Tour Overview
How This Tour Differs from Our Other Loire Valley Châteaux Itineraries:
The Eastern Loire Valley Tour is 6 days / 5 nights with 3 different overnight destinations and the opportunity to visit at least 5 major castles. The average cycling distance per
day is 46 km / 28.5 miles. This tour may be purchased with 3 dinners included as an option. Major châteaux on this itinerary include Blois,
Chambord, Chaumont-sur-Loire, Amboise, and Chenonceau.
Print Itinerary: Click here to print this page. Formatted for printing. Opens in a new window.
View Tour Photos: Click here to view a slideshow of sights included in this itinerary.
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Tour Dates: You may begin this tour on any day from April 1 to October 25.
See Schedule for blackout dates and additional tour scheduling considerations.
Location: The Loire Valley region of France known as the "Garden of France." The region has
been on the UNESCO's World Heritage list since 2000, owing to its culture and art, concentrated largely in the region's châteaux (castles). The Loire Valley,
is just 1 - 2 hours from Paris. Overnight destinations on this tour include Blois, Amboise, and Tours.
Tour Type: Circuit tour
Terrain: Flat for the most part with occasional hills. Cycling is primarily on designated bike
routes, which may be separate paths or tiny roads shared with local residents.
Length: 6 days / 5 nights
Total Distance: Total: 184 km / 114 miles.
Highlights:
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Historic royal cities of Blois, Amboise, & Tours.
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Some of the grandest of the Loire Valley castles, including the castles of Blois, Chambord, Chaumont, Amboise, and Chenonceau.
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Countless smaller castles.
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Tranquil cycling on bike paths and tiny, quiet roads.
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Easy cycling along the banks of the region's lovely Loire and Cher Rivers.
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Beautiful countryside and charming medieval villages.
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Vineyards and lots of opportunities for wine tastings.
Pricing Details
Note: All prices are US dollars.
Option 1 - 3 Dinners Included:
Per Person Adult Price: $1,325.00
Per Person Child Price (16 years or younger traveling with 2 adults): $995.00
Option 2 - No Dinners Included:
Per Person Adult Price: $1,175.00
Per Person Child Price (16 years or younger traveling with 2 adults): $885.00
Group discounts are not available for this tour.
The tour price includes:
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Lodging in 2-star hotels, 3-star hotels, and B&Bs, in a double room, including taxes
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5 Breakfasts
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3 Dinners (Option 1 only. Beverages not included.)
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Welcome and Orientation by a Diverse Directions representative
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Tour Documentation: Route instructions, maps, Pre-trip Preparation Guide, On-Road Quick Reference Guide, and Sights Guide
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Bike Rental for 5 Days: Excellent quality
hybrid or mountain bike with map carrier, cyclometer, water bottle
cage, rear rack, rear pannier, lock, repair kit, helmet, and on-road bike assistance. Optional pedal cages. Tandem bikes are also available.
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Daily Baggage Transfers
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English-Speaking Support Staff
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Shipping and Handling Charges for US customers
The tour price does NOT include:
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Lunches
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Dinners (if Option 2 is chosen.)
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Transportation from your home to Blois and from Tours to your home
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Personal expenses
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Insurance
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Shipping and Handling Charges for non-US customers. A shipping & handling charge of US $15.00 will be
added to tour package orders outside the US.
For Diverse Directions'
payment terms, cancellation policy, and all terms & conditions, please see Terms & Conditions.
When you are ready to book your tour, please complete
and submit our secure Tour Order Form.
Daily Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Blois. Spend 2 nights in a 2-star hotel. Dinner is included both nights if you choose Option 1.
Your tour begins in the historic town of Blois, located about 2 hours by train from Paris. You may arrive as
early as you wish to maximize the time you have to see the sights of this Renaissance city and its royal chateau.
Since 1986 Blois has been designated a "City of Art and History", owing to its efforts to value and preserve the vast
treasures of its glorious past. Blois is an easy walking town, with a large expanse of pedestrian-only streets located at the foot of its castle.
Blois Castle was built in four successive stages: medieval (13th century), transition
(Gothic-Renaissance in late 15th and early 16th centuries), Renaissance (1515 - 1524), and Classical. The result as described by Henry James: The facade of the
château is "one of the most beautiful and elaborate of all the old royal
residences in this part of France." See the Blois Castle website for additional information.
For a nice orientation to this lovely town, take a look at this
YouTube video, which received raves from one of the town's native. Visit the
City of Blois website for additional information and photos.
Around 6 pm you will be welcomed at your hotel by a Diverse Directions representative who will explain the tour's
itinerary in detail; answer questions; deliver your route instructions, maps, and tourist information packet; and deliver / fit your bicycles.
You will spend two evenings at the 2-star Hôtel Anne de Bretagne located in downtown Blois.
Day 2: Blois Loop - 56 km / 35 miles.
