Home Cycle tours With children Family cycling holidays and fairytale castles of the Loire Valley

Family cycling holidays and fairytale castles of the Loire Valley

6days

Reference: BL 601

Distance tours
Very easy
With children, Castles, Parks and gardens, Vineyards

From Blois to Amboise, cycle through the Loire castles with your family, passing through Chambord, Cheverny and Chaumont. A circuit combining bike rides, relaxation and discoveries. The rhythm of the days is ideal for children but also for all adults looking for a new form of vacation, far from stress.

You enjoy the pleasure of pedaling on flat terrain alternating safe cycle paths and small roads with little traffic. You take the time to admire the beauty of the landscapes of the banks of the Loire and Sologne, the fauna, the flora as well as the sumptuous castles, their parks and their gardens.

Come and enjoy the pleasure of meeting up with family, couples or friends for unforgettable, timeless moments.

Program

Day 1: Blois

For this first day, you will discover the royal city of Blois, its gardens, its monumental staircases, the streets lined with half-timbered houses, the house of magic with its dragons which punctuate the hours and of course, the royal castle.

At nightfall, let yourself be tempted by the magnificent sound and light projected on the 4 facades of the castle. Much better than books to captivate the youngest and revise the history of France!

A great introduction before setting off on the paths of the Loire Valley and its history.

Option: Château de Blois + Sound and Light (included in the Chateaux Package)

Free tour of the castle + Sound and Light “Thus Blois is told to you”

Day 2: Blois - Chambord - Bracieux

30 km

You begin your cycling journey by leaving Blois via the banks of the Loire and a beautiful cycle path which will allow the whole family to get their bearings by bike in complete safety. Take a few breaks to watch the birds on the beaches and sandbanks or try your hand at a few ricochets on the water with the children!

Then head for the most majestic of the Loire castles: Chambord. Take advantage of the lawns for a picnic and take a few hours to visit the castle. Here children are kings and numerous activities enhance their visit. In the footsteps of Francis 1^er, climb the sumptuous staircase with its two intertwined banisters and have fun going up to the terraces without ever crossing paths. Stroll on the terraces among the richly decorated fireplaces and turrets to enjoy a 360° view of the park and the forest.

You reach the Solognot village of Bracieux via the Boulogne forest.

Optional: Château de Chambord (included in the Chateaux Package)

Free tour of the castle and French gardens.

Day 3: Bracieux – Chitenay

26km - 36km

Today you are traveling through the multiple landscapes of wine-growing Sologne: vineyards, wooded areas, cultivated fields and meadows.

In Cheverny discover a new castle which will delight the whole family with its richly furnished interior and its architecture which inspired Hergé to create the Château de Moulinsart. A permanent exhibition offers a fun dive into the world of Tintin.

Along the way, the small castles of Villesavin and Troussay, the smallest castle in the Loire, invite you to take a break.

A 10 kilometer extension offers a circuit in Sologne through the Cheverny forest.

Option: Château de Cheverny (included in the Chateaux Package)

Free visit of the castle, the park and the 6 thematic gardens.

Day 4: Chitenay - Chaumont-sur-Loire (or Mosnes)

20 km or 29 km

Follow the courses of the Beuvron and the Cosson to the Loire then follow the river on a beautiful shaded cycle path which leads straight to the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire.

Get off your bike for a few hours, take the time to have a picnic on the banks of the Loire. Then let yourself be amazed and surprised by the castle, worthy of a fairy tale, and by its famous International Garden Festival where each year around thirty landscape artists from all over the world present original and poetic creations around a theme always renewed.

Option: Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire (included in the Chateaux Package)

Free visit of the castle, the park and the international garden festival.

Day 5: Chaumont-sur-Loire (or Mosnes) - Amboise

13km - 22km

To reach Amboise, you alternate between the cycle paths along the Loire and the small roads of the AOC Touraine-Amboise vineyard on the overhanging hillside. The arrival at Amboise from the heights is spectacular. A few pedal strokes from the city center, you can see the Chanteloup pagoda, the Royal Domain of Château-Gaillard or, to the delight of the youngest, the mini-castle park.

Amboise is a lively little town on the banks of the Loire where it is good to stroll at the end of the day and sit on one of the terraces at the foot of the castle.

Option: Château d’Amboise and Clos Lucé (included in the Chateaux Package)

Self-guided tour of the Royal Château d'Amboise and the Manoir du Clos Lucé

Day 6: Amboise

Day without cycling to take the time to visit Amboise: the royal castle, a mix of medieval and yet Renaissance fortress, its remarkable gardens and their panorama of the Loire Valley, Clos Lucé, last home of Leonardo da Vinci and the models giants of his incredible inventions.

Extension of bike rental possible for the day.

End of your trip
Additional night in Amboise possible.
To customize your trip contact us.

Accommodation

In hotels or B&Bs, we offer a rigorous selection of accommodation in 3 different categories.

Standard category

Comfortable 2-star hotels or similar accommodation, where charm and simplicity combine for cozy and relaxing stops after a day of cycling. Ideally located along the routes.

Non-contractual photos presented to illustrate the type of accommodation corresponding to the standard category.

Prices

Low season

High season

from April 1 to April 11

from September 13 to November 3

Standard category 640 € / person

Based on a 2-person room
Single room supplement 270 € / person

Child discount *

From 0 to 2 years: 75 %
From 3 to 11 years old: 45 %
From 12 to 17 years old: 45 %

*Discount applicable for children under 18 sharing a room with two adults.

