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A family cycle tour in the Loire Valley

4 days / 3 days riding  / ref. L15 / Difficulty Very Easy / Round trip
from 540 €
per person

Your family bike tour in the Loire Valley:

Discover the beauty of the “Loire à Vélo” and the “Indre à Vélo”, whatever your level. This 4-day trip is particularly suitable for less experienced cyclists and younger ones. It’s ideal for a relaxing family holiday. During the short stages, follow cycle paths, signposted routes or roads with little traffic. This tour will allow you to discover some of the Loire’s most beautiful landscapes by bike.

On the programme for this family holiday are the major sites of Touraine: its enchanting châteaux and its landscapes of water and light.

View trip map

Tour highlights

  • The chateau of Azay-le-Rideau in its water and greenery setting
  • The loire river banks and the Villandry Renaissance gardens
  • An easy route accessible to everyone

Day 1Arrival in Azay-le-Rideau


Take a stroll through the pleasant little streets in the historic heart of this small Touraine village. And if you get there early enough, you can take in the beauty of the unmissable Renaissance château of Azay le Rideau, elegantly set in its setting of water and greenery.

Optional
Visit of the Chateau of Azay-le-Rideau (Included in the "Visit Package")

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 2Azay-le-Rideau – Villandry | 20 km


On your first stage, follow the signposted routes through the fields to reach Savonnières where you can visit the petrifying grottoes, a troglodyte site which became a world of shades, lights, water and stone. Then reach Villandry famous for its beautiful French-style Renaissance gardens!

Optional
Visit of the Gardens of Villandry (Included in the "Visit Package")

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 3Villandry – Rigny-Ussé | 25 km


The Loire river will be your guide for the day! The “Loire à Vélo” cycle route will take you first to the chateau de Langeais which will remind you of the perilous Middle Ages, when medieval fortresses were designed to be impregnable! Then ride onto the “Sleeping beauty” castle in Ussé: the multitude of its roofs, belfries and dormer windows inspired Perrault to write his famous fairytale.

Optional
Visit of the Chateau of Ussé (Included in the "Visit Package")

Manfred Heyde

Visit on your own of this chateau, which inspired the French author Charles Perrault to write the fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty. It is easy to understand why! With a multitude of pointed roofs, windows and chimneys, it is straight out of a fairy tale itself!

Day 4Rigny-Ussé – Azay-le-Rideau | 15 km or 25 km


For your final bike stage, follow a very confidential cycle path along the Indre river, offering some beautiful scenery. Then head for Azay-le-Rideau. Let be seduced by the charming château de l’Islette (which sheltered the tempestuous love affair between the two great sculptors Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin).
The long version of this stage takes you through orchards and vineyards on the way to Azay-le-Rideau.
Departure at the end of the stage.

Possibility to book an extra night in Azay-le-Rideau.

An extra 20km excursion is available: a ride through the heart of the Indre Valley to Villaine-les-Rochers, a small troglodyte village internationally renowned for its wickerwork tradition, before reaching the Château de Saché, which inspired Honoré de Balzac to write his most famous novels.

The little extra with Biking France (optional):


Our « Visit Package », with entrance fees to

. Villandry Gardens (gardens & château)
. château d’Azay-le-Rideau
. château d’Ussé


Select your category

category Standard
category superior

Your accommodation

These hotels offer all the comfort and well-earned rest after a cycling day (private bathroom). A perfect place to enjoy all the centres of interest around.
These hotels provide charming services on high quality as well as a great location.
Pictures for indicative purposes. Depending on the availability.
Including :

• 3 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
• 1 dinner (drinks excluded)
• Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
• Equipped cycle rental for 3 days
• 1 travel folder (per room) including colour maps
• A personalised navigation app showing points of interest along the route
• City taxes
• Hotline 7 days a week

Not including :

• 2 dinners / Lunches / Drinks
• Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
• Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
• Single room supplement (3 nights included)
• Transfer from to Azay le Rideau and personal bike repatriation

Including :

• 3 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
• 1 dinner (drinks excluded)
• Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
• Equipped cycle rental for 3 days
• 1 travel folder (per room) including colour maps
• A personalised navigation app showing points of interest along the route
• City taxes
• Hotline 7 days a week

Not including :

• 2 dinners / Lunches / Drinks
• Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
• Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
• Single room supplement (3 nights included)
• Transfer from to Azay le Rideau and personal bike repatriation

Children discount :from 0 to 2 years old : - 90%
from 3 to 11 years old : - 30%
from 12 to 15 years old : - 20%

(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’’)

velo enfant

  • “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 your hotel.
  • At the end of the tour, leave the rental bikes at your hotel, we will pick them up.
Your journeyHow to arrive in Azay-le-RideauReturn

Your journey

Tour description:

Mix of cycling paths or signposted routes for cyclists (about 85%) and small traffic roads.

Navigation app:

Besides the maps, we also provide a personalized navigation app showing points of interest along the route.

How to arrive in Azay-le-Rideau

By train :
From Paris Montparnasse train station >> Tours train station (about 1h by TGV train) >> taxi transfer to Azay-le-Rideau.
For more information, do not hesitate to visit : www.sncf.com/en

By plane :

  • 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/

Return

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).
    – Taxi transfer >> Tours train Station >> Paris Austerlitz Station (by train).
    – Taxi transfer >> Tours train Station >> Paris Montparnasse Station (by TGV train)
    – Taxi transfer >> Tours train Station >> Saint Pierre des Corps train Station (by train) >> Roissy Charles de Gaulle T.2 train station (by TGV train).

Nearby Airport :
– Tours Airport : www.tours.aeroport.fr/home