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.
Day 1 Bike quiet rural roads to inspiring architectural landmarks | A sampling of Chinon's wine and local fare is the perfect way to begin our Loire Valley sojourn | Warm up your legs on a pleasant ride through the castle-dotted landscape to Château de Rochecotte, a beautiful estate brimming with charm and baroque décor.
Day 2 Sample superb local vintages | Pedal through vineyards and picturesque towns like Restigné, where you can stop to admire the medieval St-Martin de Restigné 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 | Savor an elegant dinner of local seasonal specialties.
Day 4 Delve into fascinating French history where it actually unfolded | 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 | In Amboise, choose an outdoor table and sip a café on Rue Nationale, a prime people-watching spot.
Days 5-6 Renaissance, medieval and classical châteaux are yours to discover | Cycle along rolling hills to Château de Chaumont, set among verdant lawns and meandering paths | Explore the castle's plush chambers and stunning collection of themed gardens | Opt for a final spin through the countryside or a leisurely morning at the hotel | 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.
France and the Loire Valley is an exhilarating experience and there may be no better way to indulge yourself than on a bicycle with Backroads guides and staff taking care of all of the details. I felt like a local but was treated as a special guest. The trip far exceeded my expectations and I bet it will yours, too!- Salt Lake City, UT
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
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.
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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)
King François I built this splendid castle, nestled on 140 acres, for his mistress in the 1500s. (pool)
A turreted castle nestled amid trees on a terraced slope overlooking the Loire River. (pool)
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 6 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Reviewed by 6 customers
Displaying reviews 1-6
Comments about Loire Valley Bike Tour:
France and the Loire Valley is an exhilarating experience and there may be no better way to indulge yourself than on a bicycle with Backroads guides and staff taking care of all of the details.
I felt like a local but was treated as a special guest. The trip far exceeded my expectations and I bet it will yours, too!
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by trav.AL.er.
Rolling hills and vineyards. . .
Images shared by trav.AL.er.
Landscapes of imposing chateaux . . .
Images shared by trav.AL.er.
Gorgeous gardens . . .
Images shared by trav.AL.er.
Enchanting French hospitality.
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Comments about Loire Valley Bike Tour:
I thought my trip leaders Florence and James were top notch. They put together a thoughtful itinerary, taking into account the abilities and interests of the group....and encouraged this rank amateur into enjoying biking a lot!
Comments about Loire Valley Bike Tour:
The Loire is a feast for the eyes and the stomach! Beautiful scenery and very yummy food. We had a wonderful group of people on this trip, everyone was ready to have fun. Despite the fact that there was an unexpected heat wave and I was hot as all get out, the trip leaders made the experience so dang fun, sweating to death was inconsequential. Honestly Ciara, Brian and James were so on top of things, making sure we all had water and cold drinks, making sure no one was over heating and always smiling — we all couldn't help but smile too. I cannot say enough about the three of them and the services Backroads provides.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Rachael: Spinner posing as cyclist
Cycle Chicks
Images shared by Rachael: Spinner posing as cyclist
First day
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Sunset in Amboise
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Comments about Loire Valley Bike Tour:
The planning preparation, guides, routes, activites and meals were all first class and exceeded our expectations.
Comments about Loire Valley Bike Tour:
The Loire Valley Bike Tour was outstanding - picturesque country roads with little traffic, historic chateaux, terrific food and wine, and wonderful guides.
This was the first Backroads trip for my wife and me. We'd previously done a bike trip in Vietnam with another outfit. That had real highs and lows - terrific scenery and friendly people, but heavy scary traffic, dirt y air (diesel exhaust and burning fields), and mediocre food. This was the < < perfect>> antidote.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Tim
Oh, the wine!
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Lunch at beginning trip
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We stayed here
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And the food!
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Comments about Loire Valley Bike Tour:
Guides were friendly and spoke beautiful English. Bikes were top notch and guides would spontaneously correct things if they thought it would improve your ride! Exercise level was just right- allowed me to eat all their wonderful food and not gain a pound!!
Displaying reviews 1-6
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.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
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.
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| 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 | 13* | 600 | 23 | 900 | ||||||
| 2 | 15* | 800 | 20* | 1000 | 29 | 1300 | 44 | 1500 | ||
| 3 | 15* | 800 | 22* | 1000 | 29* | 1200 | 44 | 1900 | ||
| 4 | 11* | 600 | 20* | 1000 | 32 | 1400 | 45 | 2000 | ||
| 5 | 17* | 800 | 25* | 1000 | 34 | 1200 | 49 | 1800 | ||
| 6 | 13 | 700 | ||||||||
Note:
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
Whether you prefer to bike every possible mile among the châteaux or linger in your favorite one admiring the art, our classic Loire trip is for you. We’ve crafted the itinerary so you can ride from hotel to hotel without ever getting in the Backroads van – unless you feel like it, in which case we have two at your service. Other companies have obligatory shuttles or long transfers during the day. We let you invest that time in riding and then sipping a glass of Vouvray.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Choose a Backroads Custom Titanium or Custom Electric Assist bike—both are included in your trip price. Maybe a Specialized carbon-fiber pro model is more your speed or go for double fun on a tandem. Our fleet is the best in active travel, so you don't have to roll the dice on this vital trip component. Learn why our titanium bikes are ideal for most riders. See the bike options for this trip.
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.
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.)
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.
Your ride comes equipped with a Garmin Edge Explore 1000, the best bike-touring GPS device on the market. This is a Backroads exclusive, and it's included with your bike in Loire Valley. 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.
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.
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.
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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 the selection of dates below for your group; some dates are only available for 16 or more guests while other dates are available for 8 or more guests. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.
Click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 8 OR MORE GUESTS 16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 16 OR MORE GUESTS RESERVED
Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date! i
Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
