Loire Valley Family Bike Tour
- Pedal peaceful roads connecting fairy-tale castles
- Kids wield épées with a world-class fencing master!
- Visit the small château where Leonardo da Vinci once lived
- A private tour of Château de Chenonceau
- Relax at gracious castle-hotels
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.
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Read the Straight Talk
Straight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.Limited & Fixed Menus
On many nights, the gourmet restaurants where we dine offer specially prepared limited or fixed menus featuring a delicious selection of authentic regional cuisine. 
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Limited & Fixed Menus
On many nights, the gourmet restaurants where we dine offer specially prepared limited or fixed menus featuring a delicious selection of authentic regional cuisine.
Itinerary
Days
1-2 Discover medieval, Renaissance and classical châteaux 
As you spin past serene woodland and picture-perfect villages, you'll soon see why bicycling in the Loire Valley is such a delight Explore Chinon, a spellbinding town with historical ties to Joan of Arc Heart skip a beat? Not surprising - you're about to discover Ussé, the castle that inspired the author of Sleeping Beauty Ride through rolling hills and orchards to the riverside town of Azay-le-Rideau, home to a magnificent château.
Day
3 En garde! Kids learn the importance of foibles and fortes, and wield épées under the watchful eye of world-class fencing master Rudi van Oeveren Spin to the town of Saché and check out the castle where Balzac wrote his acclaimed Comédie Humaine A peaceful route through vineyards and villages leads to Château de Villandry, surrounded by some of France's most exquisite gardens.
Day
4 The royal treatment at gracious castle-hotels Travel back in time at magical Château de Chenonceau, where a private guide shares fascinating stories of its richly appointed interiors and dazzling artwork Kids get their own special tour of the mysterious black room, then discover their way out of a massive labyrinth.
Days
5-6 A hands-on visit to Leonardo da Vinci's home, Clos Lucé, where you'll marvel at models and designs of his creations Pedal to Vouvray, one of France's oldest wine-growing regions Join a local vintner for a private tour of the family's centuries-old wine cave Adults explore the lively town of Amboise, and kids are in for a treat at the Pagode de Chanteloup, where they can try medieval games and check out the unique Chinese-style architecture of the towering pagoda.
Premiere Inns
Château de Marçay
Chinon (1 night) Turrets and secret passageways attest to the medieval origins of this hotel, whose expansive gardens include grapevines used to produce 2,500 bottles of wine each year. (pool)
Domaine de la Tortinière
Montbazon (2 nights) We're welcomed by the gracious Olivereau family at this charming 19th-century château with gorgeous countryside views. (pool, tennis)
Le Choiseul
Amboise (2 nights) A collection of three beautiful 18th-century manor houses in a peaceful setting along the Loire River. A Small Luxury Hotels of the World member. (pool)
Guest Reviews 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
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!"- New York, NY
Everything was perfect. The leaders were great, the rides and activities were well planned, and the food and fellow guests made it so memorable. This was our second trip and it was spectacular. We will likely take at least one Backroads trip a year, and more if our schedule permits. The family trips are perfect for our family. The only sad part is seeing my daughter so sad to leave the new friends she has made at the end of the trip.- Glen Ridge, NJ
Trip Dates & Prices
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
2015 FAMILY DATES
June 2015
- 6/7 - 6/12 ( $4298 per person, double occ., +$700 for single occ.
- 6/14 - 6/19 ( $4098 per person, double occ., +$700 for single occ.
- 6/21 - 6/26 ( $4498 per person, double occ., +$700 for single occ.
- 6/28 - 7/3 ( $4498 per person, double occ., +$700 for single occ.
July 2015
- 7/5 - 7/10 ( $4098 per person, double occ., +$700 for single occ.
- 7/12 - 7/17 ( $4298 per person, double occ., +$700 for single occ.
- 7/19 - 7/24 ( $4298 per person, double occ., +$700 for single occ.
- 7/26 - 7/31 ( $4298 per person, double occ., +$700 for single occ.
August 2015
- 8/2 - 8/7 ( $4098 per person, double occ., +$700 for single occ.
- 8/9 - 8/14 ( $4398 per person, double occ., +$700 for single occ.
- 8/16 - 8/21 ( $4298 per person, double occ., +$700 for single occ.
- 8/23 - 8/28 ( $4398 per person, double occ., +$700 for single occ.
Don't see your ideal travel date? Call us at 800-462-2848 for Private Trip date availability.
This Trip Is Rated Level 1-4
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.
| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 17 | 400 | ||||||||
| 2 | 16* | 600 | 25* | 700 | 35* | 100 | 45 | 1200 | ||
| Kids: Ropes Course (1 Hour) | ||||||||||
| 3 | 13* | 500 | 22* | 800 | 36 | 1300 | 48 | 1500 | ||
| Kids: Fencing Lesson (2 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 4 | 17* | 500 | 28* | 1000 | 37 | 1400 | 47 | 1800 | ||
| 5 | 14* | 300 | 30 | 500 | 38 | 700 | 44 | 800 | ||
| Kids: Visit to Pagode de Chanteloup (2 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 6 | 13 | 200 | ||||||||
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.
* Includes a shuttle
Private Trips Options & Pricing
Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities.
You can pick from a large selection of dates for your group of 8 or more. Call us for date availability.
If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or if your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you.
Pricing for Private Trips (prices may vary based on departure date)
2015
| 2 - 3 guests from $7,498 pp dbl. occ. | 8 - 9 guests from $5,198 pp dbl. occ. |
| 4 - 5 guests from $6,298 pp dbl. occ. | 10 - 11 guests from $4,398 pp dbl. occ. |
| 6 - 7 guests from $5,598 pp dbl. occ. | 12 or more guests from $4,098 pp dbl. occ. |
Please note: Youth savings do not apply to Private Trips.
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For 35 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Loire Valley tour experts. See our award-winning Europe France biking tours, Europe France walking and hiking tours and Europe France multisport tours.
