CYCLING IN THE LOIRE VALLEY

8 days from GBP699 to GBP749 land only
Tripcode: LSR

Countries Visited: France

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Our Clients’ Reviews

Average Review Rating: from 6 reviews.

Paul Fox

CYCLING IN THE LOIRE VALLEY

Written March 2011
The Maps PROVIDED were excellent, so when we lost the approved route we could make up our own 'till the route reappeared at the village after next. The hotel contact staff were very friendly and even spoke bits of English when my sub-fluent French broke down. Hire bikes were excellent and were "Touring bikes" with racks and mudguards, not French racer style "road bikes"
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Finding the hotels at the end of each day and our bags there in reception was like a pat on the back and the invisible Exodus person saying "well done".
As I am a typical English cyclist, stopping with our flasks at the Pinic table for tea breaks was what life is all about.
Seeing the outside of many chateaux and the inside of a BIG chateau.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It was a great holiday and you had looked out the best of a flatish area of France; we enjoyed exploring the quiet roads and tracks for which you had given us super bikes. To quote your literature "they are our Hybrid bikes don't worry about the surface, just do it". We'll be back.
John & Jane Gosnell

CYCLING IN THE LOIRE VALLEY

Written September 2008
A great escape to the sun form our wet Summer, quiet roads, lovely views, lots of scope to extend or shorten the day at will. Everything we wanted and more, and all the bookings and moving on of luggage were faultless.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
That Exodus had gone the extra mile and managed to put the holiday together at such short notice. I din't even expect them to be able to do anything when I rang at 4:50pm on a Monday afternoon, but before the day was out the holiday was confirmed and all the details of the accomodation and routes emailed to us. Less than 24 hours after our first phone call to Exodus we were booking into the Hotel at Amboise on the Loire, stunning customer service.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
There are many ways to extend the trip each day for those that may wish to, we did lots of extras, and such easy cycling on such peaceful roads.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
My thanks to all at Exodus who made the trip possible.
Ana Thorn

CYCLING IN THE LOIRE VALLEY

Written June 2008
We had a great time in France - even though I am not very fit the route was amazing and kept me going for thwe whole week. I do recommend to anyone that wants to start cycling.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I think when we arrived in our first Chateau - Chenauceaux
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I would like to be able to give some inputs for the directions. In the second day, I think we got lost because the name of the village was wrong and little details like that.
But, you can wait for me, becuase we are going to book the next one very soon.
Stephen Thorn

CYCLING IN THE LOIRE VALLEY

Written June 2008
This was our Exodus holiday and we will be booking more. The arrnagements were as given, our bags were waiting at each hotel. The hotels's were very good and the food and service was excellent. The scenery was mind blowing and with so many places to visit the days went quickly. The bikes were of a good standard and we completely enjoyed it. Plus the wine tasting was eventful!!!!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Having the freedom to explore at our own pace and completely relaxing in the countryside.
The directions were pretty accurate apart form the longest day on day 2 when we mistakenly started with probably the only large hill in the valley, after the pain had gone and we relasied we had gone the wrong way we fel we could take on anything!!!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I don't know what some of the little villages would be like in peak season, we were lucky to get into resturants etc but in July and August this could be a problem, pre book resturants at these times.
Only twice were the directions given unclear, so be prepared to add some extra miles.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
As stated an excellent holiday, we will book another exucrsion with Exodus next year, well done with the planning and arrangements. It wasd amazing.
Jeremy Gordon

A great way to see the chateaux

Written September 2007
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
It was good to have some pleasant exercise and be a tourist.
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Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Anyone doing this trip should be told it would be useful to have a small bicycle toolkit, hex spanners,etc, in case of minor mechanical problems. No tools were included with the bicycle hire but the bikes were perfect for this type of touring.
Peter Strauss

CYCLING IN THE LOIRE VALLEY

Written July 2008
The accommodations were fine, the journeys well-paced, the places visited spectacular. The trip notes, however, were deficient in many respects, and the rental bikes overpriced to the market and not well maintained.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
We most enjoyed our time in Bracieux, both because of the extraordinary support we received from hotel staff and because the ride to and from Chambord (as well as the Chateau itself) was so special.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
While the trip notes advise against bringing bicycles, I'd advise doing so (or renting elsewhere than Exodus recommends). We were charged 80 Euros for bikes not in very good repair, when the price elsewhere in Amboise was 70 Euros, and in nearby Blois several shops advertise rentals for 57 Euros per week. French trains seem quite open to your bringing bikes along.
I'd also strongly recommend getting local bike maps (tourist offices for Loire et Cher have a particularly good one), as we found the trip notes lacking quite a few important details. Follow the posted bike route signs and you will be sure to find your way.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It's a well laid out trip, with fine accommodations and food, and wonderful places to visit. But I have rarely experienced as poorly supported a trip.
Exodus Response
I'm sorry to read of your concerns about the Cycling in the Loire Valley trip and I'm glad that you felt the accommodation and food was an enjoyable experience but obviously the rest of your issues are of concern to me.
Regarding the price of our bike rental the shop that we use in Amboise is a well respected family business and the owner, Pascal Richard, also runs the local bike club, so he does have huge expertise in the area. You are correct in saying that you can find cheaper bikes at 70EUR in Amboise however we do not specifically choose on cost, we choose on quality. We have been working with this bike shope for well over 5 years and rarely have complaints regarding the bikes which is why i am surprised. I appreciate you had difficulties with your bike and i do apologise for this but it seems that once the problem was fixed you managed to complete the tour trouble-free. We do include phone numbers within the route notes should you encounter problems and as you found out we also advertise bike shopes along the route.
With regards to the map we have used the IGN maps for the last 8 years and never had such a complaint regarding this. I do agree that the maps on the Pyrenees are clearly highlighted however here there are less minor roads and it easier to supply a larger scale map that details each day's ride. It is certainly not the case that we want our clients to think that our route is original - our main priority and concern is that our clients have an comfortable and trouble-free ride. The IGN maps are certainly not car maps and just to cover the 200km from Paris to Tours (in the Loire Valley) you would need 6 of these maps. Thank you for informing us about the Loire et Cher maps and this is something i will consider advertising within our trip notes however i do feel that our current map and route notes are sufficient.
With regards to the absence of a group leader, this is the nature of a self guide/independent trip and whilst on some trips there is a local representative to meet and give an overview of the tour. On others there are not and this in no way detracts from the quality of the tour. I strongly feel that the information we provide in advance, the route notes and maps, are always detailed enough for people to complete the tour without local assistance.
I'm sorry that the tour did not live up to your expectations and please be assured that we are looking into your concerns.
Andy Buswell (Trip Manager)

- Exodus Staff