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Inspirations 2022
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  • Walking
  • Cycling
  • Journeys by rail, boat & car
  • Plus... Why you can book and travel with confidence
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Châteaux of the Loire

Castles, caves & vineyards
 
This leisurely and relaxing route is ideal for self-guided hotel-to-hotel cycling, with luggage transported. En route through the beautiful Loire region you can delight in visits to fairy-tale châteaux and to small vineyards for tastings of wonderful red and white wines.
Châteaux of the Loire. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Châteaux of the Loire. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A cycling holiday in the Loire

Famed for its magnificent châteaux and wide, lazily flowing rivers, the Loire region is a delight. With a gentle terrain and plenty of cultural interest, this is perhaps the best corner of France for leisurely days on two wheels, so take your time, pausing at the places of interest en route and enjoying long picnics on the riverbank.
West of Tours, the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Park is characterised by vineyards, rolling farmland, hunting forests and limestone cliffs into which astonishing troglodytic dwellings have been carved. Crowning these beautiful landscapes are some of the Loire's most romantic and elegant châteaux: Azay-le-Rideau, Ussé, Chinon, Villandry and Saumur. With short, easy routes that are largely on the flat, you have plenty of time to visit all of these during your holiday, along with vineyards and mushroom caves (pay locally in all cases).
 

Book with confidence

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
Our flexible booking policies >
Check the destination entry requirements >
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 7 8 11 15 18 22 25 24 22 17 11 7
    mm 62 58 54 52 63 50 49 45 53 58 65 62
  • Arrival in Azay-le-Rideau
    Night 1: at Hotel de Biencourt (where you spend one night).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of cycling.
  • Choice of routes from Azay-le-Rideau to Ussé: 18.5km or 35.5km

    Azay-le-Rideau to Ussé via Villandry: 35.5km
    You head north from Azay-le-Rideau past an elegant private château and through a deciduous forest to Villandry, where you can visit the château, famed for its magnificent formal gardens. From here you follow the River Cher to its confluence with the Loire, and cycle along the riverbank via a former river port (look out for vestiges of its past) to Ussé, where you stay the night at Le Clos d'Ussé.

    Azay-le-Rideau to Ussé via the River Indre: 18.5km
    For a shorter day, you can follow the course of the River Indre, passing a small but beautiful château and an attractive village, to reach the banks of the River Loire, which you follow westwards. 
    Ussé's chateau
    Azay-le-Rideau to Ussé via Villandry: 35.5km
    Azay-le-Rideau to Ussé via the River Indre: 18.5km
  • Ussé to Fontevraud: 34km
    Start the day with a visit to Ussé's château, the inspiration for Perrault's original tale of Sleeping Beauty. From Ussé, you continue along the Loire and then head away from the river, cycling through meadows and woodland. You reach the River Vienne and follow it to the idyllic village of Candes-St-Martin which overlooks the confluence of the Loire and the Vienne. Follow country lanes through the small village of Montsoreau, where it is worth visiting the château for superb views over the Loire before the final stretch to Fontevraud and La Croix Blanche, where you spend two nights.
    Ussé to Fontevraud: 34km
    Candes-St-Martin on the route from Ussé to Fontevraud
  • Free day in Fontevraud

    Explore Fontevraud
    You could spend your day in Fontevraud visiting the superb abbey for which the village is famed. It is here that Richard the Lionheart and his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, are buried. 

    Circular route from Fontevraud: 33.5km; longer option: 42km
    Alternatively, as the famous town of Saumur is close, we suggest you cycle there and spend some time exploring (there is a chateau and a fine church). On the way, pause for a wine-tasting – a real highlight – and look out for a subterranean troglodytic village. You can either return by another relatively direct route; or cross the Loire to visit some mushroom caves and explore the marais north of the river, an area of flat, fertile farmland.
    Saumur on the circular route from Fontevraud
    Circular route from Fontevraud: 33.5km
    Circular route from Fontevraud longer option: 42km
  • Choice of routes from Fontevraud to Chinon: 23.5km or 60km

    Fontevraud to Chinon: 23.5km
    Our route today leads through woodland and undulating farmland, passing villages with pretty churches and small chateaux. On arrival in Chinon, spend time exploring the chateau (which commands superb views over the Vienne Valley) and enjoy, perhaps, a wine-tasting in another troglodytic setting. You stay at the Hotel de France.

