With Loire Valley Breaks cycling holidays, we don't have standard breaks - we prefer to design a personalised, flexible holiday which suits your needs and wishes.

Based in the St Nicolas de Bourgueil vineyards, you will stay in high quality en-suite accommodation.  Breakfast is included, with evening meals as an option 4 nights a week.  All holidays include the use of bikes for all ages, emergency back-up and our friendly service and local knowledge to help ensure your holiday is perfect.

Your self-guided cycle rides will be easy to follow with our route packs, including large-scale maps, detailed route notes and information on places of interest along the way.

The Routes

Most cycling holidays are linear with several overnight stop-offs – to ensure you get to see a wide variety of places on your holiday.  Our central location means you can do this from one base – no luggage transfer, no living out of saddle bags, and no problem if you want a day off – you don’t have to cycle to make it to your bed for the night!  

Our routes travel through the vineyards, along the Loire, past châteaux, exploring local forests, villages and historical towns - cycling at your own pace, stopping as and when you want - you will discover the area's rich heritage and warm welcome.  The routes take you on quiet roads and lanes - often using specially designed way-marked cycle routes - which meander through the local countryside, through villages to provide café/bar stops, or maybe a boulangerie for your lunchtime provisions.

Samples of our  routes are listed below - including some of the highlights easily reached on a day’s ride from our base and are grouped in distance order.  Of course, you can mix and match between distances or we are happy to amend any itinerary and mileage to suit your own preferences or design an entirely individual schedule just for you. 

Up to 16km/10 miles

Trips of this distance are ideal for families with young children who ride independently, newcomers to cycling unsure of their ability or guests who want to ride for a half day and explore further afield by car or train.

Example rides include a trip to the local market and town park; a route to a local medieval fort and a trip to the local swimming lake with its pedaloes, play area and crazy golf.  You can also meander through the vineyards and visit the wine museum; take the forest route including a visit to a swimming lake or have a one-way ride to a local riverside chateau.

Up to 32km/20 miles

Trips of this distance are ideal for families with older children or those on bike seats/tagalongs and groups who want to explore further and like to visit attractions along the route.

Example rides include a way-marked vineyard route with opportunities to taste and buy; the river route visiting riverside villages; a  round trip taking in a chateau, mushroom cave, tapped apples and wine tasting.  You can also visit  the Chinon vineyards with a trip through the forest on a way-marked route or take a one-way ride to Ussé chateau, famous as the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty story.

Up to 48km/30 miles

Trips of this distance are ideal for experienced cyclists comfortable with this distance and families happy to spend a full day cycling with breaks for sight-seeing.

Examples rides include extended versions of the rides listed above; a visit to Chinon with its château, goat's cheese, wine and canoeing options or a trip to Saumur for fizzy wine and the town of Langeais with its fortified chateau, a forest adventure park or the château of Villandry with its amazing gardens.

If you like to ride longer than this, we can provide routes to suit you for as far as you want!

Cycling with Children

"Our family managed to bond really well and have lots of giggles and fun on a well-deserved break.  Thank you!  2009 could be visited by us yet again!"  Williamson family, England - view more guest comments

Our holidays are suitable for all ages, abilities and groups, and we offer plenty of options which make them particularly appealing to families with children.   Click here to find out more about how we cater for families.

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