Loire Valley Chateaux and Gardens Tour

Name: Loire Valley Chateaux and Gardens Tour
Brand: BikeTours.com
SKU: bt48x1244
Rating: 4.2 (17 reviews)

“A fabulous way to experience the Loire countryside.” —G.V.

★★★★★★4.8/5 (15)

7 nights | 32 miles/day
Guided from USD $ 2110
Bike tour in France

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Loire Valley Chateaux and Gardens Tour

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 spectacular staircase by Leonardo Da Vinci. We visit Chenonceau, once the home of Henry II's mistress, Diane of Poitiers, evicted by his widow, 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’ve got great food, interesting wines, and the path less trodden.
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Highlights
- Chateau Chambord, with a staircase designed by da Vinci
- Chenonceau, the former home of Henry II's mistress
- Montreuil Bellay, a walled village
- Chateau Breze, a wine-making estate
- The Royal Abbey at Fontevraud, once home to many French queens
- Chateau Usse
- Villandry and it's beautiful gardens
- The Indre Valley, with its charming villages
- A visit to a traditional distillery
- Mushroom caves at Bourre
- Chateau Cheverny, among vineyards and winemakers
- The last home of Leonardo da Vinci at Clos-Luce
Learn More

Not sure whether to book a guided or self-guided tour? Learn about the differences between guided and self-guided tours.
Traveler photos
Loire Valley Chateaux and Gardens Tour

Tour Description Daily Program
Daily program

Day 1: Arrival in Montreuil Bellay
You arrive at your hotel in Montreuil Bellay in the late afternoon. You'll have time to set your bikes up and go for a spin, but you may prefer to lounge by the pool and enjoy a cold pastis before dinner.

Montreuil Bellay is an interesting village, perched inside its wall, on top of a hill overlooking the river Thouet, about 15 Km south of Saumur. The village boasts a beautiful Château, which owns the hotel where you spend tonight.
Overnight in Montreuil Bellay

Day 2: Montreuil Bellay – Chinon (30 miles/48 km)
Between Montreuil Bellay and your first sight of the Loire lies the vineyard of Saumur-Champigny, rated by many as the finest red wines of the Loire Valley.

Your first stop is at Château Brézé, a wine-making estate, but most famous for its amazing underground château. Dating back to the 7th century, these troglodyte homes and villages are a feature of this area. The limestone is so easily worked that it was easier to carve out a new bedroom than to build one!

One of the reasons behind the underground Château at Brézé was to avoid the attention of invaders such as Vikings, and the whole château is geared toward defense, including the deepest dry moat in Europe. There are fascinating defensive structures here, but most interestingly, it was never attacked, let alone defeated.

Leaving Brézé, you make your way to the Royal Abbey at Fontevraud. This huge Abbey was traditionally the home of many French Queens and other royalty, but is most famous as the resting place of Henry II, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine and their son Richard the Lionheart.

After lunch in Fontevraud, cycle on tiny roads to an off-road track that follows the river Vienne into Chinon.

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.

Overnight in Chinon

Day 3: Chinon – Azay-le-Rideau (25 miles/40 km)
Today is fairly light cycling as you have a lot of château-action to fit in. Begin 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.

You leave the Vienne and continue your cycling tour back towards the Indre and the Loire. Overlooking the Indre is the first of the big-league château, Château Ussé, reputedly the inspiration for the castle in Sleeping Beauty.

Next on your list is Villandry, an unexceptional château, but with gardens that Michelin rate as a 3-star 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 chooses a theme and tells a story in flowers. Villandry is really something, and not to be missed.

Stay the night at Hotel des Chateaux, on the outskirts of Azay-le-Rideau.

Overnight in Azay-le-Rideau

Day 4: Azay-le-Rideau – Loches (35 miles/56 km)
In the morning, begin with a visit to one of the most beautiful Chateaux of the Loire, Azay-le-Rideau. The little river Indre is dammed to surround the Château on 3 sides and 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. Visit the Royal City tomorrow morning, just a stroll (okay, a steep stroll) away from tonight’s hotel, the George Sands.

Overnight in Loches.

Day 5: Loches – Montrichard (30 miles/48 km)
Today is a fabulous day. Begin at the Royal City, a short walk from the hotel.

The Royal City consists of a renaissance Château as well as an older 'Donjon', a traditional Keep-style, much older Château - used for much of its history as a prison.

Loches is where Joan of Arc gatecrashed the Crown Prince of Valois, directed him to go to Reims, be crowned the King of France, and 'boot the English out of France!'. Joan of Arc is a huge deal in France - probably their No. 1 national hero. She was a real figure, the stories of her relieving the siege of Orléans, and ordering Charles to become King are all true - and she was 17!

