3 days biking on Loire a Velo trail from Tours to Saumur
3 days / 3 days riding / ref. L24 / Difficulty Easy / Linear tripper person
Your cycling tour in the Loire Valley:
Let’s ride the « Loire à Vélo »cycling paths for the week-end. From Tours to Saumur you will discover the delightful châteaux and Renaissance gardens on the Loire Valley: Azay le Rideau et Villandry. Between Loire and Vienne rivers where traditional boats are sailing, you will cycle through Chinon and Saumur vineyards and cross medieval-looking villages.
Tour highlights
- The chateau of Azay-le-Rideau in its water and greenery setting
- The abbatial church of Candes-Saint-Martin
- Troglodytes and Chinon and Saumur vineyards
- Chinon and Saumur vineyards
Day 1Arrival in Tours in the morning | Tours – Azay le Rideau | 43 km
Meet before 9:30 am in Tours.
For your first bike stage, leave Tours town center following the “Loire à Vélo” cycling paths towards the famous French classical gardens of Villandry, then Azay le Rideau with its romantic château, a Renaissance marvel in a water and greenery setting.
chat. Villandry
Visit on your own of the famous « French style » Renaissance gardens and castle. The richness of the gardens at Villandry comes from their diversity, which is unique in Europe: a perfect harmony between the immense, decorative kitchen garden, and an ornamental garden based on the theme of ‘love’, water and music gardens, etc.
Day 2Azay le Rideau – Chinon | 36 km
Discover other marvels, such as the Château de Langeais, in its 15th-century splendour, the Château d’Ussé, which inspired Perrault to write his “Sleeping Beauty”, and the mediaeval town of Chinon dominated by its castle and famous for its red wine, highly appreciated by Rabelais.
Léonard de Serres
Free visit of this chateau, which is a real jewel of the Loire Valley. Built during the reign of the French King, François 1st, today it is considered a model of French Renaissance architecture. Its exceptional location, on an island in the middle of the River Indre, gives it a pleasant, romantic atmosphere.
Day 3Chinon – Saumur | 36 km (+ option 12 km)
Follow the “Loire à Vélo” routes which will lead you to the village of Candes-Saint-Martin (where you can visit the magnificent 12th and 13th century collegiate church) and to the beautiful village of Montsoreau. Continue along troglodyte sites and vineyards before reaching Saumur overshadowed by its imposing château.
You have the opportunity to reach Fontevraud abbey, Europe’s largest remaining monastic complex which is also the Necropolis of the Plantagenêt kings!
Departure at the end of the stage. Leave the bikes in Saumur.
You can take the train to Tours if needed.
Possibility to book an extra night in Saumur.
Sylvain Brajeul
Free visit of this imposing and vast abbey, founded in 1099. It houses the recumbent tomb effigies of the Plantagenet dynasty, including Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart! This masterpiece of Romanesque art has other discoveries in store, such as the cloisters and gardens, or the chapter house.
Clan
Embark on a canoe trip on the Vienne river! From the fortress of Chinon, glide over the water between freshness and silence, to reach the superb village of Candes-Saint-Martin, at the confluence of the Loire and the Vienne. Now sail the Loire river to Montsoreau and its castle, the only one in the whole Loire valley to welcome you with its feet in the water! (approx. 3h – from April 22nd to September 30th).
The little extra with Biking France (optional):
- Private return transfer from Saumur to Tours – (rate on request).
- Our « Visit Package », with entrance fees to
. Villandry Gardens (visit of the gardens)
. château d’Azay-le-Rideau
. Fontevraud Royal Abbey
Extend your Loire à Vélo adventure!
To the ocean with our trip: Loire à vélo: cycle tour from Saumur to the Atlantic sea.
Documents
> Download tour programSelect your category
Your accommodation
• 2 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 3 days
•
A personalized travel app, including all your cycling stages as well as tourist and practical information
•
City taxes
•
Hotline 7 days a week
• Dinners / Lunches / Drinks
•
Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
•
Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
•
Single room supplement (2 nights included)
•
Transfer from Saumur to Tours and personal bike repatriation
• 2 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 3 days
•
A personalized travel app, including all your cycling stages as well as tourist and practical information
•
City taxes
•
Hotline 7 days a week
• Dinners / Lunches / Drinks
•
Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
•
Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
•
Single room supplement (2 nights included)
•
Transfer from Saumur to Tours and personal bike repatriation
• 2 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 3 days
•
A personalized travel app, including all your cycling stages as well as tourist and practical information
•
City taxes
•
Hotline 7 days a week
• Dinners / Lunches / Drinks
•
Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
•
Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
•
Single room supplement (2 nights included)
•
Transfer from Saumur to Tours and personal bike repatriation
from 3 to 11 years old : - 20%
from 12 to 15 years old : - 10%
(Only if the triple or quadruple rooms are occupied by 2 adults minimum )
VTC GITANE bike - 21 speed gears
(bike included in this tour)
A bike that favors an upright, comfortable position, ideal for leisure riding.
OPEN frame, until 1m83
CLOSED frame, from 1m83
- 1 rear pannier
- 1 front pannier with a map holder
- 1 repair kit
- 1 smartphone holder
- 1 lock
- 1 bottle cage
Helmet not provided.
SCOTT Sub Sport 20 - 27 speed gears
A “sport” bike that favors a more athletic position and riding style.
OPEN frame, until 1m83
CLOSED frame, from 1m83
- 1 rear pannier
- 1 front pannier with a map holder
- 1 repair kit
- 1 smartphone holder
- 1 lock
- 1 bottle cage
Helmet not provided.
