Loire Valley cycling tour from Saumur to Tours, 100 kms. (B8)

Day 1: Saumur-Chinon, 30 kms.

Meet in Saumur.

We provide you with quality bicycle, detailed maps, complete flat tire set, and helmets, and mineral water for the whole tour, entrance tickets to tour the Loire Valley gardens of Villandry, vouchers for hotels and other services in the tour, itineraries, maps, emergency phone numbers for assistance.

You are welcome to take a short ride for final bike adjustments.
For assistance during your tour, you may contact us 7 days a week on our emergency line.

From Saumur and its impressive castle overlooking the Loire River, this stage takes you along little country roads to Chinon.

In Montsoreau, admire its Chateau made famous by Alexandre Dumas.

Candes Saint Martin, one of the most beautiful villages in France, where the Vienne river meets the Loire.

Arrival in Chinon.
Check in at 3* hotel, in the medieval quarter of Chinon.
Dinner at leisure upon our recommendation.

Day 2: A day around Chinon.

Enjoy your day in Chinon for wine tasting and cycle through the vineyards, asparagus and strawberry fields, apple and peach orchards and understand why the French nickname the Loire Valley “the Garden of France”.

We will recommend you two local producers in two different areas in the vineyard: Cravant les Coteaux and Ligré.

You can take advantage of your free time to head to lovely Château de Marcay (hotel), tour of “la Devinière”, François Rabelais house or the Abbaye Royale (royal abbey) of Fontevraud, founded in 1099, masterpiece of Romanesque art which houses the tombs of the Plantagenets (Henry II &Richard the Lion’s Heart).

Night at hotel.
Dinner at leisure upon our recommendation.

Day 3: Chinon-Langeais-Azay le rideau, 37 kms.

 

In this stage you will be in awe in front of Chateau of Ussé, by the Indre river. This chateau inspired Perrault to write “the Sleeping Beauty".

Then pedal to Langeais by the Loire river and see the spectacular and imposing medieval fortress, with its crenulations, machicolation, draw bridge… It is a good spot to bird watch and have a chance to identify some of the most endangered species in the world, such as sand martins, terns, king fishers, ospreys.

 

Finally head to your 3* hotel, in Azay le Rideau.
Dinner at the hotel.

Day 4: Azay le Rideau-Villandry-Tours, 33 kms.

Check out an ride to Tours,via Villandry.

 
Tour of one of the most spectacular gardens of Touraine, Chateau of Villandry. By its diversity and originality (Love Garden, Kitchen Garden, Aromatic and Medicine Plant Garden, Water Garden and the brand new Sun Garden) and by its size ( 15 acres, 1150 linden trees), Villandry is the Loire Valley garden not to be missed. Learn to speak the language of a medieval and Renaissance garden, discover the power of thyme and basil on your health.

Pedal into Tours on the former Cher river towpath.

Check-in at the 4* Hôtel in Tours.
Your hotel is set in a fashionable shopping area one kilometre from the Old Town. This hotel has been the most prestigious address in Tours since 1846. Many large personalities of the Europe and the New World stayed in this best hotel of Tours. In addition to its rich and historic past, as underlined by its celebrated portrait gallery, it offers all the comfort of a grand hotel established in the best traditions of hospitality and elegance “à la Française”.

Enjoy Tours by foot or bike.
Discover the area known as "Old Tours", pedestrian streets and numerous XVth and XVIth c. timber-framed houses, the famous place Plumereau, Charlemagne Tower, Saint-Martin collegiate church, and the new Saint-Martin Basilica.

Walk in the fabulous market on Tours, the largest food market in the Loire Valley. Open market on Wednesdays and Saturdays and covered market every day. Discover our wines, cheeses, our fruits, vegetables, local meat dishes (charcuterie) and fish.

Tours is the largest city in the Loire Valley and its capital city. Located in the heart of the region, it is the best base for sightseeing. Historically and architecturally speaking, it is one of the cradles of the French Renaissance. Discover the cathedral, the picturesque Place Plumereau and its medieval and Renaissance houses...

Dinner at leisure in Tours upon our recommendation.

Day 5: End of the tour.

Check out after breakfast.