Loire Valley Bike Tour

Storybook Chateaux & French Countryside

From $3,799 - $4,049 pp dbl. occ. | 6 days / 5 nights

(+$550 for sgl. occ.)

The Loire Valley—right out of a fairy tale. Graceful castles and flawless manicured gardens. An idyllic landscape made lush by the majestic water of the Loire River. A rolling symphony of vineyards, orchards, fields and rivers. Decadent cuisine and exquisite wines. Order and elegance have shaped the Loire Valley. Now it's your turn.

Highlights

Pedal through a landscape fit for kings and queens to explore Renaissance, medieval and classical châteaux
Relax at gracious castle-hotels, admire grand French architecture and experience the richness of life in the Loire
Taste unique wines from local vineyards and savor the gastronomic delights of one of France's most fertile regions
Experience fascinating French history and visit off-the-beaten-path villages like Candes-St-Martin and Montsoreau

France

Start/End St-Pierre-des-Corps

Itinerary

Days 1-2 Bike quiet rural roads to charming villages and inspiring architectural landmarks in an enchanting World Heritage landscape | Explore the exquisite grounds of Château de Chambord, the Loire's grandest castle | Cycle parts of the beautiful regional bike path network, La Loire à Vélo | Visit Cheverny, an inviting town with a magnificent hunting palace | Roll through a splendid forest and along the River Cher to Chenonceau for a tour of the noble home's richly appointed salons and vast galleries | Relax at gracious castle-hotels.

Day 3 Cycle along rolling hills to Château de Chaumont, set among verdant lawns and meandering paths | Explore the castle's plush chambers and impressive collection of themed gardens | Delve into fascinating French history where it actually unfolded | Discover Amboise, one of the region's loveliest and most historic towns | Choose an outdoor table and sip a café on Rue Nationale, a prime people-watching spot | Visit Leonardo da Vinci's former home, Clos Lucé, and be inspired by the artist's remarkable work on display in the property's museum.

Days 4-6 Embark on a leisurely ride through fields, vineyards and forested Loire villages from Château de Villandry, a 16th-century castle with stunning gardens | Bike along the River Loire and immerse yourself in the area's joie de vivre | Venture off the beaten path and back in time while pedaling through picturesque old-world villages like Montsoreau | Ride through cabernet franc vineyards and arrive in postcard-perfect Candes-St-Martin just in time for lunch | Share riverside paths with local cyclists en route to unique troglodyte hamlets and the town of Saumur, home to some of the region's finest wines | Pause at the water's edge for an aperitif at a lively guinguette (tavern) | Opt for a final spin through the countryside or a peaceful morning at the hotel.

Next: Dates & Prices

The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy.

Cancellation fees may vary based upon departure date. Please review the grid below:

Number of Days Prior to Trip Start	Cancellation Fees (per person)	Departure Dates

For information on our trip transfers see here.

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

Available
to Book i
Going
Fast i
Contact
Us i
Private Trip
– Reserved i

C Classic Dates

2019 May

5/26–5/31

2019 June

6/9–6/14

6/23–6/28

6/30–7/5

2019 July

7/28–8/2

2019 August

8/18–8/23

2019 September

9/1–9/6

9/15–9/20

9/22–9/27

View Private Dates

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. Call or email us to reserve your date.

2019 Private Trip Pricing

10 or more guests Guests: from $3,799 pp dbl occ
8-9 Guests: from $4,399 pp dbl occ
6-7 Guests: from $4,799 pp dbl occ
4-5 Guests: from $6,299 pp dbl occ
2-3 Guests: from $7,699 pp dbl occ

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date

2+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 2 or more guests
8+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 8 or more guests
12+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 12 or more guests
16+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 16 or more guests
Reserved

C Couples, Friends & Solos Tours

The sky’s the limit! Tell us what your dream trip would be and we'll make it happen! Whether you're looking for a honeymoon trip for 2, a 30-person family reunion or a 100-person corporate trip, we can do it all. A dedicated Custom Trip Consultant will work closely with you to bring your dreams to reality. Call us at 800-462-2848 to speak with your Custom Trip Consultant or click on the button below.

REQUEST YOUR CUSTOM TRIP NOW

Previous: Overview

Dates

C Couples, Friends & Solos Tours

2019
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep

View Scheduled Dates
Go Private
Go Custom

Prices

From $3,799 - $4,049 pp dbl. occ.
6 days / 5 nights

(+$550 for sgl. occ.)

Reviews

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Casual & Casual Plus Hotels*

Relais des Landes

Ouchamps (1 night)

Château de Pray

Amboise (2 nights)

* Casual Plus

Château Le Prieuré

Chênehutte-Trèves-Cunault (2 nights)

See Lodging Details

Activity Level

This trip is rated Levels 1-4

See Daily Route Options

What's Included

Services and equipment are included.

See how we include more

Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in Loire Valley

Find out What sets us apart

More On This Trip

View more photos

Watch videos

Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip

Reviews by Power Reviews ®

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Next: Lodging

Casual & Casual Plus Hotels*

Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the View Scheduled Dates or Private Dates tabs.

Relais des Landes

Ouchamps (1 night)

Once a 17th-century manor, this refined and sunny hotel maintains traditional French aesthetics with a modern touch. (pool)

Château de Pray

Amboise (2 nights)

* Casual Plus

A turreted castle nestled amid trees on a terraced slope overlooking the Loire River. (pool)

Château Le Prieuré

Chênehutte-Trèves-Cunault (2 nights)

Decadent French styling and sweeping views of the Loire River are highlights at this elegant castle-hotel.