MOUSTACHE e-bike
OPEN frame
- 1 rear pannier
- 1 front pannier with a map holder
- 1 repair kit
- 1 smartphone holder
- 1 lock
Helmet not provided.
(These models of e-bikes may be replaced by another one, similar)
Equipment & Bike for children
We provide bikes and equipment for children such as :
- children’s bike
(from 16 to 24 inches – from 1,05m to 1,45m / from 3’5’’ to 4’9’’)
- “follow-me” tandem
(for children from 5 to 8 years old – about 1,05m / 1,30m – from 3’5’’ to 4’4’’)
The “follow-me” is a clever coupling device that allows you to attach the child’s bike to your bike with ease. It can be removed easily to let the child ride alone.
- trailer
(for baby or 25 kg maximum children)
- baby seat
(for baby or 22 kg maximum children, fixed on the rear rack)
Practical details
Bikes will be delivered at our partner.
At the end of the tour, leave the rental bikes at our partner, we will pick them up.
Your travel app
You’ll have personalized access to our travel app, which you can download onto your smartphone.
This app includes all your cycling stages, tourist and practical content, as well as your accommodation. The application will guide you along your route, like a GPS, during your cycling stages.
If you would like a printed version of the roadbook (including color maps of your stages), please let us know when you book your trip. It will be provided at your first accommodation.
Your journey
Tour description
Exclusively cycling paths or signposted routes for cyclists.
Bike stages trip profiles
(click below to see the trip profile of each stage)
- stage Tours – Azay le Rideau: 43km / elevation gain: 96m / elevation loss: 96m
- stage Azay le Rideau – Chinon (RandoVélo version): 36km / elevation gain: 227m / elevation loss: 244m
- stage Azay le Rideau – Chinon (Loire à vélo version): 32km / elevation gain: 216m / elevation loss: 233m
- stage Chinon – Saumur: 36km / elevation gain: 236m / elevation loss: 227m
At the beginning of the tour
Thank you for appearing before 9:30 am on the 1st day to leave your luggage in Tours (next to the train station) and retrieve your bike & travel folder.
How to arrive in Tours
By train
From Paris Montparnasse train station >> Tours train station (about 1h by TGV train).
For more information, do not hesitate to visit : www.sncf.com/en
By plane
- From Roissy CDG airport:
– Roissy Charles de Gaulle T.2 train station >> Tours train station (by TGV train).
www.parisaeroport.fr/en/passengers/access/paris-charles-de-gaulle/public-transport
- From Orly airport:
– Taxi transfer to Paris Montparnasse train station >> Tours train station.
– Bus shuttle (Le Bus Direct) : from Orly Sud or Ouest >> Line 1 >> Paris Montparnasse train station >> Tours train station.
www.lebusdirect.com/en/lines-and-schedules/orly-airport-paris-etoile-champs-elysees-line.html
– Bus shuttle (Orly Bus) : from Orly Sud or Ouest > > Paris centre – stop ‘Denfert Rochereau’ >> Metro line 4 >> Montparnasse train station >> Tours train station.
http://aeroportorly.paris/orlybus.php
– Orly Val (automatic metro): from Orly Sud or Ouest >> Paris – stop ‘Antony’ >> RER B – stop ‘Denfert Rochereau’ >> Metro line 4 >> Montparnasse train station >> Tours train station.
http://aeroportorly.paris/orlyval.php
www.transilien.com/en
www.ratp.fr/en/plans-lignes
- From Beauvais airport:
– Taxi transfer to Paris Montparnasse train station >> Tours train station.
– Bus shuttle >> Paris – stop ‘Porte Maillot’ >> Metro line 1 + line 13 >> Paris Montparnasse train station >> Tours train station.
www.aeroportparisbeauvais.com/en/acces-et-transports/navettes/
- From Tours airport:
– Taxi transfer or TRAM (tramway – from stop « Terminus Vaucanson ») line A >> stop ‘Nationale’ or Jean Jaurès’ or ‘Gare de Tours’.
www.tours.aeroport.fr/gp/Parking-and-Transport/309
- From Nantes airport:
– Taxi transfer or Bus shuttle « TAN » : Nantes train station >> Tours train station.
www.tan.fr/fr/menu/se-deplacer/tan/navette-aeroport/
Return
If you have to come back to the start point:
- This return can be carry out by RandoVelo/Biking France.
- A return transfer by train is possible and organised on your own. Please visit: www.sncf.com/en
Plan to go to the train station with your luggage (and your potential own bike)
(Personal bike return costs are on your responsibility)
– Saumur train Station >> Tours train Station (about 40 minutes by train).
– Saumur >> Tours (by taxi).
If you have to return to Paris (city centre) / Paris Airports:
- This return can be carry out by RandoVelo/Biking France (please contact us).
- A return transfer by train is possible and organised on your own. Please visit: www.sncf.com/en
Plan to go to the train station with your luggage (and your potential own bike)
(Personal bike return costs are on your responsibility).
– Saumur train Station >> Angers St Laud train station (by train) >> Paris Montparnasse train station (by TGV train).
– Saumur train Station >> Angers St Laud train station or Saint Pierre des Corps train Station (by train) >> Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV Station (by TGV train).
Nearby Airports:
– Tours Airport : www.tours.aeroport.fr/home
– Nantes Airport : www.nantes.aeroport.fr
– Poitiers Airport : www.poitiers.aeroport.fr/en
