
Highlights
- Being a giant amongst the miniature castles of Amboise
- Spotting Leonardo de Vinci’s house
- Cycling to the lovely Chateau of Azay-le-Rideau sitting atop an island in the middle of a river
- Seeing who’ll be the first to spot the cliff dwellings on the way to Montbazon
- Fun with the kids at Luluparc on the way back to Tours
- Exploring historical Tours
Itinerary
On arrival, depending on flight times, you may have the opportunity to explore the city’s historic centre. In your hotel, your bikes (should you be hiring), route notes and maps will be provided for your trip around the Loire.
- Meals: Breakfast
After leaving Tours, you will start your journey cycling alongside the Cher river. The cycle path winds parallel with the Cher and the Loire rivers, and beautiful views will surround you throughout the day. You will pass by the enchanting gardens of the Chateau de Villandry on the way to your accommodation for the evening. In the summer months, the Cher is great for a swim!

- Meals: Breakfast
Today you will cycle through romantic river landscapes and past beautiful stone houses, on your way to Azey-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. The view from the water mirror is certainly the best known of the Château d‘Azay. Honoré de Balzac said it was like “a faceted diamond set in the Indre“. This beauty is definitely worth a visit.
- Meals: Breakfast
The first part of today will be spent cycling through the Indre Valley, following the gentle flow of the river. You will find great views of cliff dwellings built into the limestone mountains along you way.Once at your destination, you will find the impressive Fort of Montbazon which towers imposingly over the village.
- Meals: Breakfast
From Montbazon you’ll head towards the small market town of Bléré. After crossing the river, you’ll arrive at the Chateau de Chenonceau, which spans the river on five elegant arches. It is one of the most perfect and beautiful castles of the Loire region in respect of its architecture, site, contents and atmosphere. The gardens are fantastic with a natural maze, fun for the whole family.

- Meals: Breakfast
Today you will cycle through the former royal forests towards Amboise. Shortly before reaching your destination, you will be able to visit an outside museum full of miniature castles of the Loire Valley. Great fun for kids and a great opportunity to get a real feel for the history of the area. Amboise is a lively little town where you can visit the castle and the famous Clos Lucé, once home to Leonardo de Vinci.
- Meals: Breakfast
Today you’ll cycle along the Loire back to Tours. Along the way you will discover the troglodyte cave dwellings that litter this region. You’ll also be passing close by Luluparc (an adventure park with games and activities for kids of all ages). Set in a green space of 3 hectares, it’s entirely reserved for children. You’ll find toboggans, a ball park, pedalos, scooters, childrens’ farm, swings and slides!
Gallery
The Cycling
Terrain
The majority of the route is along a mixture of traffic-free cycle paths, cycle lanes and flat riverside paths. (Only around 10% of the route is shared with vehicle traffic). This, along with the daily distances not exceeding 40 km/ 25 miles, makes the Valley of the Loire an ideal tour for those looking to take it easy, and really take in some lovely surroundings. The route is mainly flat, and if your legs need a rest, on days 5 and 6 you can catch the train to your next destination (tickets not included). We recommend a hybrid bike for this tour, but road bikes with semi-slick tyres would suffice.

Family Cycling Grade
Distances generally between 10-20 miles / 15-35 kms per day
For those looking for an accessible cycling holiday
Manageable daily distances
Predominately flat terrain
Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!
For more information about our grading system click here.
Is this suitable for you?
If your little ones are new to cycling, or perhaps you haven’t ridden your bike for while, then the relaxed rides on our Grade 1 tours might be for you. Of course no route can be pancake flat the entire way, with some gentle slopes being inevitable, but if you‘re looking for short, daily distances on mostly flat terrain, (with plenty of time to go at your own pace and explore your destination), then these trips would be a good place to start. We’d expect those on a Grade 1 tour to be able to ride their bike confidently and generally be fit and healthy.
Dates & Prices

2021 Friday, Saturday and Sunday departures available between (and inclusive of) the 26 Mar and 31 Oct.
We are able to offer the following discounts on the land only price for children (when the child is sharing a room with two fully paying passengers, dependent on availability.)
0 – 1 years – Free Place
2 – 11 years – 50%
12 – 16 years – 10%
Whats Included 
A) Accommodation (shared twin / double en suite rooms) in a mixture of 2*,3* and 4* hotels and chambres d‘hôtes (family rooms on request)
B) Meals as per the itinerary (B-Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
C) Local representative (with welcome meeting)
D) Detailed route notes and maps
E) Luggage transfers
F) Tickets to visit Miniature Castles in Amboise
What's not Included 
A) Bike rental (available if required)
B) Flights and charges for travelling with your bike
C) Travel to first hotel on arrival day
D) Travel from final hotel on departure day
E) Single room (available if required)
F) Travel insurance
G) Meals not stated in the itinerary
H) Personal clothing and equipment
I) Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills, hotel facilities etc)
J) Entrance fees to museums and other attractions en route
K) City tax (payable locally) – between €0.80 and €1.50 per adult per day (where applicable)
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