+33(0)2 54 78 62 52A family cycle tour in the Loire Valley
- The chateau of Azay-le-Rideau in its water and greenery setting
- The petrifying caves and the Villandry Renaissance gardens
- A child ‘discount’ up to -50%
- An easy and accessible to all itinerary
Reference : L15
Difficulty : Very Easy
Round trip
From March to November
Departure: daily
Some questions about this trip ?
Contact us +33(0)2 54 78 62 52 or by email
> Download tour program
Your family bike tour in the Loire Valley:
Here is a special trip for beginners… or for the youngest ones !
The short and easy stages, using cycling tracks or roads with little traffic, will help you to visit the main outstanding sites of the Touraine area : its delightful chateaux and its beautiful river landscapes.
You will stop in hotels with rooms especially adapted to a small family.
Day 1 : Arrival in Tours
Tours confirms its position as the undisputed capital of the Loire Valley. Don’t miss the chance to explore its historic district, with its half-timbered houses, and especially the Place Plumereau !
Day 2 : Tours – Villandry | 20 km
A first and short stage to ride along the « Loire à vélo » cycling paths. They lead you to 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!
chat. Villandry
Visit on your own of the famous « French style » Renaissance gardens. 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 3 : Villandry – Azay-le-Rideau | 24 km
Continue to follow the “Loire à vélo” cycling tracks up to the imposing towers and machicolations of the chateau de Langeais which will remind you of the perilous Middle Ages, when medieval fortresses were designed to be impregnable! Now leave the Loire river to join the Indre river and the town of 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). End of your stage near the romantic château o f Azay le Rideau : a Renaissance marvel in a water and greenery setting.
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 4 : Azay-le-Rideau – Tours | 30 km
Follow the « Indre à Vélo » cycling paths along the curved Indre river punctuated with plenty of typical mills and villages. Make a stop in Saché, a château where the French author Honoré de Balzac lived and wrote. Continue to Tours.
Departure at the end of the stage.
Possibility to book an extra night in Tours.
The little extra with Biking France:
Our « Visit Package », with entrance fees to
. Villandry Gardens (gardens & château)
. château d’Azay-le-Rideau
Select your category
- from March 1st to April 10th
from November 1st to 30th - Departure: daily
100 € / pers.*
140 € / pers.*
255 € / pers.*
- from April 11th to June 30th
from September 1st to October 31st - Departure: daily
100 € / pers.*
140 € / pers.*
255 € / pers.*
- from July 1st to August 31st
- Departure: daily
100 € / pers.*
140 € / pers.*
255 € / pers.*
Category's details
• 3 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages
•
Equipped cycle rental for 3 days with helmet
•
1 travel folder (per room) including colour maps, detailed route directions in French or English and tourist brochures
•
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 (3 nights included)
•
Transfer from to Tours and personal bike repatriation
• 3 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages
•
Equipped cycle rental for 3 days with helmet
•
1 travel folder (per room) including colour maps, detailed route directions in French or English and tourist brochures
•
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 (3 nights included)
•
Transfer from to Tours and personal bike repatriation
• 3 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages
•
Equipped cycle rental for 3 days with helmet
•
1 travel folder (per room) including colour maps, detailed route directions in French or English and tourist brochures
•
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 (3 nights included)
•
Transfer from to Tours and personal bike repatriation
from 3 to 11 years old : - 50%
from 12 to 17 years old : - 20%
(Only if the triple or quadruple rooms are occupied by 2 adults minimum.)
'Bike extra' & various
If you bring your own bike.
- Baby seat :
- Trailer :
- Trail-a-bike :
- 'follow-me' tandem :
+ 15 € / pers.
+ 40 € / pers.
+ 40 € / pers.
+ 40 € / pers.
(in the case of a single person per booking)
According to the category(price per person)
(including 3 dinners - excluding drinks)
(accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
+ 60 € / pers.
+ 35 € / pers.*
+ 75 € / pers.
+ 45 € / pers.*
+ 105 € / pers.
+ 95 € / pers.*
from 0 to 2 years old : free / from 3 to 11 years old : - 50% / from 12 to 17 years old : - 20%
(Only if the triple or quadruple rooms are occupied by 2 adults minimum.)
Extras
. Villandry Gardens (gardens & château)
. château d’Azay-le-Rideau
(for children: a discount will be applied according to ages – after booking)
Your accommodation
Your cycle hire
VTC GITANE bike - 21 speed gears
Man or Lady frame
- 1 rear pannier
- 1 front pannier with a map holder
- 1 repair kit
- 1 pump
- 1 lock
- 1 counter
- 1 high visibility jacket
- 1 bottle cage
- 1 bottle free of charge, 100% recyclable, BPA free, Made in France
- Helmet
VTC SCOTT bike
Universal frame
- 2 rear panniers
- 1 front pannier with map holder
- 1 repair kit
- 1 pump
- 1 lock
- 1 counter
- 1 high visibility jacket
- 1 bottle cage
- 1 bottle (100% recyclable, BPA free, made in France)
- Helmet
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’’)
- trail-a-bike
(permanent coupling system for children from 5 to 8 years old – from 1,20m to 1,30m / from 4’ to 4’4’’)
- “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 the 1st hotel.
- At the end of the tour, leave the rental bikes at your hotel, we will pick them up.
> How to arrive in Tours
> Return
Your journey
Tour description :
Mix of cycling paths or signposted routes for cyclists (about 85%) and small traffic roads.
GPX files :
Besides the maps and detailed itinerary, we also provide the GPX files of your bike stages, as well as a suggestion of free mobile application (if you do not have a bike touring GPS).
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 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).
– Tours train Station >> Paris Austerlitz Station (by train).
– Tours train Station >> Paris Montparnasse Station (by TGV train)
– 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
Trip overall rating : / 8 testimonials
France
travel date: 13 August 2020.
Bonne organisation, bons vélos.
France
travel date: 21 August 2019.
Très belle expérience, calme et dépaysement…
France
travel date: 15 August 2018.
Organisme compétent, organisation efficiente, nous conseillons vivement,ils s’occupent de tout.
FRANCE
travel date: 22 July 2018.
Très bonne organisation, très bons vélos, et très bon accueil dans les hôtels.
USA
travel date: 22 June 2018.
Excellent tour. Excellent company. Excellent bikes! Especially the trailer bike attached to an electric. My 7 year old daughter was very comfortable and the electric bike worked much better for me and my desire to get exercise than I expected.
Andorra
travel date: 18 August 2016.
Tout s’est très bien passé en général , notre famille aura pendant longtemps un très beau souvenir de ce voyage . Un voyage très différent , attachant. Un souvenir de vie .
Italy
travel date: 26 July 2016.
A beautiful holiday with the family.
Australia
travel date: 21 June 2016.
As a family attempting our first French cycling holiday, this was a brilliant experience. My wife and kids were smiling the entire time we were on the bikes.
Some questions about this trip ?
Contact us +33(0)2 54 78 62 52 or by email
