Start: Orléans

Your Itinerary

Orléans to Saumur (Loire Valley) Self Guided Cycling Holiday
Self-Guided | Individual | 8 days | 7 nights | From £669 per person
Other durations available on request.
Full holiday prices by date are shown on the ‘Book Now’ tab.

Book the Orléans to Saumur (Loire Valley) cycling holiday here >>

Tour Highlights
• Encounter more than two hundred castles.
• Pedal from historic town to town, visiting architectural masterpieces.
• Quiet country roads and gentle terrain make for perfect cycling.
• See the house where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last years of his life.
• Cycle along the world-famous Loire Valley cycle route.

Route profile

Route mostly on low traffic roads in rural and city areas. Short stretches are on unpaved roads. Couple of days present some short uphill with the only relevant ascent to Les Baux de Provence (4km of gentle ascent).

The approximate difficulty level for this tour

Day-by-Day Cycling Holiday Itinerary

Day 1: Orléans.

Independent arrival in Orléans, homeland of Joan of Arc.

Day 2: Orléans–Beaugency/St. Dyé (30/50km).

You pedal along the Loire alternating cycle paths with back roads. After a visit to Meung-sur-Loire you arrive at the Chateau Dunois, with the beautiful medieval centre of Beaugency. A land full of water and culture will lead the way to the beautiful town of St. Dyé, an ancient river harbour

Day 3: Beaugency/St. Dyé–Blois (30/50km).

From the huge park surrounding Chambord Castle today’s trip continues at the border of the forest of Boulogne. On the other side of the Loire crowded with a wonderful bridge, you can already see the profile of Blois and its castle, the steeples of the abbey and the Cathedral of St. Louis standing out.

Day 4: Blois–Amboise (45 km).

After the visit of the city of Blois and its impressive castle, you pedal through forests up to the town of Onzain. Here it is possible to visit the castle of Chaumont built on the top of a hill overlooking the river. In Amboise you cannot miss the house where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last years of his life.

Day 5: Amboise–Tours (55 km).

After the forest of Amboise you arrive in Chenonceaux, known as the castle of the three ladies. You continue along the river Cher up to the city of Tours. You might also decide to stop for a visit at the castle of Nitray with its famous wine cellars.

Day 6: Tours–Chinon (60 km).

Pedalling between the Loire and the Cher rivers you arrive at Villandry Castle, well known for its gardens. Following the Loire river, you’ll reach the city Langeais where you can stop for a break. Before arriving in Chinon you will visit Ussé, where you can admire the castle of the Sleeping Beauty.

Day 7: Chinon–Saumur (35 km).

The tour continues along country roads beyond the confluence of the rivers Loire and Vienne arriving in Savigny en Vèron and the sites of Candes St-Martin. A few Kilometres away there is the castle of Montsoreau from which you can enjoy the landscape over the Fontevraud Abbey. At the end of the stage you will visit Saumur, considered the “Pearl of Anjou”.

Day 8: Saumur.

Departure after breakfast.Possibility to book extra nights.