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Discovery of the Touraine area of the Loire Valley, famous for wines and castles, riding your bike in the heart of the vines and magnificent chateaux!
Arriving in Amboise and your deluxe manor house will allow you to discover this important town and its chateau. On your way, you will pass and can visit 15th & 16th century Gothic and Renaissance architecture following in the footsteps of the great kings of France. Amboise is the last home of Leonardo da Vinci, and at Chenonceau see exquisite and complex gardens, and several with beautiful rivers as backdrops. The terrain is wonderful for bicycle riding - mostly flat to rolling - and is filled with rivers, trees, and colors.
Itinerary
Day 1 | is arrival day in Amboise, and the hotel is in the center, a small and very charming manor house. Visit the chateau or the Clos Luce or other sites as time allows. Orientation at 7pm followed by dinner and evening tonight; riding starts tomorrow. (D)
Day 2 | From Amboise you will ride to the very charming and historically important town of Loches. (45 km). Along the way, you ride through vineyards, along the wine route, and in Loches you can discover its medieval dungeon and fortress and learn its importance with the history of Joan of Arc. Deluxe 4 star lodging and dinner included. 46km (B,D)
Day 3 | the tour then returns to the little village with a famous chateau: Chenonceau. Along the Cher River, it is one of the most charming chateaux, Chenonceau, stretching over the Cher itself. This famous chateau is where Henri II and Catherine de Medicis and Diane de Poitiers played out their love stories. You stay in a 4 star inn within walking distance. Gastronomic dinner included. 47km (B,D)
Day 4 | goes back to Amboise, a last bastion of Leonardo Davinci, and a magnificent town set alongside the Loire River. This is a last chance to see and do here, if you choose to take in all that Amboise has to offer. You can save some for tomorrow as well. In Amboise, you can shop, visit the chateau, the Clos Luce, or other site such as the Parc Mini-Chateaux. Dinner on your own tonight. 49km. (B)
Day 5 | is departure day. You have time to explore Amboise more this day before going. Trains leave from Amboise or a taxi to St Pierre des Corps will get you to the TGV and to Paris quickly. (B)
Details
The trip includes: [Virtual Hotel Tour] All accommodations are in 4 star quality inns/manors: lodging, all breakfasts, all dinners except day 4, route maps and cue sheets, daily bag transfer, emergency technical support with bilingual local contact, arrival orientation at 7pm in Amboise. We also offer travel planning to add Paris hotels, car rentals, France hotels, trains, airport transfers, and more.
Hotels: Manoir St Thomas, Les Cordeliers, Au Bon Laboureur
Bike Rentals: [Click for image] 90 euros Trek 7200 hybrids. We also offer Eddy Merckx road bikes, Gara model for a supplement. To see specs and images of this bike, see www.eddymerckx.be
Additional Night in Amboise: 180 euros/double room Breakfast included.
You are important to us; so we make you thoroughly prepared and include:
Pre-trip travel documents: you will receive extensive information as a customer prior to your departure. Upon confirmation we will send you some general information about preparations including passport info, training tips, and reading lists. As a customer you can also Purchase product from Hammer Nutrition, get 2 FREE issues to Velo News, and much more!
Upon final payment, we will send to you a complete list of documentation by email including Hotel List, contact numbers, itineraries, sites to see and information about sites and culture of the region. We include road signs, packing lists, travel tips, language phrases, holiday info, tour details, culture and customs tips, and much, much more!
Optional Services:
Travel insurance, Paris museum & metro passes, Paris day tours, Lido shows, and other services. Cell phone rental and luggage storage services.
Note: prices subject to change based upon currency fluctuations. See Booking Terms and Conditions.
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