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.
- Fairy-tale castles
- Leonardo da Vinci's home
- Kids fence with an award-winning fencing master!
- A private tour of Château de Chenonceau
- Relax at gracious castle-hotels
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.
Adult Route Rating What's this?
- Premiere Inns: These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.
- Casual Inns: These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the area with such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.
- Deluxe Family Camping: We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.
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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.- McGregor, Texas More about this Trip All Guest Reviews
For 32 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the tour experts. To see all our biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning walking and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning multisport tours click here.
Loire Valley Family Biking
Premiere Inns
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
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
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