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Loire Valley Family Biking
Fun in France's Regal Touraine
Join Backroads for the royal family option - an active vacation in the Loire Valley, where magnificent châteaux sleep on the banks of slow-moving rivers, vineyards stretch alongside gently rolling sunflower fields and forested lanes invite exploration. We've created a perfect trip to appeal to all members of the family. The routes are gentle, with shorter options available for the younger set, the restaurants are welcoming and every hotel has a swimming pool. Pedal through lush orchards and farmland amid fairy-tale castles. Kids will watch history come to life before their eyes while you revel in the grown-up pleasures of exquisite wines and gourmet cuisine.
Request an itinerary here or reserve this trip now.
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• Fairy-tale castles
• Leonardo da Vinci's home
• Fence with an award-winning fencing master!
• A private tour of Château de Chenonceau
• Relax at gracious castle-hotels
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Days 1-2 Amboise
Pedal to Vouvray, one of France's oldest wine-growing regions, where an idyllic landscape of vineyards and villages unfolds before you. Join vintner Daniel Jarry for a private tour of his family's centuries-old wine cave (it used to be a troglodyte dwelling!). Walk through Clos Lucé, the final home of Leonardo da Vinci, and marvel at models of his creations. Adults can explore the lively town of Amboise while the younger set heads for an outdoor adventure park set in the trees.
• Two nights at Le Choiseul. This elegant 18th-century manor house, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, features a swimming pool and glorious cuisine.
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Days 3-4 Montbazon
Visit the magical Château de Chenonceau, where a private guide shares fascinating details of its richly appointed interiors and dazzling artwork. Follow a peaceful route through vineyards and villages to the Château de Villandry, surrounded by some of France's most exquisite gardens. Ride to the town of Saché and see the castle where novelist Honoré de Balzac stayed while he wrote his novel collectively entitled La Comédie Humaine, which presents a panorama of French life in the years after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815. Kids learn the importance of foibles and fortes, and wield épées under the watchful eye of world-class fencing master Rudi van Oeveren.
• Two nights at Domaine de la Tortiniere. A charming 19th-century château with impressive countryside views, a lavish dining room, heated pool and the gracious hospitality of the Olivereau family.
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Days 5-6 Chinon
Spin through rolling hills and orchards to the riverside town of Azay-le-Rideau and explore its magnificent château. Explore subterranean cave dwellings where peasants once lived and take time to wander through a petting zoo filled with farm animals. Discover Ussé, the castle that inspired the author of Sleeping Beauty. Explore the town of Chinon and its historical ties to Joan of Arc.
• One night at Chateau de Marcay. Turrets and secret passageways attest to the medieval origins of this Relais & Châteaux-member hotel, which offers a sparkling pool, elegant rooms and exceptional dining.
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Dates: Jun 13-18, Jun 20-25, Jul 11-16, Jul 25-30, Aug 1-6, Aug 15-20
Length: 6 days/ 5 nights
Level: 1 to 4
Cost: $3,998
Single Supplement: $740
Meals: All meals included except 2 lunches.
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