Difficulty Rating : 4 Start : Angers Finish : St Pierres des Corps Terrain : Gentle climbs, not a hilly tour Daily Average : 52km Weekly Average : 315km Tour Type : Group Teaser : Fairytale castles, riverside paths, charming villages and some of Frances finest wines...the Loire Valley tour is all you could want in a cycling holiday.
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Between the 13th and the 16th Centuries, French royalty built an amazing collection of beautiful renaissance chateaux.
On the Loire Valley cycling tour we visit Chateau Chambord, the largest of the Loire chateaux, built by Francois I as a hunting lodge and containing a  Catherine de Medici, who then went on to build the iconic ballroom across the River Cher.
The Chateaux are stunning, and we’ve put together a great itinerary of visits. But of course, we have got great food, interesting wines, and the path less trodden.

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A downloadable version of the itinery is available from the Dossiers Tab

Itineraries

Day 1

Arrival

We arrive at our hotel in Chinon in the afternoon. We stay at the Hotel de France in the heart of this beautiful medieval city, overlooking the beautiful Place du Général de Gaulle where you can relax in any of the many pavement bars and cafes.
In the 12th Century Chinon was effectively the English capital as successive Kings made their home in the château. It is much older than most Loire château, and its military purpose is obvious from its commanding position along the ridge that overlooks the medieval town of Chinon.

Day 2

The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, and beautiful vineyards (38 kms)

We leave Chinon along the banks of the River Vienne and make our way to the Royal Abbey at Fontevraud. This huge Abbey was traditionally the home of many French Queens but is most famous as the resting place of Henry II, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine and their son Richard the Lionheart. King John I’s wife, Isabelle of Angouleme, also lies with them, but she's a bit less famous, poor love.
From Fontevraud it's downhill to Montsoreau where the Vienne enters the River Loire. We’ll cross the Vienne, and cycle along the opposite bank back into Chinon.

Day 3

Sleeping Beauty Woz 'Ere (52 kms)

We start today with a tour of the castle of Chinon. As well as home to English Kings, the castle contains the tower where Joan of Arc ‘heard the voices’ telling her she would be granted an army to relieve the siege of Orléans.
We leave the Vienne and continue our cycling tour back towards the Indre and the Loire.
Overlooking the Indre is the first of the big-league château, Château Ussé, the inspiration for Charles Perrault’s Sleeping Beauty.
Next on our hit-list is Villandry, an unexceptional château, but with gardens that Michelin rate as a 3*** attraction - 'worth a journey in their own right'. There are three gardens - a vegetable garden, a flower garden and a water garden.
Each year the gardening team choose a theme and tell a story in flowers. Villandry is really something, and not to be missed.
Finally today we cycle the 11 km or so to Azay-le-Rideau, another member of the Premier League of Loire Châteaux. Azay-le-Rideau is surrounded on three sides by the River Indre, which has been carefully landscaped to provide a beautiful reflective setting for this ornate château.
There was no military purpose to Azay-le-Rideau, it was just designed to be beautiful, and it is.
Tonight we stay at the Hotel des Chateaux, on the outskirts of Azay-le-Rideau a short stroll from the town.

Day 4

A Tale of two Châteaux (57 kms)

We start the day with a visit to the purely decorative château of Azay-le-Rideau on the river Indre, and boy is it decorative, and finish in the medieval Cité Royale of Loches, on the Indre, where sits the Donjon of Loches.
A donjon is a fortress and this place is very obviously built for function rather than form.
In between we cycle over the beautiful rolling farmland of the river Indre, acclaimed as the most beautiful landscape of all the rivers of the Loire Valley.
Depending on timing and inclination, we may be able to visit the Donjon in Loches on our arrival in town, or, if you prefer, a stroll around the royal residence, home of many French Kings, not to mention their wives and mistresses. There will also be more opportunity for these visits tomorrow morning as both are just a stroll (okay, a steep stroll) away from tonight’s hotel, the George Sands.

