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Loire Valley Family Biking

Loire Valley Family Biking

Join Backroads for the royal family option - an active vacation in the Loire Valley, where magnificent châteaux sleep on the banks of slow-moving rivers, vineyards stretch alongside gently rolling sunflower fields and forested lanes invite exploration. Here, we've created a perfect trip to appeal to all members of the family. The routes are gentle, with shorter options available for the younger set, the restaurants are welcoming and every hotel has a swimming pool. Pedal through lush orchards and farmland amid fairy-tale castles. Your children will watch history come to life before their eyes while you revel in the grown-up pleasures of exquisite wines and gourmet cuisine.

Days 1-2 Amboise

Pedal to Vouvray, one of France's oldest wine-growing regions, where an idyllic landscape of vineyards and villages unfolds before you  Join vintner Daniel Jarry for a private tour of his family's centuries-old wine cave (it used to be a troglodyte dwelling!)  Walk through Clos Lucé, the final home of Leonardo da Vinci, and marvel at models of his creations  Adults can explore the lively town of Amboise while the younger set heads for an outdoor adventure park set in the trees.

Days 3-4 Montbazon

Visit the magical Château de Chenonceau, where a private guide shares fascinating details 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 that inspired the love stories of Honoré de Balzac  Kids learn the importance of foibles and fortes at an instructive fencing class.

Days 5-6 Chinon

Spin through rolling hills and orchards to the riverside town of Azay-le-Rideau and explore its magnificent château  Explore subterranean cave dwellings where peasants once lived and take time to wander through a petting zoo filled with farm animals  Discover Ussé, the castle that inspired the author of Sleeping Beauty  Explore the town of Chinon and its historical ties to Joan of Arc.

big map Loire Valley Family Biking

ROYAL RETREATS : Premiere Inns

Le Choiseul (2 nights): This elegant 18th-century manor house, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, features a swimming pool and Michelin-starred restaurant.

Domaine de la Tortiniere (2 nights): In addition to impressive views of the surrounding countryside, this charming 19th-century château offers a lavish dining room, heated pool and the gracious hospitality of the Olivereau family.      

Chateau de Marcay (1 night): Turrets and secret passageways attest to the medieval origins of this Relais & Châteaux-member hotel, with a sparkling pool, elegant rooms and exceptional dining.

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6

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.

Loire Valley Family Biking
Trips 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 Average Distance
    Biking Walking & Hiking
Level 1 2-3 hours 10-20 mile 2-5 miles
Level 2 2-4 hours 21-30 miles 5-7 miles
Level 3 3-5 hours 31-40 miles 7-9 miles
Level 4 4-6 hours 41-55 miles 9-11 miles
Level 5 5-7+ hours 56-75+ miles 11-13+ miles
2008 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
2009 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS

Reserve early for the best available price. Prices may change during the course of the year--if they do change, the best prices are available earlier. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.

Recommended Kids Ages

Minimum Ages:

Recommended minimum age for the trip: 9 years

General Info on Minimum Ages:

We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:

Please note that a trip may feature an activity with an older age requirement than the minimum age recommendation for the trip. Younger kids are still welcome on the trip and while they will not be able to participate in the activity, the leaders will suggest an alternate activity. For safety reasons, children under 7 may not ride their own bikes and are required to ride on a Piccolo or in a Burley. For certain destinations, children must be 9 or older to ride their own bikes.

Trip praise

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
It was an excellent trip with a great mix of fun, culture and activity. And everyone was super friendly and helpful. My kids especially loved it and said, "WE DIDN'T KNOW A TRIP LIKE THIS WAS POSSIBLE!"
Norman Weinstein - New York, NY
This trip was magical. What a fabulous way to experience the Loire. We have four children, ranging in age from five to seventeen, and everyone was completely, unequivocally happy. I smile just thinking of it.
Amy Golian - New Albany, OH