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Overview

Biking through a Loire Valley Wine Tour

Amboise as visited on a tour of the Loire Valley FranceWhat could be better than sampling amazing French wines on our Loire Valley wine tasting tours and exploring the area’s famous Chateaux? Try doing it on a bike during this unique and refreshing wine and food tour of Loire Valley.

Among the other most know sites of the Loire Valley are the stunning chateaux that line the banks of the Loire river. This was once playground of nobles, who built fortifications starting from the 10th Century, and later magnificent chateaux to rival those being built by the French Kings. Considered architecturally the cradle of the French Renaissance and Age of Enlightenment, these stunning edifices include lavish gardens, period art and furniture, centuries-old tapestries, and more.

The Chateau de Chenonceau in FranceThe Loire Valley is a gentle, rolling land, not difficult for biking. For each day’s excursion we can direct you on an “easy” or “intermediate” route according to your wishes.

During your biking tours, you will see many of the chateaux in the region. Although they number in the hundreds, and you will visit some of the most iconic during your Loire Valley food and wine tour: the Chateau of Chenonceau, known for its famous former residents and beautiful gardens; the Castle of Amboise, formerly a residence of French Kings and the final resting place of Leonardo da Vinci; the Chateau of Chaumont, first built in the 10th Century, and rebuilt in the 15th Century by Charles I of Amboise.

Your accommodations will be in an elegant 4-star hotel situated in Amboise, a beautiful and historic town in the Loire Valley.

A glass of white wine on a food and wine tour with TIKIn addition to your exclusive Loire Valley wine tours, during which you can taste of some truly lovely vintages, you will enjoy two cooking classes in Tours at a local cooking atelier. For each class you will learn French cuisine with the chef and enjoy it of course with wonderful Loire Valley wines afterwards. These are sure to be some of the highlights of your five days of chateaux visits,  biking, Loire Valley France wine tours, and explorations into French cuisine!

White wines abound in the area, and your Loire Valley wine tours will introduce to you wines such as Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Vouvray, and Muscadet. Most Loire Valley wines utilize the Chenin bland, Sauvignon blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne grapes, resulting in a high-quality white wine that will delight your senses and that pairs beautiful with the area’s gastronomy. You can enjoy the rolling vineyards and the flavorful wines on a full-day  Loire Valley wine tour on your bicycle!

Join us for this unique and unforgettable way to experience on of France’s most beautiful regions!

If you are looking for a Loire Valley food and wine tour without the biking, check out our Grand Tour of the Loire: Wines & Chateaux.

 


Trip Details

  • Your two cooking lessons will take place in a charming atelier in Tours, in which 10 chefs are dedicated to teaching the art of French gastronomy through hands-on cooking classes.

Itinerary

Chef preparing dish in kitchenDay One

  • Morning arrival at the Tours or St. Pierre des Corps train station and transfer to your first cooking class at a local cooking atelier. (Try to arrive by 9 am!) The chefs of the boutique Atelier are all passionate about French cuisine and will show you the secrets of their craft. Lunch to follow based on your efforts, of course with Loire Valley wines.
  • Next, transfer to Amboise, home for your Loire Valley biking tour. Explore the town on your own a bit, perhaps with a visit to the nearby Clos Lucé, the last residence of Leonardo da Vinci.
  • This evening, meet for a bike orientation. You will be provided with a quality bicycle, detailed maps, complete flat tire set, helmets, itineraries, and maps.
  • Dinner on your own and overnight.

