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Immerse yourself in the natural and architectural grandeur of the verdant Loire Valley
Discover the charm of the Loire Valley, where flat, scenic routes take you past riverside villages, historic castles, and renowned vineyards. Starting in Chinon, this cycling tour explores some of the region’s most famous châteaux, including Chambord with its unique staircase by Leonardo da Vinci, Chenonceau with its ballroom over the River Cher, and Ussé, said to inspire Sleeping Beauty’s castle.
Along the way, sample regional cuisine and fine wines, explore unique mushroom caves, and take in the spectacular Son-et-Lumière show at Château de Blois.
With breathtaking châteaux, exquisite food and wine, and scenic cycling routes, this journey through the Loire Valley promises to be truly unforgettable.
Highlights
- Château de Chambord
- Château de Chenonceau
- Fontevraud Abbey
- Château d’Ussé
- Château d’Amboise
- Villandry Gardens
- Château d’Azay-le-Rideau
- Château de Blois
- Indre Valley
- Château de Chaumont
Learn More
Not sure whether to book a guided or self-guided tour? Learn about the differences between guided and self-guided tours.
Interested in adding to your itinerary? Take a look at our cycling day tours in the Loire Valley. -
![Château De Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France. CC:Ra-smit]()
![Château de Villandry & Gardens, Villandry, France. Freysteinn G. Jonsson@Unsplash]()
![Château de Chambord, Loire Valley, France. Dorian Mongel@Unsplash]()
![Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, Loire Valley, France. CC:Jean-Christophe BENOIST]()
![Château de Cheverny, Loire Valley, France. CC:Christophe.Finot]()
![Vineyards along the Loire Valley. Bill Williams@Unsplash]()
![Loire Valley Chateaux & Gardens Bike Tour in France]()
![Château de Chenonceau & Gardens, Loire Valley, France. Shaun Rainer@Unsplash]()
![Macarons are a French favorite! Melanie Kreutz@Unsplash]()
![Château de Villandry & Gardens, Villandry, France. Maxwell Andrews@Unsplash]()
![Chinon Rosé wine is made locally. CC:Agne27]()
![Sunflower fields in the Loire Valley. Paul Green@Unsplash]()
![Rosé wines & French cheeses! Pauleinerhand@Unsplash]()
![Hot-air balloon ride over the Loire Valley, France. Damien Chaudet@Unsplash]()
![Château de Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France. AXP Photography@Unsplash]()
![Loire Valley, France. Dorian Mongel@Unsplash]()
![Château d'Amboise, Loire Valley, France. Stefan K@Unsplash]()
![Château de Chambord, Loire Valley, France. Dorian Mongel@Unsplash]()
![Wine tasting in the Loire Valley, of course! Jameson Fink@Flickr]()
![Château de Chambord, Loire Valley, France. Dorian Mongel@Unsplash]()
![Château de Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France. Yvan Lastes@Flickr]()
![French desserts. Jameson Fink@Flickr]()
![Château d'Amboise, Loire Valley, France. Angelo Brathot@Flickr]()
![Château de Chambord, Loire Valley, France. Dorian Mongel@Unsplash]()
![Loire Valley Chateaux & Gardens Bike Tour]()
![Château De Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France. AXP Photography@Unsplash]()
Traveler photos
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Daily program
Day 1: Arrival in Chinon
The tour begins in Chinon, a medieval town along the River Indre, famed for its striking château that once hosted Joan of Arc as she met Charles VII to persuade him to reclaim his throne. It’s a perfect opportunity to explore one of France’s most iconic historic landmarks.Day 2: Chinon loop ride (27 miles/43 km)
Today you'll cycle along the scenic banks of the River Vienne to the magnificent Royal Abbey of Fontevraud. This sprawling abbey, once home to many French queens, is best known as the burial site of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their son, Richard the Lionheart.From Fontevraud, the route descends to the Loire River, with a stop at La Champignonnière du Saut aux Loups. These limestone caves, with their natural temperature and humidity, have been used for centuries to cultivate mushrooms.
The path continues through the village of Montsoreau, crossing the River Indre, and following a dedicated cycle path back to Chinon.
Day 3: Chinon - Azay-le-Rideau (30 miles/48 km)
Leaving Chinon, cycle to the River Indre, where Château Ussé stands, a Renaissance château that inspired Charles Perrault’s Sleeping Beauty. This fairytale landmark has been continuously inhabited for centuries and is still owned by the same noble family today. The journey then leads to Villandry, where you may take time to visit the famous Michelin 3-star Renaissance gardens.From here, the ride passes through charming countryside to Azay-le-Rideau, home to one of the Loire Valley’s most picturesque châteaux. This château, set on an island in the Indre River, is a perfect example of early French Renaissance architecture.
