Loire Valley Bike Ride
pie is a cycling events company delivering amazing bespoke bike rides throughout the UK and Europe. We create, develop, manage, operate and deliver fully supported guided group cycling trips for companies, charities and groups of individuals. All to your specific brief.
Starting in Orleans, and finishing on the Atlantic coast, our route takes us through the vineyards of the Loire Valley, passing castles and chateaux in the region
Guided ride
Finish on the Atlantic coast
Ride through 7 different French wine regions
Ride in the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000
Fully supported ride
Itinerary
Day 1
Start the journey by getting an afternoon train from London to Orléans, and then a transfer to the hotel where we will spend our first night. At the hotel you will have the chance to meet the pie crew over dinner, followed by a briefing for all cyclists. A short ride is also available today depending on train times.
Day 2 – Orleans to Tours: 120km, 634 m
Leaving Orleans behind, we ride following the wild river banks towards the Château de Meung-sur-Loire, then on to the flower filled city of Beaugency. The Upper Loire area is a small wine district famous for producing Sauvignon Blanc. We spend the night in the city of Tours.
Day 3 – Tours to Angers: 130km, 764m
Today we leave behind the “Garden of France”, Tours, and cycle into the Loire National Park. We encounter a few short, sharp hills before descending to the medieval town of Chinon. The route then follows the Loire River into the Middle Loire, an area dominated by Chenin Blanc and Cabernet wines as well as sparkling wines from the area around Saumur. We will pass plenty of vineyards as we make our way to Angers for the night.
Day 4 – Angers to Pornic: 168 km, 969m
Our final day of riding sees us traverse through the Lower Loire region crossing many rivers and wetlands. The valley widens and we gradually descend towards the sea passing Nantes, the 6th largest city in France. We will start to feel the sea breeze as we get closer to the finish to dip our wheels in the Atlantic.
That evening we toast our achievements at the celebration meal.
Day 5
You having the morning to browse the local area, before you get the transfer back to Nantes where you board the train back to the UK.