Loire Valley Castles, Orléans to Tours

A Loire Valley Fairytale on Bike
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Orléans to Tours

6 days – Self Guided

Quality Hotels & Country Retreats

From

€1260

Cycling the Loire Valley, France Discover the Loire by bike!

Start your Loire Valley cycling adventure from Orléans, in the Loiret region. Its stately buildings and graceful curve around the Loire river, weaving away from the adopted home of Joan of Arc (they still call her “la pucelle d’Orléans, the maid of Orléans). Bike to the magnificent vista of impressive 16th century chateaux, Chambord and tour its labyrinth of rooms. Enjoying the tranquil countryside of this area as you pedal to the attractive market town, Amboise, before heading off deeper into the winding routes of France’s most famous castles.

On a French cycling trip like this, you can not pass up missing this most fascinating area with Amboise´s own turreted castle and the close by magical Chateau de Chenonceau, another lovely vision of French Renaissance. The Kings and Queens of France didn´t build their royal residences around here by accident, so lovely is this landscape. Bike around the famous villages and make your way to Tours, home of its famous charcuterie meat products, hidden leafy mansion estates and timber framed homes within tiny villages set in the rolling countryside.  A French bike tour for architecture lovers!

France's Loire Valley Castles, Chambord

Dates

1 Mar 2024 to 31 Oct 2024

1 Mar 2025 to 31 Oct 2025

%

Riding Level

Easy-Going

40KM Daily Average

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

  • An unrivalled area of superb French wine and cuisine
  • Visit world famous châteaux and their wonderful gardens
  • Tranquil cycling alongside the meandering River Loire
  • Journey through the passage of time, following in the footsteps of Kings and Queens
  • Explore a mix of medieval villages and traditional market towns

CC Advantage

Charming locally run hotels, located near to all the sights

A delightful route for the A to B orientated Cycle Tourist! Combine it with the Tours to Angers self guided tour to make an epic Loire journey!

Enjoy reading the history of the region with our CC included guidebook

Wear a custom made CC France Loire Valley jersey!

Cycling the Loire Valley, France

We had a wonderful time. Of course we drank too much of that wine, but we reckoned we deserved it! Thanks again for a memorable cycle down the Loire.

K. & J. Whitmore

Tamworth, Australia

Route Map

itinerary
Day 1. Orléans

Bike Tour Loire Valley FranceArrive in Orléans, an interesting and ancient town to explore, and where you start cycling the Loire. This was once capital of medieval France and home to one of the world’s most famous female warriors, Joan of Arc but also the gateway into the most romantic area of the Chateaux. Settled in the virtual heart of France, its own streets are full of historical monuments including the most austere cathedral, a sister to Paris’ Notre Dame. It’s a very impressive Gothic monument and also depicts Joan of Arc’s battle efforts in its large stained-glass windows. The annual festival commemorating her freeing of the city from the British in 1429 is a highlight and shows her importance here still.


Day 2. To Beaugency (or Tavers)

Ride: 26 km | Elevation Gain: 80 m

Arrive in the lovely city of Beaugency after a pretty cycle down France’s most peaceful, but longest river. Cycle along the wild riverbanks, enjoying the bird life and the river’s serenity. Beaugency, overlooked by it’s imposing 11th century dungeon, has kept it’s charm of being a small medieval city with its many flowers and gardens. 

See more

Day 3. Beaugency (or Tavers) to Blois

Ride: 45 km | Elevation Gain: 67 m

Leave Beaugency, it is a tranquil start, cycling the Loire riverbanks on a quiet path. You can’t possibly miss one of France’s most famous Palaces and place of mystery, intrigue and fascinating architectural mixes, Chambord. Rumoured to have hidden great works of art during WW2, it has many a story in its turbulent history with people such as Da Vinci to the Sun King, Louis 14th as resident. It lies inside a huge park surrounded by the largest wall in France, all 32 km of it! Due to its former use as a hunting lodge and now nature reserve, it is still possible to see daylight feedings of deer and wild boar.

Take a tour of the Palace with its soaring drawing rooms and fine furniture and even a complex Helix staircase, designed by Da Vinci, before leaving.

Then, continue your ride towards Blois, it’s famous château, a marvel of architectural styles.


Day 4. Blois to Amboise

Ride: 40 km | Elevation Gain: 58 m

Today’s cycle follows the Loire River cycle path, and lets you enjoy what is most recognizable about this area, and what importance the river has played on the development of this region. Enjoy the countryside, passing lovely villages and even the formidable chateau of Chaumont overlooking the Loire River, before reaching Amboise (a bustling market town) and its royal castles from 15th and 16th century. Go a few streets further on, you will find a great historic surprise. It is the last home of Leonardo Da Vinci: Manorhouse of ‘Clos Lucé’, where he worked and died in 1519 and created and perfected some of his masterpieces including the Mona Lisa, thanks to the patronage of King Francois 1st.


Day 5. Amboise to Tours

Ride: 30 km (53km visit Chenonceau) | Elevation Gain: 48 m

Leave Amboise, cycling past beautiful manor houses, listening to river birdsong and through the vineyards of Montlouis, whose many wine cellars offer delicious sweet white or sparkling wines. An optional extension, visits the historic 16th century Chateau de Chenonceau, which was through many years, the prized possession of queens and king´s mistresses – several times over! The ballroom, built by Catherine de Medici is staggering and Louise of Lorraine´s mourning room for her husband is particularly moving, painted in black with silver stars. Continue to the heart of the University town of Tours, which has had a turbulent history of Gaul, Roman and even Viking occupation and enjoy its ‘Place Plumereau’ with its picturesque medieval timbered houses.

