info@french-biketours.com
You follow the well-marked route of 'La Loire à Vélo' on cycle paths and quiet roads along the last wild river in Europe. A self-guided cycling trip through nature: deserted beaches, immense sandbanks and inlets. It is the home of terns, grebes, ospreys, blue herons, beavers ... a world with exceptional fauna and flora. But it is not only nature that fascinates here. You will also arrive in an exceptionally valuable cultural-historical area, which is classified by UNESCO's World Heritage List as a 'living cultural landscape'.
The cycling route passes characteristic Loire villages and leads you to the front door of the most beautiful castles.
Highlights :
The total ‘Loire à Vélo’ route runs from Nevers to ‘l'Océan‘, let's say from ‘source' to mouth.
You travel independently to Tours, the capital of the Touraine. Check-in at your hotel. The charming city of Tours is a perfect gateway to discover the region, known as 'the Garden of France'.
Todays route first takes you along the south bank of the romantic Cher river to the picturesque village of Savonnières, known for its caves and underground lake. A few kilometers later you arrive at Villandry. Visit the palatial castle of the same name with its world-famous gardens and refined interior which gives a good impression of the French 'art de vivre' in the 18th century. After this visit you still have 13 km to ride, including a few hills, to your final destination, Azay-le-Rideau, on the river Indre, a tributary of the Loire. Where you can also visit the chateau.
Challenge : 41.1 km, 134 m ascent, 137 m descent
One of the most beautiful stages, through an area of unspoilt nature, where the Indre flows into the Loire. You ride first to the fairytale Château of Ussé, from the high river banks you have a beautiful view over the islands where different species of water birds live, then travelling west, you arrive in the beautiful village of Candes-St-Martin, labeled one of the most beautiful villages in France, where the Vienne and Loire meet. You finish your day in Montsoreau, also labeled one of the most beautiful villages.
Challenge : 49.7 km, 182 m ascent, 152 m descent
You are now in the Anjou region, known for its good wines and impressive troglodyte houses. A wonderful, short route today with lots to see on the way. Choose the bike path close to the Loire or follow the higher, more strenuous route through the vineyards. Both end in the beautiful city of Saumur. Take the time to visit the equestrian town of Saumur, the home base of the prestigious riding academy the Cadre Noir where the elite of French horsemen are trained. Enjoy the beautiful houses with their white tuffeau stone facades in the town centre and admire the proud castle and the many other beautiful classified monuments.
Challenge : 15.9 km, 117 m ascent, 125 m descent
Departure turning right along the south bank of the river. Admire the monuments built of local white tuffeau stone, such as the church of Cunault and the St-Maur abbey. Once in Saint-Mathurin-sur-Loire you have the choice to either take the train to your final destination Angers, or cycle 25 km extra to reach this city, following the north bank of the Loire through a former marsh area that was drained in the Middle Ages, past traces of the old slate quarries of Trélazé. Then, taking a small ferry, you cross the Authion river. Faraway your destination Angers, situated on both sides of the river Maine, attracts your attention.
Challenge : 58.5 km, 407 m ascent, 392 m descent
End of your trip after breakfast. We advise you to extend your stay in order to take the time to visit the beautiful city of Angers. You can travel back to Tours (or onwards to a different city) by train.
All accommodations are carefully selected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services.
We choose comfortable 2*/3* hotels or B&Bs where all rooms have private en-suite bathrooms and every morning breakfasts are included.
For more comfort, when it's possible we can upgrade the hotels with 3/4 * category (supplement applied).
If you don’t bring your own, you can rent a bicycle (hybrid or ebike) from us. You will find your rental bikes waiting for you at your first hotel. The hotel reception staff will give you the keys for your bikes and direct you to the bicycle shed. All bikes are provided with chain locks. The frame and saddle height are set to your height, although you might want to adjust your saddle to be in the most comfortable position. We also recommend doing a first small test drive of couple of hundred meters to be comfortable with gears, brakes etc. If you have an issue with your bike, you can contact the service provider (name of bike rental in your reservation) directly. Or you can always call us on our emergency phone number.