    Fontevraud to Chinon via Richelieu: 60km
    A longer route crosses similar landscapes but loops south to take in the fascinating town of Richelieu; the beautiful stained-glass windows in the church at Champigny-sur-Veude; and a visit to an unusual 'petit château'.
    Chinon's bridge and chateau
    Fontevraud to Chinon: 23.5km
    Fontevraud to Chinon via Richelieu: 60km
  • Chinon to Azay-le-Rideau: 38km
    You head east from Chinon across open countryside, first through vineyards to Crissay-sur-Manse (one of the 'most beautiful villages in France'), before turning north across farmland and woodland and past cliffs in which there are numerous cave dwellings. Continue through Villaine-les-Rochers, the basket-weaving capital of France, to return to Azay.

    End your holiday with one last visit – the fairy-tale turreted chateau of Azay-le-Rideau should not be missed – before a final night at the hotel where you began, the Hotel de Biencourt.
    Chinon to Azay-le-Rideau: 38km
    The Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
 

Accommodation

You stay at a mixture of comfortable hotels and a smaller guesthouse.
 

Options to extend or shorten your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 6 nights: 01 April 2021 - 31 October 2021 & 01 April 2022 - 31 October 2022

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 27 Apr 2021 £885 £260
    28 Apr - 21 May 2021 £940 £260
    22 May - 27 Sep 2021 £980 £270
    28 - 30 Sep 2021 £940 £260
    1 - 25 Oct 2021 £885 £260
    1 - 27 Apr 2022 £930 £275
    28 Apr - 21 May 2022 £990 £275
    22 May - 27 Sep 2022 £1030 £285
    28 - 30 Sep 2022 £990 £275
    1 - 25 Oct 2022 £930 £275
    3rd & 4th person discount -£50
    Single traveller supplement £50

    Includes accommodation, meals, bike hire, luggage transfers and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus cycling notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Electric bikes available: add £60 in 2021, £63 in 2022 per person

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

    6 nights: 01 April 2021 - 31 October 2021 & 01 April 2022 - 31 October 2022

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 27 Apr 2021 £1140 £260
    28 Apr - 21 May 2021 £1195 £260
    22 May - 27 Sep 2021 £1235 £270
    28 - 30 Sep 2021 £1195 £260
    1 - 25 Oct 2021 £1140 £260
    1 - 27 Apr 2022 £1180 £275
    28 Apr - 21 May 2022 £1240 £275
    22 May - 27 Sep 2022 £1280 £285
    28 - 30 Sep 2022 £1240 £275
    1 - 25 Oct 2022 £1180 £275
    3rd & 4th person discount -£110 to -£115
    Single traveller supplement £110 to £115

    Includes all elements in the 'cycle price', plus standard-class travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras or Ebbsfleet International to Lille or Paris, with onward travel as described below.

    Electric bikes available: add £60 in 2021, £63 in 2022 per person

    Included travel: UK–Paris (Eurostar), Paris–St Pierre des Corps (TGV), approx duration out 6h10/home 7h & taxi transfer (out 0h45/home allow 1h).
    > More about 'by rail' prices
    > The 'rail experience': what to expect

    If you book your holiday less than 6 months in advance of your travel date, seats may no longer be available at the tariffs on which our prices are based, but we may be able to offer you seats on the same services at a supplement.

