Loire Valley canoe and cycling tour around Chenonceau, Amboise & Villandry, 111 kms. (B5)

Day 1:Biking Chissay-Bourré-Chissay, 16 kms.

Meet in your château-hotel, near Chenonceau and Amboise.
Check in, accommodation in a superior room.

The foundations of the Chateau are from the 12th century and the main Chateau was built under King Charles 7th.

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 châteaux of Chenonceau, Amboise, Chateau of Villandry gardens and la Cave des Roches, 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.

Grab your bike and warm up on a few miles along the Cher river to Bourré, near Montrichard.

Tour of Caves des Roches.
The Cave des Roches at Bourré is the only example in the world of the complete production of different varieties of mushroom at 50 meters underground. The farm covers 120 kilometers of galleries on seven levels. The old-fashioned cultivation methods, in a natural atmosphere at 13°C, produce a mushroom unrivalled in terms of flavor. Total production amounts to over 100 tons of mushrooms a year, entirely hand-picked.

Ride back to your hotel and relaxing moment by the pool.
Dinner at Château-hotel.

Day 2 : Canoeing Montrichard-Chenonceau-Civray, 12 kms.
Biking Civray- Chateau de Chissay, 12 kms.

Ride to Montrichard.

In Montrichard, board a canoe and let the current gently take you all the way down the Cher from Montrichard to Civray (app. 3 hours), with the best view ever on the most famous chateau in the Loire Valley; Chenonceau.
We highly recommend you to bring your picnic and have lunch on the left bank of the Cher, looking at the Chateau.

Keep on canoeing, pass under the bridge of the chateau.

After less than 1 hour, in Civray, grab your bike and pedal back to your hotel, stopping for a tour of Chenonceau.

 

Tour of the Chateau of Chenonceau.
The unique architecture of the Chateau makes it one of the most exquisite Chateaus of the Loire Valley. Chenonceau is related to important French Renaissance ladies and was offered by King Henry 2nd to his mistress Diane de Poitiers. See the black room of Louise de Lorraine, the gallery and the spectacular kitchens.

Relax in your hotel.
Dinner at leisure.

Day 3: Biking Chissay- Tours (via Amboise), 42 kms.

Check out.

Ride to Tours (app. 4 hours), stop in Amboise advised for a tour of the old medieval town and of the Royal Castle.

 

Tour of the Chateau of Amboise. The Chateau of Amboise was built in the 15th and 16th centuries. This authentic royal castle, introduces Italian style to the Loire Valley. Leonardo Da Vinci rests in the Chapel the Chateau. In the Saint-Hubert chapel, the tomb of Leonardo Da Vinci has recently been elegantly restored.

Arrival in Tours.

Check-in at the 4* hotel in Tours.
The hotel 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 in Tours, the largest food market in the Loire Valley, open market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. You will understand why we nickname our region “the garden of France” and 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.

Day 4: Tours-Chateau of Villandry, 34 km loop.

Ride to Villandry.

Tour of one of the most spectacular gardens of Touraine, 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.

Ride back to your hotel.

Dinner at leisure in Tours.

Day 5: End of the tour.