Loire by bike, Tours to Nantes

Loire by bike, between Tours and Nantes

The Loire by bike is an exceptional route for many reasons. Accessible to all, it invites you to discover the cultural and heritage richness of the Valley of the Kings against the backdrop of magnificent panoramas around the river. Discover the French part of Eurovelo 6 and the towns of Tours, Chinon and Angers. Taste renowned wines and visit renowned castles on this unforgettable cycling trip.

Interests of the stay:

• Tours, Chinon, Angers and Nantes
• Fontevraud Abbey
• Villandry Castle
• Ussé castle
• wine cellar visits and tastings

Day 1 : Arrival in Tours

Installation at the hotel located near the old town of Tours.
Tours, the capital of Touraine is built on the banks of the Loire, visit its historic city center, its half-timbered houses and its castle.
Night in Tours *** hotel.

Day 2 : Tours - Chinon / 53 km

You will cycle along the Loire to the Savonnières caves. Visit the Château de Villandry and its Renaissance garden, built on 3 levels, its architecture is unique in Europe. Also enjoy the architectural treasures of the Château d'Ussé, called the Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Night in Chinon hotel ***.

Day 3 : Chinon - Saumur and its castle / 25 km

You walk along the Loire and a small gap leads you to Fontevraud. There you can visit the Royal Abbey, known as the largest monastic complex in the West. The abbey was built in 1101, used as a prison in the 19th century and then became a cultural center in 1975.
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.
Night in Saumur hotel ***

Day 5 : Saumur - Angers and its fortress / 61 km

Along the Loire Valley, you cross typical villages to Angers, capital of the Dukes of Anjou, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover the castle of the city of Angers, its gardens (including the university's botanical garden) and its old town. Night in Angers hotel **.

Day 6 : Angers - Montjean sur Loire / 52 km

You continue your bike trip on the banks of the Loire, this wilder part is known for its vineyards. Saint Florent, aptly named a small town of character, set on the banks of the Loire, the old abbey overlooks the river from the top of its promontory.
Night at Montjean sur Loire hotel **.

Day 7 : Montjean sur Loire - Nantes / 56 km

Arrival towards Nantes, the new cycling facilities make this part pleasant by bike.
Take the time to browse the quays of old Nantes, to see the machines of the island located on the old Nantes shipyard, the castle of the Dukes of Brittany, the garden of plants or the old fishing village of Trentemoult .
Night in Nantes hotel ***.

Day 8 : Nantes

End of the tour after breakfast. Additional night or return to Tours.

General informations :

• 8 days and 7 nights
• Accommodation comfort level: 2 or 3 * (local standards) in standard version 
• Accommodation comfort level: 3* (local standards) in comfort version 
• Child rates: contact us

The dates :

Can be done every day between April and October 2024.

Included :

• Self-guided online tour
• Luggages transport
• Travel diary: we provide you with information on the progress of your stay as well as the itinerary for confirming your reservation, subject to change.
• Assistance in case of breakdown (except puncture).

Not included :

• Transport to the place of departure
• Personal expenses
• 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: castles of Villandry and the Abbey of Chinon
• Theft insurance for the rented bike
• cancellation insurance

Levels:

1 2 3 4 5 6

Ground :

Flat terrain. Eurovelo cycle paths and shared lanes 6.

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 :

A welcome documentation with all the necessary information for the good progress of your stay is sent to you before your departure. 

We provide you an access to our hiking application Respire Voyages to download your routes from your smartphone. 

The paper version of the logbook is optional. 

Transportation:

- By train: TGV to Tours (direct from Paris Montparnasse)
- By road: A10 motorway exit 21 (direction Tours center)
- By plane: Tours Loire Valley airport and taxi to the city center (cost between € 15 and € 30 per trip)

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.