Loire valley centre based cycling holiday, France
Description of Loire valley centre based cycling holiday, France
The Loire valley is a fantastic place for a centre-based cycling break – there’s just so much to do on your doorstep. Base yourself in the quiet village of Candes-St-Martin and you’re just a short cycle from some of the valley’s loveliest châteaux.
Highlights in the area include Saumur, a historic town crowned by an impressive chateau and home to vineyards that make lovely sparkling wine. Little children might fall under the spell of Château d’Ussé’s, which, with its ever-so-pretty turrets, is said to have inspired Charles Perrault when he wrote Sleeping Beauty. The Loire Valley has quiet rivers for canoeists and there are even caves to explore – the intrepid might go inside, the thirsty might try wine tasting instead from barrels matured in their dark depths.
The accommodation is self-catered, but your eye may wander – there are plenty of excellent restaurants nearby. You’ll get bikes included, plus a heap of local information of where to walk and bike. Bring a car if you fancy going further afield.
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Reviews
1 Reviews of Loire valley centre based cycling holiday, France
Reviewed on 21 Aug 2023 by Rod Fawett
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Enjoyed the calm cycling with the family, through gorgeous French countryside
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Maybe don’t stay in too many different places if you have kids. Too much packing isn’t hugely popular!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, we certainly supported the local restaurant and food trade!! Think most of what we consumed was local, and used local employment
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
V good, hugely enjoyable
Responsible Travel
Planet
We've been delivering holidays by bicycle for over 40 years, encouraging this environmentally friendly activity is at the absolute core of our business.Our destination managers in Candes-St-Martin provide all cyclists with a refillable water bottle and share some top tips on how to support the local environment. Ideas such as turning off lights when leaving a room, considering if you need clean towels and bedding regularly and taking no more than one shower daily when possible. We also encourage our clients to stick to marked trails and to take away any waste when stopping off for a picnic or to explore the local area.
At our head office in the UK we recycle paper, card, plastic and metal cans and we always try to use fully recyclable materials for our printed travel documents and marketing communications. We encourage all our staff to cycle when they can and are part of the Cycle to Work scheme. We also like to take part in charity bike rides together each year.
People
Each year when we purchase new equipment, we will donate our previous bikes and accessories to local businesses and charities in the local area. We also work with World Bicycle Relief to support bike-led charity projects in developing nations.All our tours encourage cyclists to get off the beaten track and discover the lesser-known parts of the region, visit small wine producers and eat in local restaurants. We also work with local suppliers to organise activities that support the local economy wherever possible and offer advice on bartering to offer a fair price for both the client and the vendor.
Our cycle experts and destination managers will also advise our clients to respect local cultures and traditions when visiting the area and its historic or religious sites, including appropriate dress. They will also discuss other ways you can consider your impact on the community such as asking for permission before taking someone’s photograph and learning a few words in the local language – often hello, goodbye and thanks is a good place to start.
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