Castles of the Loire
France Bike Tours
A stunning Loire Valley Bike tour
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Tour Type
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Skill Level
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Length6–8 days
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Prices from€852 Rates
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Overview
Biking in the Loire Valley region has proven to be a haven for cyclists time and again, and it is rightly referred to as Royal Châteaux Country.
The fertile landscape is generously peppered with grandiose châteaux (more than 300!) amid lush vineyards and rolling green hills.
Along the “Loire à Vélo” or the “Pays des Châteaux” cycle paths, this itinerary allows you to reach the most prestigious châteaux of the Loire Valley!
Highlights
- French villages
- Vineyards and wine
- Chaumont-sur-Loire
- Amboise and its 15th century white stone houses
- Chenonceau
- Cher Valley
- Medieval town of Montrichard
- Cheverny
- Chambord
For a list of all of our bike tours in France follow the link or do the same for all of our cycling tours in the Loire Valley.
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Itinerary
You have two different options in regards to the length of tour! Please specify your preference at time of booking.
All distances are approximate. In the event of unforeseen circumstances such as weather, natural disasters, road maintenance, itinerary changes may be necessary.
Day 1: Arrival in Blois
Day 2: Blois - Amboise, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 3: Excursion to Vouvray, 30 mi. (48 km)
Day 4: Amboise and excursion to Chenonceaux (via Montlouis), 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 5: Chenonceaux - Cheverny (or Chitenay), 25 or 34 mi. (40 or 55 km)
Day 6: Excursion to Beauregard and Sologne area, 29 mi. (47 km)
Day 7: Cheverny (or Chitenay) - Blois, 25 or 31 mi. (40 or 50 km)
Day 8: DepartureDay 1: Arrival in Blois
Upon arrival in the old village of Blois, you will be enchanted with its typical paved streets punctuated with staircases. And of course the charming chateau, a perfect illustration of how French architecture evolved between the Middle Ages and the 17th century. After settling into your hotel, you'll go pick up bikes and accessories at the bike shop.Day 2: Blois - Amboise, 25 mi. (40 km)
Today's path guides you through the forest and vineyards of Mesland appellation until you reach the Chateau of Chaumont sur Loire, that proudly overlooks the Loire River. You cycle on to the beautiful town of Amboise. Here you can see the town's royal chateau where the greatest kings of France and Leonardo Da Vinci once lived.Day 3: Excursion to Vouvray, 30 mi. (48 km)
Leave the Loire banks for a while to reach the picturesque Vouvray vineyards, surrounded by troglodyte houses, and famous for its fine and elegant white wines! On the way you will admire superb Renaissance private châteaux such as château de Valmer (remarkable for its Italian and vegetable gardens), and the beautiful château de Jallanges as well. And don't hesitate to stop for a visit at a local wine producer to sample a glass of Vouvray wine!Day 4: Amboise and excursion to Chenonceaux (via Montlouis), 26 mi. (42 km)
After crossing through the Amboise forest, you will reach the famous chateau of Chenonceaux. Straddling the Cher River, this royal residence is an exceptional site not only because of the incredible architecture, but the richness of its art collection, the furniture and its decorations, and the incredible history it has. Chenonceau Castle has an exceptional museum collection of the Old Masters’ paintings: Murillo, Le Tintoret, Nicolas Poussin, Le Corrège, Rubens, Le Primatice, Van Loo, as well as an extremely rare selection of Flanders Tapestries from the 16th century.Optional: Canoe trip on the Cher River offering an extraordinary view of the Château of Chenonceau
Day 5: Chenonceaux - Cheverny (or Chitenay), 25 or 34 mi. (40 or 55 km)
You will ride along the peaceful Cher river banks to the medieval town of Montrichard, after which you enter the vineyards of Touraine via the Château de Fougères-sur-Bièvre, a small fortified castle which perfectly illustrates the local building arts of the 15th century. Your cycling day ends in Chitenay (in a charming rural inn) or in Cheverny, just around the famous château.Day 6: Excursion to Beauregard and Sologne area, 29 mi. (47 km)