Day 4: Azay-le-Rideau - Loches (37 miles/60 km)
In the morning, begin with a visit to Azay-le-Rideau. The little river Indre is dammed to surround the chateau on three sides and to create a beautiful lake and gardens.Leaving Azay, spend all day cycling along the Indre Valley, acclaimed as the most beautiful landscape of all the rivers of the Loire Valley. Cycle in quiet countryside as you make your way to Loches, home of the Royal City of Loches. Here you will find the site where Joan of Arc convinced the Crown Prince of Valois to claim his crown in Reims and drive the English from France. At just 17, Joan lifted the siege of Orléans and changed the course of French history, cementing her legacy as a national hero.
Day 5: Loches - Amboise (26 miles/42 km)
Departing from Loches, you'll cycle to Château de Chenonceau, spanning the River Cher. Known for its preserved interiors, highlights include Louise de Lorraine’s somber mourning room and Catherine de Medici’s ballroom. It also served as a hospital in WWI and later as a border crossing between Nazi-occupied France and Vichy France, with each end of the ballroom opening into different territories.From here, the journey continues along the Loire to Amboise, home to the Royal Château. Once a royal residence, the château is also the burial site of Leonardo da Vinci, who spent his final years at Clos Lucé nearby under the patronage of King Francis I. The town has a medieval center, largely pedestrianized, and full of bustle. There are a number of bars and cafes sitting directly beneath the huge chateau walls, and you've earned a sit-down and a glass of the local Touraine or Vouvray!
Day 6: Amboise - Blois (25 miles/41 km)
From Amboise, back roads lead to Château de Chaumont, one of the region’s most fascinating sites. After the death of Henry II, his wife, Catherine de Medici, evicted the King’s mistress, Diane de Poitiers, from Chenonceau and offered her Chaumont as compensation. The château features impressive grounds with ancient trees and hosts the renowned International Garden Festival.The route continues upstream along the Loire à Vélo cycle path to Candé-sur-Beuvron, where a stop at Vignoble Tévenot, an award-winning vineyard in the Cheverny Appellation, offers the chance to sample exceptional wines. From there, you'll head to Blois, where the evening features the spectacular Son et Lumière show at Blois Château.
Day 7: Blois loop ride (30 miles/49 km)
Today’s ride offers stunning scenery as you follow the Loire à Vélo cycle path upstream along the Loire River before crossing to visit Chambord, the largest château in the Loire Valley.Chambord is set within a vast hunting park, enclosed by Europe’s longest wall, spanning 34 kilometers. Commissioned by King François I as a symbol of his power, the château features 365 chimneys, an impressive roof terrace, and the renowned double-helix staircase, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.
Spend the evening in Blois exploring its illuminated historic streets and enjoying local cuisine.
Day 8: Departure
The tour ends today. Transport will be arranged to Blois-Chambord train station, where connections to Paris provide a mid-morning departure, arriving in Paris before noon and in London by mid-afternoon. -
Accommodation
Hotels
These are sample hotels and may vary by availability.
Hotels have been personally selected by the tour operator based on long-standing relationships and local charm and ambience.
Chinon: Hotel de France
Azay-le-Rideau: Hotel des Chateaux
Loches: Hotel Georges Sand
Amboise: Hotel le Vinci
Blois: Hôtel Blois Château
Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.
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Dates & Prices
Questions about pricing or options? Call +1-215-613-0874 to talk to a Tour Advisor now.
Jun 28, Jul 26
- Tour package 2025 Jun 28, Jul 26 from $ 22102025 departures: Jun 28, Jul 26
2025 June Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 July Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Tour package Double occupancy $ 2210 Single occupancy $ 2680 Bike rental Price Standard touring bike Included Electrically-assisted bike $ 190 Transfers Price Arrival transfer from St Pierre Des Corps station$ 25
Included services
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts and evening meals (dinners)
- Luggage transfers each day
- Tour guide
- Emergency contact number
- Bike rental, including fitting and setup
- Basic bicycle repair kit and equipment
- Waterproof jacket and Chain gang cycling jersey
- Comprehensive route book, route notes, and maps
- Tour package 2025 Jun 28, Jul 26 from $ 2210
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Map
Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.
Surface and terrain
The terrain for this tour is relatively flat, with average daily distances of 30 miles. You will cycle on quiet country roads for the most part.
How to get there
Tour start
Nearest airport: Tours, France
Nearest train station: St Pierre Des Corps, FranceTour end
Nearest airport: Tours, France
Nearest train station: Blois, FranceMost participants prefer to travel from London or Paris via the TGV or high speed train.
