Before or after your river cruise how about a 5 day/4 night bike ride thru the countryside of the Loire Valley? This tour will bring you up close to the region and the people. Moderate in difficulty, our tour includes the use of an E-bike to make it easier. If you don’t need the E-bike let us know and we can take it off the tour and take $70 off the price and get you a hybrid “Gitane” bike instead. Open to as few as 1 person and departs any day from March to October in 2024 or 2025.
Discover the most famous Châteaux of the Loire such as Chambord, Cheverny, Blois, Chaumont… But also discover a family run “Auberge” situated in a peaceful rustic village, with a charming character: huge fireplaces, lovely decorated comfortable rooms offering calm. Enjoy the savors of the local gastronomy in its elegant restaurant! You can even enjoy the open-air swimming pool of your hotel!
This tour is a hub and spoke tour with you returning to your3 star hotel in Chitenay each night.
Day 1: Arrive at your hotel in Chitenay. Explore the town, relax and get ready for your bike tour that starts tomorrow.
Day 2: Arrival in Chitenay + Excursion to Cheverny | 23 km (elevation gain +76m)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel the embark on your itinerary leads you through Chateau de Troussay, a small chateau from Renaissance style and via the Château de Cheverny, well-known for its sumptuously furnished and decorated apartments, which inspired Hergé’s vision of Marlinspike in the adventures of Tintin!
Day 3: Excursion to Chateau de Chambord | 56 km (elevation gain +343m)
Cycle through the rich Domain of Chambord forest, where a stop is essential to visit the most famous and majestic château in the Loire Valley. In its Renaissance splendor, the Château de Chambord boasts no less than 440 rooms. Do not miss to stop for a wine tasting in a local producer along your route: you are in the Cheverny appellation!
Day 4: Excursion to Blois | 35 km (elevation gain +182m)
Through the forest to finally reach the Loire river banks and the nice town of Blois, worth visiting for its old quarter and also its château offering a brilliant illustration of the evolution of French architecture from the Middle Ages to the 17th century.
Day 5: Excursion to Chaumont-sur-Loire | 38 km (elevation gain +211m)
Passing by the countryside routes before reaching the Loire banks at Chaumont-sur-Loire where you can visit the nice Château overlooking the Loire. The ‘garden festival’ where you will be able to admire different interpretations of artistic garden compositions based on a common theme takes place every year in its majestic park. Departure at the end of the excursion or stay another night at the hotel (extra charge).
Included in the Price is:
- 4 nights with breakfast (double or twin room)
- 2 dinners (drinks excluded)
- Rental of E-Bike
- 1 travel folder (per room) including colour maps
- Personalised navigation app showing points of interest along the route
- City Taxes
- Admission to Domaine de Chambord (château and gardens)
- Admission to Château de Cheverny and “The Secrets of Marlinspike Hall” exhibition
- Admission to Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire (château + Garden Festival)
- A wine tasting of “Cheverny AOC” wines in Cheverny
- Telephone 24/7 assistance in case of emergency.
Not included in the price:
- International flights.
- 1 Dinner
- Drinks and lunches
- Helmet – required for those 12 and under.
- Personal expense
- All that is not mentioned in the section, ‘This price includes’
Accommodations
The hotels reflect the level of quality and location offered.
- 3* hotel or similar
5-day / 4-night land package, price per person, double or twin occupancy. Prices subject to change and availability at time of booking.
For those who booked their European river cruise with InterlineTravel.com, the following prices apply: Rates are per person.
| Nmbr of Psgrs | March, April & October | May to September |
| 2 | $749 | $899 |
| Single Supplement | $59 | $69 |
| Triple Rate | Call | Call |
For those who want to take this tour on its own or booked your river cruise at another travel agency the following prices apply: Rates are per persoN.
| Nmbr of Psgrs | March, April & October | May to September |
| 2 | $819 | $979 |
| Single Supplement | $69 | $79 |
| Triple Rate | Call | Call |
Access from Paris: Austerlitz train station >> Blois train station >> Chitenay (about 20 min. by taxi).
What should you take with you? Here some advice
While you cycle, travel light. A backpack may be useful to put the followings:
- Helmet*
- Water bottle
- Cycling shorts
- Sunglasses
- Suncream
- Equipment and tool for picnic
- Cereal bars
- Rain jacket and pant
- Emergency kit
- Spare battery for phone
- Softshell Jacket
- Swimming suit
- Hiking shoes
*We remind you helmet is not provided for your tour. It is mandatory under 12 years old.
Deposit, Final Payment and Cancellation Policy:
- Deposit of 30% due at time of booking and is nonrefundable. Full payment is due 50 days in advance. If you cancel 30 to 15 days before arrival the cancellation penalty is 75%. If you cancel less than 15 days before arrival the cancellation penalty is 100%. We strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance. You can do that by clicking here or have our agents get it for you.
- In case the client changes the number of participants, prices shall be revised and adapted to the new number of participants.
Want a longer bike tour? We have them up to 19 nights long. Just call out office for details and prices. 800 766-2911