An excursion offering the possibility to visit the Château of Beauregard famous for its Portrait Gallery. Then continue your excursion to the rich and mysterious ‘Sologne’ with magnificent landscapes: beautiful forests sheltering game, ponds at every crossroads and small private châteaux hidden behind their vineyards or groves.Day 7: Cheverny (or Chitenay) - Blois, 25 or 31 mi. (40 or 50 km)
During this last stage you will discover the famous sumptuously furnished Château of Cheverny before reaching the prestigious Château of Chambord, a real masterpiece of French Renaissance period with its 440 rooms, built during the reign of Francis the 1st.Day 8: Departure
Chateaux package can be booked, see pricing:
- Domaine de Chambord (château and gardens)
- Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire (château and Garden festival)
- Château de Cheverny and "The Secrets of Marlinspike Hall" exhibition
- Park Leonardo de Vinci in Amboise
- Château de Chenonceaux
- Château de Valmer (including one wine tasting)
- Wine tasting of Cheverny AOC wines in Cheverny
View all our featured bike trips, specials, and news along with 100s of other bike tours in Europe.
Day 1: Arrival in Blois
Day 2: Blois - Amboise, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 3: Amboise and Excursion to Chenonceaux, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 4: Chenonceaux - Cheverny (or Chitenay), 25 or 31 mi. (40 or 50 km)
Day 5: Cheverny (or Chitenay) - Blois, 25 or 31 mi. (40 or 50 km)
Day 6: Departure from BloisDay 1: Arrival in Blois
Upon arrival in the old village of Blois, you will be enchanted with its typical paved streets punctuated with staircases. And of course the charming chateau, a perfect illustration of how French architecture evolved between the Middle Ages and the 17th century. After settling into your hotel, you'll go pick up bikes and accessories at the bike shop.Day 2: Blois - Amboise, 25 mi. (40 km)
Today's path guides you through the forest and vineyards of Mesland appellation until you reach the Chateau of Chaumont sur Loire, which proudly overlooks the Loire River. You cycle on to the beautiful town of Amboise. Here you can see the town's royal chateau where the greatest kings of France and Leonardo Da Vinci once lived.Day 3: Amboise - Chenonceaux (via Montlouis), 26 mi. (42 km)
This stage through the vineyards of Montlouis-sur-Loire will take you to the Cher valley and the famous chateau of Chenonceau straddling the Cher River. This was the scene of a famous rivalry in French history, that of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici. Enjoy a walk in the heart of the Diane de Poitiers‘s garden followed by the Catherine de Medici garden. Relax under the shadow of one of the huge park trees as the rhythm of the river reveals the story about these rival women.Day 4: Chenonceaux - Cheverny (or Chitenay), 25 or 34 mi. (40 or 55 km)
You will ride along the peaceful Cher river banks to the medieval town of Montrichard, after which you enter the vineyards of Touraine via the Château de Fougères-sur-Bièvre, a small fortified castle which perfectly illustrates the local building arts of the 15th century. Your cycling day ends in Chitenay (in a charming rural inn) or in Cheverny, just around the famous château.Day 5: Cheverny (or Chitenay) - Blois, 25 or 31 mi. (40 or 50 km)
During this last stage, you will discover the famous sumptuously furnished Château of Cheverny before reaching the prestigious Château of Chambord, a real masterpiece of French Renaissance period with its 440 rooms, built during the reign of Francis the 1st.Day 6: Departure
Departure from Blois following breakfast.Chateaux package can be booked, see pricing.
- Château de Chambord (château and gardens)
- Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire (château and Garden Festival)
- Château de Cheverny and "The Secrets of Marlinspike Hall" exhibition
- Château de Chenonceaux
- Wine tasting of Cheverny AOC wines in Cheverny
View all our featured bike trips, specials, and news along with 100s of other bike tours in Europe.
