Cycling Holidays in the Loire Valley, France- complete guide

Think of everything you'd like to achieve and see on a cycling holiday in France. Does that include gentle cycling, vineyards, chateaux, safe routes, beautiful rivers, mind blowing history, wine tasting, great food? Et voila, that's why La Loire really is the ultimate destination for a holiday on two wheels. 

• Flat to rolling terrain (excellent for leisure cyclists)
• Well signposted and clearly marked cycle routes
• The general food and wine culture in this part of the world
• Cultural and historical sites

We truly love cycling in this part of the world, and as such have identified what we think are some of the best routes around. Some of our favourites would have to be (and in no particular order);

• Chinon
• Saumur
• Tours
• Villandry
• Amboise
• Montsoreau
• Fontevraud Abbey
• Langeais

Well I think it's interesting all year round! However I fully understand that not everyone wants to be putting on winter cycling gloves, snoods and warm winter trousers to be cycling in January! That's why we operate between April and the end of October. 

• Spring (April/ May) makes a fabulous time to visit. The Loire, like much of France is just starting to come out of winter hibernation, the shutters are being opened again on the houses, the pop up beach side bars are being built again and everything is coming alive. The first signs of life are appearing in the vineyards, the hedgerows are starting to fill with colour and the bees are getting active again. 
• Summer (June/ July/ August). Generally the thermometer hovers around 30 degrees (86 Fahrenheit) for much of this time. It can on odd occasions climb higher to around 40 degrees (around 100-104 Fahrenheit) but these are short sharp bursts before breaking (if it happens it's usually around end of June and into July). If this was to happen, then we're here to support. We can arrange taxis if necessary, we can move bikes, we can suggest best times of riding. It's rare that it happens, but if it does, we can assist where necessary. One of the great things of visiting during this time is that it's actually quieter! Many French families and visiting tourists will head to the beaches of France, so it's actually a slightly calmer time of year to visit. 
• Autumn/ Fall (September/ October). The heat of the summer passes yet we are still generally blessed with excellent weather and riding temperatures through Autumn. It's also when the vineyards come alive with harvest!

We offer both if necessary, however this part of the world is excellent for a self guided holiday. We offer guests use of an application that offers you turn by turn routes to make sure you see everything we think you'd want to see, and most importantly, get to the hotel where you will be staying! They also offer the following;

• Flexibility- if you want to stop at a particular chateau, well you can! If you want to stop at a particular vineyard, well you can! If you want to stop for a picnic... You get the idea!
• Independence- There's something about being out there, exploring a whole new region and part of the world on your own- it's up to you, and I promise you that you can do it.
• Support- We're still here and around to assist if necessary!

Well, if you're even thinking of visiting, I'm guessing you're tempted by the ideas of wine and the chateaux along the routes? Part of your holiday with us includes pre organised visits to some of our favourite vineyards in the region. It's all organised for you and your map even takes you to these stops! We also take you to our favourite chateaux , such as Chateau d'Usse, Chateau Villandry, and Azay-le-Rideau chateau. The bike really is the ideal way to explore and participate in such activities- just for once, enjoy a calmer pace of life, with slow travel.

Well, we're not the only ones doing this sort of holiday- there are much much bigger operators out there, selling holidays from the United States- it's just a shame that these teams have never actually personally visited The Loire Valley! We offer;

• True local knowledge. Let us guide you to where we love and where we think you'd love to visit.
• Custom itineraries- You tell us what you want, what you want to achieve, what the purpose of the holiday is, and we'll design it for you. Our products are not simply, 'press here to buy now', we want to design a holiday for you.
• Small-scale, personal service. Give us a call, give us an email, it's us who will get back to you- no one else, because there is no one else! It's old fashioned customer service. Basically, the way we like to be treated when organising and booking our own adventures. 
• Based in the Loire Valley- we know when a new restaurant opens, when a hotel is sold and purchased by someone else, we're aware of the rumours that happen, the changes, even the scandals! And it's this local knowledge that we believe makes us different.
• Ultimately, why not contact us to have a chat? There's no pushy sales patter, no team in the background that will be bombarding you with call after call after call until you book, after which for some reason they go very quiet... It's just us and we believe we do things different. Start by emailing us at enquiries@vineyard-et-velo.com
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