Loire Valley Cycling – 6 day

Loire Valley Cycling – 6 day Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Your trip begins today in Blois, France. After arriving in Paris, transfer independently via train to Blois (two hours) and then by taxi an additional 2 km (3 minutes) to our hotel. We recommend you arrive early to explore beautiful Blois and its château, offering a perfect illustration of how French architecture evolved between the Middle Ages and the 17th century. Do arrive in Blois no later than 5 p.m. for a bike fitting, followed by a group orientation dinner at a delightful local restaurant in the city's historic center just a short walk from our hotel. Dinner included.

• Day 2

  Blois – Chambord – Cheverny – Chitenay. We begin straightaway with some of the Loire's most exceptional riding, a visit to the stunning Châteaux of Chambord and Cheverny, and end in lovely Chitenay. Crossing the Loire River, we follow quiet backroads and bike paths to the awe-inspiring Chambord estate, whose formidable medieval walls and towers surround the Loire's great jewel of French Renaissance architecture.  We'll explore the château and enjoy an outstanding picnic lunch on the lawn, then return to our bikes and set off through the forest on the estate's picturesque bridal paths leading out to the charming small community of Bracieux. From here, we ride on to the Château of Cheverny. Cheverny's gardens and superbly restored interiors are a must-see on our way to Chiteney, where we stop for the night at a charming small guesthouse. Breakfast and dinner included.
  
  Cycling: 31 miles with full van support; Terrain: Predominantly flat cycling paths.

• Day 3

  Chenonceau – Clos Luce – Amboise –Joue le Tours. Our day begins with a transfer by van (provided) to Chenonceau, the iconic château built on a bridge that spans the Cher river. Chenonceau is also known as the Château of the Three Ladies, referring to the three women – Katherine Briconnet, Diane de Poitiers (Henri II's mistress) and Catherine de Medici – who lived in the castle between 1513-1589 and greatly contributed to its opulent décor and preservation. From here, we return the protected bike path leading north through vineyard, field and forest to charming city of Amboise, where some of the most important French royalty lived and where the last home of Leonardo da Vinci, the Château du Clos Lucé, is located.  We'll visit Clos Luce and enjoy lunch on the banks of the Loire River with an outstanding view of the imposing Gothic Château d'Amboise. Leaving Amboise in the afternoon, we ride along the Loire River through the vineyards at Montlouis then continue on to Tours for drinks in the charming town center. We spend the night in Joue-le-Tours, just outside Tours. Breakfast, dinner included.
  
  Cycling: 29 miles (may include 33 mile option) with full van support; Terrain: Predominantly flat cycling paths.

• Day 4

  Joue-le-Tours – Villandry – Langeais – Azay-le-Rideau. Today we'll ride nothing but protected bike paths from Joue-le-Tours west along the Loire River, making several interesting stops en route to Azay-le-Rideau. We begin with a very special visit to the last of the great renaissance Châteaux, Villandry, whose fame is undoubtedly owed to the layers of immaculate terraced gardens surrounding it. From Villandry, we ride on to Langeais as we marvel at architectural reminders of the hazardous Middle Ages, when medieval fortresses were designed to be impregnable! From there, we follow our route through the valley of the River Indre to end the day's ride at Azay-le-Rideau, with a tour of its romantic château. Located on an island where it appears to float in the Indre River, the château houses a remarkable collection of Renaissance portraits and tapestries. Breakfast, dinner included.
  
  Cycling: 19 miles with full van support; Terrain: Exclusively dedicated cycling paths, mostly flat with some rolling hills.

• Day 5

  Azay-le-Rideau – Château d'Usse – Champigny – Saumur. Our day begins with a ride further west to rejoin the Loire River and Rigny-Ussé where the shining Château d'Usse still stands long after inspiring Perrault to pen the fairy tale "La Belle au Bois Dormant" (Sleeping Beauty) in 1696. We continue riding towards the confluence between the River la Vienne and Loire River to one of the most beautiful tiny villages of the Loire valley, Candes-Saint-Martin, where you can visit the magnificent 12th and 13th century collegiate church. Proceeding to the village of Montsoreau dominated by its château overlooking the Loire river, we ride on along troglodyte sites to the vineyards at Champigny for a late afternoon wine-tasting. Finally, we arrive in Saumur at the end of our tour. Enjoy a farewell dinner and a final night in the French countryside before turning in for the night. Breakfast, dinner included.
  
  Cycling: 36 miles with full van support; Terrain: Predominantly flat cycling paths.

• Day 6

  After breakfast, transfer independently from our hotel in Saumur to the local train station for a rail connection back to Paris and homeward bound flights. Breakfast included.

Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. From time to time, weather conditions or the interests of the group may provide an opportunity for the guides to change the route, or visit additional interesting sites such as a cheese factory or wine cellar. These changes are at the discretion of the guides. There is limited vehicle support for riders on this tour because vehicles cannot travel along the majority of our route. We ride most of the day each day on dedicated paved cycling paths.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted on the trip itinerary. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms available on most departures.

Trip price includes accommodations for five nights in double rooms with private bath, meals as noted in the daily itinerary, bicycle with panniers and handlebar bag and map holder, guide leadership, luggage transfers, full vehicle support when riding roads, most chateau and vineyard entrance fees, cue sheets/maps.

Airfare to Paris, transfer to Blois on Day 1 and from Saumur on Day 6, lunches, alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages, gratuities, travel insurance, laundry expenses and items of a personal nature.

This trip is rated Moderate [3] and novice cyclists are welcome. All participants should be comfortable riding a bike for approximately 4 hours per day and have a basic familiarity with shifting gears. The terrain in the Loire Valley is relatively flat; however we will sporadically encounter some gradually rolling hills. A regular conditioning program beginning at least 2-3 months prior to departure is recommended consisting of cycling (with some hill work), walking/running and a daily stretching regimen. Ensuring you are comfortable in the saddle for daily rides of 18-36 miles will greatly enhance your ability to fully enjoy all this adventure has to offer. There is full van support for riders on this trip and all luggage is transported from hotel to hotel each day.

The climate in the Loire Valley is temperate and ideal for cycling, with few extremes during summer months. Daytime temperatures generally hover in the 70-80° F range with evenings dropping into the 60s. Although this region of France typically records the lowest amount of annual rainfall, some showers are a possibility during any month of the year making adequate raingear a necessity.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

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