Sample Itinerary - subject to changes
Total length: 275 km (Possibility to shorten the itinerary by taking the train: day 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
Total vertical up: 1.240 m
Terrain: 91% tarmac, 9% unpaved
On this tour you cycle through the wonderful Loire Valley. This cycle trip is not very demanding, though sometimes there are some hilly sections. The daily stages are not very long – always about 50 kms – mostly in the lowlands. The itinerary is mainly on cycle paths or paved roads with little traffic.
Note: Due to organizational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during the holiday.
Along the way you may find temporary deviations (for example road works) which cannot be foreseen; in this case each rider can decide autonomously how to deal with these stretches.
Day 1: Arrival
Individual arrival in Orléans, homeland of Joan of Arc.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight in Orléans
Day 2: Orléans to St. Dyé
You pedal along the Loire alternating cycle paths with back roads. After a visit to the Cathedral of Clery St. André you arrive at the Chateau Dunois with the beautiful medieval center of Beaugency. A land full of water and culture will lead the way to the beautiful town of St. Dyé, an ancient river harbour.
Today’s ride will follow the shores of the Loire and after having traversed the beautiful city of Orléans you will continue along lovely cycle paths in the countryside and through small villages. The variety and the low traffic roads make it a very nice and easy trip with a lot of possibilities to enjoy your breaks.
Cycling 30-50 km (elevation gain: 40-80 m)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in St. Dyé or Beaugency
Day 3: St. Dyé to Blois
From the huge park surrounding Chambord Castle today’s trip continues at the border of the forest of Boulogne. On the other side of the Loire crowded with a wonderful bridge, you can already see the profile of Blois and its castle, the steeples of the abbey and the Cathedral of St. Louis standing out.
It is an exciting and very beautiful ride, with as only difficulty the unpaved roads, which however allow you to enjoy fully the peace and quiet and no traffic at all.
Cycling 30-50 km (elevation gain: 140-180 m)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Blois
Day 4: Blois to Amboise
After the visit of the city of Blois and its impressive castle, you pedal along the Loire river. Here you can visit the castle of Chaumont built on the top of a hill overlooking the river. In Amboise you cannot miss the house where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last years of his life.
The first part of the stage rides along the left side of the Loire. In the second part we leave the river towards some short climb in Chailles, Mosnes and near Amboise.
Cycling 45 km (elevation gain: 260 m)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Amboise
Day 5: Amboise to Tours
After crossing forest of Amboise you arrive in Chenonceaux, known as the castle of the three ladies. You continue along the river Cher up to the city of Tours. You may also decide to stop for a visit at the castle of Nitray with its famous wine cellars.
It is a most beautiful itinerary, varied and with as only difficulty the exit from the city of Amboise as far as the fork towards Chenonceaux: a straight stretch in the middle of the woods where cars speed up. In the morning some slopes are uphill to reach Chenonceaux, but afterwards you will have a flat ride. There is not a lot of traffic because you will be cycling along the Cher almost all the time on dirt roads. Only near Veretz you will finally find asphalted
roads and have to face the last slope uphill of the day (500m long).
Cycling 55 km (elevation gain: 290 m)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Tours
Day 6: Tours to Chinon
Pedalling between the Loire and the Cher rivers you arrive at Villandry Castle, well known for its gardens. Following the Loire river, you’ll reach the city Langeais where you can stop for a break. Before arriving in Chinon you will visit Ussé, where you can admire the castle of the Sleeping Beauty.
You continue cycling along the Loire - a more difficult stretch on a cobbled road for 500m - near the city of Langeais. In Château de Ussè you will face the only slopes of the day.
Cycling 60 km (elevation gain: 280 m)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Chinon
Day 7: Chinon to Saumur
The tour continues along country roads beyond the confluence of the rivers Loire and Vienne, where you’ll get to Savigny en Vèron and the wonderful village of Candes St-Martin. A few Kilometres away you’ll see the castle of Montsoreau from which you can enjoy the landscape over the Fontevraud Abbey. At the end of the stage you will visit Saumur, considered the “Pearl of Anjou”.
The first part of the cycle tour is on level roads and easy, always on quiet cycle tracks or small country roads. Past Candes St.Martin it becomes harder: several slopes, some of them very steep, alternated with level roads.
Cycling 35 km (elevation gain: 190 m)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Saumur
Day 8: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
Meals included: Breakfast
How to shorten the stages:
There is a good train service offering bicycle transport. This low cost option will allow you to reach the next city in the case of rain or bad weather, or if you prefer to visit a city at your own pace instead of cycling. Trains with bicycle compartments are all regional trains and are indicated with a bicycle symbol on the carriage and also on the timetables on display in the station.
For further information on timetables and prices you can consult
www.sncf.com.
All the towns of the tour are connected with the train.
If one day you don’t want to cycle, you can skip the stage by taking the train.
Please note that not every stage is served by a direct train connection. It could sometimes be necessary to make a train change.
If you want to shorten the itinerary by taking the train, you can do it every day except on day 7.
Day 2: Orléans - Beaugency / St. Dyé
For the clients who overnight in Beaugency, it is possible only to skip the entire stage by taking the train from Orléans to Beaugency. For the clients who overnight in St. Dyé, it is possible to shorten the stage from Orléans to Beaugency or to Mer.
Day 3: Beaugency / St. Dyé - Blois
For the clients who overnight in Beaugency, it is possible to shorten the stage from Beaugency to Mer. For the clients who overnight in St. Dyé, it is possible only to skip the stage by taking the train in Mer.
Day 4: Blois - Amboise
It is possible to shorten the stage from Blois to Onzain or from Onzain to Amboise.
Day 5: Amboise - Tours
It is possible to shorten the stage from Chenonceaux to Tours.
Day 6: Tours - Chinon
It is possible to shorten the stage from Tours to Langeais. If you make the variation to the castle of Azay Le Rideau, it is possible to shorten the stage from Tours to Azay Le Rideau or from Azay Le Rideau to Chinon.