Loire Valley: Fontevraud Cycling Tour
Explore the castles, gardens, and wine regions around Fontevraud
Lifetime Deposit
Self-Guided
Loire Valley: Fontevraud Cycling Tour Overview
The Loire Valley: Fontevraud Cycling Tour invites you to discover the mesmerizing landscapes that form the Loire Valley, with the small town of Fontevraud L'Abbaye as your base. This 6-day self-guided cycling holiday is the perfect way to experience France's Loire Valley on two wheels and at your own pace.
Enjoy the convenience of unpacking only once during this trip, with a comfortable historic hotel as your base in Fontevraud. Fontevraud is home to France's most extensive collection of monastic buildings, making it an ideal place to sightsee on foot and two wheels. Explore the castles, gardens, and unspoiled countryside of the Loire Valley, and hop off your bike to stop at historic towns and ancient sites around Fontevraud.
Customize this cycling adventure by choosing from a wide range of daily routes varying in length and difficulty, allowing you to see the Loire Valley your way! Ride through enchanting woods and fields of yellow sunflowers stretching up the sun as you set out on mesmerizing routes to Chinon, Saumur, and several charming villages along the way. Take in the splendour of the Royal Abbey of Our Lady of Fontevraud and the grand Château de Saumur as you explore these illustrious fortresses on foot. Enjoy a break for lunch in the scenic town of Chinon, posting up on a terrace overlooking the Vienne River with a glass of superb local wine in hand.
This cycling tour of the Loire Valley invites you to embark on an unforgettable journey. Experience this spellbinding region of France for yourself!
Trip highlights
Enjoy leisurely cycling routes as you set out daily on mesmerizing rides from your base hotel in Fontevraud.
Immerse yourself in a world of castles, gardens, medieval towns, and ancient abbeys.
Customize this fabulous cycling tour, choosing from a wide selection of daily routes that cater to your preferences.
Visit and explore the famous Royal Abbey of Our Lady of Fontevraud, founded in 1101.
Day By Day Itinerary
Your tour begins in beautiful Fontevraud L'Abbaye, a small commune in the Loire Valley that will be your amiable base for the duration of the tour.
Once you've settled into your accommodations, head out to explore Fontevraud L'Abbaye, a village that is home to France's most extensive collection of monastic buildings. It goes without saying that the Fontevraud Abbey is an ideal place to begin your exploration of this historic town!
- Overnight Location:
- Hotel in Fontevraud
- Distance:
- None
- Meals:
- Dinner
Your cycling adventure in the Loire Valley begins with the perfect introduction to this breathtaking region. Enjoying a flat route at your own pace, you’ll cruise through lovely woods and fields of sunflowers bursting with colour (when in bloom) towards the historic town of Chinon.
You’ll find the Château de Chinon perched on the bank of the Vienne River here. Hop off your bike to explore the ancient fortress before perhaps stopping for lunch and a glass of local wine. After all, you are in the Chinon wine region!
Return to Fontevraud, completing today’s circuit with a stop at famous French author François Rabelais’ museum on the way if you please.
- Overnight Location:
- Hotel in Fontevraud
- Distance:
- 42km, 216m of ascent, 220m of descent
- Meals:
- Breakfast
Perched on the wild Loire, you’ll uncover your second majestic riverside chateau today, the grand Château de Saumur. A gorgeous route will lead you to Saumur this morning, where you’ll explore another fantastic wine town. Saumur is not only known for its majestic castle and fine grapes but also its 17th-century church of Notre Dame.
Spend as much time as you’d like in Saumur, then either continue the loop back to Fontevraud or opt to take a boat ride on the Loire River to Montsoreau. From Montsoreau, the ride back to Fontevraud is a mere 4 km.
- Overnight Location:
- Hotel in Fontevraud
- Distance:
- 37km, 191m of ascent, 205m of descent
- Meals:
- Breakfast
Hop on your bike to explore the Anjou area's wide-open countryside this morning, an area known worldwide for producing the Chenin Blanc grapes. The route continues to Cadre Noir, with ample opportunities to pause along the way to soak in the peaceful green countryside. Cadre Noir is a center for prestigious horseback riding in France and is also the site of the French military riding academy.
