Loire Valley Family Biking
Fun in France's Regal Touraine
Join Backroads for the royal family option - an active vacation in the Loire Valley, where magnificent châteaux sleep on the banks of slow-moving rivers, vineyards stretch alongside gently rolling sunflower fields and forested lanes invite exploration. We've created a perfect trip to appeal to all members of the family. The routes are gentle, with shorter options available for the younger set, the restaurants are welcoming and every hotel has a swimming pool. Pedal through lush orchards and farmland amid fairy-tale castles. Kids will watch history come to life before their eyes while you revel in the grown-up pleasures of exquisite wines and gourmet cuisine.
Trip Planning Links
- Fairy-tale castles
- Leonardo da Vinci's home
- Fence with an award-winning fencing master!
- A private tour of Château de Chenonceau
- Relax at gracious castle-hotels
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Days 1-2 Amboise
Pedal to Vouvray, one of France's oldest wine-growing regions, where an idyllic landscape of vineyards and villages unfolds before you 
Join vintner Daniel Jarry for a private tour of his family's centuries-old wine cave (it used to be a troglodyte dwelling!) Walk through Clos Lucé, the final home of Leonardo da Vinci, and marvel at models of his creations Adults can explore the lively town of Amboise while the younger set heads for an outdoor adventure park set in the trees.
Days 3-4 Montbazon
Visit the magical Château de Chenonceau, where a private guide shares fascinating details of its richly appointed interiors and dazzling artwork Follow a peaceful route through vineyards and villages to the Château de Villandry, surrounded by some of France's most exquisite gardens Ride to the town of Saché and see the castle where novelist Honoré de Balzac stayed while he wrote his novel collectively entitled La Comédie Humaine, which presents a panorama of French life in the years after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815 Kids learn the importance of foibles and fortes, and wield épées under the watchful eye of world-class fencing master Rudi van Oeveren.
Days 5-6 Chinon
Spin through rolling hills and orchards to the riverside town of Azay-le-Rideau and explore its magnificent château Explore subterranean cave dwellings where peasants once lived and take time to wander through a petting zoo filled with farm animals Discover Ussé, the castle that inspired the author of Sleeping Beauty Explore the town of Chinon and its historical ties to Joan of Arc.
- 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.
Other Trips You Might Like:
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Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
For our family, Backroads represents a wonderful safety net, letting us try new things and go new places with absolute confidence. We watched our kids make chocolates at a small village chocolatier, sampled a 1995 vintage wine from a local vintner, stayed at wonderful inns, and rode past scenes of incredible beauty. All without having to worry about buying a ticket, making a reservation, or getting lost. It was a wonderful experience.- McGregor, Texas More about this Trip All Guest Reviews
For 30 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the tour experts. For biking tours in , trust our in-depth connections. To see all our biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning walking and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning multisport tours click here.
Loire Valley Family Biking
ROYAL RETREATS: Premiere Inns
Le Choiseul
Amboise (2 nights) This elegant 18th-century manor house, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, features a swimming pool and glorious cuisine.
Domaine de la Tortiniere
Montbazon (2 nights) A charming 19th-century château with impressive countryside views, a lavish dining room, heated pool and the gracious hospitality of the Olivereau family.
Chateau de Marcay
Chinon (1 night) Turrets and secret passageways attest to the medieval origins of this Relais & Châteaux-member hotel, which offers a sparkling pool, elegant rooms and exceptional dining.
Loire Valley Family 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
- 16 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 3 3 Route Options Available
- 15, 32, 43 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 1 to 3 3 Route Options Available
- 9, 20, 38 miles
- 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 2 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 24, 37, 47 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 12, 30, 47 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 16 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
On this Family Trip, our routes follow gentle terrain with no significant gain or loss in elevation. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.