After breakfast you will depart for one of the most
important sights of your tour: the magnificent Château de Chambord. Chambord is the largest by far of all the Loire castles and is built on a scale that
foreshadowed the château at Versailles. It owes its impact to its fine architectural unity and sumptuous Renaissance decoration, dating from the period
when this style was at its most splendid. Among the must-sees of Chambord are
the famous double staircase, conceived by Leonardo da Vinci; and the roof terrace -- a maze of lanterns, chimneys,
stairs, and dormer windows. The château contains 440 rooms, hundreds of fireplaces, and boasts a collection of some 3000 objects of art, furniture,
and tapestries. Adding to the vastness of Chambord's scale is its setting in a 13,591 acre park that is enclosed by the longest wall in France.
Additional details about the Château de Chambord can be found in its
Wikipedia entry or the Château de Chambord website.
Following your visit to Chambord, you will have the opportunity to visit a few smaller chateaux, like Villesavin and Beauregard.
The Renaissance Château de Villesavin (website in French only), built between 1527 and 1537,
heralds the return of classicism: Italianate dormer windows embellish a façade which is simple yet exudes grace and harmony. In the outbuildings there is an
interesting collection on display relating to marriage from 1835 to 1950, and also classic cars.
Day 3: Blois to Amboise - 49 km / 30 miles. Spend 2 nights in a 3-star hotel. Dinner is included on the first night if you choose Option 1.
On today's ride you will follow the course of the Loire for most of the day. You will depart north
of the river, following tranquil routes through the National Forest of Blois before crossing the Loire to arrive in Chaumont-sur-Loire and its magnificent
castle. This is a wonderful spot for lunch, at one of the river-front restaurants or by the river with picnic provisions.
Like the château of Amboise (which you will see later today), this defensive castle commands a
beautiful view of the town and river. The feudal austerity of the structure is softened by its Renaissance influence, its elegant stair tower, and its
sumptuous Council Room. The 10-minute walk uphill to the castle provides the opportunity to admire the fine landscaped gardens, as well as cedars, lime trees,
and redwoods. The view from the terrace is remarkable. Visit the
Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire website for more information and photos.
If you arrive early enough into Amboise, you will want to visit its royal castle, as well as le Clos
Lucé, the château where
Leonardo de Vinci spent the last three years of his life.
The castle at Amboise, with its impressive collection of Renaissance and Gothic
furniture, is of an earlier era than the other castles on your tour, built atop a bluff for defense. There is a
magnificent view from the castle's terrace of Amboise's pointed roofs and walls, and of the River Loire meandering through the lush valley. See the
Château d'Amboise website for additional details and photos.
Also worth a visit in Amboise is the manor house of le Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci (at the invitation of King Francois I) lived the final years of his life. Transformed into a
museum, the Château du Clos Lucé provides an opportunity to penetrate the captivating universe of a genius. The basement houses the museum of Leonardo's
fabulous machines, a collection of models made by IBM based on his designs, which were four centuries ahead of his time. Studying the many machines that he designed,
you may even conclude that it was Leonardo himself who invented the bicycle! For more details, visit the Clos Lucé website.
You will spend 2 evenings at the 3-star Domaine de l'Arbrelle
in Amboise.
Day 4: Amboise Loop - 39 km / 24 miles. Dinner is on your own.
The principal
attraction of today's ride is the incredibly beautiful
Château de Chenonceau, a 15th century castle stretching across the River Cher in a harmonious setting of water, gardens, and trees. To this
perfection is added the elegance of the château's architecture, interior decor, and magnificent furniture. The château consists of a rectangular
mansion with turrets at the corners. Catherine de Medici's two-storied gallery stretches across the bridge over the river. For sheer beauty, a
visit to the Château de Chenonceau is a must. For more information, visit the Château de Chenonceau
website.
After your visit to Chenonceau, you are free to spend the afternoon and evening strolling the tiny streets of
incredibly beautiful Amboise -- or visiting the castle or the Clos Lucé if
yesterday did not provide ample time. Enjoy a glass of wine or a snack in one of the many cafés lining the lovely squares while soaking in the local ambiance.
It is also worthy of note that Amboise maintains a series of scenic and historic walks that are well-signed and take you into nooks and crannies of the town that many never see. This is
another highly recommended activity. This
lovely slideshow is a nice introduction to the charms of Amboise.
Day 5: Amboise to Tours - 40 km / 25 miles or 60 km / 37 miles. Spend 1 night
in a 3-star hotel. Dinner is on your own.
Today's short cycling
route takes you through the vineyards of Vouvray, which produce a renowned and exquisite sparkling wine. You will have lots of opportunities for
wine tastings. If you would like more time in the saddle, you can cycle an optional loop to visit the Château de la Bourdaisière, which served as a love refuge for King
Henri IV and his mistress, Gabrielle d'Estrées.
The historic center of Tours is a wonderful place to visit on foot with its lovely old buildings,
cathedral, and of course, its castle (which has an aquarium inside!) Visit Tour's
website for a brief history of this ancient city and to discover some of its historic sights and/or view this
YouTube video for a taste of Tours' ambiance and sights. Your bikes will be picked up at your hotel at 5:00 pm.
You will spend this
evening at the 3-star Best Western Central Hotel
in downtown Tours.
Day 6: Depart Tours.
After breakfast you may depart Tours at the time of your choosing. There are frequent trains leaving
for Paris and Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport.
When you are ready to book your tour, please complete
and submit our secure Tour Order Form.