Day 5

Chateau Chenonceau (42 kms)

Before leaving Loches, we will attempt to fill any gaps left in your knowledge of its medieval royal buildings (possibly caused by indulging in an extra beer or two on the delightful terrace of the Georges Sands yesterday afternoon.) after which we will head back across country to the most visited of all Loire Châteaux, Chenonceau.
Built as a bridge over the Cher and surrounded by ornamental gardens and man-made moats, this château manages to live up to the usual French hyperbole of its website. It truly is unforgettable.
Most of the rooms are open, and this is a chance to see original floors, tapestries and furniture. In general French Châteaux don't have all the furnishings and interior detail that we often see in British castles. Chenonceau is a pleasant exception, and Louise of Lorraine's room, painted entirely in black with silver motifs of tears and crowns of thorns to mourn her dead husband, is especially memorable.
The ballroom, built by Catherine de Medici, spans the Cher in spectacular fashion, and although the Château had no military value it took on a gloomy historical role in the 20th century. First, it served as an army hospital in the First World War. Then, In the Second World War, the Cher was the boundary between Nazi-occupied France and Vichy France. Château Chenonceau was a border post, each end of the ballroom opening into a different country.
Leaving Chenonceau, we’ll cycle the 10 miles or so to the fabulous Royal Chateau of Amboise. Amboise is a lively, thriving little town with a medieval centre – you may think we’ve earned a cold drink in the square below the imposing Chateau, before we make our way to the Hotel Vinci.

Day 6

Upstream to Blois (41 kms)

From Amboise we follow delightful backroads to the Chateau of Chaumont. This is the Chateau that King Henry II’s mistress, Diane of Poitiers, was given as a consolation prize in exchange for Chenonceau.
It’s quite a consolation prize! The grounds are beautiful, the trees as good as an arboretum. The Chateau is lovely, too, with a fabulous stable block, but these days Chaumont is best-known for its garden festival.
From Chaumont we’ll cross over to the North bank of the river Loire for the first time, and cycle a lovely, flat leisurely 15 miles or so into the centre of Blois.
This afternoon we’ll visit the Chateau of Blois, in the centre of town. This is one of the largest and most magnificent of all the Loire Chateau, with 100 bedrooms and over 500 rooms ( I think only Chambord is bigger).
The Chateau was built, and added to, over a period of 400 years by various Kings, Queens and heirs. But the additions and extra wings were done with money and taste – not desperate repairs by impoverished minor royals! A really memorable building

Day 7

Chambord – The World’s Grandest Hunting Lodge (48 kms)

We leave Blois following the River Loire upstream, on a combination of small roads and cycle paths. But before we do, Saturday is market day in Blois. It boasts a particularly thriving local cheese selection. We cross the Loire at Muides-sur-Loire, and cycle through forests full of deer and wild boar on our way to the grandest Loire chateaux of them all, Chambord.
Chambord was built as a hunting lodge by Francois 1, King of France. The chateau itself is beautiful, the largest of all the Loire Chateau, featuring 365 chimneys. As well as exploring the chateau, we can access the roof by the amazing double-helix staircase, once thought to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Two people can enter the staircase from opposite sides and descend to the ground floor without ever meeting.
Chambord sits within Europe’s longest wall, 34 Km long, enclosing the royal hunting grounds. Although we’ll see evidence of wild boar everywhere, they’re so shy that it’s difficult to see them. Dusk is the best option, and there are ‘hides’ dotted throughout the forest, but sadly we won’t be here at dusk!
We’ll leave Chambord, still cycling through hunting forest, as we make our way back along the River Cosson, and cross back into Blois and our hotel.

Day 8

Homeward bound

We're about a 45-minute drive from the TGV station at St Pierre des Corps, and a gentle departure time of 10.30 am from Saint Pierre allows for a decent breakfast and gets us back into Paris for late morning.

  •  7 nights hotel accommodation
  • Breakfast
  • All evening meals
  • Luggage transfers
  • Route notes and maps
  • Tour guide that accompanies the group
  • Bike hire, with panniers, water bottle, helmet, etc.
  • Details of all hotels and restaurants
  • All routes available in GPS form
  • Set transfer on arrival day from Saumur to the first hotel
  • Set transfer on departure day from last hotel to Amboise train station

Not included:
E-bike rental: €190

We use Trek 7300 FX Hybrid 24 speed touring bike with aluminium frame and Shimano gear system.
You can rent an e-bike for a supplement of 190 euro.

