Loire Valley 8-Day Gentle

Loire Valley
8-Day Gentle

New for 2025

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Overview

  • Tour DifficultyGentle
  • Tour Duration8 Days / 7 Nights
  • Daily Saddle Time2-4 Hours
  • Daily Elevation132 m (443 feet)
  • Daily Distance35 km (22 miles)
  • Total Distance211 kms (131 miles)
  • StartOrleans, France
  • FinishChinon, France
  • Local AirportsParis or Tours
  • Tour SeasonMar 1 - Oct 31
  • Food & DrinkYes
  • History & CultureYes
  • Electric BikeYes
  • Family FriendlyYes
  • Leisure BikingYes
  • Solo TravellersYes

Overview

  • Tour DifficultyGentle
  • Tour Duration8 Days / 7 Nights
  • Daily Saddle Time2-4 Hours
  • Daily Elevation132 m (443 feet)
  • Daily Distance35 km (22 miles)
  • Total Distance211 kms (131 miles)
  • StartOrleans, France
  • FinishChinon, France

Highlights

  • Orléans: Begin in the historic city of Joan of Arc, exploring its Gothic cathedral, charming old town, and scenic riverside promenades.
  • Château de Chambord: Marvel at this Renaissance masterpiece, famous for its intricate architecture and double-helix staircase.
  • Amboise: Explore the Château d’Amboise and the nearby Clos Lucé, Leonardo da Vinci’s final residence, surrounded by lush gardens.
  • Villandry: Be enchanted by the Château de Villandry's spectacular formal gardens, a highlight for nature and art enthusiasts alike.
  • Garden of France: A wine enthusiasts paradise, sample your way through the appellations of Cheverny, Touraine, Bourgueil & more.
  • Chinon: Conclude your journey in this medieval town with its hilltop fortress, atmospheric old town, and famed local wines.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Orleans

You arrive in Orléans, a city steeped in history and charm. Stroll through its cobbled streets, admiring the grand Orléans Cathedral and vibrant squares. Along the Loire River, the peaceful ambiance invites you to unwind and enjoy the start of your adventure. Spend the evening savoring local cuisine at a cozy bistro.

Day 2: Orléans - Beaugency

Distance: 29 kms (18 miles) / Elevation Gain: 75 m (250 feet) / Saddle Time: 2-4 hours

Your journey begins with a gentle ride along the Loire à Vélo trail. The route winds through peaceful countryside, past vineyards, and sleepy villages with stone cottages. You arrive in Beaugency, a charming riverside town known for its medieval bridge and picturesque streets. Take in the relaxed atmosphere and explore its historic heart.

Day 3: Beaugency - Blois via Chambord

Distance: 41 kms (25 miles) / Elevation Gain: 132 m (452 feet) / Saddle Time: 2-4 hours

Today’s ride takes you through lush forests and open fields, eventually leading to the breathtaking Château de Chambord. This architectural marvel is surrounded by expansive parkland, perfect for a pause to soak in the grandeur. Continuing along quiet trails, you reach Blois, a lively town with stunning river views and a historic château.

Day 4: Blois - Amboise

Distance: 42 kms (26 miles) / Elevation Gain: 239 m (805 feet) / Saddle Time: 2-4 hours

Cycling through vineyards and small villages, you follow the Loire River, its shimmering waters a constant companion. The route is scenic and tranquil, leading to Amboise, a town rich in Renaissance history. Explore the Château d’Amboise and discover the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci, who spent his final years here.

Day 5: Amboise - Tours

Distance: 25 kms (16 miles) / Elevation Gain: 120 m (405 feet) / Saddle Time: 1.5-3 hours

The ride today offers a mix of countryside and riverside paths, passing sunflower fields and picturesque farmhouses. You arrive in Tours, a bustling city where medieval charm meets modern vibrancy. Wander the narrow streets of the old town, discover its markets, and indulge in regional delicacies.

Day 6: Tours - Azay le Rideau

Distance: 32 kms (20 miles) / Elevation Gain: 128 m (431 feet) / Saddle Time: 2-4 hours

Pedaling through rolling hills and shaded trails, you enter the heart of the Loire’s castle country, of course stopping at the iconic Château de Villandry. The charming village of Azay-le-Rideau welcomes you with its tranquil setting and iconic château. Surrounded by the Indre River, the château’s reflection creates a magical scene you won’t soon forget.

Day 7: Azay le Rideau - Chinon

Distance: 42 kms (26 miles) / Elevation Gain: 93 m (313 feet) / Saddle Time: 2-4 hours

Your final cycling day takes you through vineyards, orchards, and idyllic landscapes. The approach to Chinon is unforgettable, as the medieval town and its fortress rise above the river. Chinon’s cobbled streets, atmospheric wine caves, and historic charm provide a perfect ending to your ride.

Day 8: Depart from Chinon

Spend your last morning wandering the streets of Chinon, exploring the fortress with its commanding views of the valley. Visit local wine cellars or relax in a café, soaking in the timeless charm of this historic town. Depart with lasting memories of your Loire Valley cycling adventure.