Our hybrid touring bikes are at least 21-speed gear. You can find all the information regarding our rental bikes below.
Experience the advantages of an electric bike on your cycling holiday, particularly when there's a significant gap in ability and experience among cyclists. An e-bike provides a gentle boost up hills, allowing you to easily keep pace with your companions. With a small electric motor and battery, e-bikes make bike trips more achievable, and their batteries can be conveniently charged at hotels. While you still need to pedal, the e-bike significantly reduces the effort required. Familiarity with e-bikes is advised due to their quicker acceleration and heavier build compared to regular bikes, attributed to the electric motor.
Please note: Depending on the trip, different models apply
Our hybrid bikes have at least 21-gears with hand brakes.
The hybrid bikes are very good quality. Depending the trip, different model apply: Scott, Giant, Trek, Koga, ...
Whenever there is a big difference in level of ability, experience the many benefits of an electric bike on your cycling holiday. An e-bike will help you keep up with your fellow cyclists and give you a gentle boost up hills. An e-bike makes a bike trip more achievable. The e-bikes have a small electric motor and battery, which can be charged at the hotels. You still have to pedal: it just makes pedaling much easier. Some experience with e-bikes is recommended, as the bikes accelerate faster and are heavier than regular bikes because of the electric motor.
The E-bikes are very good quality. Depending on the trip, different models apply: Scott, Giant, Trek, Koga, ...
For some trips, we can give you the possibility to rent a Racing bike, more details on request.
For some trips, we can give you the possibility to rent a Tandem bike, suitable for two adults only. More details on request.
For children who are at least 125 cm, we can also arrange bikes (these are 24”or 26” for children that are bigger than 140 cm). The child bikes come with at least 7-gears and hand brakes. The maximum body height for a child’s bike is 155 cm.
Please note: for some tours, different models apply.
A tag-along bike is a good option for children between approx. 100 cm and 125 cm, as they can pedal themselves and at their own pace but don’t have to worry about other traffic.
The tag-along bikes cannot be rented for all our tours
Please note: depending the trip, different models apply.
Child trailers can be rented for a maximum of two children who are up to 100 cm (max. 35 KG in total).
Please note: for some tours, different models apply.
All our rental bikes come with a bell.
All our adult bikes come with hand brakes.
For children older than 30 months (max. 22 kg) it is possible to rent a rear child seat. This is also possible with e-bikes.
For some tours, it is possible to rent a GPS device, more details on request.
Helmets are not mandatory in France (if the cyclist is over 12 years old) but strongly recommended. The helmet is mandatory for children under 12 years. If you rent a bike with us, helmets are included. Please advise us, if you bring along your own.
All our rental bikes come with lights.
All our rental bikes come with a lock.
All our rental bikes come with at least a rear pannier and with a handlebar bag to put a roadbook/map if you wish.
The rental bikes come with regular pedals, so no click-in/SPD pedals. On request we are able to supply these pedals on certain trips.
If you wish to bring your own click-in/SPD pedals, please let us know prior to booking too.
All our bikes come with a quick release system, which makes it very easy to adjust the height of the saddle and the handle bars.
There is one small puncture kit included, which can be found in the pannier. If a rental bike has another problem, we always advise you to go to a bike repair shop.
Saddles can be adjusted in height.
Our saddles don’t come with a gel cover. If you usually cycle with this, we recommend you bring them with you.
French Bike Tours does not provide water bottles. We can also not guarantee that there are bottle holders on the bikes. You will always receive at least 1x pannier, so you can always store your water bottle in your pannier.
Article 1 Bike Rental Price
The bike rental price is determined by the rates mentioned on the French Bike Tours website at the time of the booking; or as subsequently agreed.
Article 2 Payment
a. The rental price and any other due sums regarding the rental agreement must be paid before the bike is handed over to you.
b. If, for whatever reason, you cannot make use of the bike(s) you have rented, French Bike Tours will not be held responsible for any resulting expenses or damage.
c. In the case of the article 2b, the client remains obliged to pay the full rental price and any other amounts mentioned in the invoice, in accordance with our General Terms and Conditions of Booking, unless the client can prove that his not being able to use the bike was the consequence of a defect that was already present at the beginning of the rental period.
