Chambord is the most impressive of all the Châteaux of the Loire, yet just one of the many you will encounter on your route in the Loire River valley, the perfect setting for a leisurely bicycle tour, pleasurable for adults and parents with kids alike. Other notable castles on the trip include Château de Clos Lucé, the last home of Leonardo da Vinci, and Château de Chenonceau, the lovely ‘Castle of Ladies’ spanning the River Cher. Your bicycle holiday takes place on quiet roads from Blois, wending along the Loire River through vineyards, peaceful countryside, and castles upon castles, exuding a storybook aura that few areas can match! This region is so rich in places of interest that it's been deemed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Hop on the bike and enjoy...! Tour Itinerary: Day 1: Arrival in Blois: Arrive in Blois at the time of your choice. The earlier you arrive the more time you’ll have to enjoy the Renaissance town of Blois and its Royal castle. Later in the afternoon you’ll meet with our local representative, who will brief you about your tour, or in this case, give you the pedal-by-pedal details. Overnight in Blois. Day 2: Blois – Blois (Approx. 53 km or 33 miles) After breakfast you’ll head east to discover one of the major highlights of the trip: the magnificent Château de Chambord, a mere “hunting lodge” with no less than 440 rooms! On your way back to Blois, you can take in some smaller-scale castles, such as Villesavin and Beauregard. Though we strongly recommend certain places of interest and beauty that contribute to the magic of the region, as a self-guided rider, you enjoy complete autonomy in deciding which sites to marvel at and how long to linger. Overnight in Blois. Day 3: Blois – Amboise (49 km or 30 miles) The Loire River will be your guide for most of the day! Starting on the north side of the river, you’ll follow quiet roads through the peaceful wooded land of the Forêt de Blois, before crossing the Loire River to reach Chaumont-sur-Loire and its magnificent château, a perfect lunch stop, before proceeding on to Amboise. An early arrival in Amboise gives you the opportunity to visit its châteaux, especially the fascinating Clos Lucé, the castle where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life. Now a museum, Château Clos Lucé allows you to enter the captivating world of Leonardo and catch a glimpse into his alluring world of ideas and contraptions, which came into being centuries after his conceptions…some say those ideas included our dear bicycle, but that is open to much debate! Overnight in Amboise. Day 4: Amboise - Amboise through Chenonceau (48 km or 30 miles) Today’s highlight includes the not-to-be-missed Château de Chenonceau, a 15th century castle that bridges the River Cher. We’ve kept the loop’s mileage to a very minimum, permitting you the luxury of sleeping in, if you so desire, or allowing time to also visit the town of Amboise and its castle. Day 5: Amboise – Tours (29 km or 18 miles) As the route continues, you will pass by the wine-making area of Vouvray, and eventually proceeding all the way to Tours, where you will overnight. You will enjoy the natural beauty of the Island of the Metairie with its Rochecorbon cave-dwellings as background. Day 6: Departure Depart Tours at the time of your choice. Notes: Price: From 585 Euros per person, based in double occupancy. 
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