One this tour the guide cycles with you, however each person has their own route details. There is no “sag” wagon as such but we can arrange to collect the weary!!
The maximum group size on these tours is fifteen people and one, sometimes two guides.

Comfortable cycling clothing – padded cycling shorts and cycling gloves are invaluable.
Training shoes are fine for cycling.
Hat, sunglasses, suntan lotion, swimwear.
Casual clothes for evening. You may be grateful for something warm with long sleeves.
Helmets, though not obligatory in France, are highly recommended. To be sure of comfort we suggest you bring your own helmet, however, in the event that you need a helmet, they are provided

Just to let you know that we had a really great holiday.
The hotels, accommodation and meals were all top rate. The bikes (all new) and other equipment- panniers etc were excellent.
We have been raving about our Loire tour since we came home and we are definitely looking forward to doing another next year.
Máire & Ger Buckley

Our tour was everything I expected! Pete McGee, the lead guide, was fun, personable, helpful, knowledgeable, and an all-around great guide. The Trek bikes in good condition,
All our hotels were quite comfortable, the evening meals were exquisite, the tour routes were picturesque and safe with minimal to no traffic.
Barbara Koppenhafer

We really enjoyed our bike trek. The region was really nice and the weather couldn’t have been better. All our accommodations were great and the staff at each one were very nice. The restaurants, were also very good and we really enjoyed all menus offered.
Elena Vazquez

We had a wonderful time on our tour. The Loire Valley is incredibly beautiful, with a fantastic combination of gorgeous chateaux, amazing history, lovely towns, charming people, stunning scenery, and of course, delicious wine.
Nancy Burns

I had a wonderful time on the Loire Valley Cycling Tour. I couldn't fault any part of it at all! The cycling program was fabulous, the bikes were almost new and in excellent condition. The accommodation and food were also excellent. Our guide was also excellent and the other cyclists were great company, too!
Hoping to do another cycling holiday next year.
Tess Maclaughlin

2025 GROUP TOUR 
€2080 per person sharing
+€455 single room supplement
(if travelling on your own, we will endeavour to find a roommate for you)

Self Guided Tour Information

Self guided tour not available at the moment

How to get to the start point for Self guided: 

We suggest flying to Paris and then take our set transfer from the train station (see below)

You will be met at Saumur at 18:40 by a tour representative who will be easily identifiable and brought by minibus to the starting point at Montreuil Bellay. Our transfer aims to leave Saumur station by 18:45.
For guided group tour : Transfers will be arranged from Angers train station

At the end of the week you will be brought to the train station Amboise for the departure to Paris Charles de Gaulle / Montparnasse and London (via Lille) at 11:01
For guided group tour : Transfers will be arranged from St Pierre des Corps train station

*Both transfers are included in the tour price.
Note: On the group tour the times shown are the only transfers we arrange ,  on self Guided tours you can arrive at any time at our designated train stations.

For more details please have a look at the tour dossier.

As always please contact us in the office for more information (info@cyclingsafaris.com).

Montreuil Bellay

Day 1: Relais du Bellay

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Chinon

Day 2: Hotel de France

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Azay-le-Rideau

Day 3: Hotel Des Chateaux

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Loches

Day 4: Hotel Le George

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Montrichard

Day 5: Hotel Bellevue

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Chambord

Day 6: Hotel Saint Florent in Mont Pres Chambord

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Amboise

Day 7: Best Weste Hotel la Vinci

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Tour Date Options

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We require you to have Travel Insurance when you book the tour. It is important that you are covered in case of cancellation due to injury as the deposit is non refundable

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Payment Information

If you have been on a previous tour, there is a €50.00 discount on our week long tours in Ireland (unfortunately this discount does not apply to other European trips)

A €300.00 non refundable deposit is required for each person booking on a holiday. The balancing payment is required two months prior to the starting date. The deposit is forfeited in the event of a cancellation of your booking. The full payment is also non-refundable in the event of the cancellation occuring within 14 days of the tour starting date. All transactions are taken in Euro.

