- Wine Tour Destinations
| Region: | The Loire Valley |
|---|---|
| Type of Tour: | Active |
| Duration: | 3/4 Days |
| Guide Price: | From £352 to £509 per person |
| Number of Meals: | 2 Breakfasts, 1 picnic and 1 dinner (3 Days) 3 Breakfasts, 2 picnics and 1 dinner (4 days) |
| Number of Winery Visits: | 3 Wineries (3 Days) 3 Wineries and 1 Château (4 Days) |
| Number of Wines Tasted: | Approximately 11 wines (3 Days) Approximately 12 wines (4 Days) |
| Tour Transport: | Cycling to your visits (19km, 3 Days) Cycling to your visits (19km on day 1 + 38km on day 2, 4 Days) |
| Dates / Availability: | Available mid-week and weekends throughout the year |
What better way to explore the beautiful countryside of the Loire than by bike? The Loire Valley offers the largest variety of wines in France and our Loire and cycling break will introduce you to one of the region’s key wine-making regions – Vouvray. This break includes accommodation in a 4* hotel in the city of Tours, and one or two days of relaxed cycling with tastings throughout.
As part of the standard Grape Escapes service, we will organise your bike hire and provide you with the addresses of each visit alongside a link to a European cycling route planner, and you can plan your own specific routes. Alternatively, some guests prefer to have a cycling guide accompany them throughout the tour, and this can be included in your package (for an extra cost) – just let us know when we are planning your trip that you wish to be accompanied by a local guide.
After settling in at your hotel on day one, you may wish to explore the city of Tours, known as the Garden of France because of the many parks located there. Vieux Tours, the original medieval district is also worth a visit, to view the well-preserved half-timbered buildings, bustling squares and gothic-style cathedral. In the evening, a three-course dinner will be served in a premium brasserie with drinks.
On the morning of day two, pick up your bikes at a central location. The itinerary will go ahead in all weather conditions, and electric bikes are available if preferred. Just contact us for the supplement. Your day of cycling will take you out of the city, following a pretty route along the River Loire and then further into the countryside passing through some pretty villages, into the heart of the vines. You will firstly cycle for around 20 minutes to a premium Vouvray estate. Here, you will enjoy a tour of the domaine and cellars, concluding with tastings of five of the region’s white Chenin Blanc-based wines, including the domaine’s Réserve Spéciale. Time then to set off to the next winery, a short but pleasant cycle of approximately 20 minutes, to reach a highly respected Cave, producing sparkling Vouvray as well as a whole range of still wines. You will be guided through the cellars which have been hollowed out of the cliff face and learn how the wine is made, from vine to glass, concluding with a tasting. Time now to collect your picnic, to relax on the terrace and to sample the regional specialities provided in your basket, including, of course, a bottle of wine!
After lunch, continue onwards to your next stop, a winery, famous for its troglodytic cellars, dug by hand, which are some of the largest in the region. An informative tour and tasting of five wines will follow.
After such an enlightening day, time to make your way back to the hotel, at your own pace, where the evening is free for you to do as you please. We would be more than happy to recommend restaurants for your evening meal.
The Loire Valley is famous for its magnificent historical Châteaux and for those booking the four-day package, you will have the opportunity to discover one of these elegant Châteaux. Cycling through the beautiful countryside for just over an hour, taking your time to enjoy the scenic route which follows the River Cher, you will arrive at a stunning Renaissance property, lovingly restored in the 19th century. Your entrance ticket will allow you to explore the opulent interior of the Château, and the myriad of gardens, from the kitchen garden to the ornamental garden, to the Sun garden through to the Maze. Linger a little longer and tuck into your picnic, which will be waiting for you at the Château and pick yourself a quiet little spot in which to enjoy it.
After such a relaxing day, turn your bike homeward bound, to your hotel, where the evening is yours to relax and enjoy a well-earned dinner – again, we would be happy to recommend a restaurant.
Day One
Day Two
Day Three (Optional)
Final Day
(ii) The outline itinerary is indicative and is subject to minor changes depending on supplier availability. Availability cannot be guaranteed until we have received a confirmed booking, together with the deposit payment (or payment in full where the dates of travel are in less than 60 days). If the named accommodation / visits are not available, we will endeavour to find suitable alternatives of a similar grade; this may be subject to a supplement or a rebate depending on the price available.
The hotel very accommodating to ensure we had a good experience
Sue- Alberta, Canada
| Hotel Name | Room Grade | Star Rating | Duration | Price Per Person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hôtel Oceania L'Univers - Tours | Comfort | 4* | 3 Days | £378 | Book Now |
| Hôtel Oceania L'Univers - Tours | Comfort | 4* | 4 Days | £509 | Book Now |
Please contact us to request further details and a full list of tour upgrades.
If you would like to make your Grape Escapes holiday even more special, there are a number of additional activities that we can arrange for you. To complement the experience, these could be arranged to fit in/around your current itinerary, or we can arrange additional nights and room upgrades at your hotel, as well as your travel arrangements, a stop-over en route and even a visit to another part of the country! See below for some of the most popular upgrades.
Given the wide range of travel options, the package price does not include travel. Please contact us or have a look at our travel page for further information.
For more information on our Active tours please see our Active Tours page.
To secure your booking, a deposit of £100 per person is required (or 20% if the total price of your trip exceeds £500 per person). Your remaining balance will then be due 60 days before you travel. Please call us on +44 (0) 1920 46 86 66 or e-mail info@grapeescapes.net to request a booking form.
In a word, it was “excellent”. We will definitely travel with you again in the future and are telling all of our friends about how good your holiday was.
Mike - Poole, UK
From birthday weekends and hen trips to bespoke tours for wine clubs, car clubs and U3A’s, our group trips are always tailor-made.
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