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Map
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Hotels & Bikes
Accommodations
Choose one of the following categories:
Standard category: 2 and 3 star
Superior category: 3 star
Deluxe category: 4 star
Bicycles
![Men's Scott Sub Sport 20]()
![Women's Scott Sub Sport 20]()
Standard Bike
Scott Sub Sport 20 women's or men's bike
- E-SUB Alloy frame
- Flat handlebar
- Water bottle cage
- 27 speed (Shimano Alivio or Altus)
- Flat pedal
- Shimano disc brakes
- Racktime with spring
- Front / Rear Axa Blue Line Lights
![Scott E-SUB Active]()
E-Bike
Moustache Lundi 27.1 (or similar)
- OPEN frame
- 9 or 10 speed transmission
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Accessories
Included accessories
- Counter (one per booking)
- One bottle (100% recyclable)
- Repair kit and life/visibility jacket
- Pump
- Lock
- Front pannier with map holder
- Rear rack and pannier (2 panniers on e-bike)
Supplemental accessories
- Child trailer (up to 5 years old)
- Maximum weight: 37kg
- Steel structure
- 2 seats with a security system
- Wheels: 20" quick release
- Waterproof polyester hood
- Anti-insect net
- Storage at the back
- Repair kit
- 'Follow-me' tandem (5 to 8 years old)
- Lock and life jacket
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Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation for 5 or 7 nights
- Breakfasts
- 27-speed standard touring bicycle (Scott Sub Sport 20) available in men’s and women’s frames. Please specify.
- Included accessories: One rear pannier, handlebar bag, lock, map holder, odometer, repair kit, and pump
- Luggage transfer (Allowance is one piece per guest weighing no more than 20 kg. Additional pieces will require a surcharge of €20/piece)
- Route information and maps (one set per room)
- Personalized navigation app
- 7-day hotline
What’s Not Included
- Individual arrival to Blois
- Lunches & dinners
- Drinks
- Entrance fees
- Helmets (free of charge, must be reserved in advance)
- Bike Protection
- Travel Insurance
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Dates & Pricing
Dates & Pricing
2025:
6 Day Tour: Daily between March 1 and October 31- 6 Day Tour Mar–Oct 20252025 departures: Daily between March 1 and October 31
2025 March Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 April Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 May Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 June Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 July Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 August Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 September Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 October Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Standard Accommodation Double occupancy € 830 Single occupancy € 1142 5 dinners (excl. drinks) € 211 Superior Accommodation Price Double occupancy € 960 Single occupancy € 1333 5 dinners (excl. drinks) € 248 Extra nights in Blois Price Double occupancy € 85 Single occupancy € 148 Deluxe Accommodation Price Double occupancy € 1260 Single occupancy € 1816 5 dinners (excl. drinks) € 290 Bike rentals Price Standard Gitane Included Scott Sub Sport, 20 inch € 21 Electric bike € 73 - 8 Day Tour
Standard Accommodation Double occupancy € 994 Single occupancy € 1383 7 dinners (excl. drinks) € 306 Superior Accommodation Price Double occupancy € 1269 Single occupancy € 1781 7 dinners (excl. drinks) € 353 Deluxe Accommodation Price Double occupancy € 1731 Single occupancy € 2515 7 dinners (excl. drinks) € 390 Bike rentals Price Standard Gitane Included Scott Sub Sport, 20 inch € 37 Electric bike € 116 - Extra Options
6 Day Tour Visit package Includes entrance to the following: Domaine de Chambord (Chateau + gardens), Château de Chenonceau, Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire (château + Garden Festival), 1 wine tasting of local wines Château de Cheverny + "The Secrets of Marlinspike Hall" exhibition€ 95 Canoe trip on the Loire € 32 Canoe trip on the Cher River (available June 1 to October) € 19 Extra piece of luggage € 22 8 Day Tour Price Visit package Includes entrance to the following: Domaine de Chambord (Chateau + gardens), Château de Chenonceau, Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire (château + Garden Festival), 1 wine tasting of local wines, 1 wine tasting in château in Vouvray area, Château de Cheverny + "The Secrets of Marlinspike Hall" exhibition, Park Leonardo Da Vinci in Amboise€ 122 Canoe trip on the Loire € 32 Canoe trip on the Cher River (available June 1 to October) € 19 Extra piece of luggage € 22 Extra nights in Blois - Standard Price Double occupancy July & August€ 71 Single occupancy July & August€ 134 Double occupancy All other months€ 64 Single occupancy All other months€ 122 Extra nights in Blois - Superior Price Double occupancy € 85 Single occupancy € 148 Extra nights in Blois - Deluxe Price Double occupancy € 95 Single occupancy € 169
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
- 6 Day Tour Mar–Oct 2025
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Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
This is an easy to moderate self-guided hotel tour that is predominantly flat but with some hilly terrain and average daily distances of about 28 miles a day. Some days can be shortened. Electric bicycles available upon request.
