Explore the Loire Châteaux on this cruisy cycling tour August 4-11, 2023

This tour follows the wonderful Loire River, as well as the Indre, the Cher and the Vienne, taking in numerous UNESCO World Heritage classified châteaux along the way: Amboise, Chenonceau, Villandry, Langeais, Ussé, Chinon, Saumur, Angers. We make the most of a great cycle network along tranquil waterways, discovering the significant cultural and architectural heritage of the region. An opportunity to visit the area’s many wine cellars and vineyards, as well as the troglodyte caves of Turquant and Souzay-Champigny. We are mainly on green lanes and dedicated bike routes. 

About the ride 

Cycling days will range from 40 to 70km mostly off road on canal paths or purpose-built cycleways. The cycle path is an easy grade.  We have optional side trips to local villages and historic places which are additional kilometres. Some museums and attractions may charge entrance fees, which are at your own cost. 

Itinerary

Day 0 Arrival in Tours - night in city of Tours.

Day 1 Tours to Chenonceau 40km

We start our tour by following the magnificent Loire River, savouring the many châteaux and charming country manor houses along the way. The tranquility of this great river, the longest in France, charms with its thickets leafy hedgerows, fields and pastures, isolated hamlets and farms. The river is also an oasis for a large variety of maritime and continental birds. Arriving at Montlouis, the small amount of elevation gained so far is enough to offer beautiful panoramic views of the Loire. After 25 kilometres we reach Amboise, the first notable historical site of our tour. The town has a rich and colourful past with its Royal château and the Clos Lucé (former residence of Leonard de Vinci). The charming cobblestoned streets and street side cafés offer plenty of opportunities to explore and relax. Afterwards it is a gradual  uphill climb to the forest of Amboise which accesses the fabulous Château de Chenonceau, built in 1513. Depending on our time of arrival, we visit the château at the end of the day or the following morning. We stay the night in Chenonceau.

Day 2 Chenonceau - Villandry 50km

An amazing day's cycling awaits us between these two magnificent Loire châteaux! We start the day on a little known route that offers unforgettable views of the Château de Chenonceau from the banks of the Cher. Then we follow the river along its quiet banks bordered with weeping willows, vegetable gardens, charming country houses and "chalands" (small flat-bottomed barges) on riverside moorings. From Bléré, an optional 2 kilometre loop gives us the chance to visit the Aigremonts Windmill, with its recently restored large white blades. On to Tours, we enter via the south side of the city, following the banks of the river, before winding our way through fields and pastures to reach Villandry and its 16th century château, famous for its splendid geometrical gardens. Time permitting, we visit the château at the end of the day or the following morning. Overnight stay near Villandry.

Day 3 Villandry - Chinon 45km

Today we join the “Bec du Cher” -  meeting point of the Cher and Loire rivers. We find ourselves once again on the banks of the Loire, taking in joyful birdsong from the abundant birdlife to be found along the river's banks. A short detour takes us to a small suspension bridge which crosses the Loire and takes us to the village and château of Langeais. There is an optional visit to the chateau and the chance to stroll through the narrow lanes of the village, dominated by the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church, before continuing our journey along the banks of the Loire. A welcome break in the small port of Bréhémont, with its panoramic views before we leave the Loire behind us and head to the Château d'Ussé, known as the "Sleeping Beauty". There is the option of visiting the château for those who aren't frightened by fairy tales and legends. We then head back to the Loire shortly before leaving it once again and heading to the River Vienne. We skirt along the edge of the forest of Chinon which is set in an exceptional location, built on a rocky outcrop dominating the Vienne Valley. The royal fort and the old town testify to the rich and colourful history of Chinon - not to mention great wine!

Day 4 Chinon - Saumur 50km

Following the Vienne, we ride through the forests, vineyards and farmland of the Loire-Anjou-Touraine regional natural park. After a dozen kilometres, we rejoin the Loire following it all the way to Turquant, famous for its troglodyte caves. Some former mines and cave dwellings have been transformed into craftsman’s workshops, while others serve as wine cellars. Turquant is at the heart of the largest troglodyte network in the world, and we take ample time to explore. A few kilometres further on we reach the tuffeau chalk galleries of Souzay-Champigny, which we can even ride through on our bikes - is a truly unique experience. Shortly afterwards we arrive in Saumur, - the “town of art and history”. The Château de Saumur is built at the top of a hillside dominating the Loire, and visible from miles around. The town's narrow lanes and small squares await exploration, but not before a final fifteen kilometre loop that leads us to the Cadre Noir national equestrian school. We have the opportunity to visit this prestigious training school and spend some time with the centre's horses. We then return to Saumur where we settle into our accommodation for the next two nights.

