Loire Valley Bike Tour
- Ride quiet rural roads to visit French architectural landmarks
- Relax at gracious castle-hotels
- Private tastings of local wines
- Renaissance, medieval and classical châteaux
- Experience fascinating French history where it actually unfolded
Call 800-462-2848, Every day 6am-6pm,PST
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A Journey Through France's Regal Touraine
Order and elegance shaped the Loire Valley. The castles are graceful - right out of a fairy tale. The manicured gardens are flawless - too perfect to believe. The landscape is idyllic - a rolling symphony of grapevines, fruit trees, fields and rivers. But this isn’t the whole story. Those châteaux have moats and imposing towers. Political intrigue is no stranger here. Nor is inspired ingenuity. Names like Joan of Arc. Charles VII. Leonardo da Vinci. Now it’s your turn to shape the Loire Valley. Your bike wheels spinning your own tale amid grand fortified estates, pocket-sized villages, sumptuous cuisine and delicious chenin blanc. As orderly and elegant or intriguing and ingenious as you like.
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
Day
1 Ride quiet rural roads to visit French architectural landmarks 
A sampling of Chenin's wine and local fare is the perfect way to begin our Loire Valley sojourn Warm up your legs on a pleasant spin through the castle-dotted landscape to Château de Rochecotte, a beautiful estate brimming with charm and baroque décor.
Day
2 Tastings of local vintages Pedal through vineyards and picturesque towns like Restigné, where you can stop to admire the medieval St.Martin de Restigne cathedral Discover Château de Gizeux, a historic monument dating back to the Middle Ages, and enjoy a picnic on the grounds.
Day
3 Relax at gracious castle-hotels A leisurely ride through fields, vineyards and forested Loire villages, leads to Azay-le-Rideau, set on the bank of the Indre River Visit the town’s Renaissance château, considered one of the most magnificent in France and beloved for its splendid period furnishings and elaborate tapestries.
Day
4 Delve into fascinating French history where it actually unfolded Wander through Clos Lucé, Leonardo da Vinci's last residence, and marvel at models and designs of some of his creations In Amboise, grab an outdoor table and sip a café on Rue Nationale, a prime people-watching spot.
Days
5-6 Renaissance, medieval and classical châteaux At magical Château de Chenonceau, spanning the Cher River, our local guide reveals the castle's past as we walk through richly appointed salons and vast galleries Pedal along rolling hills to Château de Nitray, built in the 15th and 16th centuries, where we're treated to a tour and typical French lunch An idyllic route takes you from Château de Chissay to the outdoor market in Montrichard.
Casual Inns
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 Dates & Prices tab.
Château de Rochecotte
Saint Patrice (2 nights) Formerly the private residence of a prince and duchess, this grand 18th-century estate sits adjacent to a 50-acre forest with a beautiful lake. (pool)
Château de la Bourdaisière
Montlouis-sur-Loire (1 night) King François I built this splendid castle, nestled on 140 acres, for his mistress in the 1500s. (pool, tennis)
Château de Chissay
Chissay-en-Touraine (2 nights) This former royal residence is surrounded by a park and forest. (pool)
Guest Reviews About This Trip
I appreciated the real back roads we traveled on and felt each day as if we were moving through postcards. Lovely.- Littleriver, CA
This trip exceeded my expectations! What an amazing group of people, we truly bonded as a group and hope to plan another trip together. Traveling on your own you never know the type of group that will form but I couldn't have asked for a nicer group of people. Backroads was great because it allowed me to just relax, sit back and enjoy the adventure.- Arlington, VA
I never want to take another non-Backroads vacation. I had an absolutely incredible time!- Gainesville, FL
Trip Dates & Prices
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
2015 CLASSIC DATES
May 2015
- 5/10 - 5/15 ( $3798 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
- 5/24 - 5/29 ( $3698 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
- 5/31 - 6/5 ( $3798 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
June 2015
- 6/7 - 6/12 ( $3798 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
- 6/14 - 6/19 ( $3698 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
- 6/21 - 6/26 ( $3698 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
- 6/28 - 7/3 ( $3898 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
July 2015
- 7/5 - 7/10 ( $3698 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
- 7/19 - 7/24 ( $3698 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
August 2015
- 8/2 - 8/7 ( $3698 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
- 8/23 - 8/28 ( $3498 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
- 8/30 - 9/4 ( $3498 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
September 2015
- 9/6 - 9/11 ( $3898 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
- 9/13 - 9/18 ( $3698 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
- 9/15 - 9/20 ( $3498 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
- 9/20 - 9/25 ( $3698 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
- 9/22 - 9/27 ( $3498 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
- 9/27 - 10/2 ( $3698 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
October 2015
- 10/4 - 10/9 ( $3498 per person, double occ., +$640 for single occ.
2015 SINGLES-SOLOS DATES
June 2015
- 6/23 - 6/28 ( $3498 per person, double occ., +$540 for single occ.
September 2015
- 9/1 - 9/6 ( $3698 per person, double occ., +$540 for single occ.
October 2015
- 10/6 - 10/11 ( $3498 per person, double occ., +$540 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 | 16* | 600 | 26 | 900 | ||||||
| 2 | 15* | 600 | 29 | 1100 | 43 | 1600 | ||||
| 3 | 15* | 800 | 29* | 1200 | 42 | 1700 | ||||
| 18* | 800 | |||||||||
| 4 | 18* | 100 | 30 | 700 | 43 | 1300 | ||||
| 5 | 15* | 500 | 25* | 500 | 34 | 900 | 50 | 1700 | ||
| 6 | 19 | 500 | ||||||||
* 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 $5,798 pp dbl. occ. | 8 - 9 guests from $4,298 pp dbl. occ. |
| 4 - 5 guests from $4,998 pp dbl. occ. | 10 - 11 guests from $3,798 pp dbl. occ. |
| 6 - 7 guests from $4,598 pp dbl. occ. | 12 or more guests from $3,498 pp dbl. occ. |
All Private Singles-Solos trips require a minimum of 16 guests.
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.
