Loire Biking Private
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Overview
Highlights
- Explore the cathedral, the medieval fortress with its unique apocalypse tapestry and the many examples of fine Romanesque architecture
- Visit the spectacular Renaissance gardens of the Château Villandry
- Bike along traffic-free cycle trails leading through ancient slate mines and abandoned open-air quarries of Trélazé
- Visit one of the famous sparkling wine cellars by a tasting
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Trip includes
- All hotel accommodation in double room
- Meals as indicated above, with mineral water
- Services of local driver/guide with support vehicle for assistance throughout the trip
- A private cruise with a French gourmet picnic
- All private guided castle visits with entrance fees as indicated
- Private wine tastings as indicated
- All transportation from rendezvous to drop‐off
- All baggage transportation
- An all terrain bike Giant Ligero RS2 or a high end road bike Trek 1.2 or GT series 4 with accessories for 4 days
Itinerary
Walk into the heart of Angers for a private tour of its old historical downtown. Explore the cathedral, the medieval fortress with its unique apocalypse tapestry and the many examples of fine Romanesque architecture including the abbeys at Saint Aubin and Ronceray.
Bike along traffic-free cycle trails leading through ancient slate mines and abandoned open-air quarries of Trélazé. Ride to the outskirts of Saumur where we’ll stop for a visit in one of the famous sparkling wine cellars followed by a tasting. Reconvene later for a cruise down the Loire in a traditional wooden boat.
Ride through the vineyards of Saumur-Champigny wine appellation, stopping en route at the small vineyard Le Clos d’entre les Murs to witness a vine-growing technique so unique it has been classified as a heritage monument. Continue on to the village of Fontevraud for lunch and a guided visit of the town’s monumental abbey.
Ride from the village of Montsoreau through the Vienne River valley to reach the medieval town of Chinon. Pause for lunch at a traditional restaurant and embark on a guided discovery walk through the narrow cobbled streets of the town. Later, enjoy a wine tasting before dinner in the royal dining room of Clos de Chavigny.
Cross the Vienne River and pass the wine-growers villages of Cravant les Coteaux and Panzoult to reach Crissay-sur-Manse. Pause for lunch before riding to Villaines-les-Rochers, a village famous for its basketry. Later, visit Azay le Rideau, a château set on an island in the middle of the Indre River.
Visit the spectacular Renaissance gardens of the Chateau Villandry this morning before lunch at l’Etape gourmande. This afternoon, explore Chenonceau Château, Amboise Château, Chaumont-Sur-Loire or the Clos Lucé (where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last two years of his life).
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Butterfield & Robinson.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Tour Operator
It's been almost 50 years since we made a conscious decision, on the back of a cocktail napkin, to encourage people to "slow down to see the world." Ever since, Butterfield & Robinson has been leading trips that amble where others stride, linger where others inhale, bike where others motor and sip where others quaff. In the words of Gypsy Rose Lee, a woman who, if nothing else, knew the value of doing things very, very slowly: "Anything worth doing well is worth doing slowly."
There’s so much more to B&R than the high thread count of your sheets. Our kind of luxury takes you to a place you never knew existed. It’s a feeling of freedom. A feeling of exuberance. A feeling like you don’t need a watch or a wallet and you haven’t a care in the world. Wherever we travel, we delve deep into the heart of the local culture, your meals are some of the best in your life, and your sleeps every bit as delicious. But this merely sets the stage for the magical, ineffable part of B&R—the moments of discovery—and self-discovery—that you’ll never, ever forget.
The B&R difference is the best biking and walking routes in the world’s most incredible places. It’s the most capable and genuinely friendly guides you’ll find anywhere. It’s the most interesting hotels the region has to offer. It’s amazing culinary experiences. It’s state-of-the-art equipment, great wines at dinner, a water bottle that’s always filled, route suggestions you won’t find in any guidebook, et cetera! Are you starting to get the picture?
Our Expertise
Incomparable Service
From the first phone call to the final nostalgic photo swap, we pride ourselves on anticipating and answering each and every question you might have before, during and after your trip – plus a hundred more we thought you might like to know. That way, the only surprises on your trip are good ones.
50 Years of Experience
BB&R’s been slowing down to see the world since 1966, and while a steady diet of good food, great wine and miles of biking and walking has kept us feeling sprightly, we can’t deny the truth: we’re about to turn 50. Fortunately, “mid-life crisis” isn’t in our vocabulary—in fact, we’re actually pretty excited about it.
Amazing Routes
We meticulously map out easy-to-follow route notes for our trips. By no means do you have to follow them, but if you do, we promise nothing short of spectacular (think quiet country lanes, glorious vistas and, often, being the only ones in sight). Our guides always have additional scenic routes up their sleeves, too. Up for more of a challenge? Ask and you shall receive.
Impeccable Guides
B&R guides are an exceptional group: consummate hosts, mind readers and raconteurs, among many other things. Think teachers, painters, travel writers, architects, botanists and biologists. The only documents thicker than their CVs are their passports. They’ve lived all over the world. They speak a gazillion languages. And they’re ridiculously fun.
Expert Trip Designers
Our talented team of Trip Designers are the best in the world at what they do—and what they do is turn fantasies into reality. (We thought about changing their title to “Dream Weavers,” but we didn’t want to re-print all those business cards.)
Exceptional Hotels
Winning hotels are a hallmark of B&R; we go to great lengths to find properties that are unique expressions of the region. Often that means they’ve had a previous life as a monastery or a castle. Think of them as the charming and intimate garnish atop your trip. Best of all? We’re friends with our hoteliers, which means preferential treatment for you.
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Logistics
What's excluded
- Passport and visa fee
- International airfare
- Personal expenses
Accommodation
If you have to cancel your B&R trip for a reason not defined in the Trip Mate Travel Insurance Policy, you are entitled to the return of these amounts:
Number of days prior to your trip:
270+ 100% Refund of deposit
96-269 will be 50% Refund of deposit
61-95 is 75% Refund of penalties
31-60 will be 75% Refund of penalties
0-30 is 75% Refund of penalties
Between 270-95 days prior to departure each traveler will be charged $500 to cancel or the traveler may choose to keep the full US$1,000 deposit in a holding account with us for a future trip.
All meals as mentioned in itinerary
Trip Details:
Hotels:
Signature
We use premium hotels that are unique expressions of the region. Often they’ve had a previous life as a monastery or a castle, but in every case they offer an exceptionally comfortable stay.
Bistro
These are stylish 4-star properties that offer a casual and comfortable stay. Often without a 24-hour concierge or room service, they tend to be smaller family-run hotels that are perfect for the region.
Activity Level
Recreational
This trip is rated Recreational, meaning it’s appropriate for travellers who ride once or twice a month and are comfortable on two wheels. Most of the riding on this trip is level with gentle grades, although there are some occasional longer climbs. The daily distances average 25-40 km (16-28 mi.).
Day time Guided
Self-Guided
Combines the hallmarks of any B&R itinerary (excellent hotels and beautiful routes) with the freedom of pacing each day exactly the way you like.
Daytime Guided
Throughout the day, a knowledgeable local guide provides insider access and expert tips. At night, you can explore and dine on your own.
24/7 Guided
Our B&R guides are with you throughout, anticipating needs, translating languages, providing advice and—above all—facilitating fun.
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