Airport Info
Closest international airport to your tour start is Paris Charles De Gaulle International Airport (CDG).
Local Travel
From the CDG airport:
From the TGV station, you can access train to St Pierre des Corps where you will transfer to an intercity train to Blois.
Train travel from/to Blois from the airport is approximately 2½ to 3½ hours depending on connections.
If you are arriving at another airport, please let us know and we can send you arrival information from Orly Airport, Beauvais Airport, or Tours airport.
From Paris Center:
From Paris Austerlitz station, you can take a train to Blois.
From Blois station by taxi to mooring location, cost is approximately €10.
Please note that TGV travel requires advance reservation. You can visit the SNCF website for more information and to book.Climate
Please check local conditions before arrival. Once Spring arrives in the Loire Valley, the days begin to get longer and the temperatures rise steadily to up around 68°F/20°C. You can have misty starts to the morning clearing away quickly to give very pleasant days and nights. There will be occasional days of rain but rarely for long periods. This is also a good time to visit as there are fewer tourists around! Late spring and into summer brings dependable weather with long dry spells with average daily temperatures around 75°/24°C. July temperatures peak as high as 82°/28°C dropping to 72°/22°C as September approaches. On average, there are 11 days of rainfall during this period. Perhaps not as warm as those in the far south of France, but a far more comfortable heat.
Recommended
Book the Chateaux Package which includes entrance fees to the mentioned sites. See day to day itinerary and pricing.
Remarks
Electric bicycles are available upon request. Tandem bicycles may also be available for this tour on request, based on availability.
Important to know
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
It is each traveler's responsibility to research travel requirements and to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, blank visa pages required for your destination (s), and any other requirement.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU citizens: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and the destination country.
EU-citizens: (without special situations like dual citizenship, main residence abroad or a limited-validity passport) are required to have a valid passport or ID-card, not expiring within six (6) months from the end of your tour.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.
