from 9 am to 3.30 pm
65 km by step
4 hours and a half or so
step difference of the stage : ≤ 500 m
track types
track legends
env. 17 km/h
5 days cycling tour to discover the wines of the Loire valley
The Loire valley and its majestic river !
Expeirence a fantastic cycling trip full of unique moments and get to know an amazing cultural heritage along side the Loire river. During those 5 days you will cycle through picturesque villages built with the Tuffeau stone. You will ride on the banks of the Loire river, vineyards, troglodyte villages, abbeys, and castles such as Cheverny, Ussé, Chaumont …This cycling tour will take you to the history of France and its magnificient monuments. You will enter deep inside the terroir of this region famous for the beauty of its landscapes, its mild climate and its gastronomy.
The Loire Valley is the third wine region of France in terms of AOC, amongst the most famous ones are (Vouvray, Amboise, Chinon, Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil, Touraine, Saumur, Saumur Champigny …) The Loire valley has the longest wine route of France. During this cycling trip you will get the opportunity to taste the secrets of local grape varieties such as cabernet franc, chenin or cot
- Accomodation most of the time in 3 or 4 stars facilities.
- Selected accomodations are most of the time castle that produces their own wine allowing the visit of their cellar and taste their wines. Most of the time they are equipped wih a swiming pool so that you can relax after the cycling stage.
- Dinner is served at the castle, wines are included (a bottle for 3 people).
- Visit of wine estates, museums are also included.
- The rent of the bike (according to availability) normal bike or electric bike. You can also come with your own bike providing it is adapted for the trip.
- Support van carrying your luggages.
- French speaking guide with a diploma in cycling and wine studies.
Please note that this description is only an exemple and may change according to accodomation availability, dates )
Stage 1 : Beaugency-Amboise 70 km
We start from this nice little town situated on the right bank. It is a flat stage mainly in which we see a lot of castles. The second part of the stage is on the left bank a little bit more hilly as we come close to the vineyards and we enter into Amboise, this magnificent old royal town famous for its castle a,d its gastronomy.
Stage 2 : Amboise-Langeais 60 km
After taking a break where Leonard de Vinci lived his last years, we get on the bikes for a flat stage mainly following the Loire river. Before we arrive at Langeais, we have to opportunity to gaze at the castle of Villandry and its famous gardens.
Stage 3 : Langeais-Chinon 55 km
We take the cycling path following the left bank of the Loire for a few kilometers and then turn left heading the famous vineyards of Chinon. The first part of the stage is mainly flat but the second part has some hills to reach the fortress. Famous or its wines, Chinon outstands as well for its cultural heritage and its culture, the most famous one being Rabelais the French writter of Gargantua and Pantagruel.
Stage 4 : Chinon-Saumur 55 km
We leave Chinon and its fantastic cultural history and head towards another treasure of the Loire valley, Saumur !
This stage will deligtht you with its diversity of landscapes, the beauty of its monuments, the delicacy of its wines and gastronomy. After a few kilometers, we reach Candes-Saint-Martin the confluence of the Vienne and the Loire rivers. The second part of this stage gets a little bit hilly as we reach the vineyardsand the troglodyte villages. The last part of the stage is flat on the cycling path which follows the Loire
Stage 5 : Saumur Chalonnes-sur-Loire 65 km
This last stage makes us cross the department of Maine et Loire and as we cycle towards the ocean the Loire river becomes wider and wider. The fist part of the stage is flat but the second part becomes hilly as we approach the Layon and its famous sweet wines that we taste once arrived ! With those wonderful wines we end this amazing trip with our heads full of memories … !
