Loire by bike, Tours to Angers

Tours and Angers, Loire valley by bike

The Valley of the Kings has a unique heritage of unparalleled wealth in the world. Cycle along the Loire on Eurovélo 6 to admire unique panoramas along the river and discover the towns of Tours, Chinon and Saumur. Taste renowned wines and visit exceptional châteaux during this unforgettable cycling holiday.

Main areas of interest for a stay on the Loire by bike:

• Tours, Chinon and Saumur
• Fontevraud Abbey
• Chinon and Villandry castles
• Ussé castle
• Angers
• wine cellar visits and tastings

Day 1: Arrival in Tours

Installation at the hotel which is located near the old town of Tours.
Night in Tours hotel.

Day 2: From Tours to Chinon - 53 km

Walk along the Loire to the Savonnières caves, which you can visit. You will then discover the Château de Villandry and its Renaissance garden, built on 3 levels and unique in Europe. You can also access the architectural treasures of the Château d'Ussé, nicknamed Sleeping Beauty Castle. Your route takes you to Chinon admiring the exceptional panoramas along the river. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its royal fortress which overlooks the Vienne and stretches 500 meters in length from west to east.
Night in Chinon hotel.

Day 3: From Chinon to Saumur - 25 km

you go along the Loire towards Fontevraud. There you can visit the Royal Abbey which is the largest monastic complex in the West. The abbey, which was built in 1101, was used as a prison in the 19th century but it became a cultural center in 1975. Then direction Saumur and its castle.
Night in Saumur hotel.

Day 4: Saumur loop - 30 km

Here is a bicycle loop in the direction of Monsoreau. This circuit takes place on small roads with little traffic through the beautiful villages of the Loire Valley and inland. Cross the Loire village and troglodyte of Souzay-Champigny and take the opportunity to discover the castle of Montsoreau which overhangs the Loire and its museum of contemporary art.

Day 5: Circuit from Saumur to Angers and its fortress - 56 km

Cycle along the Loire Valley through typical villages to Angers, capital of the Dukes of Anjou, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover its castle, its gardens and its old town.
Night in Angers hotel.

Day 6: End of the tour after breakfast

Return by train to Tours.

General informations :

• 6 days and 5 nights
• Accommodation comfort level: 2 or 3 * (local standards)

The dates :

Can be done every day between April and October 2024.

Included :

• Free online tour
• 5 nights in hotels 
• 5 breakfasts 
• Luggage transportation
• Access to our hiking application Respire Voyages with day by day itineraries
• Assistance in case of breakdown (except flat tire).

Not included :

• Transport to the place of departure
• Personal expenses
• half board
• Visits other than those included in the program
• Tourist tax to be paid on site.

The options :

• VTC or VAE rental
• Additional night (s) at the start or end of the tour
• Bicy + Visit monuments: castle of Chinon
• Theft insurance for the rented bike
• cancellation insurance

Levels :

1 2 3 4 5 6

Ground :

Flat terrain. Eurovelo 6 cycle paths and shared lanes.

Weather :

Soft sun, little wind and pleasant temperatures.

Technicality :

- 25 to 65 km of hiking per day, or about 2 to 5 hours of cycling.
- Easy to follow route.

Bibliography :

- The Loire by bike - chamina guide
- The Loire by bike - Routard guide

Accommodation :

Accommodation in ** or *** hotels, with toilet and shower in the room.

Additional nights :

An additional night is offered to you at the start and end of the tour.

Meals :

- Breakfast: generous (coffee, tea, chocolate, milk, bread, butter, jam, orange juice)
- Lunches: not included
- Dinner: not included.

The bike :

- Rental bicycle : If you rent a bicycle (see our bicycles) it will be given to you at our rental company. A security deposit will be requested.

At the end of the circuit, you will have to leave this bike with the rental company indicated.

- Personal bike : We do not recommend bikes with small tires. Hybrid bikes and mountain bikes are excellent. Remember to check your bicycle before setting off.

At the end of the tour, you will need to take care of your own bicycle.

Assistance:

Assistance in the event of breakdown (except punctures for which we do not intervene).

Luggage :

They are transported by a courier or by our team and limited to one piece of luggage per person (max 20 kg).

Roadbook :

You will receive by mail a documentation with practical information, hotel and restaurant vouchers and luggage tags. Access to the application will be e-mailed to you a few days before departure.

Transportation:

- By train: TER or Intercités about 1h15 from Paris Austerlitz.
- By road: A10 motorway, then A701 E60 direction Orléans / Saran exit n ° 14.
- By plane: Loiret Orléans airport and taxi to the city center.

Your vehicle:

It is possible to reserve a parking space at the first hotel, payable locally.

Cancellation insurance :

In order to guarantee the reimbursement of costs in the event of cancellation of your stay, you can take out cancellation insurance. To learn more about insurance, click here.