Loire Valley by E-Bike: Saumur to the Atlantic Coast

Start your adventure in Saumur, a town celebrated for its rich equestrian heritage and the esteemed Cadre Noir riding academy. Stroll through the historic centre, where elegant white tuffeau stone facades line charming streets, creating a picturesque backdrop for exploration. Don’t miss the opportunity to admire the majestic Château de Saumur, which proudly overlooks the town. Immerse yourself in the local culture by discovering its many other historic monuments and savouring the delightful ambiance that makes Saumur a captivating start to your journey.

Embark on your journey from Saumur along the southern bank of the Loire, cycling through enchanting villages adorned with the region’s iconic white tuffeau stone. Take a moment to explore the beautiful church in Cunault or the remarkable St-Maur Abbey, both shining examples of local architecture. As you pedal towards St-Mathurin-sur-Loire, you’ll cross to the northern bank, where marshlands drained in the Middle Ages create a unique landscape. Pass by remnants of the old slate quarries in Trélazé before arriving in Angers, a vibrant city straddling the River Maine. Here, the mix of historic structures and contemporary city life offers a captivating experience.

Ascent 695m, descent 680m

Meals: B

Today’s ride takes you deep into the heart of Anjou, starting with a picturesque journey from Angers alongside the lush shores of Lac de Maine. As you meander along the tranquil path through parkland and beside the Maine River, consider stopping in Bouchemaine for a riverside picnic or savoring a meal at one of the charming quayside restaurants. Continuing westward, you’ll pass the prestigious vineyards of Savennières, renowned for their exquisite white wines, before taking in the stunning vistas of Béhuard Island. Cross over Chalonnes Island, one of the largest in the Loire, before reaching the quaint villages of Montjean-sur-Loire and Ingrandes, where you can soak in the region’s rich history and natural beauty.

Ascent 348m, descent 360m

Meals: B

Departing from Ingrandes, your journey leads you to the charming village of St-Florent-le-Vieil, where breathtaking views of the Loire Valley await. As you ascend to the heights of St-Florent and the historic fortified site of Champtoceaux, you’re rewarded with panoramic vistas of the river and its enchanting surroundings. This segment of the route takes you along quiet roads and picturesque greenways, ensuring a serene ride into Nantes, the largest city along the Loire à Vélo route. Nantes, named the European Green Capital in 2013, beautifully blends history with modernity. Cross the impressive Tabarly suspension bridge to reach the lively Île de Nantes, home to fascinating mechanical art and the vibrant, redeveloped Malakoff Quarter.

Ascent 442m, descent 447m

Meals: B

As you depart from Nantes, the Loire River widens, heralding a shift in the landscape. Marvel at the intriguing artworks strategically placed along the route, enhancing your cycling experience. Following the serene Martinière Canal, you’ll glide along quiet roads, traversing expansive marshes and vast river forelands that stretch toward the Atlantic. Approaching Paimboeuf, the tidal influence becomes increasingly evident, indicating your closeness to the ocean. Your adventure culminates at the vibrant seaside resort of St-Brévin-les-Pins, where the Loire meets the sea, offering a perfect finale to your remarkable journey. St-Brévin is known for its sandy beaches and charming boardwalk, making it a delightful destination to unwind.

Ascent 337m, descent 335m

Meals: B

After the breakfast, your unforgettable journey comes to an end. If time permits, explore Saint-Nazaire, known for its impressive shipbuilding heritage and the striking Escal’Atlantic museum, which showcases the history of transatlantic liners. Alternatively, consider taking the train back to Saumur, allowing you to reflect on the stunning landscapes, charming villages, and rich history you’ve encountered along the Loire Valley.

Meals: B

• Charming accommodation with en-suite bathrooms
• Daily continental style breakfast
• High quality e-bike with charger
• Helmet and basic bike insurance
• Handlebar bag and/or panniers
• Repair kit and bike lock
• Luggage transfer each day from hotel to hotel on days when cycling (1 x piece/bag per person, strict maximum weight <20kg per bag)
• PDF with map and tourist info, and a navigation app with hotel locations and emergency contacts.
• Local support in France

• Single supplement $650
• Travel insurance
• International and domestic Airfares
• Lunches and dinners
• Taxis, trains and local buses between towns if needed
• Arrival and departure transfers

The Loire Valley is located in central France, known for its beautiful countryside, vineyards, and historic châteaux. It’s about a 2-hour train ride from Paris to the main cities in the region, such as Blois, Saumur or Orleans, making it an easy and quick getaway from the capital. The region is famous for its picturesque towns, rolling hills, and iconic castles like Château de Chambord and Château de Chenonceau. The Loire Valley is perfect for cycling, with scenic routes along the river and through charming villages.

