Uncover France by bike

Discover the true heart of rural France with France Authentic Tours' unique cycling adventures. Explore at your own pace, stopping to uncover hidden gems inaccessible any other way. Escape the crowds, connect with nature, and create unforgettable memories. Perfect for those from New Zealand and Australia seeking an authentic French experience.

Our cycling tour regions

We offer several cycling tours across three of France's most picturesque regions, perfectly suited for biking.

Each destination promises unique sights and a truly immersive experience.

Loire Valley

Travel at your own pace along the Loire Valley, visiting the most prestigious chateaux in each area, enjoying local wines and food along your trip.

Anjou & Vendée

Whether you are passionate about history, roman and renaissance architecture, small town and villages, or French wine and food, you will find all this in the Anjou and Vendée Tour

Dordogne & Lot

Explore the rural Bastides villages and lush landscapes of the Dordogne and Périgord regions. Enjoy local foods and wines and meet locals.

Loire Valley Cycling Tours

We have carefully designed four cycling tours through this beautiful region, ranging from 4 to 6 days, following sections of the famous Loire à Vélo cycle route (EuroVelo 6), which stretches for over 650 km from Nevers to Pornic on the Atlantic coast.

These areas are among the most popular cycling destinations in France, thanks to their rich history, exceptional heritage, and the many magnificent castles and monuments waiting to be discovered.

Visitors are drawn to the Loire Valley and its celebrated Loire à Vélo route because it offers one of the most scenic, enjoyable, and accessible cycling experiences in Europe. The trail follows the gentle flow of the Loire River through fairy-tale landscapes of vineyards, riverside villages, sunflower fields, and world-famous châteaux such as Château de Chambord and Château de Chenonceau.

The route is especially popular because it is mostly flat, safe, and clearly signposted, making it ideal for both casual riders and experienced cyclists.

Along the way, you can stop to sample excellent local wines, explore charming historic towns, visit grand Renaissance castles, and enjoy a wonderfully relaxed way of discovering French culture and countryside at your own pace.

Combining nature, history, gastronomy, and easy cycling, the Loire à Vélo promises an unforgettable holiday in the heart of France.

Angers to Nantes - 4 days / 127 km

On this 4-day journey, you’ll discover the Anjou region, from its main centre, Angers, and its magnificent medieval castle, to Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, an important small town with a rich religious past that played a key role in the Vendée War. You will pass through beautiful villages and landscapes, such as the vineyards of Savennières, the island of Béhuard, and the sanctuary of Le Marillais, where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to Saint Maurille in 430.

You will visit small towns such as Chalonnes, Montjean, Ingrandes, and Ancenis, as well as the magnificent château in Oudon, before reaching Nantes, the city of the Dukes of Brittany, and its modern attraction: the “Machines de l’Île.”

The Loire Valley has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. The wet meadows, protected by Natura 2000, and the hamlets built on mounds to prevent flooding attract lovers of green tourism. Numerous hiking and cycling trails cross these alluvial plains, offering beautiful views of the Loire, one of the very few major wild rivers in Europe.

We have planned relatively short distances each day (25 to 40 km), so you can stop along the way to taste local produce and wines, explore historic buildings and villages, and relax in beautiful homes and châteaux in the evening. You will often share dinner with your host and experience the French way of life.

 

 

What’s included in the 4 days Tour:

  • Quality VTC bike hire for 4 days, with luggage carrier, helmet and lock. (possibility to upgrade to Ebike at an extra cost of 140E).
  • 3 nights in historic homes and chateau, in share double or twin rooms.
  • 3 home-made gourmet breakfasts at your B&B.
  • 3 dinners (Table d’hôte with your host or in a local restaurant)
  • Pre booked activities: entries to 2 chateaux and Nantes main attraction: les Machines de l’Ile.
  • 1 Train ride : Nantes to Angers
  • Our guidebook with many recommendations and area to stop on your trip.

What’s NOT included:

  • Your airfare to France
  • Travel insurance
  • Drinks with your dinners
  • Lunches and 1 dinners
  • Extra activities which do not require pre-booking.

