5 days on Loire a Velo trails from Blois to Saumur
5 days / 5 days riding / ref. L30 / Difficulty Moderate / Linear tripper person
Your cycling tour in the Loire Valley:
This wonderful bike tour will allow you to discover the most beautiful castles of the Loire Valley: Chambord, Chenonceaux, Blois or Amboise. Ride through its well known vineyards (such as Chinon, Vouvray, Montlouis and Saumur Champigny) and enchanting settings which will remind you that you really are in the “Garden of France.
Listed in the UNESCO world heritage, the Loire Valley is considered as the perfect destination to enjoy a mix between cycling and exploring nature, history and French gastronomy.
Tour highlights
- The architecturale wealth in every stopover town
- The variety of the Loire wines: Vouvray, Montlouis, Saumur-Champigny, etc...
- The unmissable chateaux of Chambord and Chenonceau
Day 1Arrival in Blois and Excursion to Chambord | 40 km
Discover the charming town of Blois, as you stroll along its paved streets punctuated with staircases, and the château, a perfect illustration of how French architecture evolved between the Middle Ages and the 17th century.
For your first bike excursion, follow the banks of the Loire river and then continue through the rich Domaine de Chambord forest, where a stop is essential to visit the most famous and majestic château of the Loire Valley. In its Renaissance splendour, the Château de Chambord boasts no less than 440 rooms. You can also explore its 5433-hectare (13425-acre) park, before setting off again along the country paths towards Blois.
RandoVélo
Free visit of the chateau, the Renaissance Splendour built for the glory of François Ist. Chambord boasts 440 rooms and 282 chimneys, it’s the most impressive and prestigious from the Loire Valley. And take time to enjoy the new French style gardens.
Day 2Blois – Amboise | 42 km
Follow the ‘Loire à Vélo’ cycling tracks through nice tiny villages to the château de Chaumont sur Loire which overlooks you and the river … do not miss the extraordinary “Festival des Jardins” garden festival between late May and mid-October! Then proceed to the city of Amboise and its royal château. The castle’s chapel shelters Leonardo Da Vinci’s tomb, and a few streets further on, you can see the last residence of this genius : the Clos Lucé Manor house.
C. Diaz
Free chateau entrance which proudly dominates the town and the river and where Catherine de Médicis queen lived.
Follow on your visit discovering the extraordinary International Garden Festival. It’s a real laboratory for contemporary gardens where many landscape creators challenge their imagination with originality.
ADT37 – JC Coutand
Vary the pleasures and treat yourself a new way to discover all the wealth that the Loire river can offer. From your canoe, peacefully tame the last wild river in Europe and admire extraordinary views of its fauna and flora, combined with an incomparable feeling of being far from civilization.
Day 3Amboise – Tours (via Chenonceaux) | 53 km (or 26 km)
Leave Amboise following the beautiful bike path through the forest of Amboise to join the famous Château de Chenonceau, straddling the Cher river, and which was the scene of a famous rivalry in French history: that of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici. Then cycle the brand new bike paths of the Cher à Vélo! Ride along the river, lined with private castles and pretty typical Touraine houses to Montlouis-sur-Loire and the chateau of Bourdaisière. Now reach the city of Tours to discover the old neighbourhood with its typical half-timbered houses.
Possibility to shorten the stage following the « Loire à Vélo » cycling paths through Montlouis vineyards and allowing to discover the numerous cellars producing the region’s famous sweet white and sparkling wines.
F-Charel – CRT centre
Take your time to discover this estate named “Chateau des dames” where reigns elegance and the French way of life. Renaissance masterpiece with architecture unique in the world straddling the Cher River. Don’t miss to visit the flower gardens which was the scene of a famous rivalry in French History: that of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medicis.
Day 4Tours – Chinon | 56 km
Along the Loire a Vélo cycling paths, this stage takes you via the famous French classical gardens of Villandry to Langeais and its 15th century château which was built as a fortress. Then ride towards the chateau of Ussé, whose many turrets, pinnacles and dormer windows inspired Perrault to write his famous fairytale ‘Sleeping Beauty‘. Stay in the beautiful city of Chinon, where you have the possibility to visit numerous cellars where the famous red wine which was highly appreciated by Rabelais is matured
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.
pixabay
Discover and taste the ‘Chinon’ appellation wines, in the cellar of a winegrower.
