Cycling Excursions Loire Valley - France

Discovery of the famous Châteaux of the Loire such as Chambord, Cheverny, Blois, Chaumont... But also discovery of the local life, a family- style guest hotel situated in a peaceful rustic village, with a colour and personality decoration: huge fireplaces, room-models of country loveliness and calm and let you appreciate in their elegant restaurant the savours of the local gastronomy!
Departure days: on request. 

Trip Highlights:

• Enjoy the various castles
• Cycle through the forest at the Domain of Chambord to visit the castle
• Wander around the medieval city of Blois
• Taste wine at the vineyards of Appellation "Cheverny"
• Total distance between 60 and 120 km, 37 and 75 mi.

You stay in a hotel near Fougères-sur-Bièvre and you can choose from several excursions:

Cycling trip option 1: Fougères-sur-Bièvre 
Distance: 24 km, 15 mi. A short cycle tour to discover the Château of Fougères-sur-Bièvre of feodal style in a nice rustic village.

Cycling trip option 2: Cheverny
Distance: 23 km, 14 mi. Your bike trip takes you through fields and vineyards, and a number of villages, via the Château de Cheverny, remarkable for its sumptuously furnished and decorated apartments, which inspired Hergé's vision of Marlinspike in the adventures of Tintin!

Cycling trip option 3: Beauregard
Distance: 14 km, 9 mi. Through the Forest of Russy with possibility to visit the Château of Beauregard famous for its Portrait Gallery.

Cycling trip option 4: Chambord
Distance: 50 km, 31 mi. Cycle through the rich Domain of Chambord forest, where a stop is essential to visit the most famous and majestic château in the Loire Valley. In its Renaissance splendour, the Château de Chambord boasts no less than 440 rooms.

Cycling trip option 5: Blois
Distance: 35 km, 22 mi. Through the forest to finally reach the Loire river banks and the nice town of Blois, worth visiting for its old quarter and also its château offering a brillant illustration of the evolution of French architecture from the Middle Ages to the 17th century.

Cycling trip option 6: Chaumont-sur-Loire
Distance: 37 km, 23 mi. Passing by the countryside before reaching the Loire banks at Chaumont-sur-Loire where you can visit the nice Château overlooking the Loire and its international "Gardens Festival".

Cycling trip option 7: Sologne area
Distance: 40 km, 25 mi. A stage in the heart of the Sologne area between forest and ponds. Along your ride, you will be able to stop in vineyards of Appellation "Cheverny", so do not hesitate to visit a local wine producer to sample a glass of Cheverny blanc!

Included:

• 4 nights on half board basis in comfortable hotel with bathroom (for an image selection, please see Flickr)
  
• 4 dinners
• Maps, itineraries and tourist information in English
• Taxes and services

Not included:

• Flight and public transportation
  
• Travel insurance
  
• Drinks, lunches and personal expenses
• Bike rental
• Any items not mentioned in the program

Optional services (to be booked in advance):

• Additional night(s) at any of the accommodations (please use booking remarks field)
  
• Airport or station arrival and/or departure transfers
  
• 21 speed men’s and ladies' bike, equipped with two saddlebags, a high visibility jacket, an anti-theft device, a map holder, a helmet and a repair kit. Adjustment by a cycling specialist. Rental bike price: $Cdn 92.-
  
• Single supplement

Additional information:
This trip is easy. Low season is from March 1st to April 30th and from October 1st to November 30th, 2012 and high season from May 1st to September 30th, 2012.

How to get there:
Best arrival and departure airport is Paris International Airport.

Take the regional train from Gare d'Austerlitz in Paris to Blois station (1.5 hours) where you can hop on the bus to the hotel.

Tip: For online rail connections and reservations visit Rail Europe.