Optional Transfers
You have the option to book a transfer from St Pierre Des Corps station to the start hotel (see pricing for details). On departure, the Blois train station is less than 200m from the hotel so it is recommended that you walk.Tips on getting to and from your tour.
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Reviews
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★★★★★ Cindy Kinney November 8, 2022
Great way to discover France
We had a knowledgeable guide that helped us experience the beauty of France. We enjoyed the food, wine and people. Great biking and a wonderful adventure.
The gardens were amazing and the history of the area was fascinating.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Becky Foster October 11, 2022
Loire Valley - Bike Trip you Want to Take!
This was a great choice for a bike trip! The roads are narrow and beautiful, but the drivers in France are incredibly patient. Each day we saw one or two chateaux. They are all quite different from one another, so I loved visiting every one! Our guide, Sam, was fantastic. He was personable and encouraged each of us in the way we needed. We upgraded to two chateaux and I would highly recommend doing that.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept/Oct 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Ellen Hatfield October 10, 2022
Great trip!
This trip was a great way to explore the Chateaus of the Loire Valley. The trip was over nice roads and was very scenic. We were a returning group with experienced riders, so we had a lot of fun and traveled at a good pace. Our guide, Sam Taylor, really made the trip. He was fun, engaged with us, knew his stuff and can change a tire at a remarkable pace. He is a fantastic guide.
The only thing I would recommend is having the chateau tours included in the tour price. It was a real hassle having to get tickets for a large group at the site. I guess I thought the tickets were included in the tour. We had someone from our group pay for the tickets, but then we had to do a money exchange everyday which was a pain.
I also thought some wine was included but we could get more if we wanted. We paid for- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Kathleen Cook October 5, 2022
Fantastic Trip
This trip was even better than expected. The riding was enjoyable. The routes were mostly flat and lightly traveled roads or bike paths. Our guide, Sam, was very knowledgeable and personable. Hotels and meals were great too. We upgraded two hotels. A+
- What was the date of your tour?
- September-October 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Lindynw July 15, 2019
A Wonderful Tour of the Loire Valley Chateaux
This tour exceeded our expectations. First we wish to extend a huge thank you to Bernard and Lydia for agreeing to guide this tour even though we were the only 2 people who signed up for it. That was most generous and gracious. Bernard is knowledgeable, funny, and very kind. His guide-in-training, Lydia, who accompanied us added an extra amount of fun and was very willing to help with French translations. We feel very fortunate to have been on her first tour and know she will succeed in her future guided trips. Although our group was small we immensely enjoyed the hotels, the wonderful food and wine, the picnics, and the chateau visits. We were sad to have the trip come to an end. We highly recommend this trip and feel it is the best way to experience the chateaux of the Loire Valley.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 29, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Tonzo June 9, 2019
The Loire Valley Chateau and Garden Tour
What a wonderful experience and a lovey biking trip. So enjoyed our guide Bernard and his vast knowledge of the area. The accommodations were excellent and the food was great. What more can I say other than my husband and I had a great time.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 18-25
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Rob4056 June 6, 2019
Just right!
A wonderful combination of sights, food, friends and fun! Bernard was the consummate host, helping us through the markets to buy group picnic lunches that everyone loved, finding routes that were uncrowded with traffic and scenic, answering all questions and smoothing out any bumps with a smile. The hotels were just right - comfortable and not too fancy given that we were only there to sleep. Bikes and equipment (rain gear, panniers, etc.) were excellent, and Bernard had the skills and carried the tools necessary to fix anything that wasn’t quite right. And the chateaus were stunning, as were the countryside and small villages along the way. May was a perfect time - dealing with summer crowds and heat would have been less fun. Occasionally we felt a bit rushed going through a large chateau, but we saw the highlights, and there were always many more things waiting for us down the road - like the small winery where the owner explained her many challenges and the cave which grows amazing mushrooms. And every day was capped off by a wonderful dinner, good wine and great conversation. Thank you Bernard and tour organizers for a wonderful trip!
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ JaneN June 5, 2019
The Perfect Bike Tour
There was no guided Loire Valley Chateaux and Gardens Tour scheduled by the local tour operator in May 2019, which is when our group wanted to go. We asked, and the tour operator was happy to add our requested week since we were a group of 8.
In summary, the tour and guide exceeded our expectations and hopes.
May is a fabulous time to do this tour. The high temperatures were generally in the mid-60s (about 18 degrees C), perfect for riding, there were only a couple of times when we had very light rain for a couple of hours. The wild flowers and garden flowers are in full bloom and everything else is fresh and green as it is in mid-spring. This was prior to the start of the heavy tourist season, so traffic is lighter than in July and August.