We will contact you to confirm your booking and payment details.

Please ensure that you have read the terms and conditions before proceeding.

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Booking Conditions

Irish Cycling Safaris Ltd (“the Company”) accepts bookings subject to the following conditions:

  • The contract is between the Company and the client, being any person travelling or intending to travel on a tour operated by the company. The contract, including all matters arising from it, is subject to Irish law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts. A booking is accepted and becomes definite only from the date when the company sends a confirmation. It is at this point that a contract between the company and the client comes into existence. Before your booking is confirmed and comes into existence the company reserves the right to increase or decrease brochure prices. The company or their agents reserve the right to decline any booking at their discretion.
  • To secure a booking the Company or their agent requires a completed booking form and the necessary deposit. (Full payment if travel within 60 days). The first named client must be over 18 years of age. Clients booking by telephone, by website/E-mail or fax will be deemed to have signed the booking form and read and accepted our terms of booking. The person signing, or being deemed to sign, the booking form warrants that he/she has full authority to do so on behalf of all persons whose names appear thereon, and confirms that all such persons are fully aware of and accept these conditions.
  • The balance of all monies due, including any surcharges applicable at the time, must be paid to the company or their agents not later than 60 days before departure. In the case of non-payment of the balance by the due date the Company reserves the right to cancel your booking and cancellation charges will apply. If any cheque is dishonoured we reserve the right to charge €25 to cover administration costs.
  • Travel Insurance is mandatory for all clients whilst on a tour organised by the Company. Clients are wholly responsible for arranging their own insurance. Clients are responsible for ensuring that they are in possession of private Travel insurance with protection for the full duration of the tour in respect of at least medical expenses, injury, death, repatriation, cancellation and curtailment, with adequate cover.
  • An administration fee of €25 per booking plus any additional costs incurred will be charged if a confirmed booking is changed or transferred to a different departure date or tour, up to 60 days prior to departure. Thereafter all changes will be treated as cancellations and subject to the relevant charges. Changes are subject to availability. For an administration fee of €25 you may request a credit voucher. This must be redeemed within 12 months of issue and must be used against a new booking. The voucher is non transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash. In certain circumstances, which the Company considers reasonable, the booking may be transferred to another suitable person; however the tour arrangements must remain the same and will only be allowed if all suppliers agree to accept the name change. If a transfer is allowed an administration charge of €25 per person will be charged plus any extra charges levied by suppliers.
  • Should the client wish to cancel, cancellation charges will be imposed. These are calculated from the day written notification is received by the company or their agent as a percentage of the total tour price, including surcharges as follows:

    > 60 days before departure – retention of deposit

    60-14 days before departure – 50%

    < 14 days before departure – 100%

  • Clients are responsible for arranging, and must be in possession of, a valid passport and any visas and vaccination certificates required for the whole of their journey. Information about these matters or related items (climate, clothing, baggage, personal items etc) is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of the company.
  • Should the client have a reason to complain, you must immediately notify our representative and the relevant supplier. If the client’s complaint is not dealt with satisfactorily at the time, they must write to us with full details of the complaint within 28 days of the end of the tour. Failure to notify complaints entirely within accordance of this clause will diminish or extinguish the client’s ability to claim compensation.
  • The company provides all services on a “ground only” basis. The client is responsible for arranging their own travel to the designated start points of each tour. The company cannot accept any liability for any delay/cancellation in your transportation and cannot offer any refunds for lost holiday time.
  • Clients agree to accept the authority and decisions of the Company’s employees, tour leaders and agents whilst on the tour with the company. If in the opinion of such persons the health, level of fitness or conduct of a client at any time before or after departure appears likely to endanger the safe, comfortable or happy progress of a tour the client may be excluded from all or part of the tour without refund or recompense. In the case of ill health the company may make such arrangements as it sees fit and recover the costs thereof from the client. If a client commits an illegal act the client may be excluded from the tour and the Company shall cease to have responsibility to/for them. If you are affected by a condition, medical or otherwise, that might affect you or affect other people’s enjoyment or active participation of the tour, you must advise us at the time of booking. No refund will be given for any unused services.
  • The Company will use its best endeavours to operate all tours as advertised. However, it reserves the right to change any of the facilities, services, prices or itineraries described in our brochure/website. If a major change is necessary or deemed advisable, the company will advise the client as soon as reasonably possible, if there is no time before departure. A major change does not apply to a change of transport or named accommodation, but is usually considered a major change in itinerary or change in duration of a client’s holiday. If advised of a major change before departure, the client will have the choice of accepting changes (at additional cost if applicable), purchasing another available tour from the company, or cancelling the tour with a full refund.