Map

Accommodation

All our accommodation selections are in-house reviewed. We partner with family-owned, charming guesthouses and hotels where you can relax and recharge. Below are some sample accommodations on our Loire Valley tours. Depending on availability, the accommodation you stay at may vary but will always be of a similar standard.

Orleans: Hotel De L'Abeille

Located in the city center of Orléans in a quiet pedestrian area just a stone’s throw from the train station, the Hôtel de l’Abeille is a cozy and preserved setting. It houses 24 rooms with a unique character combining old-world charm and contemporary comfort, a tea room with a cozy atmosphere where you can admire unique works of art, a shop offering honey and various local objects as well as a small fitness room and a garden terrace: a true haven of peace on the roof of the Orléans world.

Tours: LABE Hotel

A relaxed, no-holds-barred place, LABE Hôtel aims to be a caring place, where exchanges, interactions and encounters are given pride of place. A lifestyle hotel with 41 rooms and suites, including 2 for disabled guests, with a relaxed ambience and a friendly atmosphere to make you feel at home. A year’s work has transformed the hotel into a unique and original place that is sure to impress. Each room is unique, with different sizes, decorations and configurations to satisfy all visiting guests.

Chinon: Au Relais Saint Maurice

Within touching distance Chinon fortress, this bed and breakfast captures Loire Valley heritage like no other. The building of Au Relais Saint Maurice dates back as far as the 13th century and every effort to maintain it’s rich history has been made. With its sun soaked terrace, enjoy a fantastic breakfast stocked with local produce, served by the owner Maurice himself.

FAQ

What Is the cycle like?

This tour is in our Gentle difficulty grading. Consisting of a blend of cycle lanes, quiet country roads and forest trails. You’ll spend most of the ride following the Loire river (EuroVelo 6) and passing through the surrounding towns. This means that the route is largely flat with only a handful of brief ascents to overcome.

We offer hybrid bikes, kids bikes and kids trailers for this route. If you are having doubts about your fitness levels, we also offer electric bikes on this tour.

Is this tour for me?

This Loire Valley tour puts leisure and the slow life above all else. If you appreciate river breezes through your hair, quant country villages, long lunch breaks and plenty of time to explore the region’s rich history, this is the tour for you.

It is a perfect route for families and less confident cyclists, with largely segregated bike paths with some occasional low speed country roads. The route attracts large amounts of cyclists from all over the world, giving the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow riders too.

Tour includes

  • 7 nights accommodation in charming guesthouses and hotels.
  • A hearty breakfast each morning
  • Luggage transfers between accommodations
  • Detailed itinerary, GPX files and printable maps of your route
  • Tips on local attractions, history & evening meals
  • On call support before and during your tour

Tour excludes

  • Flights and transfers to and from the trail heads
  • Lunches & Dinners
  • Insurance
  • Bike rental (Selected on checkout)

The Bikes

You have a choice of bringing your own bike or renting your tour bike through us during booking. For the Loire Valley, the bikes available are quality electric or manual touring bikes. If an electric bike is chosen, it will bring the daily saddle time down by approximately 1 hour.

We only partner with the best bike suppliers for all our destinations so you’ll be guaranteed well maintained, premium brand bikes such as Cube, Trek or KTM.

All bike rentals come with helmet, lock and repair kit. A network of mechanics are on call in case of any mechanical issues faced while on tour.

What Is The Climate Like?

We offer tours in Loire from March – October. At the start of the tour season, the average temperatures in Orleans are approximately 9 °C (47 °F). This is the quietest times of the season to miss queues at landmarks and also the driest time of the year. Temperatures peak at 26 °C (79 °F) in July & August. Temperatures as high as 35 °C (95 °F) have been recorded, but these are quite rare. Please see image below for reference.

As you will be cycling through a valley, you’ll encounter micro climates where the weather can suddenly shift. It is recommended to have emergency wet gear packed at all times while riding. Precipitation in this region is typically infrequent but heavy in nature.

Is The Tour Easy To Navigate?

We include detailed navigation instructions and GPX files for your ride. Our navigation app is easy to use and we give a detailed instructional video on how to use it. If you are having any difficulty, we are on call at all times to assist you.

There is frequent marked signage on the routes to keep you on course, as well as many fellow cyclists on the route to steer you in the right direction.

What If There Is An Issue On Tour?

Included in your tour, is 24/7 message and video support. If you have an issue with navigation, bike breakdown, accommodation, medical, etc, we are at the touch of a button away at all times.

We have an extensive network of suppliers along the route, who will resolve the problem as swiftly as possible.

More FAQ

If you haven’t found the answer you’re looking for above, visit our general FAQ page for more information or simply reach out to us with the “Ask A Question” button on the side.

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Loire Valley 8-Day Gentle

From$1,296
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Tour Includes


3* or 4* Accommodation Throughout

Breakfast Each Morning

Luggage Transfer

Itinerary & Navigation Documentation

Tips & Local Insights

24-Hour Support

From$1,296
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