Loire Valley Biking
Just southwest of Paris is a refined domain, where magnificent châteaux sleep on the banks of slowly moving rivers and vineyards stretch alongside gently rolling sunflower fields and forested lanes. Explore this elegant corner of France by bicycle and you'll be richly rewarded. Pedal through lush farmland and sheltering woods, spin alongside famous vineyards and sun-drenched fields and visit fairy-tale castles whose walls harbor secrets of political intrigue and sinful soirées. Welcoming accommodations, tasty regional cuisine and acclaimed wines all add a flourish to this expérience nonpareil.
Days 1-2 chinon
Meet in Tours 
Visit Fontevraud's medieval Benedictine abbey before biking a rolling route through the beautiful French countryside Pedal through the Chinon Forest to Château Ussé, a 15th-century castle believed to have inspired Charles Perrault's Sleeping Beauty Explore Château de Chinon, where Joan of Arc first met Charles VII in 1429 Savor a private tasting of Chinon wines.
Day 3 Montlouis-sur-Loire
Embark on a leisurely ride to Azay-le-Rideau, set on the banks of the Indre River, and enjoy a bountiful picnic lunch Take a self-guided tour of the town's château, considered one of the most magnificent in France.
Days 4-6 Chissay-en-Touraine
Pedal to the breathtaking Château d'Azay le Rideau Visit Clos Lucé, the house where Leonardo da Vinci spent the final four years of his life Join a local guide for a private tour of the magical Château de Chenonceau, which spans the Cher River and presents lavish gardens and an interior adorned with richly woven tapestries and dazzling artwork Pedal along rolling hills to Château de Nitray, built in the 15th and 16th centuries, for a tour and lunch Take one final spin through France's farmland and forests.
ELEGANT SIMPLICITY: Casual Inns
Hotel Diderot (2 nights): Built in the 15th century, this family-run hotel exudes friendliness and warmth and is conveniently located within walking distance of the town center.
Chateau de la Bourdaisiere (1 night): Nestled on 140 acres in the heart of the Loire Valley, this 16th-century castle welcomes you with a beautiful outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and comfortable guest rooms.
Chateau de Chissay (2 nights): This former royal residence, surrounded by a park and forest, features delightful rooms and an outdoor swimming pool.
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Level 2 1 Route Option Available
- 22 miles
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 16, 36, 48 miles
- 0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 2 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 23, 42, 52 miles
Day 4
- Levels 1 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 12, 26, 50 miles
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 18, 29, 44 miles
Day 6
- Level 2 1 Route Option Available
- 22 miles
Trips 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. |
||
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 mile | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
2010 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
- 5/2-7Price: $2998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $550 for sgl. occ.)
- 5/23-28Price: $3098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $550 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/18-23Price: $3298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $550 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/8-13Price: $2998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $550 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/5-10Price: $2998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $550 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/19-24Price: $2998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $550 for sgl. occ.)
- 10/3-8Price: $2998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $550 for sgl. occ.)
Guest Trip Reviews
I appreciated the real backroads we traveled on and felt each day as if we were moving through postcards. Lovely.- Littleriver, CA
I never want to take another non-Backroads vacation. I had an absolutley incredible time!- Gainesville, FL
Everything from when we were picked up at the train station in the van at Tours, to our departure from our last chateau, after farewell lunch, was fantastic. Our leader is a real gem! She was professional, energetic, creative, not overbearing, very pleasant, extremely helpful with the local culture, helpful with deciding on options for itinerary for the day, encouraging, always available, and just fun to be with, etc. For example, she was able to do things such as get the Prince (owner of the Chateau de la Bourdaisiere) to come down and chat with us after dinner. The accommodations were wonderful and food to die for. She took care of all of our needs and then some. Of course it did not hurt that we had such wonderful weather. We are already thinking about our next trip, possibly Provence.- Springfield, VA
I have been on four bike trips and the Loire Valley takes top priority, especially in the beautiful countryside. I felt like I was riding through the quintessential France.- San Francisco, CA
We very much enjoyed the venue, leadership and flexibility of the trip.- Boston, MA