LOIRE VALLEY CYCLING
CYCLING THROUGH THE ‘GARDEN OF FRANCE’
inclusive from
Bountiful vineyards, fruit orchards and delightful villages all explain why the beautiful Loire Valley is known as ‘The Garden of France’. On this relaxed ride we follow quiet country roads from Chenonceau to Chinon: we explore the medieval château perched on an island in Azay-le-Rideau, visit Leonardo da Vinci’s final home at Clos Lucé and discover the elegant Fontevraud Abbey in Anjou.
£873 8 DAYS
ITINERARY
Day 1 Eurostar to Lille and local train to Chenonceau. Day 2 Chenonceau From the river Cher there are optional rides to the 17th century château of Gué-Péan with its unusual blue roof; or to one of the local vineyards. Day 3 Amboise Cycle to the beautiful château at Chenonceau - built on the River Cher. Ride north to Amboise. There is a chance to visit Clos Lucé - the final house of Leonardo da Vinci. Days 4/5 Gardens of the Loire Cycle south to the elegant town of Azay-le-Rideau. Explore its château rising out of the Indre River; or visit the pristine gardens of Villandry. Days 6/7 Medieval Chinon Follow the Loire to the Vienne River. Pass Château d’Ussé, Charles Perrault’s inspiration for ‘Sleeping Beauty’. Free time to roam the winding medieval streets of Chinon, cycle to Fontevraud Abbey or follow a wine trail to sample a local grape. Day 8 Taxi, local train and Eurostar to London.
For detailed information visit
www.explore.co.uk/tours/lv
Loire V alle y Cycling Ref L V
F rom/T o Lille
V illandry Gardens
Ussé
F ontevraud Abbey
km 05 0 AZA Y -LE-RIDEA U CHINON T ours AMBOISE CHENONCEAUX Montrichard FR ANCE
Château de Chenonceau
DETAILS
Tour type Cycling Comfort Active
Cycle grade easy
Accommodation and Meals: 7 nights hotels. 7 breakfasts are included.
Bicycles: ‘Hybrid’ bike and support vehicle.
Cycling Details: The cycling element of this holiday covers roughly 153kms in 4 days (an average of 39kms a day) with the option to do more extra rides. We cycle mainly on tarmac country lanes and gravel tracks. We have graded this trip as ‘easy’.
Group Size: Generally 10 to 14. TOUR DATES
The Loire Valley Cycling tour runs in the following months:
Jan
May Sep
Feb
Jun Oct
Mar
Jul Nov
Apr Aug Dec
For full details of the dates and prices visit
explore.co.uk/tours/lv
TOUR ONLY – 8 DAYS Tour price without flights from £665
or call our experts on 0844 875 1892 Ref: LV
flight
BACKROADS OF BURGUNDY CYCLING IN FRANCE’S WINE COUNTRY
inclusive from
Burgundy is renowned for its exceptional wines, unique culture and fascinating history. We cycle through a landscape of fortified abbeys and grand chateaux, following the Canal de Bourgogne to the famous vineyards of Beaune. This flexible cycling trip provides a fantastic opportunity to see how France was shaped by the wealthy and powerful.
£911 8 DAYS
ITINERARY
Day 1 Eurostar from London to Lille. Local train to Montbard. Day 2 Abbaye de Fontenay From Montbard, follow the quiet towpaths of the Canal de Bourgogne to the imposing Cistercian Abbaye de Fontenay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Day 3 Chateau of Bourbilly Continue along the canal, through the village of Moutiers St Jean to Epoisses, famous for its cheese. Carry on to the ancient fortress of Chateau de Bourbilly. Day 4 Flavigny sur Ozerain Ride to the walled city of Flavigny sur Ozerain – the setting for the film ‘Chocolat’. Take an optional trip to Alise- Ste-Reine, to see where Julius Caesar defeated the last of the Gauls in 52 BC. Day 5 Pouilly-en-Auxois Travel to the medieval village of Pouilly-en-Auxois, deep in the heart of the Burgundy wine growing region. Day 6 Beaune Pass impressive gothic architecture on the way to the wine capital of Beaune. Day 7 Wine tasting Follow the popular ‘wine route’, sampling celebrated names including Nuits St Georges. Day 8 Taxi, train and Eurostar via Dijon and Lille to London.
For detailed information visit
www.explore.co.uk/tours/by
F rom/T o Lille
Backroads of Burgundy Ref BY MONTBARD
Abbaye de Fontenay
Optional day rides
SEMUR-EN -A UX OI S
village route
POUILL Y- EN -A UX OI S
Scenic
Chateau Commarin
Chateauneuf Optional visit
km 03 0
Nuits-S t -G eorges
Lac de P ont
Alise-Ste-Reine
Flavigny sur Ozerain
FR ANCE
flight
DETAILS
Tour type Cycling Comfort Active
Cycle grade moderate
Accommodation and Meals: 7 nights hotels. 7 breakfasts are included.
Bicycles: ‘Hybrid’ bicycle and support vehicle.
Cycling Details: The cycling element of this holiday covers roughly 175km over 5 days, with some additional optional rides. We use quiet back- roads and towpaths, mainly on asphalt but with some gravel tracks. Cyclists can ride independently or with others in the group. We have graded the route as ‘Moderate’.
Group Size: Generally 10 to 16. TOUR DATES
The Backroads of Burgundy tour runs in the following months:
Jan
May Sep
Feb
Jun Oct
Mar
Jul Nov
Apr Aug Dec
For full details of the dates and prices visit
explore.co.uk/tours/by
BEA UNE
Optional day rides Explore the wine-lands of Burgundy
TOUR ONLY – 8 DAYS Tour price without flights from £649
81
Ref: BY
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