The Loire with the Family: From Orléans to Blois

An easy cycling holiday. The route mainly follows cycle paths and quiet paved roads. It is well signposted.

Daily stages of 20 to 28 km.

Suitable for children aged 6 years and over who can already cycle independently.
For younger children, trailers and tag-along bikes are available to hire as an option.

You carry only what you need for the day in a small bag or pannier, along with your picnic lunch.

Your luggage will be waiting for you at the hotel each evening. Luggage is limited to one bag per person (maximum 20 kg). Bags must be left at hotel reception before 9 am and will be delivered before 6 pm.

For 2 people or more.

5 days, 4 nights, 3 days of cycling.

Depart on a date of your choice from mid-April to mid-October.

Self-guided tour, without a guide. We provide a digital travel pack that includes access to our smartphone navigation app, a list of your accommodation, any vouchers required and all the information you need for your trip to run smoothly.

If you wish, we can provide a printed travel pack with maps, a route guide and a travel wallet, for a supplement of 35 € per pack. For printed travel packs requested less than 45 days before departure, and for travellers living abroad, the packs will be sent to your first hotel.

Accommodation

Bed and breakfast accommodation in a room for two, in 2* and 3* hotels (for 1 night) or equivalent.

If the accommodation is fully booked, we may arrange for you to stay in another hotel of the same category or equivalent.

Hotel ratings

In France, increasing numbers of hotels and guesthouses are choosing not to have an official rating, including establishments that were still rated a year or two ago. This does not mean their quality has declined—far from it. Many guesthouses offer charming rooms. If, for example, we indicate a comfort level of “3* or equivalent”, this means that the establishment may not have an official rating, but offers comfort comparable to a 3* hotel.

Meals

For picnic supplies, the route passes through many villages. This gives you a choice of lunch options: a restaurant, a village café, an inn or a picnic.
For dinner, you will easily find restaurants near your hotels.

Please let us know about any food allergies or special dietary requirements when booking; we will do our best to adapt your meals.

Please note: accommodation photos are for illustration only. Accommodation may change. Depending on availability, we may book other hotels offering an equivalent standard and level of comfort.

Start

On Day 1 in Orléans, in the afternoon.

Finish

On Day 5 in Blois, after breakfast.

Bike hire

Your own bike

A hybrid bike is ideal. An electric bike is also a very enjoyable alternative that we recommend for this trip. We advise against bikes with narrow tyres. Hybrid bikes are excellent. Remember to have your bike serviced before you leave.

Hiring a bike

We arrange the reservation; please let us know when booking. Bikes are adjusted to each participant’s height, so you must provide your height when you book.

Hire for 3 days: bikes are delivered to your hotel in Orléans on Day 2 before 10 am, and you leave them at your hotel in Blois when you finish your day’s ride on Day 4. Our partner collects them either on the evening of Day 4 or on the morning of Day 5.

Type: Scott hybrid bike or equivalent, equipped with a Shimano 27 -speed drivetrain and a Custom Racktime luggage rack.

Electric hire bike

Women’s hire bike

Men’s hire bike

For hygiene reasons, water bottles are not provided. You will be provided with a repair kit, pump, bike lock, bottle cage, a pair of panniers and a helmet.

Please remember to tell us your height when booking

In France, helmets have been compulsory for children under 12 years old, whether riding or travelling as passengers, since 22 March 2017. . Helmets are strongly recommended for adults.

E-bike hire is also available

“Getting started” option: Meet us for an in-person handover of your bikes, including adjustments to ensure an optimal riding position, technical explanations of how the bike works, and answers to your questions so you can set off in the best possible conditions.

By train

Return from Blois to Orléans by TER regional train: between 30 and 40 minutes, with no changes.

By car

Plan your route on Via Michelin.

Parking your car

Cheval rouge car park in Orléans is close to the hotel. Check current parking rates before travelling.

Returning to your car

Return from Blois to Orléans by TER regional train: between 30 and 40 minutes, with no changes. A private transfer is also available on request.

A number of our trips offer opportunities to swim, either during a day’s stage or at the end of the day. It would be a shame to miss out. However, please bear in mind that your guides are not lifeguards; you therefore swim under your own responsibility and at your own risk.

Member of Agir pour un Tourisme Responsable (ATR)

Since 2012, , Grand Angle has been a member of ATR, the leading association for more responsible tourism. We design our trips—on foot, by bike and on snow—to invite everyone to discover the world differently: with curiosity, respect and kindness.

As a member of the board of directors since 2018, , we actively help move practices across the sector towards a more meaningful approach. In practical terms, we focus on:

• Transparency in our practices and pricing
• Respect for our partners and local communities
• Protecting the environment on every trip

We also share the values of the Traveller’s Ethical Charter, which encourages everyone to take simple steps to protect the places they visit and enjoy meaningful encounters.

Travelife Partner

Since 2025, , Grand Angle has held Travelife Partner status, an international label certifying our responsible environmental, ethical and sustainable management practices, both within our company and in our work with partners and the organisation of our trips.

This label, the second level of a rigorous international certification programme, recognises our practical efforts towards responsible tourism. We are actively working towards the next level, Travelife Certified, in line with our sustainable development policy

For cycling

• Short or long cycling shorts, depending on the season
• Cycling gloves
• A helmet
• Sunglasses (to protect against the sun, wind and midges)
• A windproof jacket
• T-shirts or cycling jerseys
• A handlebar map holder
• A water bottle

Note: synthetic technical clothing performs very well. Merino wool clothing has also become available; it performs very well, is comfortable to wear and has the advantage of not developing sweat odours (brands include Icebreaker, Ruka, etc.)! As a general rule, avoid cotton, which makes you cold when wet.

Protection against sun and rain

• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• A hat, cap or bucket hat (helmet)
• A windproof jacket
• A rain poncho or a Gore-Tex jacket

Clothing

• A jumper or fleece
• Comfortable walking trousers
• Shorts
• A tracksuit or change of clothes
• A lightweight, long-sleeved cotton shirt
• A pair of running-style trainers for the evening
• Spare clothes and underwear
• A toiletry bag
• Swimwear
• A small first-aid kit: personal medication, adhesive bandages, gauze dressings or “2nd skin”, gauze, disinfectant, arnica pellets and aspirin for minor aches and injuries …

Luggage

• If your bike has no pannier, bring a small, comfortable 40-litre backpack with a hip belt to carry your personal belongings and picnic during the day. If you have a luggage rack, you can secure your bag to it with bungee cords. Rental bikes come with a pannier for your belongings. Bring a small backpack as well; it makes it easy to carry your belongings when you stop to visit somewhere along the way.
• A bag for luggage transfers: a backpack or travel bag in good condition

France

Documents

Travellers, including minors, must carry a national identity card or passport (EU nationals).

Useful addresses

• Blois Tourist Office: 23 place du Château – 41000 BLOIS – 0254904141
• Orléans Loire Valley Tourism: 23 place du Martroi – 45056 Orléans cedex - 0238240505

France: +33.

No time difference: GMT +1.

IGN Top100 map: no. 127 Orléans – Blois