Loire Valley Biking
Among the Grand Chateaux
Pedal through a lush forest and emerge as if you're in a fairy tale. Standing proudly before you is a château of Gothic majesty, its halls rich with the trappings of nobility. Such is the landscape you'll encounter with Backroads in the Loire Valley - a beguiling mix of overt opulence and serene natural beauty. Some castles are yours to tour, others extend an invitation to slumber, immersing you in history, and nourishing you with world-class wines and cuisine. All around, the gentle countryside is graced with rolling vineyards, and fields of sunflowers, fruit orchards and wheat fields. If you've dreamed of living like royalty, there's no place more ideal than the Loire Valley.
Trip Planning Links
- Ride quiet rural roads to visit French architectural landmarks
- Relax at gracious castle-hotels
- Michelin-starred cuisine and acclaimed Vouvray wines
- Renaissance, medieval and classical châteaux
- Experience fascinating French history where it actually unfolded
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1 chinon
Rendezvous in Tours 
Shuttle to Chinon, known as much for its full-bodied red wines as for its turbulent history At its most famous castle, now in ruins, the legendary meeting between Joan of Arc and Charles VII took place Explore the peaceful château-dotted countryside on a warm-up loop Before our first sumptuous dinner, enjoy a dip in the pool or meander through the extensive hotel grounds.
Days 2-3 montbazon
Spinning through gentle woodlands and past charming villages, you see why bicycling in the Loire Valley is such a delight Visit Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, one of France's most magnificent castles Ride through vineyards and orchards outside Montbazon to the town of Villandry, and meander through the impressive Italian Renaissance gardens of this town's château.
Days 4-6 amboise
Travel back in time on a visit to the magical Château de Chenonceau A private guide shares details of its richly appointed interiors, vast galleries and dazzling artwork Visit Clos Lucé, the last residence of Leonardo da Vinci, and see the designs and models for his many creations Join vintner Daniel Jarry on a private tour and degustation at his family's centuries-old wine cave in Vouvray In Amboise, stroll on the Rue Nationale, a great place to shop and people-watch.
- Premiere Inns: These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.
- Casual Inns: These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the area with such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.
- Deluxe Family Camping: We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.
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Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
My daughter, Courtney, and I had a fantastic experience with Backroads in the Loire Valley. Our leaders were terrific! They made our trip memorable with their extensive knowledge of the French language, history and of course, biking. But above all, we appreciated their kindness and friendship. We will remember this trip with lots of smiles and we thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you!- Rockville, MD More about this Trip All Guest Reviews
For 30 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Loire Valley tour experts. For biking tours in Europe France, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Europe France biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Europe France walking and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Europe France multisport tours click here.
Loire Valley Biking
TRIPLE CROWN: Premiere Inns
Chateau de Marcay
Chinon (1 night) Turrets and secret passageways attest to the medieval origins of this Relais & Châteaux-member hotel with a sparkling pool, elegant rooms and exceptional dining.
Chateau d'Artigny
Montbazon (2 nights) Grand from staircases to spa and outdoor heated swimming pool, this Small Luxury Hotels of the World member was once home to perfume magnate François Coty.
Le Choiseul
Amboise (2 nights) In a peaceful setting overlooking the Loire River, an elegant 18th-century manor house with delightful gardens, swimming pool and membership in Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
Loire Valley Biking
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insider Trips | Explore at a leisurely pace—on village walks, market strolls, art history excursions, hands-on cooking classes and more. | ||
| 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 2-5 miles |
| 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
Day 1
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 17 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 16, 26, 44 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 2 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 23, 34, 50 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 1 to 3 3 Route Options Available
- 16, 27, 36 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 3 3 Route Options Available
- 14, 31, 39 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 13 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain