A Loire Valley Family Bicycle Trip
Posted: 23/12/21
The Loire Valley is fantastic for a family bicycle trip. This gorgeous region of story-book castles and elegant châteaux will be sure to ...
Read moreOur Loire Valley cycling trips are favourites amongst our clients. Affectionately known as the Garden of France, the fertile Loire Valley is replete with opulent estates and châteaux that date back thousands of years. Once a popular region with kings, queens and nobles who established their feudal castles and ornate palaces, it hasn’t lost its character. The valleys yield abundant fruit, asparagus and grapevines. The Loire Valley is the biggest producer of white wine in France, including the Sancerre, Vouvray and Quincy appellations and the perfect destination for a leisurely cycling holiday.
Our Loire Valley cycling holidays tend to be quite flat, making them good for leisurely cyclists and families. There are well-marked routes along the Loire, Indre, Cher and Vienne rivers, through beautiful villages and past some of the region’s most notable attractions. Don’t miss the quirky troglodyte caves dotted through the valley, especially the system of caves where mushrooms are grown.
Call our cycle experts to find out more about our self guided Loire Valley bike tours. Remember, our cycling holidays are ABTA and ATOL protected.
Comedian
"Our cycling holiday was seamless from the get-go and thoroughly enjoyable – every detail thought through. We stayed in boutique hotels and enjoyed the leisurely cycling in the Loire, I highly recommend booking a trip this year."
Awarded UNESCO status for its staggering number of medieval châteaux, admire the poignant turrets, cupolas and enormous banquet halls on our Loire Valley cycling tours. Cycle to the Renaissance Château de Chambord, which is the largest château in the valley. Château de Villandry is known for its triple-terraced gardens that are open year round. On the banks of the Vienne river, Chinon Fortress was the meeting place of Dauphin Charles VII and Joan of Arc, before her battle to free the city of Orléans from the British.
You'll enjoy some of the finest cuisine on our Loire Valley cycling trips. Salmon and pike perch are line-caught and perfectly accompanied by locally grown mushrooms, white asparagus and artichokes. Fruit bowls are overflowing with cherries, pears and strawberries. Crisp, dry Sauvignon Blanc and sweet Chenin Blanc white wine is produced from small, home-run vines. If you are in Chinon on a Thursday morning, cycle to the farmers market to pick up picnic supplies of fresh fruit, vegetables and delicious locally made cheeses.
Famed for its grand châteaux, leftover from its past as a preferred home for French royals and aristocrats, few other regions in the world exude the same sense of class as...
Based on our classic Châteaux of the Loire itinerary, this tour harnesses the power of e-bikes to make it easier for you to see even more of this beautiful corner of...
The magical region of Loire; world-famous for its marvellous châteaux, magnificent rivers, delicious wines and fabulous cycling holidays, of course!
A fantastic single centre cycling holiday in the stylish and sumptuous apartments of the Chateau de Candes.
The Hotel Marine de Loire is a boutique hotel set on the bank of the River Loire in the village of Montsoreau. Choose from one of the four lovely self catered apartments.
The Loire Valley has 500 miles of bike paths, which are relatively flat and easy to cycle along. Cycling for Softies has both guided and self guided cycling tours available.
The Cycling for Softies tours to the Loire run from April to October. We decide to run during this time of year because of the good weather conditions. In addition, landmarks, shops and accommodation are open during this time.
Our expert team will make your Loire Valley cycling holiday as smooth as possible from start to finish. When you book a flight-inclusive package we will provide you with all the latest travel information you need. We are also ABTA & ATOL bonded so you can book with confidence.
Our guided and self guided cycling tours in the Loire Valley are curated for easy cycling which makes it very inclusive for any level of cyclist joining the trip. The terrain isn’t tricky and the distances are very manageable. There are plenty of stops too.
Posted: 23/12/21
The Loire Valley is fantastic for a family bicycle trip. This gorgeous region of story-book castles and elegant châteaux will be sure to ...
Read morePosted: 10/08/21
Dotted with majestic châteaux as individual as they are grand, the Loire Valley feels so beautifully out of step with the rest of ...
Read morePosted: 20/01/22
In a region of castles and châteaux with a history soaked in the dalliances of royals, you'd expect the food and wine to be world-cl...
Read morePosted: 12/10/22
The Loire Valley cycling routes have a mixture of delicious culinary experiences and stunning landscapes of the French countryside and C...
Read morePosted: 01/11/19
Follow in the footsteps of Joan of Arc and Leonardo da Vinci on a fascinating cycling & châteaux holiday in the Loire Val...
Read morePosted: 23/05/22
Just as the Loire Valley contains many chateaux, there are many wine varieties produced here. Each is unique and forms part of the tap...
Read moreBritain's original ski travel agency and tailor-made ski tour operator, Ski Solutions has been arranging ski holidays for over 30 years across Europe and North America. The Ski Solutions team are all skiing experts, and their knowledge and passion for the mountains will ensure you experience a truly memorable ski holiday.
Visit websiteThe ultimate collection of European Cycling Holidays. BSpoke's cycling experts can tailor-make your perfect holiday where you can travel at your own pace or in a group of like-minded individuals. A BSpoke Tour is all about being as restful or as adventurous as you desire.
Visit websiteWilderness Scotland offers an inspiring range of guided and customised adventure holidays, in the most remote and beautiful regions of Scotland. The Wilderness Scotland team know how to create enriching adventure holidays and know the wild places of Scotland better than anyone.
Visit websiteSpecialists in offering a range of adventure holidays, tours and incredible wilderness experiences. Wilderness Ireland take their clients to the most remote and beautiful regions of Ireland, all while staying at the most welcoming accommodations and delivering outstanding customer service.
Visit websiteWilderness England creates incredible journeys into the wild and magical outdoor spaces across Yorkshire, the Lake District, Northumberland, the Cotswolds and the Peak District. Providing inspiring active experiences, immerse yourself in the unique landscapes, history, culture and wildlife on a Wilderness England adventure.
Visit website
Our holidays reviewed by you
July 2023
A fabulous and relaxing way to explore the Loire Valley.
July 2023
The Loire is so beautiful - cycling along the river, amongst vineyards, fields of sunflowers, and routes that were easy to follow and not too strenuous. A great mix of cycling and relaxing. 100% recommendation.
June 2023
The Loire Valley route was particularly family-friendly on the bike paths. Our kids enjoyed the journey as much as the destinations.
August 2022
Visiting chateaux and the abbey, stopping at little bars along the way, and cycling through the French countryside. Excellent.
June 2022
It's difficult to choose a particular part as the variety was something we particularly enjoyed. Loved the combination of quiet villages and easy off-road tracks.
May 2022
Excellent restaurants were reserved for us so no trudging around towns looking at menus and restaurants - we went straight in and had delicious food. Tip top
May 2022
The cycle routes were beautiful- lovely countryside almost all completely unspoilt, very quiet with little or no other traffic.