After making your way to your first night’s hotel, you will be provided with your bikes (should you be renting), as well as the route notes and maps for your trip. A local representative will brief you on your route notes and the week to come, giving you the opportunity to ask any last minute questions. Depending on your arrival time, you may have time to explore Tours’ historic centre.

• Meals: Breakfast

Today you’ll be following the River Cher to the Chateau de Villandry. Known for the geometric beauty of its vegetable gardens, divided by vine-shaded paths, Villandry Castle is the last of the great chateaux of the Loire built during the Renaissance.

You’ll then continue your ride, leaving the banks of the River Cher and switching to the banks of the famous Loire itself, passing the Chateau of Langeais on the way.

Riding on small roads parallel to the Loire river, you’ll be passing through rural villages, making your way to the beautiful fairy-tale castle, the Chateau d’Ussé: approaching this magical Chateau will be a highlight of the week. Today your destination and your home for the night will be Chinon, dominated by the ruins of the castle of Charles the VII.

• Meals: Breakfast

Today there are a couple of options to choose from depending on how far you’d like to ride. Leaving Chinon, you’ll make your way to the wonderful Abbaye de Fontevraud, Europe’s largest remaining monastic city. Founded in 1101, the organisation of the abbey was unique: separate communities of priests, nuns, laypeople and lepers lived here (the guided tour of the abbey is excellent).

Next you’ll continue on to the pretty town of Saumur, one of the most beautiful, historic towns of the Loire valley where you can take a break and relax in its lovely gardens, before heading back to Chinon through vineyards and sunflower fields.

• Meals: Breakfast

Today you’ll be riding through vineyards and small villages. You’ll cycle through Crissay, once deserted but now home to numerous artists and artisans who have settled here, then onto Azay-le-Rideau located in the Indre Valley.

The Chateau of Azay-le-Rideau sits on an island in the middle of the river and is one of France’s loveliest Renaissance castles. You might even catch the gourmet night market as you wander around the cobbled streets.

• Meals: Breakfast

Today you’ll enjoy cycling through romantic river landscapes. First you’ll follow the River Indre and then, after having conquered a small climb, you will ride down to follow the River Cher through meadow paths to the small market town of Bléré.

After crossing the river, you’ll arrive at the Chateau de Chenonceau, which spans the river. It is known as the Château des Dames or the Ladies’ Castle since its upkeep and construction were managed by six different women. Chenonceux itself will be your home for the night, a small village perfect for soaking up some traditional French charm.

• Meals: Breakfast

Today you’ll make your way through beautiful little villages, towards the market town of Montrichard and the perfectly symmetrical Chateau de Cheverny.

You’ll then ride on towards Chambord, where you’ll soon you’ll start to see the vast and spectacular Chateau de Chambord (one of the Loire Valley’s largest and most recognizable chateaux), through the trees of the surrounding forest. The day ends with a lovely flat ride, which will lead you to your hotel in Blois where you’ll discover Chateau de Blois, located in the city centre.

• Meals: Breakfast

For your last day you will cycle to Tours where your trip began. During the day, keep an eye out for the dwellings which have been dug into the soft limestone of the riverside cliffs: sometimes only the rising smoke reveals their existence.

You’ll cross the river to reach the picturesque town of Amboise, lodged under the fortified Chateau d’Amboise. Leonardo Da Vinci spent his last years here and the museum, dedicated to him and his work, is worth a visit.

Afterwards you’ll continue cycling through vineyards and past wine cellars via Rochcorbon to finally reach Tours. And relax!

• Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast it’s time to say au revoir to this beautiful cycling destination.