Loire Challenging tour (trip)

Loire Challenging tour

  • train station, France near Blois, France
  • Active & Adventure
France, Europe

from €993* per person7 DaysApril-October
Boutique accommodations Exertion level: 4
Operator: Pure Adventures 24 people max
This Loire Valley Cycling Tour covers more ground on a line that follows the Loire River all the way to the Atlantic Coast. Starting in the historical old city of Orleans, the route passes numerous chateaux, historical sites, and fascinating towns and cities. The flat-to-rolling terrain is perfect for cycling and is filled with trees and colors.

For many visitors, the Loire Valley conjures images from the fairy tales of childhood. The cycling will take you to chateaux that are visiting such as Blois, Chaumont, Amboise, Azay le Rideau, Villandry, Chinon, Saumur, Fontevraud, Angers! From there as you near the coast, you stop in Nantes and then the seaside!. You will also cycle through some important wine regions and have the chance to explore some well known gardens. All the best of the Loire Valley by bicycle!

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Locations visited/nearby

France, Europe

0 testimonials about this trip.

3 testimonials about the provider, Pure Adventures:

  • Reviewer: Andy C.
    'The trip was great! I lived in France for 5 years and took many great trips around Europe, but this may well have been the most memorable!'
  • Reviewer: B. Van Hook
    The trip exceeded my expectations in just about every way. It was awesome and challenging to be alone on a bike in a foreign country. I would recommend it to anyone with a sense of adventure who is in good health.
  • Reviewer: Heidi Ray located in CO USA
    Costa Brava Explorer - This is a WONDERFUL tour.  Bo was amazing and helpful, as were his directions and additional information in the hand-outs of things to see and recommended stops and restaurants.  I will recommend Pure Adventures to my bicyclist friends, and will certainly return to you for our next European bicycle adventure!

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Special information

  • This is a custom departure, meaning this trip is offered on dates that you arrange privately with the provider. Additionally, you need to form your own private group for this trip. The itinerary and price here is just a sample. Contact the provider for detailed pricing, minimum group size, and scheduling information. For most providers, the larger the group you are traveling with, the lower the per-person cost will be.
  • You need to form your own private group for this trip. It will be scheduled for a date you arrange with the provider. The itinerary here is just a sample.
  • Self-guided (includes hotels, maps, luggage transfer, etc but no guide).
  • Offers some solo-only/singles departures.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Blois which is located only 1.5 hours from Paris by train. Your hotel is close to the train station, which allows you to reach your hotel easily and to walk around and discover the royal town and its Chateau. The bikes are already at the hotel with your road book, and orientation by phone late afternoon.

Day 2 - Blois - Amboise (91-81km) You should start early on this day if you want to take time to visit the castles. Today the ride starts out quiet and the anticipation builds as you approach the forest of Chambord that hides the most famous of the Loire chateaux until the last moment when you come into the clearing and see the site! Coming out from the park of Chambord, you will have the possibility to try some chocolate, visit Bracieux village and/or another famous castles: Cheverny and Chateau of Chaumont sur Loire and its International garden festival. At the end you arrive to the royal village of Amboise. The short option does not go to Cheverny.

Day 3 - Amboise - Chinon (85km) Today you go through the history of France and its different types of castles. Todays ride is mostly on bike lane roads. The first leg of todays ride will take you through the vineyards of Montlouis before reaching Tours. Then you pass nearby the chateau of Villandry with its famous garden and the medieval village of Langeais with its massive medieval castle. At last you can have a look to the sleeping beauty Chateau of Usse before reaching the town where Jeanne of Arc met the King Charles VII : Chinon.

Day 4 - Chinon - Angers (95km)Wine day ! Leaving the vineyards of Chinon, you will then go through the vineyards of Saumur, Champigny and finally Anjou at the end of your ride. On your way, you will be able to visit the largest abbey in Europe: Fontevraud, definitely worth a stop! Some of the highlights for today also include the chateau and city of Saumur and the fortress in Angers.

Day 5 - Angers - Nantes (100km)Riding day with short hills and long distance, so we recommend starting early! The ride today will be very peaceful, along the Loire River, with very little traffic. Your destination or today is Nantes, a very dynamic city which is great for cyclists since they have pushed and developed the use of bikes and bike friendly roads in town. On the way you will discover small and typical French villages with their unique Churches (St Floren le Vieil, Ancenis).

Day 6 - Nantes - Pornic (84 km ). The ride today will take you to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean for your last night! First, you can make a stop to visit the extraordinary artistic project of the MACHINES DE L ILE, a blend of the invented worlds of Jules Verne. Then go through the tiny fishing village of Trentemoult. And the last part of your ride will have you ride on small roads all the way to the Ocean. You will ride along the coast for a few miles before reaching your hotel in Pornic, which offers spa treatments to reward yourself after such a challenging tour!

Day 7 - departure day after breakfast.. You can take a train back to Paris via Nantes or add additional nights!

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