Previous: Reviews

Next: Activity Level

This Trip Is Rated Levels 1-4

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 (drag to see full )

Day	EASYGOING				ACTIVE				AVID
Daily Route Options
	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	10	500
2	10*	600	25*	700	36	1200	51	1800
3	12*	400	21*	1000	35	1300	45	1700
4	15*	300	28*	800	36*	1000	44	1300
5	16*	600	21*	800	35	1400	45	1600
6	12	400

Note:

* Includes shuttle.

Learn more about how we determine our activity level and fully support a range of abilities and interests.

Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies and other external factors.

Previous: Lodging

Next: What's Included

Meals

All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners

Available Bike Options

The key to a stellar day’s ride is a bike that’s perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Read on for your available bike options for this trip.

Backroads Titanium Bikes (Included in your trip price)

Our custom-built titanium bikes are specially designed for you—and we offer different models for varied terrain so your bike is ideally suited to the region. Our custom-made bikes are included in your trip price.

Touring Bike (Included)

Performance Road Bike (Included)

Backroads Custom Electric-Assist Bike (Included in your trip price)

Wishing for a little extra assistance up those hills? Our custom Backroads Electric-Assist Bike lets you experience the thrill of exploring on two wheels while providing a boost when you want it. We've modified a selection of our great Titanium Bikes with the intuitive BionX "pedal-assist" system.

Backroads Custom Electric-Assist Bike (Included)

Cannondale Pro Carbon Upgrade ($400 rental fee) – Available 7/1/19

We’re excited to announce that beginning July 1, 2019, we’ll offer the new and much-anticipated Cannondale 2020 Synapse Hi-MOD pro carbon upgrade on Biking Trips in Europe, United States and Canada. Delivering phenomenal acceleration and handling in a light and powerful package, the Synapse is built for experienced cyclists, men and women alike, who are looking for a high-performance bike that doesn’t sacrifice comfort. The Synapse will be offered in a complete range of sizes; detailed bike specifications will be announced in February 2019.

Cannondale 2020 Synapse Hi-MOD

Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem ($0 rental fee)

Do you prefer to spin in tandem with your partner? You'll love the Co-Motion Periscope Torpedo tandem on your Backroads trip. You can upgrade to a Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem on your trip.

Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem (Upgrade)

Burley Kazoo trailer bike (Included in your trip price)

The Burley Kazoo trailer bike, for children up to 85 pounds, attaches to an adult bike with your child providing some of the pedal power for a real team effort! It's ideal for kids who may be comfortable pedaling around the neighborhood but aren't yet ready for bike touring.

Burley Cub trailer (Included)

Also Included

Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
Snacks and beverages between meals
Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
Park and other entry fees
Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
Select coach transfers
Baggage transfers and porterage

Previous: Activity Level

Next: Straight Talk

Next: Why Backroads

Get the Straight Talk about This Trip

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.

Previous: What's Included

Next: Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in Loire Valley

Everyone at Their Own Pace

We design and support our Loire Valley trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.

More Leaders to Support You

On our Loire Valley trips we have an extra leader supporting you along the road—for a total of three, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.

A Second Van When You Need It

Backroads is the only active travel company providing two support vans in Loire Valley—because we know it's essential to ensure a truly great travel experience. It doubles our ability to be there when you need us to offer hydration, lighten your load or give you a lift if it's time to take a break. Read more on why two vans make all the difference.

In Europe Since 1988

Backroads has been welcoming active travelers to Europe since before the Berlin Wall came down. Today it's virtually our second home. We know the perfect roads and trails, the most scenic valleys and hilltop towns, the hidden churches and gem-like museums, the up-and-coming vintners and celebrated chefs—and, of course, all the best places to stay.

The Best Leaders in Loire Valley

Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in Loire Valley, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.

Great Bikes Included

Our custom-designed titanium bikes are best in class. From avid cyclists to easygoing riders, we believe that everyone deserves a seriously great bike to match their riding style. Learn more about our bike fleet.

We Live in the Neighborhood

Our Trip Leaders in Loire Valley live in the area and are deeply engaged in their communities, giving them unique inside knowledge they're happy to share in making your experience that much richer. They'll introduce you to people, customs and parts of town you'd likely never encounter on your own—and teach you a few local phrases to help break the ice.

We Speak the Language

If we told you many companies' leaders can't actually speak the language where they lead trips, you'd say incroyable... ridicolo... không the tha thú. At Backroads, fluency in the local language is a given. Find out more on the best leader recruitment, training and development in the business. (And by the way, that was "unforgivable" in Vietnamese.)

We Know Where We're Going

Tom Hale has been keeping Backroads on track, with one eye on the horizon, since 1979. His passion for active travel, and for ensuring the highest-quality travel experience, is evident in every detail we add to make a guest's trip unforgettable—and the fact he's right there in the office, making it happen. To hear Tom describe his vision, watch our video.

Navigate Your Way in Loire Valley

Your ride comes equipped with a GPS device, preloaded with all the routes and route options for your trip. If you prefer to bring your own device, we also have downloadable GPS files and of course, our good old paper directions are always available. Read more on why our navigation options are the best.

Your Trip Will Run. Period.

Under our Book with Confidence policy, your Backroads trip will run even for one or two people (or a family of three or four), subject to a nominal extra fee. Or transfer to another trip, and we'll give you a credit. It's all part of our trademark commitment to treating guests with integrity, transparency and total accountability. Read all the details.

Quality You Can Measure

Since 1979, Backroads Founder and President Tom Hale has shown that staying #1 means constantly evaluating our performance using the best possible source of information: our guests. As we systematically analyze your feedback on our trip consultants, leaders, hotels, meals and on-trip activities, we never stop working to make a great company even better.

Previous: Straight Talk

Previous: What's Included

Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip

Backroads Photo Gallery

Guest Photo Gallery

Videos

Our Expert Leaders

The Backroads Experience

Why Biking Trips?

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.

Loire Valley Bike Tour