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Welcome to Hooked on Cycling Holidays and our cycling holiday in the Loire Valley region of France. Our cycling holiday in France will take you through this wonderful French region. This biking vacation in France is available as a self guided level 1-2 cycle tour. This region of France is a wonderful location for your French cycling holiday as you can cycle but also explore the great Chateaux and Castles which make this such a famous region. We think this cycling holiday is suitable for first time cycle tourists and also the more experienced cyclist. You will visit the great Chateaux at Blois , Chennonceau ,Cheverny, Amboise ,Chambord, Villandry,Azay Le Rideau, Chinon, Saumur to name a few but there are even more treasures than these to see. This tour differs from our Castles of the Loire Valley in that you move to a new hotel each day and that you cover a longer distance of the Loire Valley to the west and east of Tours.
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Available on Saturdays and Sundays from 24th April to 3rd October.
A 5 night tour is also available - see below
Level 1-2 self guided tour
Day 1 Orleans
Individual arrival to Orleans in the heart of the Loire Valley, Orleans is Jeanne D’Arc’s homeland .
Day 2 Orleans-St. Dye/Beaugency 27/33 miles 43/53 km
Today you begin your cycle tour along the Loire, cycling along lovely cycle paths and side roads. Soon you can visit the Cathedral of Clery St. Andr. Afterwards you will arrive to the castles of Meung sur Loire and Chateau Dunois. In Beaugency you can admire the beautiful medieval centre. St Dye is a little hidden jewel with an ancient harbour.
Day 3 St. Dye/Beaugency-Blois 31/25 miles 50/40 km
Today’s ride will first take you to Chambord. The huge park surrounding Chambord Castle is worth exploring. The huge white Chateaux is one of the Loire’s most visited and a walk though the grand rooms is not to be missed. The very special spiral staircase is pretty unique. After your visit you cycle through the park to Cheverny Castle. The rooms are lavishly furnished but not on the same scale as Chambord. One last ride to the Chateau of Beauregard through the forest of Beauregard before your eventual arrival to Blois.
Day 4 Blois-Amboise 30 miles 47 km
Before setting out on your ride today visit the city of Blois with its impressive castle. Then you cycle through forests to the town of Onzain. Here it is possible  to visit Chateau Chaumont built on the top of a hill overlooking the river. Then you continue east along the back roads to Amboise. In Amboise you should not miss the house where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last years of his live.
Day 5 Amboise-Tours 32 miles 52 km
Today you first head south through the forest of Amboise until you arrive to Chenonceaux, known as the Chateau of the three ladies. Its impressive rooms nearly straddle the river. You then continue cycling along the river Cher till the city of Tours. You might also decide to stop for a visit at the castle of Nitray with its famous wine cellars.
Day 6 Tours-Chinon 30 miles 48 km
Today between the Loire and the Cher rivers you arrive at Villandry Castle, well know for its gardens. From Chateau Villandry to cycle away from the Loire to the Castle of Azay Le Rideau. This chateau is pretty unique in the Loire and well worth a visit. Now you head back towards the Loire to Usse and its castle of the Sleeping Beauty. Now a short undulating section will take you to Chinon.
Day 7 Chinon-Saumur 31 miles 50 km
The tour continues along country roads beyond the confluence between the rivers Loire and Vienne arriving to Savigny en Vron and the jewels of Candes St-Martin. A few kilometres away there is the castle of Montsoreau. Now you head away from the Loire to Fontevraud and its huge Abbey. Now it is time to cycle east for the last time passing vineyards and fruit fields to Saumur. Saumur with its impressive white Chateau is considered the “Pearl of Anjou”.
Day 8 Saumur
Departure after breakfast end of services.
Accommodation : 2 / 3 star hotels ( standard and Superior options) , 5 night tour covers days 1 to 6.
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What is Included
- 5 or 7 Nights Bed and Breakfast
- 2/3 star hotels standard and Superior
- Information pack
- Routes and maps
- Welcome meeting
- Luggage transfers
- Free car parking at first hotel
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Extras
- Hybrid Rental Cycle
- Cost before and after tour
- Flights
- Extra nights
- Travel Insurance
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Tariff 2010
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Tour code CEL3-5, CEL-7
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Single occupancy - Standard / Superior
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£717 / £829
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Price per person based on two persons sharing double/twin room - Standard / Superior
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£527 / £575
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Rental cycle / Electric cycle - 7 , 5 nights
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£60 , £50
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Price per person based on two persons sharing double/twin room - Standard / Superior 5 nights
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£458 / £470
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Single occupancy - Standard / Superior 5 nights
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£570 / £660
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Extra Nights per person in Orleans
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£45 Double , £70 single
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Extra Nights per person in Saumur
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£56 Double , £93 single
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How to get there
By Plane
To Paris airport and then by train to Orleans or fly direct to Tours with Ryanair from Stansted and then a train to Orleans.
By Train
To Orleans.
To view our other Cycling holidays in France
Click below to view our
Walking Holiday in France
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