The Loire Valley offers an excellent opportunity to dip your toe into self-guided cycling tours. With its designated cycling paths, quiet roads, and a courteous biking culture, it’s an ideal destination for cyclists of all abilities. The added benefit of e-bikes makes managing hills and covering longer distances much easier. 

The Loire Valley offers stunning scenery throughout the year, but the best time for cycling is typically between April and October, when the weather is mild, local attractions are open, and the vineyards are at their peak.

For the best cycling conditions, we recommend traveling from late April through June, when the weather is typically mild and pleasant. July can be hot but still manageable, while August is generally not ideal due to the limited services open and intense summer heat. September and October offer particularly lovely weather, with cooler temperatures and stunning autumn scenery, making them some of the best months to explore the region.

If you’re hoping to see the famous sunflower fields, the best time to visit is usually from mid June to early July, when the fields are in full bloom. The exact timing can vary depending on the weather, but this is when the vibrant yellow flowers are at their peak. By mid-August, the sunflowers begin to fade, and the fields are often harvested.

The cycling season for all trips, except the “The Châteaux Loop”, runs from April 1 to October 31 each year. The cycling season for the The Châteaux Loop is from May 1 to September 30. Please ensure your trip falls within these dates.

While cycling in the Loire Valley is generally considered “beginner-friendly,” some prior biking experience is recommended. Cyclists should be comfortable navigating hills, riding on mixed surfaces, and sharing roads with vehicles. Since these are self-guided trips, it’s also important to have some problem-solving skills, adaptability, and a good sense of direction. You’ll need to feel comfortable with map-reading, using a travel app, and following road signs. Basic bike maintenance skills are required (e.g., fixing a punctured tire, adjusting the chain).

If you’re unsure, please feel free to reach out to our cycling expert, who can answer your questions and provide more details.

The terrain in the Loire Valley features a mix of flat and gently rolling hills, primarily along dedicated cycling routes and quiet country roads. While the terrain is generally moderate, riders should be comfortable with occasional hills and mixed surfaces, as well as sharing certain stretches with cars. Some roads may have obstacles like crossing train tracks, potholes, and debris, so cyclists should be confident navigating these hazards. As you approach and depart from larger towns, the roads may become busier. Take your time, and if you need to check your directions, it’s best to pull off the road and away from traffic. Along the way, you’ll enjoy peaceful landscapes, including forests, villages, and riverside paths, offering a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation.

Our E-bikes are the most current models and are equipped with the new Bosch 4a motor, a battery of 625W, which allows for up to 100km on each charge, dependent on the level of pedal assistance chosen.These are ‘Pedelec’ bikes meaning you still need to pedal and the bike motor assists you up to 25km/h, which is the legal limitation. The bike has MTB geometry with 27.5″ – 29″ wheels (Size XS: 27.5″) and Shimano Deore gears. There is an easy to read handlebar display that gives you all the stats you need including speed/distance. Please note the E-Bike model supplied may vary according to availability on any chosen date but will be of a similar quality and range.

Helmets are provided, so you don’t need to bring your own unless you prefer to. Each bike comes equipped with panniers, a handlebar bag, a lock, a pump, a spare inner tube, and a puncture repair kit with tyre levers, allowing you to carry your essentials and stay prepared throughout the day. If you’re more comfortable with your own equipment, you’re welcome to bring additional gear such as gel seats, allen wrenches, or multi-tools.

