Loire Chateaux Hiking Tours
Trip at-a-glance
| Price: | From $1,195* per person |
| When: | April-June, August-October |
| Number of days: | 7 |
| Group size: | 24 |
This trip is offered by:
Call them at 800-960-2221 about this trip and mention you saw it at TravelDragon, or contact them.
Trip details
Itinerary
Day 1 | is arrival day in Tours/Joue les Tours, which will allow you a chance to settle in and then visit the city. Tours is a large city compared to the villages you will visit, but most interesting perhaps is its old town. Also, there is plenty of good shopping in Tours, and some important history to discover. Orientation at 7pm and gourmet dinner tonight in your chateau. (D)
Day 2 | Depart Joue les Tours, cycling toward Azay le Rideau, and the famous gardens and chateau of Villandry. You will travel along quiet lanes before arriving at Villandry, where you can spend some time exploring and admiring the lush gardens. Afterward, you may picnic along the river, before riding on to Azay le Rideau. 36km (B,D)
Day 3 | the tour then continues to Sainte Maure en Touraine along the Indre stopping at along the way to visit one of the favorite stops of novelist Honore de Balzac in Sache. But, before leaving Azay Le Rideau, time must be devoted to discovering this architectural masterpiece of a chateau. The ride is a pleasant and quiet ride through forests and along the river. 39km (B,D)
Day 4 | It's on to the countryside for a visit to the royal chateau of Loches which is overlooked by its fortress and the old walled city on the hilltop. A fascinating site, within the walls you will find an ancient church and the dungeon of Foulques Nerra. Other famous characters such as Joan of Arc, Agnes Sorel, and Charles VII were influential here. 37 km (B,D)
Day 5 | takes you to the Chateau of Montresor, a privately owned and maintained masterpiece. Then to the town of St. Aignan, which is set along the banks of the Cher river and has many interesting visits including the crypt in the 11th century cathedral. Stay 1 km away in Noyers sur Cher. 46km (B,D)
Day 6 | and the next stage is through the heart of the Cher valley, including vineyards and orchards, stopping at Chenonceau. This stage through the countryside allows you to take your time and see the other local sites along the way. A famous town with an imposing ruin of a dungon, Montrichard sits along the banks of the the Cher and then on to Chenonceau the famous castle spanning the Cher River. 35km (B,D)
Day 7 | Travel to Amboise, home to a lovely chateau and Clos Lucé where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last four years of his life. Before leaving, take some time to visit Chenonceau and learn about its history between the feuding dames Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medicis. Amboise offers much to see and do as well, so get there early after a beautiful tour through the countryside. 42 km(B,D)
Day 8 | is departure day from Amboise. You can take some time to visit the town this morning, and then depart by train. (B)
- You need to form your own private group to take this trip. It will be scheduled for a date you arrange with the provider. The itinerary here is just a sample.
- This trip/accommodation may accommodate for certain types of disabilities. Contact the provider for more information.
- This trip/accommodation is centered around activities for grandparents and their grandchildren.
- This trip is self-guided (includes hotels, maps, luggage transfer, etc but no guide).
- This trip has some solo-only/singles departures.
- This trip has some women-only departures.