Loire Valley cycling holiday in France
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.comThe leaders are not guides – they’re not there to shepherd you around. Instead, they’ll let you know which local restaurant serves great value food – without running the risk of travellers’ tummy. They’ll allow you to avoid hour-long queues at train stations and attractions.
We like to think of small group travel as the Goldilocks option. It is independent travel without the fuss, worry and bunk beds – and organised travel without the coaches. And it’s cheaper than a tailor made tour. It’s sits somewhere in the middle – and we think it’s just about right.
Have big, life-enriching experiences that would be impossible to organise without lots of time and insider knowledge.
Simplicity
Make the most of your holiday time by letting someone else do the hard work and boring logistics!
Peace of mind
Small group tours take care of the security aspects – and provide a safety net should anything unexpected happen.
If you don’t have three months to spend exploring, small groups trips let you cover more ground in less time. Your days are not spent queuing for tickets or finding hotels – so you can squeeze more into your holiday.
Solo travellers who’d like company
Likeminded travel companions plus peace of mind for those travelling alone. Single supplements are usually available – providing privacy if you want it.
Less confident travellers
Stray from the tourist trail without worrying about getting lost, and meet local people without dealing with the language barrier.
Couples and friends have private rooms, and you can choose to eat alone or not. Single supplements give solo travellers their own room.
“There won’t be any free time”
Free mornings or afternoons let you explore on your own, or just relax.
“The accommodation will be basic”
Trips are as high or low end as you like. Though off the beaten track destinations won’t have luxury hotels, this is all part of the adventure.
“I won’t like the other travellers!”
Tour operators try to create groups with a similar demographic – age, families, activity levels... Chances are, you’ll even make new friends.
“Will we be following an umbrella?”
No.
Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your holiday will help support conservation and local people.

The most sustainable way to travel is by bicycle, but it also provides many opportunities to explore parts of lesser-known France and visit remote villages. This, in turns, gives us a great opportunity to try real French cuisine, which is usually made with locally sourced ingredients as many of the smaller villages grow much of their own produce.
As a travel company we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key, and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage.
The Impacts of this Trip
To provide you with the opportunity to enjoy real, fresh, local cuisine to your liking, only breakfast is included. This means you are able to directly support the local economy but visiting small cafes and local markets. In the off the beaten track locations there are no chains, which gives you an authentic experience.
Through the optional extras including the wine tasting in Chenonceaux, you have the opportunity to buy fresh local produce in the form of their fine wines. In addition, the cost of the tour helps keep the local business running which in terms provides jobs for those living in the village.
As a company we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.


The most sustainable way to travel is by bicycle, but it also provides many opportunities to explore parts of lesser-known France and visit remote villages. This, in turns, gives us a great opportunity to try real French cuisine, which is usually made with locally sourced ingredients as many of the smaller villages grow much of their own produce.
As a travel company we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key, and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage.

The Impacts of this Trip
To provide you with the opportunity to enjoy real, fresh, local cuisine to your liking, only breakfast is included. This means you are able to directly support the local economy but visiting small cafes and local markets. In the off the beaten track locations there are no chains, which gives you an authentic experience.
Through the optional extras including the wine tasting in Chenonceaux, you have the opportunity to buy fresh local produce in the form of their fine wines. In addition, the cost of the tour helps keep the local business running which in terms provides jobs for those living in the village.
As a company we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.

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