6-day Loire Valley Cycling Holiday (Part 2)
Self-guided Orléans to Saumur bike tour
- Historical ancient towns from Medieval times
- The unique landscape of the ‘Pays des Châteaux’
- Get a taste of the prestigious ´Montlouis’ wines.
- Discover the so-called "Garden of France"
Start: Orléans Finish: Saumur
You individually travel to Orléans, the entrance/gateway to the heart of the famous Loire valley. Once it was a capital in the early French Middle Ages, but nowadays it’s a lively, modern town with a beautiful historic centre. An ideal place to start this route along Europe’s last wild river: the Loire.
Once in the country you soon reach the confluence of the Loiret and the Loire. A great part of the day you follow the high banks with beautiful views of the surrounding undulating countryside. Don’t miss the historic towns Meung-sur-Loire and Beaugency. These old towns and the modern power station of St. Laurent-des-Eaux very clearly show how important the Loire has always been. A wonderful, flat track takes you, in a very relaxed way, to the special and unique landscape of the world famous ‘Pays des Châteaux’.
Challenge: 63km / 39 mi, flat
From Blois you follow the southern bank of the Loire. Between rolling hills with vineyards you cycle to Cande-sur-Beuvron. Cycle back along the Beuvron to the majestic Loire. High on the bank is the elegant castle of Chaumont-sur-Loire surrounded by beautiful gardens. You are in the historic region Touraine. Visit a wine grower and taste a local ‘sauvignon blanc´. Enjoy the grandeur of the Château Amboise and Clos-Lucé where Leonardo da Vinci once stayed. There are some short climbs on the way.
Challenge: 42km / 26 mi, flat
Today you go to the wine region of the prestigious ´Montlouis’ wines. The ideal microclimate, close to where the Loire and Cher unite, produces grapes of a unique quality. Discover this yourself during a visit to a wine cellar or a lunchbreak. A fine track leads to Tours, the friendly capital of what is called ´the garden of France´. Continue along the beautiful southern bank of the Cher to the castle of Villandry, with its gorgeous gardens. Here, close by the modest Cher flows out in the broad Loire.
Challenge: 50km / 31 mi, flat
Via the ‘Bec du Cher’ along the Loire to the Château of Ussé. On the high bank you have beautiful views of the river and its islands full of water birds. The landscape is unspoiled where the Indre flows out in the Loire. Enjoying the magnificent panoramas you go on to the lovely Candes-St-Martin where the Vienne and Loire confluent. This is Anjou, known for its wines and troglodytes. Choose the track close to the Loire or follow the higher, more exciting but also more strenuous track across the vineyards. Both end at the castle of Saumur.
Challenge: 64km / 40mi, flat
Breakfast marks the end of the trip. Have you got some time left, then visit the horse town Saumur, the home base of the prestigious riding academy Cadre Noir where the elite of the French horsemen is trained. Enjoy the beautiful houses with their white tuff stone fronts in the centre. Admire the proud castle and all the other beautiful classified monuments. You travel back to Orléans by train. You can leave your rental bikes
All accommodations are carefully selected because of their location, atmosphere and/or unique services.
We choose comfortable 2*/3* hotels or B&Bs where all rooms have private en-suite bathroom and every morning breakfast are included.
For more comfort, when it's possible we can upgrade the hotels with 3/4 * category (supplement applied).
Right beside the town center and facing the celebrated Loire River, come and discover the 3-star Escale Oceania Orléans Hotel. A beautiful building made from hewn stone typical of the region, with modern and welcoming decoration.
A charming hotel located a few steps from The Royal Château of Blois.In the heart of the historic center, the Hotel Anne de Bretagne (with its ivy clad walls) is located a few steps from The Royal Château of Blois. The ideal location for your stay with elegantly decorated rooms.
Located in a quiet street in the centre of Amboise, Hotel Chaptal, with its architecture typical of the region, is an invitation to wander through the royal city, often referred to as the city of a thousand wonders. The Loire river is just 3 minutes away, Chateau d’Amboise and its wonderful gardens just 5 minutes away, Le Clos Lucé 10 minutes, and Chateau Gaillard a 15-minute walk.
