The Loire Valley is a cyclist’s dream, with excellent cycle paths, chateauxs, traditional villages and good weather. Here are three of the best cycling tours in the Loire Valley.
(Photo: Tripaneer.com)
The Loire Valley feels like it was made for a cycling tour. Clement weather, flat countryside, sprawling vineyards, timewarp chateauxs and villages, forest, moors and lakes – this region along the middle stretch of the Loire river in central France is the perfect place to enjoy a few days on the bike. With a close proximity to Paris it is an easy region to get to and explore, offering exciting bike tours that are as little as two days long. There is perhaps no better way to explore this fascinating region than on two wheels.
3 Day Self-Guided Circular Cycle Ride Holiday in Loire Valley
This is a rather sweet little tour is for anyone who either doesn’t have time to burn in their life, or just doesn’t want to burn too many calories. The organisers say that it came about when someone requested a shorter version of their normal trips, which sowed the seed for a micro two-nighter. It works perfectly, starting and finishing in Chinon, and riding past some of France’s cutest villages, vineyards (wine tasting is included) and the Chateau d’Usse – said to be the inspiration behind Sleeping Beauty’s castle. It’s self guided and the distances are never more than about 50km in a day, but it feels like a proper cycle tour, with accommodation, breakfasts and one night out for dinner all included. The only issue is, compared to other longer tours, it’s really not that cheap. From € 1,299.
Book at Tripaneer.com
Cycle the Loire – Nevers to Orléans
This is a seven-day self-guided private tour that includes breakfasts and accommodation in a combination of B&B’s and two to three star hotels. It takes the newest section of the 900km long ‘Loire à vélo’ cycle path between Nevers in Burgundy and Orléans in the Centre region taking in spectacular chatexus, nature reserves, vineyards and epic places to stop and have charcuterie and truffles. What makes the trip, and the cycle path, special is that it avoids a lot of the well-trodden areas of the Loire, taking in some of the wilder, more natural scenery along the way. From EUR 1.090.
Book at Bookmundi.com
Cycle the Loire Valley
For a more comprehensive tour of the Loire, this seven-day excursion is in a guided small group, with hotel accommodation, meals (breakfasts, four lunches, two dinners) and three wine tastings all professionally organised. The tour begins in Blois and ends in Saumur, pedalling by Château De Chambord and Amboise along the way. The emphasis is on having a good time rather than claiming the King of the Mountains points, so it’s all very relaxed and friendly. Highlights are the fairytale Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire and the river-spanning Château de Chenonceau – and the wine of course.
Book at Bookmundi.com