 

Price : from 825 E /pers for 4 days

 

Angers to Tours - 5 days / 175 km

In this tour, you will travel at your own pace along the Loire Valley, visiting the most prestigious chateaux in the area (in Angers, Saumur, Villandry, Langeais or Rigny Ussé), the Abbaye royale de Fontevreau and enjoying local wines and food along your trip.

A tour of a winery and wine tasting will be organised in Saumur, as well as visit to local museums to understand the history and way of living for the inhabitants of the regions.

 

What’s included:

  • Quality off road bike hire for 5 days, with luggage carrier, helmet and lock (possibility of upgrading to an electric bike at an extra cost of 150E).
  • Train ride back to the starting point (Angers).
  • 4 nights in 4 historic homes or chateaux.
  • 4 home-made gourmet breakfasts at your B&B.
  • 4 diners (Table d’hôte at the B&B or in local restaurants)
  • Pre booked activities: entries to 3 chateaux, 1 visit of a winery and wine tasting (or visit of a mushroom growing cave and museum), entry to Abbaye de Fontevreau, entry to one of the most prestigious gardens of France.
  • Our guide book with many recommendations and places to stop along your trip.

 

 What’s NOT included:

  • Your airfare to France
  • Travel insurance
  • Wine and drinks with your dinner
  • Lunches
  • Extra activities which do not require pre-booking.

 

Price : from 990E /pers for 5 days

Tours to Blois 4 days / 128 km

Highlights:

In this 4-days cycling tour between Tour and Blois, you will travel at your own pace through the heart of the Loire Valley. You will visit 3 or 4 of the most prestigious chateaux in the region (Amboise, Chenonceau, Chaumont, Blois), as well as the house and museum of Leonardo da Vinci and the house of Magic, dedicated to Robert-Houdin, a world-renowned magician. You will end your journey with a boat trip on the Loire in Blois. A winery visit and wine tasting will be organised in Vouvray. Throughout the tour, you will enjoy local dishes and wines either at your hosts’ table d’hôte or in local restaurants.

 

What’s included:

  • Quality VTC bike hire for 4 days, with luggage carrier, helmet and lock. (possibility to upgrade to electric bike for 130E/pers).
  • Train ride back to you starting point.
  • 3 nights in historic homes
  • 3 home-made gourmet breakfasts at your B&B
  • 3 dinners (table d’hôte or in local restaurant)
  • Pre booked activities: entries to 3 chateaux, 1 winery visit with wine tasting, entry to the Clos Lucé (Da Vinci Museum), House of Magic, entry to one of the most prestigious gardens of France and a boat trip on the Loire.
  • Our guide book with many recommendations and suggested stops along your route.

 

What’s NOT included:

  • Airfare to France
  • Travel insurance
  • Wine and drinks with dinner
  • Lunches
  • Extra activities which do not require pre-booking.

Price : from 890E /pers for 4 days

Tours to Orléans - 7 Days / 190 km

Highlights

On this tour, you will travel at your own pace through the heart of the Loire Valley, visiting 5 to 6 of the most prestigious châteaux in the region (Amboise, Chaumont, Blois, Cheverny, Chambord, and Beaugency). You will also visit the final home and museum of Leonardo da Vinci, as well as the House of Magic dedicated to Robert-Houdin, a world-renowned magician.

During the journey, you will enjoy a boat trip on the Loire in Blois to observe local wildlife, visit an underground wine cellar with a tasting of Vouvray wines, explore a historic abbey, and visit a local chocolate producer in Orléans.

The tour also includes 5 dinners, either at your host’s table d’hôte or in local restaurants, allowing you to discover regional cuisine and wines.

What’s included (7-day tour)

  • Quality VTC bike hire for 7 days, with luggage carrier, helmet, and lock (option to upgrade to an electric bike for €190)
  • 6 nights in historic homes
  • 6 homemade gourmet breakfasts at your B&B
  • 5 dinners (table d’hôte or local restaurants)
  • Pre-booked activities: entry to 5 major châteaux, 1 winery visit with wine tasting, entry to Clos Lucé (Da Vinci Museum), House of Magic, chocolate factory visit, guided abbey tour, and a boat trip on the Loire
  • Train ride from Orléans back to Tours
  • Our guidebook with recommendations and suggested stops along your route

What’s NOT included

  • Airfare to France
  • Travel insurance
  • Wine and drinks with dinner
  • Lunches and one dinner
  • Additional activities not requiring pre-booking

 

Price : from 1590 E /pers for 7 days

Anjou and Vendée Cycling Tour

The Vendée, once part of the historic regions of Anjou and Poitou, is celebrated for its peaceful rural lifestyle, rich heritage, and stunning Atlantic coastline.

