Loire Valley

Day 1

Transfers are from Tours Airport and Tours TGV Station (Saint-Pierre-des-Corps). We arrive at our hotel in the village of Azay-le-Rideau, with its Renaissance château, one of the most beautiful in France. The château is surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Indre, and this stunning setting is perfect for lazing on the lawns, and maybe taking in the son et lumière sound and laser show later in the evening.

At the hotel we will have a look at the bikes and make sure everyone is perfectly fitted to their bicycle. There will be an optional afternoon excursion to visit the troglodyte houses at Les Goupillières. Only abandoned as recently as 100 years ago, the hamlet is a fascinating contrast to the splendour of the chateaux, showing how the peasants who dug the limestone for their construction really lived.

There should be time before dinner to explore the village before meeting our fellow riders and look forward to the pleasures of the road ahead over the first of many wonderful meals.

Day 2

Our first day in the saddle takes us along the Indre, Loire and Cher rivers into Tours. On the way, we take in three of the region’s celebrated châteaux. Cycling downstream along the Indre, we arrive at the Château d'Ussé, also known as the 'Sleeping Beauty' castle, as it was the inspiration for Pérrault's fairy tale. After a coffee here we join the Loire, following the river upstream on a raised embankment for the next few miles, then we cross the Loire to visit Langeais with its imposing château.

After lunch we follow the Cher to the Château de Villandry to see its fabulous ornamental gardens, differently themed each year, and laid out with geometric precision in fruit, herbs and vegetables. It is hard to imagine that peppers, leeks and aubergines could put on such a beautiful display. From here it a short riverside ride to our chateau-hotel on the outskirts of Tours.

Total distance: 52 km / 31 miles

Day 3

This morning takes us along the Cher into Tours, and then out into the Touraine countryside. The route then takes us to the village of Cormery with its Abbey founded in 791, and home to a excellent restaurant for a lunch stop.

Back on the road, we pass through the village of Azay-sur-Cher before entering the Amboise forest, continuing along one of the arrow-straight forest drives created for the royal hunting parties. The drive ends at the Pagode de Chanteloupe, a remarkable 18th C folly measuring 44m which can be climbed for stunning panoramas over the Loire Valley.

A short descent takes us into Amboise, where our hotel for the next two nights, a 15th century manor house, awaits. Amboise itself clusters around a stunning medieval château overlooking the river and our hotel is just around the corner in the old town.

Total distance: 52 km / 31 miles

Day 4

We stay in Amboise this evening, so we take a loop ride out to visit perhaps the most beautiful chateau in the Loire Valley. We climb into the Amboise forest before descending into the valley of the Cher to arrive at Chenonceaux. One of the highlights of the tour, the stunning Château de Chenonceau (it loses the final ‘x’ of the village for some reason!) was given by Henri II of France to his mistress Diane de Poitiers. With its graceful arches spanning the river Cher, it is the most visited château of the Loire, and it is truly unforgettable.

After lunch there is the option to return to Amboise to spend the afternoon, or for the more energetic to visit elegant Château de Montpoupon. The castle is home to one of Frances foremost hunts and the grounds house a fascinating museum of hunting, and the kitchens and stables give an insight into daily life of the gentry and servants in the 18th Century.

34km / 21 miles (short option) 59km / 36 miles (with Montpoupon loop)

Day 5

Leaving Amboise, we stop off to visit Clos-Lucé, the home of Leonardo da Vinci. As well as drawings and designs, this fascinating museum includes several life-size reconstructions of what these sketches would be like had they been made. Amboise itself clusters around a stunning medieval château overlooking the river.

Leaving Clos-Lucé we head across the rich and fertile heartlands of the 'Jardin de France' to the Château de Chaumont — on the death of Henri II, Diane de Poitiers was forced by his widow to take this château in exchange for her beloved Chenonceau — see who you think got the best deal!

If you fancy a change from medieval brickwork, Chaumont is also host every summer to an internationally renowned Garden Festival where areas of the grounds are laid out in different themes — the inventiveness knows no bounds.

After lunch, we come to our château hotel near the village of Cours-Cheverney. The wonderful hotel has extensive grounds for a pre dinner stroll or maybe visit a local winery for a dégustation.

Total distance: 52km / 32 miles

Day 6

We visit two châteaux today; the first, Cheverney has truly impressive interiors with period furniture, tapestries and paintings all intact. A feature of the château is the pack of hunting dogs still kept there - a highlight of the visit is watching the feeding of the hounds. For fans of the "Tintin" childrens' adventure books Cheverney was the inspiration for Captain Haddock's castle, and a museum there is dedicated to the characters.

The second château is also the largest and possibly the most impressive — Chambord. Taking 15 years to build in the 16th Century, it is surrounded by a vast hunting park alive with wildlife. The interior is just as impressive, dominated by the 'double helix' staircase on which two people can ascend and descend at the same time, yet never meet. Most of the day is spent on the well maintained forest trails of the royal hunting parks. We continue through the forests to reach the Loire and continue along the banks to our delightful hotel near the medieval town of Beaugency.

Total distance: 49km / 31 miles

Day 7

After breakfast, a chance for some last minute shopping for presents and souvenirs, before we say goodbye to new friends made and transfer back to Tours for onward journeys.

“We took the Loire Valley bike trip with French Cycling last summer and it was the best family vacation of our lives. We took our two grown children, one spouse and one friend, so we counted for 6 of the 12 in the group.

“The routes were wonderful; the pace was great; we had terrific support from the company; it was fun; it was informative; it was absolutely wonderfully organized and orchestrated from beginning to end. We felt well taken care of without feeling suffocated.

“The places we ate, the places we stayed were first rate. We enjoyed every minute and I cannot recommend this group enough.

“I can't imagine a tour group doing a better job.“

Peter Cobb, Georgia.

“Good morning Mike

“We just came back Monday night from Europe.

“The best part of our holiday was certainly our cycling tour.

“Ken and Ross are great guides and because of them our week was very special in every way, the kids just loved them.

“The rooms, the food, the route, the service and attention we received were way above our expectations.

“Thank you to you Mike for your patience and answering all my questions in details within 24 hours, I believe that is why we chose the French Cycling Tour.

“We are going to have wonderful memories of France and again thank you to Ross and Ken and you. We hope to be able to do it all over in the future.”

Doug, Carole, Johanne and Grant, Alberta.

“Alan and Marie were very pleasant, patient and helpful guides whose thoughtfulness very much added to the enjoyment of an excellent trip.”

Conor Hayes, Dublin, Ireland.

“Hi Ruth,

“I just got back from France and wanted to tell you how great of a time Helene and I had on the tour. Terrific biking, extremely nice guides, wonderful places to stay, and great food. A succesful trip. Thank you!”

Aric Gitomer, New Jersey.