off road pathways. Boutique hotels with generous hosts. The bikes were very comfortable and easy to use. "
Mike G. | Participant rating:
"Great tour with mostly dedicated cycle paths through lovely countryside and along rivers. App navigation was great. Hotels were comfortable with lovely dinners on 2 nights. The chateaus were just brilliant. "
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A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.


Phone number: +33 458 140 435

Contact us

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.

Please type in your email address in order to access tour details and description

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