*Ride Option to go via Chenonceau Castle


Day 6. Onward Travels

Enjoy your last moments here in the Loire Valley before making your onward journey to other parts of this lovely country. (Or extend cycling the Loire river further west from Tours to Angers on our sister tour, Loire Valley Villages.)

Merci and à bientôt!

Trip details
Tour Style

Leisure Tour – Self Guided

Bikes – Hybrid or e-bikes

Group Size – 1+

Route – Orléans, Beaugency, Blois, Amboise, Tours

Riding Level

Easy – distances are a daily average of 40km. The terrain is mainly flat with a couple of small hills. Good surfaced roads on quiet country routes (busier near the bigger towns).

Accommodation

5 Nights

Historic and comfortable 3 and 4 star hotels

Food

All breakfasts

Also Included
  • Luggage delivered to your next hotel
  • Emergency support and contact details
  • Pre-tour pack
  • Tour guidebook, T-shirt & Tags
  • 5% off your next Tour with us!
Extras Not Included
  • Lunch and dinners
  • Drinks, visits and other personal expenses
  • Hybrid Bike Rental:  135€ Scott Sport or similar
  • Electric Bike Rental: 190€ Scott e-Sub Active or similar
  • Helmets: we don’t provide helmets anymore, so please bring your own!
  • Jersey: Receive a Cycling Country custom designed Loire Valley Cycling Jersey, delivered to your first destination: 60€ per jersey inc p&p
Other extras to tempt

Châteaux experience, featuring entrance fees to these sites: Château de Meung sur Loire, Park Leonardo Da Vinci in Amboise, Domaine de Chambord (château + gardens), Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire (château + Garden Festival): 75€ per person.

Getting Here

Orléans and Tours are both connected by good bus and train connections.

  • From Paris to Orléans – Austerlitz train station to Orléans train station (about 1:15h)
  • From Tours to Orléans – Tours train station to Orléans train station (about 1:20h)
  • To Paris from Tours – Tours train station to Paris Montparnasse station (about 1h)
Lodgings

If you have been trying the famous Loire Valley wine then you will appreciate a good bed at the end of the day! The hotels will not disappoint. They are all set in convenient places and close to sights. Good quality 3 and 4 star lodgings will be a welcome place to come to after each day’s cycle. Lay your head and dream again of all the things you have seen that day.

Cycling in France, Bike Tour, Hotel
This medieval city will enchant you because of its authentic style, perfectly preserved and located. This hotel opens the doors to the châteaux de la Loire, and also the villages of Blois, Meung-sur-Loire or Chambord, and invites you to discover French History.
Bike Tour Loire Valley France Self GuidedA 19-century small luxury hotel will welcome you to the old royal and pintoresque city of Amboise, near the François I’ Castle, the last home of Leonardo da Vinci in the Clos Lucé.
Reviews

“Beautiful Loire!”
Hope all is well with everyone there! I meant to thank you guys for the excellent Loire Valley bike tour.
We really enjoyed ourselves! The towns and accommodations were excellent! Thank you
W. Vogeli group – Calgary, Sept 2023

It was a wonderful adventure and greatly appreciate all the proactive communication leading to the start of our biking adventure.
Highlighting few areas:
1. Electric bike quality and performance was amazing. It made biking so pleasurable and comfortable.
2. Hotels were good and service was excellent.
3. Calling the hotline the response was excellent and immediate. Truly comforting.
4. The trail and App route provided was amazing. Hopefully next time we can do the second leg of Loire trail and maybe making the daily km between 45-60km.
You offer truly a life memorable adventures and we were blessed to have experienced it.
Thank you again for making bikers dreams come true and your support throughout.
S. Halwi – Wisconsin, July 2023

Both Kate and I had similar views on both the accommodation and the friendliness of the staff at the venues.
In all they were excellent and their ratings reflected their quality, in room offerings, extra services sometimes like pool and spa and dressing gowns, their cleanliness, generally full buffet breakfasts and their convenient and accessible locations in the town centres where we were staying that night.
We found the maps and directions pretty good and with the well marked velo signage along the way it made it a very enjoyable tour. The added booklet for chateaux visits, accommodation vouchers and luggage transfers worked very well. Our luggage turned up on time every day.
The bikes were very good and fit for purpose for the tour.
We hope this feedback helps with your future planning and again thank you for our Cycling Country jerseys and T shirts.
P. Crossman – Australia, September 2022

With great hybrid bikes, fantastic scenery, luxury and historic hotels, great food but above all excellent directions, maps, gpx and information notes this holiday delivered on every level. We will be back! Thank you Cycling Country
Sandy Evans – London, April 2018

Hi Maggi and Jeff,
Our last day of cycling went just as well as the preceeding ones. Thanks again for the great trip! We‘ll recommend your tours to anybody showing the slightest interest in cycling. 🙂 Have a good time!
Antoine Brédif – Canada, June 2017

Testimonials from previous cyclists are always available and we enjoy receiving the feedback after tours. It helps us improve our services and offer you an even better experience. Please feel free to contact us if you would like a reference to talk to. Others have also posted reviews on the independent travel website .

DATES & RATES

LOIRE VALLEY CASTLES – FROM ORLÉANS TO TOURS

6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS

€ 1310

SINGLE SUPP € 525

SELECT YOUR DATE AND CHECK AVAILABILITY HERE

Choose your date: Any date between 1 March and 31 October given availability

Don’t stop!
Continue on along the Loire from Tours to Angers (6 more days) by combining with our Loire Valley Villages.
Make it a classic French cycling adventure! Contact us for discounts.

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