Leaving Loches and cycle along a tiny forest path and then quite roads to the Château of Chenonceau - the most visited of all the Loire Château.

Spanning the River Cher, and surrounded by ornamental gardens and man-made moats, this château is 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. 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.

Your hotel tonight is the Hotel Bellevue in Montrichard, a few kilometers upstream from Chenonceau, overlooking the Cher.

Overnight in Montrichard

Day 6: Montrichard – Chambord (35 miles/56 km)
A short ride beyond Montrichard are the fascinating mushroom caves of Bourré where Blue Foot, Shitake, Oyster, and Paris mushrooms grow. Mushroom mycelia need a stimulus to prompt growth. European mushrooms tend to need a light or heat stimulus, but the shitake mushroom from Japan grows naturally on trees and responds to earth tremors common in that neck of the woods. Earthquakes are simulated in the caves using the state-of-the-art device of slapping the bin-liner that contains the mushroom compost. Result? Lots of 'shrooms. You'll find this stop fascinating! Bring something warm for a visit of around an hour underground. As well as mushrooms, there are a few spectacular galleries where you can see fantastic sculptures of local village scenes through the ages carved from solid rock. If you’ve never seen a sheet of paper carved in limestone before, complete with curled up corners and the heads of the nails pinning it to a wooden notice board (also carved in limestone, complete with wood grain), then you’re in for a treat.

The end of today is a favorite part of the whole week, the enormous Château Chambord. This is by far the largest of all the Loire château and was originally built by Francois 1 as a hunting lodge. It lies inside a huge park contained by the largest wall in Europe, all 32 km of it. The château itself contains a famous double-helix staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci, where two people can ascend or descend at the same time without meeting.

Your hotel tonight is the Hotel St Florent, 10 km from the château in Mont-pres-Chambord.

Overnight in Chambord

Day 7: Chambord – Amboise (35 miles/56 km)
The Loire cycle path into Amboise features a few hills, so be prepared for this. However, before that, you'll taste the wines at Vignoble Tevenot, a very traditional family winemaker in Cellettes, just on the edge of the enormous forests that surround Chambord.

The final destination of your tour is Amboise, where the setting of the château overlooking the Loire is one of the most used images of the Loire valley.

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 château walls, and you've earned a sit-down and a glass of the local Touraine or Vouvray.

For anyone who hasn't visited Leonardo's place at the Clos-Lucé, it's well worth it. Many of the original furnishings are still in place, including the great man's bed, and there is a permanent exhibition of his inventions and writings including several exquisite scale models. There are touching examples of his philosophy, and wonderful models of inventions that worked, like an ingenious water pump. Definitely worth visiting.
Tonight's stay is at the Hotel Vinci and dinner is at the Lion d’Or.
Overnight in Amboise

Day 8: Departure
The most civilized finish to any of our tours. You're only 20 minutes from the TGV station at St Pierre des Corps, and if you booked the optional transfer, a gentle departure time of 10:30am gets us back into Paris for late morning, for travel to London and places onward.

Surface and terrain

This tour is relatively flat, and with average daily distances of 30 miles. You will cycle on quiet country roads for the most part.

Hotels

These are sample hotels and may vary by availability.

The accommodations on this tour are 2- and 3-star hotels. Hotels have been personally selected by the tour operator based on long-standing relationships and local charm and ambience.

Day 1: Relais du Bellay, Montreuil Bellay

Day 2: Hotel de France, Chinon

Day 3: Hotel des Chateaux, Azay-le-Rideau

Day 4: George Sand, Loches

Day 5: Hotel Bellevue, Montrichard

Day 6: Hotel St Florent, Chambord

Day 7: Hotel le Vinci, Amboise

Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.

How to get there

Tour start
Nearest airport: Tours, France
Nearest train station: Angers, France

Tour end
Nearest airport: Tours, France
Nearest train station: St. Pierre des Corps, France

Most participants prefer to travel from London or Paris via the TGV or high speed train.

Optional Transfers
For an extra cost, you can book various optional transfers to the tour start and back from the tour end. Transfers include, as necessary: Eurostar, TGV, and/or local transfers and are priced per person for the round-trip, which means it includes transfer to the tour start on day 1 and from the tour end on day 8.

Please take careful note of the train times below. Our local transfers are scheduled to meet these designated trains; if these train times are inconvenient, please contact us so that we can be sure of arranging appropriate transfers.

From London
If you book the 'From London' transfer, it includes both Eurostar and TGV tickets and local transfers. Please note, there is a change of trains in Lille Europe. Local transfers are from Angers station to the first hotel and from the last hotel to St Pierre Des Corps station.

