Experience the France of Kings, in the heart of the valley of the Loire Castles! During this luxurious bike tour in France, you will have your choice of three levels of accommodations from which you will have your choice of cycling itineraries.
Amboise is set upon the southern bank of the Loire and is overlooked by an inspiring 15th-century château. This was the childhood home of Charles VIII and the final resting place of the great Leonardo da Vinci, who, as a guest of the king, came to Château Amboise in December 1515 and lived and worked in the nearby Clos Lucé.
From your hotel, you will be able to cycle to the various Touraine Vineyards and discover many treasures of history, architecture, and culture each day.
Chateaux package: £59$128€70$105NOK659kr608$79Electric bike: £21$46€25$38NOK235kr217$28Extra day bike rental: £13$27€15$23NOK141kr130$17Extra day e-bike rental: £21$46€25$38NOK235kr217$28 Trailer bikes, tandems, children bikes, and baby seat available. Please ask.
Chateaux package: £68$146€80$121NOK753kr695$90Electric bike: £34$73€40$60NOK377kr348$45
Scott e-sub Active with universal frame, 9-speeds, equipped with 2 rear panniers, 1 handlebar bag with map holder, 1 repair kit, 1 pump, 1 lock, 1 counter and helmet. 80 to 100 km autonomy
Trailer bikes, tandems, children bikes, and baby seat available. Please ask.
Fly to Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport.
Local Travel
You will have a couple of options to travel from the airport to Amboise. You can take the TGV from the airport to St. Pierre des Corps, transfer and then take the express regional train to Amboise. You can also take a train via Paris Austerlitz to Amboise. Be sure to research local travel before your tour and note that TGV travel requires advance reservation. You can visit the SNCF website for more information and to book.
Climate
Please check local conditions before arrival. Once Spring arrives in the Loire Valley, the days begin to get longer and the temperatures rise steadily to up around 68° F/20°C. You can have misty starts to the morning clearing away quickly to give very pleasant days and nights. There will be occasional days of rain but rarely for long periods. This is also a good time to visit as there are fewer tourists around! Late spring and into summer brings dependable weather with long dry spells with average daily temperatures around 75°/24°C. July temperatures peak as high as 82°/28°C dropping to 72°/22°C as September approaches. On average, there are 11 days of rainfall during this period. It may not be as warm as those in the far south of France, but a far more comfortable heat. The climate in Amboise is categorized as warm and temperate. A good website to visit to research average high/low temperatures, average rainfall, and more is <a href="http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=126541&cityname=Tours-France" target=_blank" rel="nofollow" >weatherbase.com.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Before you travel, please check your country's passport and visa requirements and the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. For US citizens, the US Department of State website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab in the International Travel section provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc. For our other international clients, please be sure that you research your own country's travel requirements. It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure proper documentation.
*Important note: Beginning July 1, 2021, additional documentation from the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.
Where You’ll Stay
There are three levels of accommodations for this tour, Standard, in Hotel La Breche, Superior, in Hotel Bellevue, and Deluxe, in Au Charme Rabelaisien or Le Clos D’Amboise
What’s Included
3 nights accommodations in 2, 3, or 4 star establishments
Breakfast
1 dinner
Colored maps, route descriptions, and tourist information (one set per room)
Scott Sub Sport 20 bike rental with rear pannier, handlebar bag, lock, helmet, odometer and repair kit with pump, men's or women's frames are available so please specify when booking. Bike rental is for 4 days.
What’s Not Included
All other meals
Entrance fees to various chateaux (can be booked for a supplement)
There are various excursions offered from which you can choose:
Excursion 1: Arrival in Amboise + Montlouis: 21 mi. (33 km) This is an excursion through the heart of the Montlouis vineyards, whose wines tend to reflect earthy and mineral notes. There is the possibility to visit the Aquarium de Touraine and the magnificent Château de la Bourdaisière and its gardens. Upon arrival back in Amboise, be sure to stroll about and visit the Manoir du Clos Lucé, made from pink bricks and tufa stones. Leonardo da Vinci lived here for the last 3 years of his life and you can see firsthand the genius of the famous inventor. Forty of his fabulous machines are displayed at Le Clos Lucé such as the first automobile, the metric counter, the paddleboat, the machine gun – and the life-size flying machine
Excursion 2: Chenonceau, 27 mi. (43 km) Once you have crossed the forest of Amboise, you will come to the famous Château de Chenonceau, uniquely built over the Cher River. Nicknamed the Ladies Castle and once the residence of Catherine de’ Medici, it was the scene of a famous rivalry in French history between her and Diane de Poitiers, mistress of the king. It is French history at its best; passionate, scandalous, and torrid. Upon the death of King Henry II, Catherine banned Diane from Chenonceau, sentencing her to live out the rest of her days in obscurity at a castle in Anet.
Excursion 3: Chaumont-sur-Loire, 28 mi. (45 km) This cycling excursion follows the meandering country roads to the banks of the Loire in Chaumont-sur-Loire, whose 15th-century château proudly dominates the town and the river. The "Festival des Jardins" (garden festival ) is held between late May and mid-October, showcasing the art of gardening with new flower arrangements, garden sculptures, and innovation in design.
Excursion 4: Vouvray Vineyards, 28 mi. (45 km) This route leads away from the banks of the Loire to reach the picturesque Vouvray vineyards, surrounded by troglodyte houses, dwellings dug into the slopes and rock faces of the landscape. The region is famous for its fine and elegant white wines. You will cycle past superb Renaissance private châteaux such as Château de Valmer (remarkable for its Italian and vegetable gardens), and the beautiful Château de Jallanges as well. Be sure to stop for a visit to a local wine producer to sample a glass of Vouvray wine!
Think about booking the Chateaux Package! See pricing.
Châteaux of Amboise
Park Leonardo da Vinci in Amboise
Château of Chenonceaux
Wine tasting in Amboise (3 wines)
Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire (château + garden festival)
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