Our tour guide was wonderful. He gladly accommodated a couple of special needs. He focused on giving us a local experience in the accommodations, food, sightseeing, and bike paths we never would have found on our own. While we were frequently on roads where cars could go, these were roads used mostly by local farmers or workers and there was almost no traffic. Frequently we were on bike/pedestrian only paths. Almost of the surfaces were paved and the few packed dirt paths easy for bicycles. Bernard gave us loads of information about the villages and sights we saw, the local history, and what is going on in the Loire Valley today.
The accommodations are very nice in that you stay in small 2- or 3-star hotels with character and charm run by independent owners. Breakfast was always varied and hearty enough for a good start to the day. Dinners were very good at selected restaurants that highlighted the wonderful and varied local cuisine. We frequently did picnics for lunch (not included in the tour cost), which is what our group preferred, and our guide steered us to local products which were fresh and excellent.
The bikes were in great condition, and we had confidence that our tour guide could readily fix anything that might go wrong along the way.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 18-25 May 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Rosie1633 June 1, 2019
Fabulous tour!
We thoroughly enjoyed our Loire Valley bike trip! We could not have had a better guide! He was attentive, incredibly knowledgeable, kind and funny. He even stopped to help another cyclist along the way who had a broken spoke. There was just the right amount of cycling, touring and eating. Our group is already making plans to do another trip next year in Europe.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 18-26, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my first
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Cornelia July 22, 2018
Absolutely wonderful trip with a tour guide extraordinaire!
I base most of my "Excellent" ratings on our guide, Bernard Dugdale, from The Chain Gang Tour Company via Bike Tours. He provided an excellent and problem-free bike trip for all 13 people on this Loire Valley Tour. He even pulled a rabbit out of a hat and secured train tickets for us while there was a train strike in France. He made sure everyone's bike "fit" them and was comfortable in every way. He was fluent in French, a lot of fun, and seemed to have his finger on the "pulse" of what was going on with each and everyone of us and made sure we were all looked after, whether ordering in a restaurant or having a minor difficulty with our bike. The castles were stunning and scenery beautiful. A+
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 30-July 6, 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Arti July 22, 2018
Everything expected
Could not have duplicated the selection of hotels, restaurants, company, explanations, detailed trails, cultural explanations.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 6/30/2018 to 7/7/2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 0
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Jack Luther December 12, 2017
Slow and Easy Cycling the Loire Valley
In the fall of 2016 my wife and I went on this adventure. This was our second Bike Tours vacation and again it exceeded our expectation in every way. Each day we enjoyed beautiful scenery and toured amazing chateaux followed by an evening relaxing with exceptional wines and cuisine in small French villages. As always the trip ended all too soon but the video I made and posted here helps us relive one of our best vacations ever.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- Three with Bike Tours. com
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
Video: Cycling in the Loire Valley
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BikeTours.com staff reply from Brittany December 13, 2017
Jack, we're so glad to hear that you and your wife had such a great time on tour! Your video puts me in the valley immediately. We hope to help you with your next tour and thanks for taking the time to review.
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★★★★★ Coasters September 18, 2017
A glimpse of the Loire valley
A fabulous way to experience the countryside around the Loire valley. GPS maps made this trip very pleasurable
- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept 11-17
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Roadbiker August 9, 2017
Self guided Loire Valley Ride
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 23-29
- How many tours have you completed?
- First bike tour
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ travelprodtw October 18, 2016
Lovely week in the Loire Valley
The perfect time to go on this tour is shoulder season; would be much too hot in the summer months; especially since some hotels did not have A/C. The local operator had great bikes (Treks) but we did experience a wheel problem on day 1 which they were not quick enough to address (we were on a self-guided tour). It was as if they did not believe us when we reported the problem. We had to be insistent they address it on day two rather than them wanting to take care of the problem. In all it cost us about 3 hours delay the first day and 2 hours on Day 2; missed two chateau visits as a result Loved the unusual routing for the tour but since it was off the beaten bike path, could have used more precise directions and maps. It would help if they said something like "After 3.2 miles go right on the gravel road" instead of "then take A32 right" because there was not always a sign for "A32".
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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BikeTours.com staff reply from Lindsay Nash October 19, 2016
Hi, thanks very much for sharing your experience. We're glad you had a lovely week in the Loire Valley. It's truly a beautiful place.
We're sorry to hear of the trouble with the bikes, especially since you missed out on the chateaux visits. As an apology from us, we'd love to waive your booking fees on your next tour. Please just mention this next time you book!
Thank you again for sharing your experience, which we will share with the local operator as we continually work to improve our offerings and services.
Kind regards,
Lindsay
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