Article 3 Rental Period
a. The rental period runs from the morning of the first cycling day (day 2) to the end of the holiday (last cycling day), as stated in the booking confirmation.
b. Extension of the rental period is possible only after approval by us and according to the (extension) rates as mentioned in article 1.
c. No refunds are possible after the rental period begins. If you return the bike(s) to us before the end of your holiday, the rental agreement will automatically be terminated and you will not get any of your money back.
d. At the end of the last cycling day of your holiday, the bike(s) must be returned to the hotel from where it was/they were issued, no later than the time stated in the booking confirmation.
If you book a one way tour tour you can leave the bike at the last hotel of the trip.
e. If the bike(s) is /are not returned by the return time stated in the booking confirmation, we will continue to charge you rent until such time as the bike(s) is/are returned to us or is/are received by us. In the event of late return, the rates as mentioned in article 1 will continue to apply, plus a fine of €25 per day. We also reserve the right to demand payment for any costs and/or damages suffered by us due to late return of our rental bike(s).
f. Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, in the event of late return of our rental bikes, we reserve the right to dissolve the rental agreement without judicial intervention and immediately claim back our bicycles where ever they may be and from whomever has them. French Bike Tours also holds this right in the event that the client does not comply with any of the other conditions stated in this rental agreement.
Article 4 Improper Use
a. The bicycle(s) may only be used for its/their intended purpose and only by the cyclists listed in the rental agreement.
b. The bike(s) must be returned to us in the same (clean!) state in which you received it/them.
c. You must take excellent care of the bicycle(s), as if it/they were your own. You must take every precaution against damage, loss or theft.
d. The bicycle may not be used on the beach; or on sandy paths in the dunes unless a paved path is unavailable.
Article 5 Damage, Loss and Theft
The renter will be held responsible for damages to or loss of the bicycle(s) or parts of it, as well as bicycle keys and chains and locks, for such an amount as is determined by us according to standard market prices. You must understand that you are not insured for damage to the bicycle(s) or for any damages to third parties.
Article 6 Costs During the Rental Period
Any charges and taxes regarding the rental bicycle(s), such as fines and ferry tickets, are to be paid by you. You will also be required to pay all costs ensuing from the use of the bicycle(s) such as parking fees, maintenance and repairs.
5 Nights included
2/3 Star Hotels or 3/4 Star Hotels (supplement applied)
Tourist tax included
Breakfast included, Halfboard optional on request
Maps and tourist information on all the places of interest
24/7 Bilingual Emergency hotline
Luggage transport to your next hotels
For time tables and further information check the website of SNCF or rome2rio for all French National trains (SNCF).
We strongly advise you to download the sncf mobile app prior to departure.
If you want to travel on a train with your bike, you can find more information via this link.
Parking informations on request
We will supply the directions of this trip with a personalized code which gives you access to our travel App.
The international Paris airports Charles de Gaulle in the north and Orly in the south are served by a large number of scheduled and low cost airlines.They are connected with Paris by metro and bus services. From Paris you can take a train to Tours, see below. Also, possibility of arrival in Nantes Airport.
You can get to Tours by train (train station TGV). On the end of your trip you can take a train from Angers (train station TGV).
For timetables and further information check the website of SNCF or rome2rio for all French National trains (SNCF).
From Paris to Tours (approx. 2h30 - 240 km/150 mi) / From Angers to Paris (approx. 2h30 - 300 km/186 mi). Acces to driving routes see the website ViaMichelin.
Very well organised with decent accommodation. The GPS apps for both tours were particularly good. Unfortunate that we were unable to meet up with Melanie in Monpazier at end of second tour to thank her personally, but it was her day off!
This was my first cycling holiday in France. I was very happy with the information provided in advance, the bikes, accomodation and the choice of route. This cycling holiday was a beautiful route, with charming villages, lovely accomodation. The information provided in advance by French Bike Tours was very helpful. There were no problems at all with the bikes, luggage transfers or the Guibo app.
55, rue Saint Jacques
24540 Monpazier
France
info@french-biketours.com
+33 (0)5 53 24 22 10
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