Loire River Cycle Path Orléans to Chinon

8 Days & 7 Nights 4.8 Read 12 reviews
  • Easy cycling along the Loire River cycle path
  • Explore the royal towns of Amboise and Blois
  • Visit the historic Châteaux of Villandry and Azay-le-Rideau
  • Riverside picnics with local Orléans cheese
  • Discover Chinon, Loire’s town of wine
Pedal the easy going Loire River Cycle Path from Orléans to Chinon, spending each night in a different village or town. Peppered with fairy-tale castles and royal towns the Loire River is one of Europe’s finest stretches of river. From the historic stronghold of Orléans, enjoy riverside pedalling to the charming towns of Blois, Amboise, Tours and Chinon. Spend lazy afternoons, relaxing riverside with a picnic of local Loire goat’s cheese and crusty boulangerie bread. Pedal to the perfectly manicured gardens of Château Villandry and explore the ornate Château of Azay le Rideau. At Chinon, Loire’s town of wine, end your journey with a generous glass of Loire cabernet franc.
Graded easy, daily distances are between 30-45km. Pedalling a predominately flat, dedicated cycleway, follow the Loire River through royal towns and villages, discovering chateaus and famous regional cuisine. Stay in centrally located boutique B&B’s and hotels, picked for their traditional French hospitality.

Tour Type:

Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.

Activity:

Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers

As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 12 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

  • Accessible by Rail

Activity Level & Terrain

This cycling tour is graded easy with daily distances between 30 and 45 km each day. It is perfectly suited to cyclists that are venturing on their first cycling trip or perhaps haven’t ridden for a few years. It is also ideal for keen cyclists simply looking for laid back pace on flat terrain. The route follows a combination of dedicated cycle paths, quiet riverside roads and urban streets.

Navigation

You will be provided with detailed route notes and maps to help you find your way. Most of the time you will be cycling on quiet country roads and dedicated cycle paths. You will also cycle for short distances through busy urban environments. Please be mindful of all road users, adhering to local traffic laws at all times.

Accommodations

Each evening will be spent in boutique  B&B’s and 3* hotels. We will always try and accommodate you at the locations detailed below, but on occasion, especially during peak season, we do use alternate accommodation of equal or higher standard. Examples of accommodaiton are listed below.

Single Rooms

If you require single rooms within your party or are travelling as a solo cyclist single rooms are available subject to a supplementary payment. 

Meals

Breakfast is included each day at your hotel and usually consists of fresh pastries, breads, fruits, yogurts, cheeses, meats and granola. If you have special dietary requirements do let us know at the time of booking.  Lunches and dinners are not included. One of our favourite experiences of the Loire is to pick up local cheeses and boulangerie breads for a riverside picnic. As you will be staying the heart of each village or town, there are extensive cafes and restaurants to choose from in the evening. You will find a number of recommendations in your information pack.

Included
  • 7 Nights in boutique B&B’s or 3* hotels
  • 7 Breakfasts
  • Baggage transfer
  • Information pack
  • Access to route notes, detailed maps, and GPS tracks in the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
  • 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our office
Excluded
  • Travel to Orléans / from Chinon
  • Bike hire (standard hybrid)
  • Lunches, dinners, drinks & snacks
  • Chateaux entrance fees (payable locally)
  • Personal equipment
  • Travel insurance (required)
Extras
  • Additional nights along the route
  • Bike hire (standard hybrid)

When To Go

This trip is available to start on any day from April to October and is subject to availability. Peak months in Loire are June, July and August so we would suggest contacting us as soon as your plans are finalised.

Getting to the Start

Air: Paris Orly and Paris Charles De Gaulle airports connect to all major European and worldwide cities. From Paris, it is possible to connect with Orléans via train (approx 1hr journey).

Tours Val de Loire is located in the heart of the Loire and is serviced by Ryanair from both the UK and European airports. Journey time from Tours is approx 30mins by airport bus, with onward train services connecting to Orléans (approx 1hr30mins).

Ferry: The French ports of St Malo and Le Havre are an approximate 4hr drive. The popular port of Calais is also a 4hr drive. Direct Ferries have details of route crossings and sailing times to the UK.

Getting from the End

Train: Onward travel to Tours is around 1hr journey time and regular services to Paris are between 1hr30mins and 2hrs30mins. For full details of timetables and costs can be accessed via The Trainline Europe.

Ferry: The closest ferry ports to Chinon are St Malo and Le Havre and are an approximate 3hrs 30mins drive. The popular port of Calais is a 5hr drive. Direct Ferries have details of route crossings and sailing times to the UK.

Luggage Transfer

Baggage transfers are included in the price of your trip. We ask you to keep your baggage to a maximum of 1 bag per person (maximum weight 20 kg). If you require excess baggage allowance do contact us prior to travel.

General Information

The distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and trousers), sun hat and sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard cycling gear such as good shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Equipment

Trek 7.3 hybrid bikes are available for hire. All bikes are equipped with a pannier, trip computer and spare inner tube along with a pump.

Many people also choose to hire an EBike. The added battery power provides assistance when required. For more information on how EBikes work click here.

If you’d like to hire a bike, please let us know your height and frame size you currently ride. Alternatively we’re happy to answer any questions you have about the hire bike.

If you would prefer to bring your own bicycle please ensure it is thoroughly serviced and is an appropriate hybrid or touring bike for this trip.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Bike that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity, emergency evacuation and hospital care.

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Orleans Day 2 Cycle to Beaugency 20 miles / 32 km Day 3 Cycle to Blois 22 miles / 35 km Day 4 Cycle to Amboise 26 miles / 42 km Day 5 Cycle to Tours 17 miles / 28 km Day 6 Azay le Rideau 20 miles / 32 km Day 7 Cycle to Chinon 27 miles / 44 km Day 8 Onward Travel

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