    Provided that the major change is not as a result of situations outside the company’s control or consolidation, compensation will be paid as follows:

    Notification Period Given / Compensation Per Person

    More than 30 days: Nil

    14-30 days: €40

    Less than 14 days: €50

     
  • Force Majeure. We regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected by reasons of circumstance amounting to “force majeure”. In these conditions “force majeure” means any event which we the supplier of services in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events include war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire or adverse weather conditions, epidemics or health risks and all similar events outside our control.
  • The company reserves the right to cancel a tour in any circumstances but will not cancel a tour less than 4 weeks before departure except for “force majeure”, consolidation, or the client’s failure to pay the final balance. Unless the client fails to pay the final balance, the company, upon cancellation will return all monies paid to it, or offer the client an alternative holiday of comparable standard if available (if less expensive than original we will refund the difference, if more expensive, the client will have to pay the difference). Compensation will not be payable (1) where the company is forced to cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care or (2) where an insufficient number of people book the clients chosen holiday and we notify we are cancelling for this reason not less than 28 days before departure. In all cases our liability is limited to offering the above choices and the compensation payments (where applicable) set out in clause 11. No compensation is payable if we notify you of cancellation more than 8 weeks before departure. We cannot be held responsible for any costs or expenses you may have as a result of cancellation.
  • Client’s bookings are accepted on the understanding that they appreciate the risks inherent in adventure travel and that they undertake the tours featured in our programme at their own volition. Our obligations, and those of any suppliers providing any service or facility involved in any travel arrangements you book with us, are to provide services and facilities with reasonable care and skill. Facilities will be provided to the realistic minimum standard recommended by the regulatory authorities responsible.
  • Bike Hire: The equipment including all accessories supplied is let out on hire. The equipment remains the property of the company and the Client will not sell, hire out or otherwise part with the possessions thereof.

    The Client undertakes not to misuse the equipment and to return it with all accessories in the same condition as when received (ordinary wear and tear accepted). The company shall be entitled to charge the client for any damages caused to equipment during the period of hire. In event of a breakdown, other than a result of the Clients misuse, the company will use its best endeavours to repair or procure repair of the equipment.

    The company will not be liable for any damage or loss whatsoever, through breakdown or other defect in the equipment or other circumstances beyond the company’s control. The Client shall indemnify the company with respect to all costs, claims, expenses and demands suffered or incurred which arise directly or indirectly out of the use of the equipment during the period of hire. The company reserves the right to charge the client for partial or full settlement of any claim. In the event of the equipment being stolen or lost, the company reserves the right to call upon the client to indemnify the company the replacement of the equipment. However, should the equipment subsequently be returned in a satisfactory condition, the company undertakes to refund the clients indemnity within 14 days.

    The Client will ensure that the equipment is adequately secured when not in use, will not use the equipment whilst under the influence of drink or drugs and will immediately notify the company in the event of breakdown or loss of equipment.

  • Clients bringing their own bikes do so on the proviso that their equipment is in a suitable condition for participation in a tour. Responsibility for maintenance of bicycles brought by clients rests with the client. The company will endeavour to accommodate such clients, but cannot guarantee that correct tools and spares will be available, given the wide range of possibilities that exist.