Self-Guided Cycling in the Loire Valley: What to Expect Day by Day

Where Can You Cycle in the Loire Valley? The Loire à Vélo, Section by Section

You can cycle the whole of La Loire à Vélo, a 630km (391 mile) route from Cuffy, near Nevers, to Saint-Brevin-les-Pins on the Atlantic coast, plus 270km (168 miles) of loops and variants.

Cycling in the Loire Valley, France, mostly means following this one Loire Valley bike route. France Vélo Tourisme, the French cycle tourism site, lists it as entirely signposted and as the westernmost section of EuroVelo 6 - the Atlantic to Black Sea cycle route. About 62% of the route runs on roads and 37% on dedicated cycle paths, so expect more quiet lanes than car-free paths.

The route is rated from beginner to experienced and records 783m (2,569 ft) of total ascent. That is very little for a route this long, which is why it suits people who would rather chase vineyards than gradients.

Loire Valley Cycling Itinerary: Day by Day from Orleans to Angers

Love Velo's 7-night self-guided trip rides the middle section from Orleans to Angers over 8 days, including arrival and departure, and it makes a useful template for planning your own.

Day 1: Arrive in Orleans

Day 1 is arrival only, with no riding. Orleans is a direct 2-hour train from Paris, and your hotel is central. Walk the old center or cross one of the city's five Loire bridges before dinner.

Day 2: Orleans to Beaugency (28km / 17 miles)

The Route: Leave Orleans downstream on the Loire à Vélo, the first stretch of our guide to cycling the Loire from Orleans to Blois. You pass small villages, vineyards and fields on quiet paths and roads. Stop for coffee on the river bank, then arrive in Beaugency for the evening.

This is the shortest riding day, so treat it as a warm-up lap. Test the route pack and the morning bag collection now, before the longer days.

Pace check: 28km (17 miles), flat, a relaxed half day.

Day 3: Beaugency to Blois via Château de Chambord (56km / 35 miles)

The Route: Ride mostly car-free paths downstream from Beaugency to Château de Chambord, then on to Blois. Chambord stands inside the largest enclosed park in Europe, ringed by 32km (20 miles) of wall, and its double-helix staircase is made of two intertwining stairways.

Treat Chambord as a half-day stop, and plan the visit before the afternoon push to Blois. The staircase and the gardens are the two things to prioritise. The detour to the château leaves the river and climbs, so expect it to feel different from the river paths.

Pace check: 56km (35 miles), with the château visit built in. This is the first long day, so start early.

Day 4: Blois to Amboise via Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire (52km / 32 miles)

The Route: Day 4 starts the stretch covered in our guide to the Loire cycle route from Blois to Angers. You ride through the Pays des Châteaux (Land of Castles) to Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire, halfway along, with its drawbridge and high towers. Its grounds host the International Garden Festival, which runs from late April into autumn. Then you roll on to Amboise, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final three years.

Chaumont is the natural lunch stop. A shorter 40km (25 mile) route from Blois to Amboise is available, so ask for it when you book if you’d like.

Pace check: 52km (32 miles), or 40km (25 miles) on the shorter route. Flat either way.

Day 5: Amboise to Tours, with the Château de Chenonceau Option (30km / 19 miles)

The Route: A 30km (19 mile) river route takes you to Tours. For more, detour to Château de Chenonceau, which spans the Cher River and adds about 20km (12 miles). In Tours, the Saint-Gatien cathedral has a flamboyant Gothic facade, and your hotel is in the center of town with restaurants close by.

This is a light day between the 52km and 85km rides, which makes it the best day for the Chenonceau detour. We think the extra distance is worth it.

Pace check: 30km (19 miles), or about 50km (31 miles) with Chenonceau.

Day 6: Tours to Saumur via Villandry and Montsoreau (85km / 53 miles)

The Route: Leave Tours for the gardens of Château de Villandry, which are open every day of the year. Ride through small villages to Montsoreau, where the château stands on the Loire riverbank, then pass the troglodyte caves cut into the limestone cliffs on the way to Saumur. Saumur has its château high on the hill, two museums, a fortress and links to the Cadre Noir National Riding School.

This is the longest day of the trip, so be on the bikes early and see Villandry in the morning. Treat the troglodyte caves as a roadside look, and save your energy for the finish. After 85km, the Loire's wine is a fair reward, and our guide to cycling and wine tours in France has a Loire Valley section.

Pace check: 85km (53 miles) on flat river paths and quiet roads, or 74km (46 miles) on the shorter route. Flat or not, this is a long day in the saddle.

Day 7: Saumur to Angers (71km / 44 miles)

The Route: Ride downstream along the river to Angers and finish at the café terraces of Place du Ralliement. If you have the energy, walk up to Château d'Angers for the view from its 17 towers.

The 71km (44 mile) route is the scenic point-to-point, and a more direct 58km (36 mile) route is available. Choose the shorter ride if you want time at the château before dusk.

Pace check: 71km (44 miles), or 58km (36 miles) on the direct route. Flat.

Day 8: Departure from Angers

Day 8 is departure only. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast in Angers, then travel home.

What Does a Typical Riding Day Look Like on a Self-Guided Loire Tour?

A riding day starts at breakfast and ends at your next hotel, with your bags moved ahead of you. Biking in the Loire Valley on a self-guided trip follows the same rhythm each day.

1. Morning: Leave your bags at the hotel for collection.
2. Kit check: Fit your helmet (Love Velo doesn't provide helmets, so bring your own), check your spares and tuck a mini pump in your bag.
3. Route: Load the day's route onto your device and ride downstream on the Loire à Vélo.
4. Coffee and châteaux: Pause for coffee on the river bank or in a château garden.
5. Lunch: Eat at a village café or a château stop on the route.
6. Evening: Arrive at your hotel, where your bags are waiting, and taste a different local wine each evening.

When Is the Best Time to Cycle the Loire Valley?

We run our Loire Valley cycling tours from April to October, but May, June and September are the months we recommend for the best experience. Treat the temperatures and rainy days below as a guide only.

From November to March, days are short and some services are reduced, so our Loire tours don't run then.

What Should You Know Before You Ride the Loire Valley?

Self-guided means self-reliant, so a few practical details save you a stressful afternoon.

• Opening hours: Most places open from 8am to 8pm, but some shops and cafés in smaller villages close at midday or early. Public holidays shut almost everything, so don't rely on one stop.
• Food and water: You pass through plenty of towns, so you don't need to carry much. Pack extra on hot days.
• Sunscreen: Wear it every day. You spend the day beside a river.
• Cash and card: Most places take cards. Carry some cash for small local cafés.
• Spares: Big towns have bike shops, but carry a multi-tool, inner tubes, patches, a pump, a gear hanger and tyre levers. Bring your own mini pump where you can.
• Helmets: Love Velo doesn't provide helmets, so bring your own. Our guide on what to pack for a cycling holiday covers the rest.