    6 nights: 01 April 2021 - 31 October 2021 & 01 April 2022 - 31 October 2022

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 27 Apr 2021 £945 £260
    28 Apr - 21 May 2021 £995 £260
    22 May - 27 Sep 2021 £1045 £270
    28 - 30 Sep 2021 £995 £260
    1 - 25 Oct 2021 £945 £260
    1 - 27 Apr 2022 £995 £275
    28 Apr - 21 May 2022 £1045 £275
    22 May - 27 Sep 2022 £1090 £285
    28 - 30 Sep 2022 £1045 £275
    1 - 25 Oct 2022 £995 £275
    3rd & 4th person discount -£110 to -£115
    Single traveller supplement £110 to £115

    Includes all elements in the 'cycle price', plus a return ferry crossing between Dover and Calais with P&O Ferries for your party and one car.

    > More information about travelling self-drive

    Electric bikes available: add £60 in 2021, £63 in 2022 per person

    A supplement of approximately £35 per car per single journey applies on certain dates over the Easter holidays. A supplement of approximately £56 per car per single journey applies outbound on Fridays & Saturdays and inbound on Saturdays & Sundays in late May/early June and during the school summer holidays. Please contact us for more details.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    La Croix Blanche, Fontevraud
    'Mini suite': 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021 £25
    'Mini suite': 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2022 £26
    Hotel de France, Chinon
    Superior: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021 £22
    Superior: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2022 £24

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Prices include an extra day’s hire of a standard bike and of an e-bike.
    La Croix Blanche, Fontevraud (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 30 Apr 2021 £134 £170
    01 May - 30 Sep 2021 £154 £190
    01 Oct - 31 Oct 2021 £134 £170
    01 Apr - 30 Apr 2022 £140 £178
    01 May - 30 Sep 2022 £162 £200
    01 Oct - 31 Oct 2022 £140 £178
    Hotel de France, Chinon (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021 £98 £148
    01 Apr - 31 Oct 2022 £104 £156
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Tours or Paris CDG
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Paris CDG. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Paris CDG Air France,  KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Paris CDG KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Paris CDG Air France,  easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Paris CDG Air France,  easyJet 
    Edinburgh - St Pierre des Corps via Paris CDG air/rail Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Paris CDG easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Paris CDG jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Paris CDG easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Paris CDG easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Paris CDG British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    London Southend - Paris CDG easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Tours Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Paris CDG Air France,  easyJet 
    Manchester - St Pierre des Corps via Paris CDG air/rail Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Paris CDG Air France,  KLM 
    Newcastle - St Pierre des Corps via Paris CDG air/rail Air France 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Paris CDG. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above except those operated by Ryanair. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Paris

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Paris CDG airport to St Pierre des Corps (2h40), taxi St Pierre des Corps to hotel (0h45) £88 1700
    rail Paris Montparnasse to St Pierre des Corps (1h05), taxi St Pierre des Corps to hotel (0h45) £77 in 2021, £76 in 2022 1600
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to St Pierre des Corps station (0h45), rail St Pierre des Corps to Paris CDG airport (2h40) £88 1500
    taxi hotel to St Pierre des Corps (0h45), rail St Pierre des Corps to Paris Montparnasse (1h) £77 in 2021, £76 in 2022 1500

    Connecting travel options - via St Pierre des Corps

    Outward route Price per person Latest train
    arrival time
    taxi St Pierre des Corps to hotel (0h45) £37 in 2021, £36 in 2022 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest train
    departure time
    taxi hotel to St Pierre des Corps (0h45) £37 in 2021, £36 in 2022 flexible

    Connecting travel options - flying via Tours

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    direct taxi Tours airport to hotel (1h) £43 in 2021, £45 in 2022 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to Tours airport (1h) £43 in 2021, £45 in 2022 flexible
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 3 dinners
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • high-quality bicycle
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 6 reviews
  • Mrs S Pugh
    Ipswich
    23 August 2019

    This was our first cycling holiday with Inntravel and we enjoyed the thoughtful choice of routes, mostly along very quiet roads with wonderful, expansive views. We particulary liked Hotel de Biencourt in Azay le Rideau and our top sites were Fontevraud Abbey and Chinon castle.

