Loire Valley Cycle

Loire Valley Cycle Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Your trip begins today in Joue les Tours, France. After arriving in Paris, transfer independently via train to Tours (one hour) and then by taxi to the quiet suburb of Joue les Tours (20 minutes) where our first hotel is located.  Arrive in Joue les Tours by 5 p.m. for a bike fitting, followed by a group orientation dinner at our home for the night, the three-star Hotel Escurial.  Dinner included.

• Day 2

  Joue les Tours – Azay-le-Rideau. Passing through the Valley of the River Indre, we make several interesting stops en route to Azay-le-Rideau. We visit the beautiful gardens of Villandry, the last of the large châteaux built on the banks of the Loire during the Renaissance, and Saché, a place of refuge for the writer Balzac. Azay-le-Rideau is a 16th-century masterpiece, situated in an elegant waterside setting, and one of this region’s architectural gems. Cycling: 20 miles; Terrain: Predominantly flat. Breakfast and dinner included.
  
  Chateau of Azay le Rideau: Located on an island in the middle of the Indre River, the château was built between 1518 and 1523 during the reign of King François I. Rising up in the center of a romantic park, the château houses a lovely collection of Renaissance portraits and tapestries. 

• Day 3

  Azay-le-Rideau - Chinon. Today, we’ll ride to the town of Langeais to visit its striking 15th-century château where, in 1491, the arranged marriage of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany was celebrated. From Langeais, we follow our route through Usse, home of the fabulous white stone castle that inspired the great fairy tale writer, Perrault, to create Sleeping Beauty. Continuing on, we discover the vineyards and medieval attractions in Chinon, situated on the banks of the River Vienne. We’ll follow a long country road lined on both sides by endless rows of well-tended grapevines to our hotel for the evening. Cycling: 25 miles; Terrain: Predominantly flat; Breakfast, dinner included.
  
  Chinon: This historic old town, with its narrow streets and gabled houses, is famous for its feudal dungeon and most revered guest, Joan of Arc. The wine produced here has also contributed greatly to the town’s reputation!

• Day 4

  Chinon - St. Maure de Touraine. Cycle through rich, rolling pastureland along the Vienne River, with a stop in a local wine cellar to taste the famous red wines of Chinon, well appreciated by the controversial 16th-century satirist and local boy, Rabelais. Continue along the orchards and gardens at L’Ile-Bouchard and on to St. Maure-de-Touraine, famous for its 17th-century covered market hall and its excellent goat cheese. Cycling: 22 miles; Terrain: Combination of flat and some rolling hills. Breakfast, dinner included.

• Day 5

  St. Maure - Chissay en Touraine. Our bike ride today is a peaceful journey through picturesque countryside. Cycle past fields of sunflowers that have grown heavy under the summer sun, and cross the elegant Cher River before reaching the magnificent Château de Chenonceau. We spend two nights at the nearby Château de Chissay. Cycling: 36 miles; Terrain: Combination of flat and some rolling hills; Breakfast, dinner included.
  
  Chenonceau: This splendid château is built on a bridge that spans the Cher and 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 décor and preservation.

• Day 6

  Excursion to Amboise. Today we ride our bikes to the charming city of Amboise, where some of the most important French royalty lived and where the last home of Leonardo da Vinci, the Manoir du Clos-Lucé, is located. For those wanting a free day, you may opt to rest by the outdoor swimming pool at the Château de Chissay, shop, or explore the town independently. Cycling: 23 miles; Terrain: Combination of flat and some rolling hills. Breakfast, dinner included.
  
  Amboise: This imposing château, with fine Gothic architecture, overlooks the Loire River. Amboise is the settlement that Charles VII sought to beautify by patronizing great artists. A few hundred meters away is the Clos-Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last years of his life. A museum of his fabulous inventions is located on the premises.

• Day 7 

  Chissay en Touraine – Blois. We cycle past abbeys, picturesque lakes and the charming Château of Cheverny (famous for its abundance of period furniture and refined, authentic decor), before reaching our final destination of the trip, the fascinating town of Blois. Residence for the kings of France and their court throughout the 16th century, a stroll through Blois’ old quarter offers visitors constant reminders of eight centuries of French patrimonial rule. We turn in our bikes at the hotel this afternoon and enjoy our last evening of sumptuous French cuisine with our guides and newfound friends. Cycling: 37 miles; Terrain: Combination of flat and some rolling hills. Breakfast, dinner included.

• Day 8

  After breakfast, transfer independently from our hotel in Blois 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 no support vehicle for riders on this tour.

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.

Accommodations for seven nights in double rooms with private bath; meals as noted in the daily itinerary; bicycle; expert guide leadership; luggage transfers; most entrance fees; fact sheets/maps.

Airfare to Paris; transfer to Joue les Tours on Day 1 and from Blois on Day 8; lunches; alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages; gratuities; travel insurance; laundry expenses and items of a personal nature.

This trip is rated as 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 20-37 miles will greatly enhance your ability to fully enjoy all this adventure has to offer. Note: Although there is no vehicle support for riders on this trip, your 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 70s-80s 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 within 21 days of your initial trip deposit, 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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