Our aim is to provide a slow cycling experience for guests who still dream of a cycling holiday rather than being ‘chauffeured’ around on a crowded coach. You may be out of practice or have forgotten what used to be second nature to you riding a bike – ah but you will be using an E bike. You want to take things easy and be guided to the best places – that is exactly what we do so that you can take in the sights and sounds around you. You would love to taste the wine and local, seasonal food without going out to restaurants every day – we do that too. This is not the sort of holiday for speed loving lycra louts but for you if you have a desire to get back in the saddle, be on two wheels and feel the wind in your hair – a born again cyclist.
These are small group tours for no more than 6 people
Tour dates
2023 DATES:
30th May – 8th June (Sold Out)
1st September – 10th September
2024 DATES:
31st May – 9th June
31st August – 9th September
PRICE: £3,450
Released dates not suitable? If you are a group of 2 – 6 guests please do not hesitate to get in touch to discuss alternative dates. Our cycling season runs between the beginning of May until the end of September.
Day 1, Bienvenue Day
You may all be arriving at different times so today is about you settling into your ‘new home’.
You will receive a warm welcome from us, your hosts, and we will introduce you to your cycling buddies for the next ten days.
You will be fed and watered before being introduced to your ‘Trusty Steed’ aka your ‘E’ bike which, potentially today, will carry you to the small town of Richelieu – a mere 10k away where you can learn about the history of it’s name sake Cardinal Richelieu made more widely famous by the writer Alexandre Dumas in his book The Three Musketeers, take in the architecture of the buildings of this walled town and wander through the adjacent Park.
Wine needs to be tasted and selected for this evening’s meal so after your time in Richelieu we will depart in the Voiture (by car) on a short journey to an amazing bio Vignoble (wine producer) with so much passion with an incredible story about pre phylloxera wines.
Once tasted and chosen we will head back home for relaxation and your evening meal.
Day 2, Cycling, local history and the beautiful wine of a small appellation ‘Saumur Champigny’
After a short, chauffeured journey you will be ready to the start this unique experience which, once you are on your bikes, will take you from the confluence of the Loire and Vienne rivers along the banks of the mighty Loire. Kev will enlighten you about the history of this amazing part of the Loire Valley and, being on bikes, you have the time to slowly feel and breath the air and the history and the stories of après phylloxera.
En route to a unique wine Chateau a picnic lunch ‘French style’ awaits you.
We will then visit our chosen vineyard – a family business steeped in history.
After tasting and choosing your wine for tonight’s meal your ‘Trusty Steeds’ will bed themselves down on the ‘Trusty Trailer’ and you will be driven back to base for relaxation, local seasonal food and wine.
Day 3, Passion in the Loire Valley - Edward and Mrs Simpson and Camille and Rodin
Today is a rest day from the bikes so we are delighted to escort you to two very important chateaux with modern day history.
We will visit both these amazing homes of passion and British Royal scandal with so much history.
A picnic in the grounds provides time to relax and reflect.
Once fulfilled with art, love and Royal marriage we will journey home for food, wine and a relaxed, holiday style debriefs of today’s highlights!
Day 4, Chinon – ‘the piece de resistance’ – Chinon our hometown with so much history
Rabelais,
Jean d’Arc
Henry II of England
Catherine of Aragon
Richard the Lion Heart
The Royal Fortresse
The Treasury of England
Welcome to one of the most important towns in the Loire Valley National Park.
With your ‘E’ bikes you will comfortably cycle along the ‘voie vert’ a disused steam engine track and now a cycle path.
There is much history to take in and what better way than to swap your trusty steed for a traditional flat-bottomed boat where we will embark, under the shadow of the imposing Fortresse, on a lunch time jaunt on the Vienne River.
You will then have the afternoon with time to wander the streets of this beautiful medieval town. Then a meander on your bikes back home for a chill out and a hearty meal.
Day 5, Sleeping Beauty and the tale of two rivers
You will start with what we are sure will be a very impressive photo shoot standing alongside Chateau Usse – sleeping beauty’s castle – a fairy tale re-written in ‘modern’ times by Charles Perrault – inspired to do so when he saw this impressive castle.
You will then mount your bikes to travel alongside two very important rivers in this region. The Indre, a tiny water way, and the mighty Loire. There will be time to breath the air and take in the views.
In the quaint small town of Azay le Rideau we will have a three-course lunch, after which you will have the opportunity to meander the streets and visit this beautiful Renaissance Chateau. You will be picked up by Kev and taken back to base to relax and enjoy your evening meal.
Day 6, Henri, Eleanor and Richard
We want you to feel relaxed and chilled so today is another ‘slow’ day as we chauffer you to our local Royal Abbey. After a light lunch you will have time to explore this amazing place and discover its history – the building and the important people (once) within.
On our way home we will stop by to learn about and play the local and traditional game of Boules de Fort – a unique Loire Valley pastime. But don’t worry it is not at all strenuous its all about a slow boule.
Day 7, Cheese, wine and Gargantua
From a home start we will cycle out on our trusty steeds to taste cheese and wine. After a picnic lunch of both these delights our destination is the home and now a museum of Chinon’s well-loved and now very famous writer Rabelais (you will have seen his imposing statue when you visited Chinon). For many years he was perceived to be a character of his works whereas he was a very well-educated man with an insight into human behaviour and with a very good sense of humour.
A relaxing cycle back to base – relax, eat and drink!
Day 8, Fizz and fun!
The beautiful town of Saumur, famous for its amazing sparkling wine (can’t be called Champagne as not in that region!) is also on our doorstep.
We want you to take in the views and feel the air, so we will cycle from Turquant, discover a troglodyte village and then on to degust sparkling wine in an elevated Art Nouveau building with amazing views, actually you can buy Champagne here!
Then on to this vibrant town to eat lunch at one of the many restaurants. You will then have free time to discover this historic town.
Later with the bikes loaded onto the trailer we will make our way home for a light evening meal.
Day 9, Your cycling days are over! It’s now time for Castles and Gardens
We want you to go back feeling informed, refreshed, and relaxed so today we are taking you to two very beautiful places here in our little corner of the Loire Valley.
The first of these is the town of Langeais which is situated on the banks of the Loire and with its chateau and beautiful streets with cafes, bars and restaurants has the feel of a quintessential Loire Valley town.
Our second stop Villandry is so very famous for its Chateau with beautiful, manicured gardens – probably one of our, and our guests, favourites.
Day 10, Depart
10 days, 9 nights
£3450 per person
All tours include:
Single Centre private en suite accommodation in our renovated farmhouse
High quality E- bikes and equipment including helmet as standard
Collection and return to local airports of Tours or Poitiers or local train stations of Chinon, Tours or Saumur.
Guided tour with a knowledgeable local guide alongside on a bike
Back up vehicle
9 Breakfasts
3 Lunches as per itinerary
2 Restaurant meals as per itinerary
3 Picnics as per itinerary
9 Evening meals made from seasonal produce with local wine
Admissions and entry fees as per itinerary
Large garden with swimming pool for relaxing in after your day
Spa
Wifi
Laundry facilities
Our undivided personal attention