E-bike batteries are classified with a battery wattage: for instance a 650W battery will have a much longer range than a 250W battery. Then how long that battery will carry you depends upon a few factors:

1. The terrain you are riding – steep uphills will use up your battery far faster than level terrain
2. The level of assistance you choose: ECO, TOUR, EMTB and TURBO – each uses progressively higher levels of assistance and therefore your battery life shortens. So riding in Turbo assist all the time will significantly reduce your range compared to ECO which gives a light level of assistance. It is easy to switch between modes with your handlebar controls.
3. The weight you carry – The bikes are capable of carrying a combined weight of bike, rider and luggage of up to 150kg. The bikes weigh around 22kg and if you are a heavier rider plus carrying more gear then you will use up the battery faster than a lighter rider also carrying less gear in their panniers.

It’s important to note that while it may be tempting to use the TURBO setting and zip through the route, services along the way follow standard operating hours and will not adjust for early arrivals. This means that if you race through the day and reach your lunch spot by 10am or your hotel by 1pm, these services are unlikely to be available, as they operate during regular hours. We recommend taking your time, enjoying a leisurely breakfast, cycling at a relaxed pace, stopping at interesting spots, expecting to have lunch around noon to 2pm, and checking into your hotel between 3 and 4pm when rooms are typically ready. When it comes to French restaurants and hotels, there’s no trophy for being the first to arrive. In fact, you might just get a ‘merci, but please come back later!

You will need to recharge the battery after each day’s ride unless you have had it on minimal assistance and/or medium distances. Each e-bike comes with a power pack and cable which you just plug one end into a mains power point and the other into a socket on the bike. Typically it’s about 4 hours to get a full charge and your handlebar display tells you how much charge you have in the battery when riding it or when recharging it.

Hotels along the Loire Valley are used to riders with e-bikes and so it should be easy enough to find a suitable charging point each night, they can advise you on where to charge and securely store the bike each evening.

Directions will be provided through an app that you can download once you receive your trip departure details 4 weeks prior to departure date. On the app you’ll have access to a detailed itinerary with route information specific to your trip, including tourist highlights, hotel bookings, and regional tips. You’ll mount your phone to your handlebars to follow GPS guidance directly from the app. In addition to this, you’ll also follow standard road signs and “Vélo Vert” markers, which are part of a network of bike-friendly paths and quiet roads across France.

Your directions are there for reassurance, but you’ll have the flexibility to travel at your own pace and explore off the beaten path. Whether it’s stopping for a coffee, visiting a château, or stumbling upon a hidden wine cave, you’ll have the freedom to enjoy the journey your way. If you get off track, don’t worry. You can always ask locals or other cyclists for help, and getting back on course is all part of the adventure. Self-guided cycling is all about flexibility, and it’s a style of travel many cyclists love to come back to again and again.

It’s important to be familiar with basic bike maintenance before setting off, as handling simple repairs – such as fixing a flat tyre or reattaching a dropped chain – is your responsibility. While we provide a toolkit for basic repairs, it’s essential to feel confident managing these tasks on the road.

If you’re unsure about bike maintenance, there are plenty of resources to help you prepare. We recommend watching bike repair tutorials online (such as those on YouTube) or visiting your local bike shop for a hands-on demonstration. Many shops offer workshops or individual lessons to help you practice basic repairs like fixing a puncture or attaching dropped chains. As the saying goes, “practice makes perfect”. 

Weather is unpredictable, so maintaining a flexible approach will help you make the most of your journey while staying safe. Since itineraries cannot be adjusted last minute due to weather, it’s essential to prepare with the right gear to stay comfortable and safe in all conditions. Be sure to pack rain gear, quick-drying clothing, along with reflective gear to ensure visibility, especially in poor weather or low light conditions. That said, we do not recommend cycling in severe weather, such as heavy rain, thunderstorms or hail. If you encounter such conditions, it’s best to pull off the road and seek shelter until the weather clears. This can be a great opportunity to stumble across a local wine cave or café, where you can relax, taste some regional specialties, and practice your French. Oooh la la!

If you’re near a train line, you can check local transit options to see if they allow bikes on board, giving you the flexibility to skip a day’s ride if you’re uncomfortable cycling in bad weather. Not all trains permit bikes, so be sure to confirm this before boarding with your bike.

You can read more about cycling the Loire Valley in our Insight article, Exploring France’s Beautiful Loire Valley by E-Bike, which provides valuable information about what to expect during your trip. Our cycling expert, Liz, has years of experience personally guiding cycling tours in the Loire Valley and is passionate about sharing her knowledge of this beautiful region.