Extra Stay
Extra night in Blois possible on request.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Loire Valley Travel.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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Photos
![Château de Chenonceau on the Cher River, Loire Valley, France. Wikimedia Commons:Ra-smit]()
![Sancerre Rosé Wine is grown in the Loire Valley. Creative Commons:THOR]()
![Fresh flowers for sale in France! Flickr:kewl]()
![Château d'Amboise and its gardens in Amboise, France. Flickr:benh LIEU SONG]()
![Château de Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France. Flickr:Guillaume Capron]()
![Loire Valley has many great local wines! Wikimedia Commons:agne27]()
![Château de Chambord in Chambord, France. Creative Commons:Arnaud Scherer]()
![Château de Cheverny in department Loir-et-Cher, France. Flickr:Benh LIEU SONG]()
![Château de Blois, the former home of several French kings. Flickr:@lain G]()
![Beautiful Amboise in ever-enchanting France! Flickr:@ lain G]()
![Sunflowers grow abundantly in France! Flickr:jeffrey42]()
![Château de Cheverny and gardens in the Loire Valley, France. Flickr:Vasse nicolas,antoine]()
![Silk screens in the park behind the The Château du Clos Lucé in Amboise, Loire Valley. CC:Zeist85]()
![Interior of Château de Cheverny, Loire Valley, France. Flickr:Benh LIEU SONG]()
![Château de Blois in Blois, France. Photo courtesy TO]()
![Château de Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France. ©TO]()
![Bridge in Blois, France. ©TO]()
![Bike rest in Chateau de Blois, France. ©TO]()
![Château de Blois. Flickr:@lain G]()
![Château de Cheverny, France. Flickr:Shadowgate]()
![Bike stop at Château Chambord. CC: Lieven Smits]()
![Château de Blois, the largest city in the Loire Valley. FlickrL@lain G]()
![Château de Cheverny in the Loire Valley, France. Flickr:Nabeel Hyatt]()
![Chateau du Clos Lucé, Amboise, France. Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years here. CC:Nadegevillain]()
![Stained glass windows at Chateau de Cheverny, France. Flickr:ho visto nina volare]()
![Gray roofs characterize the Loire Valley region . Blois, France. Flickr:@lain G]()
![Château d'Amboise in teh Indre-et-Loire department. CC:Vadim Kurland]()
![Rivers and chateaux to see in the Loire Valley. Flickr:@lain G]()
![Amboise along the Loire River, France. Flickr:Angelo Brathot]()
![Château d'Amboise along the Loire River in France. Flickr:Moto Itinerari]()
![Fine dining in Amboise, France. Flickr:Jay Cross]()
![Château d'Amboise along the Loire River in France. Flickr:@lain G]()
![Amboise, once the home of French royalty is now a quaint village in the Loire Valley, France. Flickr:Moto Itinerari]()
![Château d'Amboise in the Loire Valley, France. Flickr:@lain G]()
![Half-timbered architecture in Amboise, France. Flickr:@lain G]()
![Amboise along the Loire River in France. CC:Diliff]()
![View from Château d'Amboise, France. Flickr:Maria Nemes]()
![Town of Amboise, France. Flickr:@lain G]()
![Saumur along the Loire River in France. Flickr:@lain G]()
![Amboise was once where the French royal court resided. Flickr:Duane Huff]()
![Interior of the Château d'Amboise in France. Flickr:Maria Nemes]()
![Château de Chenonceau along the Cher River, Loire Valley, France. Flickr:Dennis Jarvis]()
![Château de Chenonceau along the Cher River, Loire Valley, France. Flickr:@lain G]()
![Château de Chenonceau along the Cher River, Loire Valley, France. CC:Tim Sackton]()
![Macarons are a favorite in France. Flickr:Julien Haler]()
![Château d'Amboise. Flickr:@lain G]()
![Château d'Amboise on the Loire River in France. Flickr:@lain G]()
![Grey roofs characteristic of Blois, France. Flickr:Nicolas Vollmer]()
![Loire River in Amboise, France. Flickr:@lain G]()
![Statue of Leonardo da Vinci in Amboise, France. Flickr:@lain G]()
![Place Michel Debre in Amboise, France. Flickr:@lain G]()
![Château de Chenonceau near Chenonceaux, Loire Valley, France. Creative Commons:YvanLastes]()
![Patisserie in France! Flickr:Annie Haradaviot]()
![Château de Chenonceau in the French Renaissance style. Creative Commons:Dennis Jarvis]()
![Cycling fuel at the Patisserie in France. Flickr:Jean-Louis Zimmermann]()
![Château on the Loire in Amboise, France. Flickr:@lain G]()
![Château de Chenonceau in Loire Valley, France. Flickr:Ploync]()
![Rose in Sologne, France. Flickr:JoyTek]()
![Parade de Masques at Château de Cheverny, Loire Valley, France. Flickr:Angelo Brathot]()
![Fine French cuisine! Unsplash:Big Dodzy]()
![Loire River, Amboise, France. Flickr:Nicolas Vollmer]()
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