Inn located 100 meters from the gardens and the castle of Villandry. In a family atmosphere, "Le Colombien" offers rooms furnished with rustic furniture from the region. The restaurant serves traditional and family cuisine, prepared in the Rabelaisian tradition.
The hotel is ideally located opposite the train station, on the right bank of the Loire, and a 10-minute walk from the city center. Welcoming, modern and warm, with a comfortable bed and a functional bathroom, our rooms offer everything you need for a pleasant stay.
All accommodations are carefully selected because of their location, atmosphere and/or unique services.
We choose comfortable 3* hotels or B&Bs where all rooms have private en-suite bathroom and every morning breakfast are included.
Treat yourself to a relaxing break in our hotel in Orléans. You will love the "urban" and cosy atmosphere in these double or twin rooms and you’ll love their view too. As they overlook Empreinte Hôtel's courtyard and the city roofs, they are a wonderfully quiet place to stay. Ideal for a romantic break.
A perfectly renovated hotel with a unique handcrafted decoration. Located in the heart of the city centre, our hotel in Bles allows you to reach the royal castle, the Saint-Louis cathedral and the Maison de la Magie in just a few minutes on foot.
At the feet of the Amboise Royal Castle, the Bellevue Hotel has an exceptional location in the heart of the historic center of the town. This offers you the opportunity to discover the castles of the Loire Valley and the rich heritage of Touraine. Also enjoy the “Lounge B.”, the hotel's wine bar and restaurant where you can relax in a casual atmosphere.
Here, at the confluence of the Cher and the Loire, on the route of the Loire à Vélo, Sylvain and his team offer you a fine gourmet stopover with a traditional restaurant, a brasserie, a bar, terraces and cosy rooms. The welcome is warm and sincere, simple and authentic.
Stay in a historic monument, admire the sunrise over the Loire, sleep in a room with Louis XVI decoration, relax in a jacuzzi while looking upon the Château of Saumur or even enjoy a gourmet and refined breakfast in a pleasant interior courtyard. The hotel Anne d’Anjou, The Originals Collection opens its doors to you for a stay you won’t forget!
Departure any day fo the week from April to October.
The international airports Paris Charles de Gaulle in the north and Paris Orly in the south are served by a large number of scheduled and low cost airlines.They are connected with Paris by metro and bus services. From Paris you can take a train to Nevers, see below.
From Paris to Nevers (approx. 2h30 - 240 km/80 mi). Acces to driving routes see the website ViaMichelin.
Parking informations on request
HYBRID RENTAL BIKE
SCOTT Sub Cross Men/Lady Alloy Frame, 24 Speed
The bikes come with pannier, handlebar bag, spare tube, tools, pump, helmet and lock
ELECTRIC BIKE RENTAL
SCOTT E-Sub
The bikes come with pannier, handebar bag, spare tube, tools, pump, helmet and lock
GPS tracks are available on request
Included
- 5 nights' accommodation with breakfast
- Luggage transfers
- Tourist city taxes
- Digital detailed route notes and maps in English
- Access to the trip in GUIBO, the digital guidebook and navigation App
- 24-hour telephone assistance
Not included
- Travel insurance
- Transport to first and from last accommodation
- Trains, busses or any transport wherever necessary
- Other Lunches & Dinners
- Personal expenses such as drinks, phone calls, additional transfers, etc
- Hybrid bike rental
Extras
- Single Room Supplement
- Solo Traveller Supplement
- Upgrade Supplement hotels 3/4
- Additional nights
- Transfer from the train station to your hotel
- Transfer back from your last accommodation
- Hybrid bike rental
- E-bike supplement
- Shipment of printed documents to the first accommodation
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6-day Loire Valley Cycling Holiday (Part 2)
Contact
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Edificio Sovega bajo, Crta General s/n
33554 Arenas de Cabrales
Asturias , Spaininfo@s-capetravel.eu
+34 (0) 985 846 455
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Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am – 6:00pm (CET)