Day 1
Depart London Pancras International: 10:57 am
Arrive Angers: 17:12 (5:12 pm)

Day 8
Depart St Pierre Des Corp: 11:01 am
Arrive London Pancras International: 16:03 (4:03 pm)

From Paris, Montparnasse
This transfer includes TGV tickets and local transfers. Local transfers are from Angers station to the first hotel and from the last hotel to St Pierre Des Corps station.

Day 1
Depart Paris Montparnasse: 15:52 (3:52 pm)
Arrive Angers: 17:25 (5:25 pm)

Day 8
Depart St Pierre Des Corps: 11:19 am
Arrive Paris Montparnasse: 12:24 pm

From Paris, Charles de Gaulle Airport
This transfer includes TGV tickets and local transfers. Local transfers are from Angers station to the first hotel and from the last hotel to St Pierre Des Corps station.

Day 1
Depart Charles de Gaulle: 14:48 (2:48 pm)
Arrive Angers: 17:12 (5:12 pm)

Day 8
Depart St Pierre Des Corps: 11:01 am
Arrive Charles de Gaulle: 12:39 pm

Local Transfers
Local transfers are from Angers station to the first hotel and from the last hotel to St Pierre des Corps station. Please note that the arrival and departure stations are different.

You can also book transfer round-trip from and to the Tours airport.

Tips on getting to and from your tour

Loire Valley Chateaux and Gardens Tour

Tour Photos Dates & Prices
Dates
Jun 17, Jul 15, Aug 19, 2023

Prices

Tour package

Per person, double occupancy US$2110
Single use room(1 person/1 room) US$2570
Bike Rentals

E-bike US$150
Transfer

From Angers train station and to Pierre des Corp train station, round-trip per person US$95
Tours airport, round-trip per person US$225
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
Bike rentals

Bikes available on this tour, and included in the tour cost (reserved in advance at the time of booking):
- Hybrid touring bikes, Trek FX 3, Shimano Nexave
Bikes available on this tour for an additional fee (reserved in advance at the time of booking):
- Electrically-assisted bikes*
*More about electrically-assisted bikes >

Bikes come equipped with:
- Helmets
- Waterproof jackets and cycling jersey
- Panniers
- Water bottle
- Basic repair kit
Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. If you bring your own pedals, be sure to bring your own shoes.

Helmets:
Helmets are available on this tour. However, we recommend that you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene purposes.

Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.

Tour Company
Loire Valley Chateaux and Gardens Tour

Daily program Route Map
Route Map

Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.

Loire Valley Chateaux and Gardens Tour

Dates & Prices Tour Reviews
Reviews

Write a review
- ★★★★★ Cindy Kinney 4 months ago
  
  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
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 5/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 5/5 Ease of navigation
  - 5/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
  - 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
- ★★★★★ Becky Foster 5 months ago
  
  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
  - 4/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 5/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 5/5 Ease of navigation
  - 5/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
  - 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
- ★★★★★ Ellen Hatfield 5 months ago
  
  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
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 4/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 5/5 Ease of navigation
  - 5/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
  - 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
- ★★★★★ Kathleen Cook 5 months ago
  
  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
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 5/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 5/5 Ease of navigation
  - 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
- ★★★★★ 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
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 3/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 5/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 3/5 Ease of navigation
  - 3/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 4/5 Route selection
  - 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
- ★★★★★ 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
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 3/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 3/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 4/5 Ease of navigation
  - 3/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
  - 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
- ★★★★★ 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
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 4/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 3/5 Ease of navigation
  - 3/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
  - 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
- ★★★★★ 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
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 5/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 5/5 Ease of navigation
  - 5/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
  - 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
- ★★★★★ 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
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 4/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 4/5 Ease of navigation
  - 4/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
  - 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
- ★★★★★ 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
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 4/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 5/5 Ease of navigation
  - 4/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
  - 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
- ★★★★★ 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
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 4/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 3/5 Hotels or boat
  - 4/5 Scenery
  - 3/5 Ease of navigation
  - 4/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
  - 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
- ★★★★★ 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
  - 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.
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 5/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 4/5 Ease of navigation
  - 5/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
- ★★★★★ 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
  - 4/5 Value
  - 4/5 Included meals
  - 4/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 4/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 2/5 Ease of navigation
  - 2/5 Tour documents
  - 3/5 Local tour company services
  - 2/5 Route selection
- ★★★★★ 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
  - 5/5 Value
  - 3/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 4/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 4/5 Ease of navigation
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
- ★★★★★ 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
  - 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
  - 3/5 Value
  - 3/5 Included meals
  - 4/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 5/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 1/5 Ease of navigation
  - 3/5 Tour documents
  - 3/5 Local tour company services
  - 4/5 Route selection
Loire Valley Chateaux and Gardens Tour

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