You will cycle at your own pace through a wonderful variety of landscapes: beginning near Cholet and the rolling countryside of the Vendée Bocage, continuing through the tranquil flatlands of the Marais Poitevin in the south, and finishing along the beautiful sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast on the famous Vélodyssée cycle route.

This region is deeply proud of its history, showcased by the world-renowned Puy du Fou park, famous for its spectacular historical shows. Vendée is also admired for its strong rural traditions, warm hospitality, and remarkable economic dynamism.

Blending countryside charm, coastal beauty, and fascinating heritage, Vendée offers a truly memorable cycling adventure through one of France’s most authentic and scenic regions.

 

 

Cholet to Les Sables d'Olonne - 8 days / 285 km

Highlight:

This 8 days Tours will bring you South of the Loire Valley in the Historic regions of Anjou, Vendée and Poitou.

This area has been devastated during the French Terror period which followed the revolution from 1793 to 1815, this region has experienced a remarkable revival and is now known for its dynamic economy, sailing culture, tourism, and the world-famous Puy du Fou park.

 

It is still a rural area, based on small farms which produces many local products including the famous mogettes, brioche, duck foie gras, wine and some of the best seafood food in France.

Whether you are passionate about history, roman and renaissance architecture, small town and villages, or French wine and food, you will find all this in this Historic Vendée Tour.

After starting in the bocage area, area of small rolling countryside with rivers and small fields with hedges, you will head south to visit Chateau Colbert and its magnificent vegetable garden, the Oriental Parc, the largest Japanese inspired garden in Europe. One highlight of this Tours will be the day spent at the Puy du Fou, and world renown Park with 20 shows based on French history from Roman times to first world war, in a beautiful parc of 100 hectares with 4 themed village from the Gaule to the 18th century.

You will discover Vouvant, one of the prettiest villages of France, enjoy a boat ride on a nearby lake, visit some churches and Abbaye, and finish along the South vendee coast to reach Les Sables d’Olonnes, small town with an active fishing port, which host the depart and arrival of the greatest and most difficult sailing race on earth: The Vendee Globe.

 

What’s included (8-day tour):

  • Quality VTC bike hire for 8 days, with luggage carrier, helmet, and lock (option to upgrade to an e-bike for €200)
  • 7 nights in historic homes, châteaux, or boutique hotels
  • 7 homemade gourmet breakfasts
  • 5 dinners (table d’hôte or local restaurants)
  • Pre-booked activities: full-day entry to Puy du Fou, entry to Maillezais Abbey, and a boat trip in the Marais Poitevin
  • 2 train journeys: Angers → Cholet and Les Sables-d’Olonnes → Angers
  • Our guidebook with recommendations and suggested stops

What’s NOT included

  • Airfare to France
  • Travel insurance
  • Drinks with dinner
  • Lunches and 2 dinners
  • Optional activities not pre-booked

Depart : Cholet  Arrival : Les Sables d’Olonnes

(Train journey back to Cholet)

Groupe size : Minimum 2 - Maximum 6 people

Price : From 1590E/ Pers (+200 for e-bike) for 8 days

 

Your pace, your adventure

Our cycling tours offer unparalleled freedom to explore rural France. Stop whenever you wish, explore charming villages, and immerse yourself in the natural beauty, far from the usual tourist trails. It's an authentic journey designed just for you.

Experience the real France

What makes our cycling tours stand out is the immersive exploration of rural France, entirely at your own pace. You're free to stop anywhere and uncover hidden gems that are inaccessible any other way.

Our journeys take you away from the crowds, putting you in direct contact with nature and the authentic French way of life, creating truly unforgettable memories.

Tailored for your journey

Our cycling tours are normally tailored for casual riders, travelling either alone, as a couple, or in a group of up to six people. However, these tours can also be customised to your level of fitness. Whether you prefer the assistance of an e-bike or crave longer, more challenging routes as an experienced rider, we design the perfect adventure for you.