+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 loire river banks and the Villandry Renaissance gardens
- An easy route accessible to everyone
Reference : L15
Difficulty : Very Easy
Round trip
From March to October
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:
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.
Day 1 : Arrival 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.
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 2 : Azay-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!
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 3 : Villandry – 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.
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 4 : Rigny-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
- from March 1st to 30th
from October 1st to 31st - Departure: daily
185 € / pers.*
185 € / pers.*
- from April 1st to 30th
from June 1st to 30th
from September 1st to 30th - Departure: daily
185 € / pers.*
185 € / pers.*
- from May 1st to 31st
from July 1st to August 31st - Departure: daily
185 € / pers.*
185 € / pers.*
Category's details
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
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. )
According to the category(price per person)
(including 2 dinners – excluding drinks)
(accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
+ 60 € / pers.
+ 50 € / pers.*
+ 82 € / pers.
+ 65 € / pers.*
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. )
Extras
If you bring your own bike.
SCOTT bike – “Sub Sport 20”
. Villandry Gardens (gardens & château)
. château d’Azay-le-Rideau
. château d’Ussé
(for children: a discount will be applied according to ages – after booking)
- Baby seat :
- Trailer :
- 'follow-me' tandem :
+ 15 € / pers.
+ 45 € / pers.
+ 45 € / pers.
(in the case of a single person per booking)
Your accommodation
Your cycle hire
(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.
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.
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)
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)
- 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.
> How to arrive in Azay-le-Rideau
> Return
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 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).
– 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
Some questions about this trip ?
Contact us +33(0)2 54 78 62 52 or by email