Day 5 Saumur - Saumur 40km

Today we visit Rochemenier and Denezé-sous-Doué. These troglodyte hamlets and farms offer a fascinating insight into 18th and 19th century rural life in the area. The sites are superb examples of dwellings and utility rooms dug into the "tuffeau", a chalk unique to the Loire Valley and particularly used for the construction of buildings during the Renaissance. We pass through Doué-les-Fontaines, "the town of roses". There is the optional tour of the Rose Museum, which includes a demonstration of the rose water manufacturing process. We then ride past numerous charming country houses before arriving back in Saumur for our second night.

Day 6 Saumur - Saint-Mathurin-sur-Loire 40km

Joining the Loire once again, we ride through the Loire-Anjou-Touraine regional natural park. The day is spent on the banks of the wild and fast-flowing Loire, which grows larger and larger with each passing kilometre. Our route takes us past a succession of antique machinery and abandoned hamlets of the once prosperous, but recently closed Trélazé slate quarries. To finish the day's ride, we head off on a loop to discover the Manoir de la Caillère and its troglodyte caves, now transformed into an art gallery by painter Richard Rak. We stay overnight  in Saint-Mathurin-sur-Loire.

Day 7 Saint-Mathurin-sur-Loire - Angers 35 

Once again, we ride along the Loire until its junction with the Maine, where the confluence of the two rivers offers us a picture postcard image. Following the Maine upstream we ride into the heart of Angers where we discover the old town and its château, the "Maison d'Adam" (a 15th century half-timber house) and its spectacular cathedral - Cathedrale Saint-Maurice d'Angers with its amazing leadlight windows.   The tour ends here.

Day 8 Night in Angers - tour completes 0 Total KM 300 Avereage KM 43

Cost:

Euro  or NZD$ per person based on double/twin share rooms Final price will be fixed at Euro to $NZ exchange rate on payment due date. Exchange rate fluctuations are at customer’s risk. Supplementary or optional additional costs:

E-bike hire: Euro 
Supplementary nights in Bordeaux or Toulouse (Bed & Breakfast) at a 2* hotel:  € per person per night  double twin rooms – includes breakfast - excludes evening meals and day bike hire
Extra day bike hire Euro  per day E assist  euro per day 
Single person room supplement Euro 

The tour price includes

• Standard hybrid bike & helmet hire and repatriation of bikes

• Bike repair kit

• 7 x nights in guest houses and 2*/3* hotels in double/twin rooms with en-suite facilities

• 7 x breakfasts

• 6 x dinners (3 to 4 course menu)

• Daily baggage transfers (one bag up to 30kg)

• Detailed road book, maps and GPS tracks

• Tour host support and some historical interpretation

• Support including expert French based support as required

Excluded:

• Currency conversion costs, and NZ and French taxes

• International flights (House of travel Masterton will assist booking these)

• Your transfers to the meeting place and from the finish point – both have airports/railway stations nearby

• The cost of all lunches is not included

• All alcohol and other drinks

• Travel Insurance (health/travel insurance is mandatory) – please ensure that you tell your insurer what you are doing and disclose any pre-existing conditions

• The costs of any medical treatment required on tour

• The costs of visits to any museums, monuments or other attractions while on tour

• Additional travel or costs related to change in the programme due to bad weather or other unavoidable issues

• Local Sim card or roaming costs

• Additional travel or costs related to change in the programme due to bad weather or other unavoidable events

• All personal expenses

• Everything not mentioned under “the price includes".

How to book:

• Register your interest by phoning 0275972667 or emailing reservations@greenjersey.co.nz

• A link or form will be sent to you to complete all your booking information. Payment Payment must be by bank transfer to the Green Jersey bank account within 24 hours of invoicing. We cannot accept payment by credit card on this transaction. Payments are due

• On confirmation of booking 30% of the full cost is due

• The balance will be invoiced and is due on 15th April 2019 based on the ANZ buy Euro rate on the day

• Full payment can be made at any time thus fixing the Euro to $NZ exchange rate at that date. Cancellation policy In the event that you cancel your tour Green Jersey will reimburse the entire sum paid for the tour, minus the following cancellation charges:

• More than 60 days before departure: 5 % of the tour price

• Between 60 and 31 days before departure: 15 % of the tour

• Between 30 and 21 days: 35 % of the tour price

• Between 20 and 14 days: 50 % of the tour price

• Between 13 and 7 days: 75 % of the tour price

• Less than 7 days before departure: 100 % of the tour price You should ensure that your travel insurance covers unforeseen need to canc