
The Bikes
On this trip, you can choose between a customized hybrid with flat bars or a road bike with drop bars. We also equip you with a handlebar bag, helmet and water bottle. See Equipment Details
The right number of like-minded travellers to make new friends.
Your dates. Your group. Our expertly-designed itinerary.
Tailored to your interests, a bespoke travel experience.
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.
Throughout the day, a knowledgeable local guide provides insider access and expert tips. At night, you can explore and dine on your own.
Our B&R guides are with you throughout, anticipating needs, translating languages, providing advice and—above all—facilitating fun.
Biking – 40-50 km (25-30 mi.) a day over relatively flat terrain with a few small hills—all very manageable for people trying their first biking trip.
Walking – 6-10 km (4-6 mi.) a day on country lanes, footpaths and coastal or forest trails, all on relatively flat terrain, perhaps with an occasional hill.
Biking – 40-50 km (25-30 mi.) a day over terrain that’s relatively flat but will include inclines and the occasional climb or two.
Walking – 8-12 km (5-7 mi.) a day over relatively flat terrain, with occasional steeper climbs.
Biking – 40-50 km (25-30 mi.) a day in gently rolling countryside, with occasional longer climbs to points that are well worth the effort.
Walking – 11-15 km (7-10 mi.) a day over rolling terrain on a variety of surfaces. Most days, one or two steeper climbs to spectacular viewpoints or places of interest.
Biking – Roughly 50 km (30 mi.) a day in consistently rolling countryside, with repeated climbs and longer options available.
Walking – 11-15 km (7-10 mi.) over terrain that varies between rolling and hilly, with a few steeper climbs.
Biking – 50-60 km (30-45 mi.) a day over both level and tougher, hillier terrain with multiple 100 km (62 mi.) options. The routes are designed for avid cyclists and include plenty of chances to push yourself.
Walking – 11-15 km (7-10 mi.) a day over fairly hilly terrain offering lots of challenges. Routes are along high meadow paths and/or well-maintained cliffside or alpine trails, with a few steep ascents to make you feel invigorated.
France has many rivers but one of the most striking is the Loire River. It’s led many French kings and noble families to build fairytale-esque châteaux and breathtaking properties overlooking the rivers. Two wheels are best for discovering the Loire’s wonders that includes stunning countryside, fascinating historical villages and ancient monuments, countless vineyards to sample, gardens to stroll and even caves to spelunk. As you bike through the Loire Valley, you too will soon be seduced by the beautiful natural setting of the so-called Garden of France.
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Ready-to-Book private tours are designed to be enjoyed off-the-rack, but there is room for minor adjustments to fit the trip to your needs. If the gap is too great, then we’d be happy to tailor-make you a Bespoke trip from scratch. Simply tell us a few details about your group and select your preferred date. One of our Trip Designers will spring into action, confirming the details or exploring alternatives, over the next 48 hours.
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REQUEST A QUOTEWalk 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 Château Villandry this morning before lunch at l’Étape 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).
After breakfast, your guide will drive you to St Pierre des Corps train station on time for your train back to Paris.
This elegant hotel is an ivy-clad 19th-century hunting lodge, set on 70 hectares of parkland within the Vallée de la Loire UNESCO world heritage area. Elegant rooms feature period furnishings and floral prints. Take a dip in the outdoor pool or play a round of tennis on the beautiful grounds.
Maison Bossoreil is set in a warm atmosphere in the historic heart of the Angers city, just a short stroll from restaurants & shops. This former 18thC mansion boasts five spacious rooms tastefully decorated on two floors, with large en-suite bathrooms. There is a small secluded garden where you can enjoy breakfast on sunny days.
Plessis-Bellevue is a historic, 18thC mansion overlooking the Loire Valley. It was once the home of Dr. Emile Leon Asllix, friend of French novelist Victor Hugo, who stayed there several times. Today the totally restored manor-house combines modern comfort with the "art de vivre,” the French lifestyle of the times before the Revolution. Situated in a beautiful rose garden, it offers a swimming pool and a stunning view of the city of Saumur.
In a charming village in a side valley not very far from the Loire, le Clos Chavigny, former outbuildings of the 17thC Chateau of Chavigny has a very impressive outside architecture that is typical for this century. The successive owners have carefully preserved these buildings which are now a listed historic monument.
The B&R leaders were incredibly good and all else—bikes, itinerary, special events, and fellow travellers—were absolutely delightful. My husband and I had a wonderful time!
— Beth LoweConsistently voted one of the World's Best Tour Operators in Travel + Leisure magazine's annual reader survey.
MSNBCThis 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.).
In a word: everything. In ninety words? Signature B&R guides; local experts; unique, unforgettable biking and walking routes; private tours; authentic local cuisine; lessons and demonstrations; local artisanal wines; wine tastings; all victuals and libations; all the endorphins you can handle; new insight; interesting, fun and like-minded travel companions; a feeling of total freedom. In short: an extraordinary, hassle-free journey of discovery.
On this trip, you can choose between a customized hybrid with flat bars or a road bike with drop bars. We also equip you with a handlebar bag, helmet and water bottle. See Equipment Details
Sometimes your B&R trip simply isn’t long enough! Extend your stay for the best vacation possible. If you wish to spend a few days in region either before or after your official B&R trip, and need assistance making those plans, your B&R Travel Advisor can help.
Call us to create an independent travel experience that fits your needs—we can also arrange for a local guide.
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