Loire Valley Biking

Loire Valley Family Biking

Fun in France's Regal Touraine

There’s nothing to see in the Loire Valley. Nothing but fairy-tale castles in every shape and size. Imposing towers and pincushion spires. Flying buttresses and astonishingly flawless gardens. Nothing but fertile fields crisscrossed by gracefully meandering rivers. Easygoing routes for younger riders. And lots of pedaling options for the older crowd. Nothing but treats at patisseries, gourmet cuisine and exquisite wines. A visit to Leonardo da Vinci’s house and a fencing lesson just for kids. History comes to life. The Loire Valley - nothing short of the perfect family getaway.

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The Day-to-Day Itinerary

Day 1 Renaissance, medieval and classical châteaux Pedal to Vouvray, one of France’s oldest wine-growing regions  As you spin past peaceful woodland and picture-perfect villages, you’ll soon see why bicycling in the Loire Valley is such a delight.

Day 2 A hands-on visit to Leonardo da Vinci's home  Join a local Vouvray vintner for a private tour of the family’s centuries - old wine cave (it used to be a troglodyte dwelling!)  Walk through Clos Lucé, where da Vinci once lived, and marvel at models and designs of his creations  Adults can explore the lively town of Amboise while the youngsters let loose at an outdoor adventure park with options from trampolines to go-karts.

Days 3-4 Fence with an award-winning fencing master Travel back in time at the magical Château de Chenonceau, where a private guide shares fascinating stories of its richly appointed interiors and dazzling artwork Follow a peaceful route through vineyards and villages to the Château de Villandry, surrounded by some of France’s most exquisite gardens  Ride to the town of Saché and see the castle where Balzac wrote his acclaimed Comédie Humaine  Kids learn the importance of foibles and fortes, and wield épées under the watchful eye of world-class fencing maître Rudi van Oeveren.

Days 5-6 The royal treatment at gracious castle-hotels Spin through rolling hills and orchards to the riverside town of Azay-le-Rideau and explore its magnificent château Discover Ussé, the castle that inspired the author of Sleeping Beauty  Explore the town of Chinon and learn of its historical ties to Joan of Arc.

Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!

For our family, Backroads represents a wonderful safety net, letting us try new things and go new places with absolute confidence. We watched our kids make chocolates at a small village chocolatier, sampled a 1995 vintage wine from a local vintner, stayed at wonderful inns, and rode past scenes of incredible beauty. All without having to worry about buying a ticket, making a reservation, or getting lost. It was a wonderful experience.
Miner Raymond - McGregor, Texas More about this Trip All Guest Reviews

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Loire Valley Family Biking

Premiere Inns

Le Choiseul
Le Choiseul

Amboise (2 nights) An elegant 18th-century manor house set at the foot of the Amboise Castle ramparts alongside the Loire River. A Small Luxury Hotels of the World Member. (pool)

Domaine de la Tortiniere
Domaine de la Tortiniere

Montbazon (2 nights) We're welcomed by the gracious Olivereau family at this charming 19th-century château with impressive countryside views. (pool)    

Chateau de Marcay
Chateau de Marcay

Chinon (1 night) Turrets and secret passageways attest to the medieval origins of this impressive château, built on the ruins of an 11th-century fortress. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool)

Loire Valley Family Biking

Routes For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Biking Average Walking Average
1 2-3 hours 10-20 miles 2-5 miles
2 2-4 hours 21-30 miles 5-7 miles
3 3-5 hours 31-40 miles 7-9 miles
4 4-6 hours 41-55 miles 9-11 miles
5 5-7+ hours 56-75+ miles 11-13+ miles
Kid-Friendly Routes
The route options below are for adults and older kids with more biking experience who are up for longer rides or hikes. For all other kids (and adults who choose), we make it easy to do even less than the shortest option mentioned below, usually by taking a short lift in one of our support vehicles. We are here to make sure everyone has a great time so there's no need for you to worry about whether your child will be able to "keep up."

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • 16 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 1 to 4 3 Route Options Available
  • 15, 32, 43 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Levels 1 to 3 3 Route Options Available
  • 9, 20, 38 miles
  • 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Levels 2 to 4 3 Route Options Available
  • 24, 37, 52 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 5
  • Levels 1 to 4 3 Route Options Available
  • 14, 26, 43 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • 16 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Please note: On this Family Trip, our routes follow gentle terrain with no significant gain or loss in elevation. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.