The Chateau de Chenonceau in FranceDay Two

  • After breakfast, start out on your first Loire Valley bike tour, a flat and easy ride. You have 2 options today: 22 miles (36 km) with an elevation gain of 120 meters; or 31 miles (50 km) with an elevation change of 404 meters.
  • You will pass by the Parc Mini Chateaux before reaching the grounds of the Chateau of Chenonceau, one of the most famous Chateaux of the valley. Chenonceau is also called the “Chateau des Dames,” for the great female figures who lived there, including Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici. Be sure to check out its beautiful gardens. About a mile from the Chateau you will stop and park your bikes, then finish the journey by canoe. This 2-hour canoe ride will lead you under the castle itself. You will have time to visit the Chateau if you like (entrance ticket paid locally) before getting back on your bike.
  • Lunch on your own.
  • Bike back to Amboise for a visit of the Royal Castle of Amboise, formerly the residence to Charles VIII, and a young François d’Angouleme, who would become François I. Discover this perfect example of the transition from Gothic to Renaissance architecture. Make sure to see the Saint Hubert Chapel, which holds the grave of Leonardo da Vinci.
  • Dinner at your leisure.
  • Overnight.

Vineyard in Provence in the summer seasonDay Three

  • After breakfast, depart on your Loire Valley wine tour by bike. Today your options are: 26 miles (42 km) with a 355 meter elevation change; or 28 miles (45 km) with a 377 meter elevation change.
  • Your Loire Valley bike tour will focus on the Vouvray vineyards. Head for the other side of the Loire River and explore the gentle, verdant landscape on your way to your first winery, Moncontour, where you will enjoy a tasting in their cellar. Discover the various appellations, from the dry and austere to the sparkling. (If you would like an indication of additional wineries to visit, they will be provided.)
  • Return to Amboise via the Montlouis wine appellation region.
  • Dinner at your leisure.
  • Overnight in Amboise.

Visiting the Chateau of Chaumont on a France Loire Valley wine tour.Day Four

  • After breakfast, head out on your Loire Valley bike tour. You can choose between two routes: 27 mils (44 km) with an elevation change of 345 meters; or 30 miles (48 km) with an elevation change of 241 meters.
  • Today follow the Loire River for your visit of the Chateau of Chaumont. Originally built in the 10th Century, it was subsequently destroyed and rebuilt in the 15th Century by Charles I of Amboise. Among its former owners are Catherine de Medici, Diane de Poitiers, and, later, Madame de Staël. 
  • Bike back to Amboise through calm and peaceful country paths.
  • Dinner on your own.
  • Overnight in Amboise.

Amboise in the Loire ValleyDay Five

  • Breakfast check out.
  • Transfer back to Tours, where you will meet the chef for your next cooking class. Lunch will follow based on your efforts.
  • After lunch, transfer to the train station. A bientôt!  

Trip Details

Included in the 4-Night Trip

Accommodations

4 nights accommodation in Amboise

Food & Beverages

  • Daily breakfast
  • 2 lunches (wine included)

Classes & Instructors

  • Your two cooking lessons will take place in a charming atelier in Tours, in which 10 chefs are dedicated to teaching the art of French gastronomy through hands-on cooking classes.

Excursions

  • Self-guided Loire Valley bike tour to Chenonceau, Amboise, Chaumont, and the Vouvray vineyards. Please note that Chateaux entrance tickets are not included. You may wish to see some of the Chateaux only from the outside as you bike through the countryside, while others you may wish to explore more at length. 

Transfer Details

  • Transfers included from/to Tours or St. Pierre des Corps train station.

Miscellaneous

  • Bike rental

Not Included

  • Chateaux entrance tickets (paid locally according to which chateaux you wish to visit)
  • Meals except where indicated

Accommodation Information

Located next to the Castle of Amboise, the 4* Clos d’Amboise is an elegant hotel in a converted 17th-century building. Entirely refurbished in 2011, the hotel retains the character and history of the original building with the modern comforts of a 4* hotel. Rooms are equipped with en suite bathrooms, hair dryers, minibars, air conditioning, WiFi, and more. The property features a restaurant, swimming pool (in season), and bar.

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Pricing & Tour Dates



Sample Pricing:

4-night Program

US$3600 per person based on double occupancy

    Please inquire with specific dates for pricing and availability.

    30% deposit due to confirm booking.
    Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!

    Single occupancy rate: please inquire.


    Tour Dates

    Available any dates you choose for 2-6 people.

    2024: Please inquire

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