Day 5Chinon – Saumur | 35 km + option 12 km
Leave the medieval city of Chinon following the Vienne river banks. Then continue through the Saumur-Champigny vineyards towards the abbey of Fontevraud, one of Europe’s largest remaining monastic complexes where the tombs of the Plantagenet kings can be found, and finally reach the lovely town of Saumur.
Departure at the end of the stage.
Possibility to add 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 Blois – optional.
- Our « Visit Package » – with entrance fees to
. Domaine de Chambord (chateau & gardens)
. château de Chenonceaux
. Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire (château + Garden Festival)
. Villandry Gardens (Gardens & Château)
. Fontevraud Abbey
+ a wine tasting in Chinon
Documents
> Download tour programSelect your category
Your accommodation
• 4 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 5 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 (4 nights included)
•
Transfer from Saumur to Blois and personal bike repatriation
• 4 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 5 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 (4 nights included)
•
Transfer from Saumur to Blois and personal bike repatriation
• 4 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 5 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 (4 nights included)
•
Transfer from Saumur to Blois 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 shop.
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
Mix of cycling paths or signposted routes for cyclists (about 90%) and small traffic roads.
Bike stages trip profiles
(click below to see the trip profile of each stage)
- excursion Blois – Chambord – Blois: 40km / elevation gain: 208m / elevation loss: 208m
- stage Blois – Amboise: 42km / elevation gain: 200m / elevation loss: 211m
- stage Amboise – Tours (via Chenonceaux): 53km / elevation gain: 281m / elevation loss: 290m
- stage Amboise – Tours (“Loire à Vélo” version): 26km / elevation gain: 116m / elevation loss: 115m
- stage Tours – Chinon (“Loire à Vélo” version): 56km / elevation gain: 296m / elevation loss: 313m
- stage Tours – Chinon (vineyards version): 59km / elevation gain: 297m / elevation loss: 314m
- stage Chinon – Saumur: 36km / elevation gain: 236m / elevation loss: 227m
How to arrive in Blois
By train
From Paris : Austerlitz train station >> Blois train station (about 1h35).
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 >> St Pierre des Corps train station (by TGV train) >> Blois train station (by regular train).. RER B >> Paris centre – stop ‘Chatelet Les Halles >> Metro line 1 + line 10 >> Paris Austerlitz train station >> Blois train station.
www.parisaeroport.fr/en/passengers/access/paris-charles-de-gaulle/public-transport
www.transilien.com/en
www.ratp.fr/en/plans-lignes
- From Orly airport:
– Taxi transfer to Paris Austerlitz train station >> Blois train station.
– Bus shuttle (Orly Bus) : from Orly Sud > > Paris centre – stop ‘Denfert Rochereau’ >> Metro line 6 + line 5 >> Austerlitz train station >> Blois train station.
http://aeroportorly.paris/orlybus.php
– Orly Val (automatic metro) >> Paris – stop ‘Antony’ >> RER B – stop ‘Denfert Rochereau’ >> Metro line 6 + line 5 >> Austerlitz train station >> Blois train station.
http://aeroportorly.paris/orlyval.php
- From Beauvais airport:
– Taxi transfer to Paris Austerlitz train station >> Blois train station.
– Bus shuttle >> Paris – stop ‘Porte Maillot’ >> >> Metro line 1 + line 10 >> Paris Austerlitz train station >> Blois train station.
www.aeroportparisbeauvais.com/en/acces-et-transports/navettes/
- From Tours airport:
– Taxi transfer or TRAM (tramway – from stop « Terminus Vaucanson ») line A >> Tours train station >> Blois train station.
www.tours.aeroport.fr/gp/Parking-and-Transport/309
- From Nantes airport:
– Taxi transfer or Bus shuttle « TAN » : Nantes train station >> Blois 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 Station >> Blois train Station (by train).
– Saumur >> Blois (by taxi).
If you have to return to Paris (city centre) / Paris Airports:
- 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 Station >> Tours Station >> Paris Austerlitz Station.
– Saumur Station >> Saint Pierre des Corps Station or Angers St Laud Station >> Paris Montparnasse Station (by train + TGV train).
– Saumur Station >> Saint Pierre des Corps Station or Angers St Laud Station >> Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV Station (by train + TGV train).
Nearby airports:
– Tours Airport : www.tours.aeroport.fr/home
– Nantes Airport : www.nantes.aeroport.fr
– Poitiers Airport : www.poitiers.aeroport.fr/en