  • Anon
    19 July 2019

    Excellent arrangements, transfers and tips.  Inntravel did everything well and in a highly professional manner.  Hotel accommodations were better than expected and included meals were very good.  We would highly recommend this trip in the Spring or Fall.

  • Mrs A Fraser
    Brechin
    18 July 2019

    We thoroughly enjoyed the relaxed cycling through the rolling countryside with all the wonderful châteaux to visit. Food and drink were exceptional. Hotel de Biencourt in Azay-le-Rideau could not have been more helpful. We returned on an extremely hot day and, although our room was not ready, we were able to use the facilities to change out of our cycling gear and sit in the shade with a cooling drink.

  • Mr A Allen
    Southampton
    10 July 2019

    In Azay, on the main road Rue Nationale is a good boulangerie/patisserie with charcuterie opposite, and wine shop (Couly-dutheil) literally just down the road from the Hotel de Biencourt. Fontevraud lovely, despite having the popular abbey literally off the main square; the day-trip option to Saumur was great, we'd recommend the Auberge St.Pierre restaurant/bar for food (lunch). Chinon is a lovely town. Very good food at At'able, and brilliant patisserie just down the street from there selling local specialities.

  • Mrs J Pope
    Taunton
    01 July 2019

    The overall cycle route were brilliant with quiet cycle paths and quiet roads.  At no time did we have to cycle on a busy road.  The Loire Valley countryside was beautiful with the contrast between the riverside paths and inland cycle routes consisting of woodland, miles of vines and sunflowers and wheat crops.  And then there were the châteaux to visit.  We enjoyed every day and were always able to follow the directions easily.

  • Ms J Ihle
    Australia
    31 May 2019

    A fantastic cycling trip on quiet lanes and green ways through lovely countryside and villages. It was a chance to see the Loire up close and personal. The accommodation was well chosen and evening meals where provided were great. Also appreciated the cafe suggestions on route and restaurant ideas on the free nights, they proved great suggestions. The cycling notes were spot on.
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • If your holiday plans go awry because of Coronavirus, rest assured that we’ll do right by you. Since the start of the pandemic, our flexible booking policy and prompt issuing of refunds to customers who prefer not to defer their holiday have earned us high praise in the national press.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – cycling holidays are ideal in these times of social distancing, and we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety, not least taking tests before and after your holiday for many destinations.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
    Entry requirements for non-UK destinations & for re-entering the UK >
  • Our chosen bike rental shop will provide you with a hybrid bike with 21 gears; a waterproof map case on handlebars; panniers/saddlebags; pump; puncture repair kit; and a lock. Electric bikes are available as an upgrade (see price panel), subject to availability, and must be requested at the time of booking.
  • While we would always recommend that you take your own well-fitting helmet, they can be hired locally for a small fee. Please let us know at the time of booking if you would like to hire a helmet.
  • Yes, we will provide GPX tracks for this holiday prior to departure so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. (We also provide maps and our tried-and-tested route notes, which remain the principal means of navigation).
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. On mornings when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation so that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.
  • You are responsible for damage to or loss of the rental bike while it is hired to you. Always be careful to lock it up, ideally to an immovable object, and remove all easy-to-steal accessories whenever you leave it unattended.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines (but not, currently, with Ryanair). As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out our recommended travel insurance policy (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to France, but not a visa. If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The official language is French. The currency is the Euro. French time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.

    At Inntravel we work in close partnership with our hoteliers, taxi drivers and other local suppliers to provide our self-guided holidays directly to you. We are entirely confident that you will continue to receive the usual warm welcome from them, regardless of what is happening in the European political sphere.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 12/1/2021 4:05:53 PM