Continue the route through the picturesque valley, enjoying gently undulating hills back to Fontevraud.
- Overnight Location:
- Hotel in Fontevraud
- Distance:
- 49km, 246m of ascent, 244m of descent
- Meals:
- Breakfast
Today is dedicated to exploring the abbey of Frantevraud (if you haven’t already done so), the intricate gardens, and surrounding villages. Take your time exploring this remarkable town that you’ve called home for the past 5 days, and enjoy discovering its most famous sights and hidden corners.
- Overnight Location:
- Hotel in Fontevraud
- Distance:
- Flexible
- Meals:
- Breakfast, Dinner
Your cycling tour comes to an end following breakfast this morning. With just under a weeks’ worth of memories made on one bike in the beautiful Loire Valley, check out of your accommodations and depart. Au revoir!
- Distance:
- None
- Meals:
- Breakfast
Tour Map
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Inclusions
Included
- 5 breakfasts and 2 dinners are included.
- Accommodations for 5 nights are included. Accommodations before and after the tour in Fontevraud are not included but can be added as a supplement.
- Transportation for your luggage are included throughout the tour (1 piece per person). Airport transfers are not included but can be booked in advance as a supplement.
- Digital route notes and maps
- GPS App
- Tourist information on all places of interest
- Tourist city tax
- 24/7 emergency phone support
- Airport Transfers
Not included
- Travel insurance
- Flights
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Visas if required
Optional Extras
- Bike rental
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Airport transfers
- Upgrade to deluxe room
- Optional activities or excursions
- Boat trip to Montsoreau
- Printed tour materials (in addition to digital)
Reviews
These reviews reflect all trips offered by this local tour partner on 10Adventures, not just the tour you’re viewing.
These reviews reflect all trips offered by this local tour partner on 10Adventures, not just the tour you’re viewing.
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FAQ
We rate this tour a 2/5. You should be comfortable riding up to 50 km in a day, but you can customize your route each day to your preferred distance and difficulty. Beyond some basic cycling ability, the tour can be tailored to your activity level. The terrain is almost entirely flat with a few very easy climbs.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
5 breakfasts and 2 dinners are included on this tour.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover cycling. Get your Travel Insurance.
Fly into Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). From the airport, you can reach Fontevraud by taking a high-speed train to Tours, which takes approximately 1 hour. Then from Tours you can travel to Saumur by train, taking approximately 30 minutes. From Saumur, you can take a taxi to Fontevraud, taking around 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can book a private transfer from the airport as a supplement in advance or arrange your own private transfer.
The tour ends in Fontevraud. You can reach either Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) by taxi and train. First take a taxi to the Saumur train station, then from Saumur to Tours. From Tours, take a final train to the airport. The whole journey should take between 2 and 3 hours. Alternatively, you can book a private transfer to the airport as a supplement in advance or arrange your own private transfer.
Yes, you can rent a bike during the booking process. Rental bikes are ARCADE Escape Men/Lady 24-speed hybrid bikes or KALKHOFF Voyager 8i e-bikes.
The bikes come with a pannier, handlebar bag, spare tube, tools, pump, helmet and lock.
Yes. If you bring your own bike, it should be a bike suitable for the demands of the tour.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
The best time to travel to the Loire Valley for this cycling tour is during the shoulder seasons of April-June and September-October when the crowds are lighter than during peak summer months.
Why book Loire Valley: Fontevraud Cycling Tour with 10 Adventures?
Self-guided Specialists
Combine the freedom of travelling on your own with the confidence that all of the logistics are taken care of.
Packed with Inclusions
Accommodations, luggage transfers, gear rentals, and more - all taken care of so you can focus on making memories.
World Class Support
Have peace of mind for when travel plans change with our hassle-free booking process and unbeatable support.
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