The price includes :

Accommodation: 5 nights in a double room
5 breakfasts
4 days of rental of an equipped “VTC” bike
Baggage transport
A travel diary with practical and tourist information
The GPS route app
Telephone support 7 days a week
Tourist taxes
Application fee

The price does not include:

Lunches and dinners
Drinks and personal expenses
Parking fees
Entrances and site visits
Optional insurance (cancellation or cancellation & multi-risk)

Optional extras

Electric bike supplement

4 days

Bike discount

if you come with your own bike

105

Half board supplement

4 dinners / excluding drinks

138

Visits pack

Blois (castle + sound & light), Chambord, Cheverny, Domaine de Chaumont (Castle + Garden Festival), Clos Lucé and Château d'Amboise

115

Off-season baggage transport supplement

from 01/03 to 01/04 and from 16/10 to 15/11

100

Cancellation insurance

for information only, variable depending on the total price of the stay

Cancellation & multi-risk insurance

for information only, variable depending on the total price of the stay

Standard category

Extra night in Blois

Based on a 2-person room 62 € / person

(breakfast included)
Single room supplement 41 € / person

Extra night in Amboise

Based on a 2-person room 68 € / person

(breakfast included)
Single room supplement 36 € / person

Information

Questions about the stay Family cycling holidays and fairytale castles of the Loire Valley

How to get to Blois?

By train :

From Paris Austerlitz TER station direct (approximately 1:30 a.m.) or with connection to Orléans (approximately 2:00 a.m.)
From Paris Montparnasse station by TGV to Saint Pierre des Corps then by TER to Blois (approximately 2h00)

For more information, consult the SNCF website: www.sncf.com

Blois Chambord train station is located 500 meters from the castle.

By car :

From Paris 1:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. via the A10 motorway (Paris-Orléans-Bordeaux) exit no. 17 in Blois
From Lyon – Exit n°14 on the A85 motorway at Romorantin (30 minutes south of Blois)

Where to park in Blois?

You can park in the Stationeo underground car parks (around €9 per 24 hours). You can pay as soon as you arrive in the car park, so you can come in and out as many times as you want. The Château car park (2 avenue du Docteur Jean Laigret) is ideally located in the heart of Blois and at the foot of the château. Please note that each Stationeo underground car park has charging stations for electric vehicles.

For more information on Blois car parks, consult www.stationeo.fr

When to arrive in Blois?

Your first day does not include bike rental. You arrive at the time of your convenience but before the reception of your accommodation closes. Your room is available in the afternoon, however, you can drop off your luggage at reception earlier in the day.

Séjours

The bikes

We work with cycle professionals whose comfortable and robust bikes are renewed, maintained and serviced regularly. Each bike is equipped with a handlebar bag, a rear bag (15 or 20 liters) and a helmet. We provide smartphone support and repair kit per reservation. We provide breakdown assistance on all our rental bikes.

Your stay includes the rental of a VTC (all-road bike) adapted to your size or that of your child.

You have the option of opting for a electric bike. With an average range of 80 kilometers, the electric bike allows you to enjoy each stage with ease, whatever the distance and elevation. Note that this type of bike requires a minimum height of 1m55 and maximum of 1m90.

For children, we offer a wide range of solutions depending on their age: child seat, child trailer, follower bike, follow-me system.

The terms and conditions for collecting and returning your bike are communicated in the travel diary.

You can also come with your own bike. Please note that in this case, you will not be able to benefit from breakdown assistance, will not be able to rent accessories and the possible repatriation of your bike to the starting point will have to be organized by you yourself.
Baggage transfer from one stage to another

If you have requested baggage transfer or if the service is already included in your package, you are asked to drop it off each morning at the reception of your accommodation, before 9:00 a.m. They are delivered to you during the day, before 6:00 p.m., to your next accommodation.
The travel diary
Before your departure, you will receive a travel diary containing all the information useful to your stay:
- The detailed program of your trip, day by day (meeting time and address on the first day, accommodation details, useful addresses, points of interest, etc.).
- Connection to our GPS application during your trip (step-by-step route, points of interest and practical information).
- Exchange vouchers.
- Tourist information and advice for cycling with complete peace of mind.
- A support number.
What to do cycling at the end of your stay?

We organize the repatriation of all bicycles rented with Trip à Vélo during our roaming stays. For loop or star stays, the bikes are returned by you to partner establishments. In all cases, the drop-off address will be communicated to you in the travel diary.

If you came with your own bike, any repatriation must be organized by you. Regional TERs accept bicycles on board (see the conditions on the SNCF website: www.sncf.com ).
How to return to the city of departure?

If you have to return to the city of departure, the return must be organized by you.

By train: numerous TER trains serve the cities of Orléans, Blois, Onzain, Amboise, Tours and Saumur at a high daily frequency during the season. You can already consult the SNCF website: www.sncf.com. You will also find more information on timetables in your travel diary.

At your request, we can organize a taxi transfer (surcharge).

You have not found your answer ? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

A QUESTION?

I'm asking a question

Family cycling holidays and fairytale castles of the Loire Valley

Civil status

Mr. Ms.

First name

Last name

Phone number

E-mail

Message

Your times of availability

By submitting this form, I accept that the information entered will be used as part of the request for information and the commercial relationship that may result from it. To know and exercise your rights, in particular to withdraw your consent to the use of data collected by this form, please consult our privacy policy.