Loire Valley Day Trips, by Bicycle or Country Bus
Weekly Escorted Departures, May 29 to September 19, 2010
Jump to available departure dates
Independent (Self-Guided) Departures Possible Daily
 Just a short train ride from Paris: tour the Loire valley’s elegant châteaux, royal forests, and bucolic villages and farmlands, by bicycle or bus.
Blois, Chambord and Cheverny are all on your route. Move through the day at your own pace, with a trouble-shooter / factotum in the background to help.
- Blois is home to the valley’s most historically important château, the de facto royal palace during the golden age of the renaissance. The medieval town spills happily down the hillside surrounding the château: white stone, red brick chimneys, and roofs of blue slate.
- Chambord is the valley’s biggest château, though built as a “mere” hunting lodge. A veritable jewel of renaissance architecture, 440 rooms of royal excess surrounded by a forest. Da Vinci designed the staircase, some clown diverted a river to pass in front... there is a lot going on. And finally...
- Cheverny, one of the most sumptuously furnished of the region’s châteaux, and one of her most harmonious. Built in the 17th century in a unified style, Cheverny’s classical architecture presents a pleasing contrast with renaissance Chambord and largely pre-renaissance Blois.
And in between, the sunflower fields, oak forests, and babbling brooks of the Jardin de France, France’s beautiful and self-assured heartland.
Extensions are available, by bike or train. A Blue Marble guide accompanies bike extensions following Sunday departures, all other extensions are independent. A first day takes in Chenonceaux and Amboise, while a second further adds Vouvray and Tours. See details (links to a new page).
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By Bike: the Itinerary
Pedal from château to château, following dedicated bike paths and country lanes with minimal traffic.
A wonderful way to feel the breezes and see the bucolic countryside of the Jardin de France. Terrain is flat, distances can be expanded or contracted to taste....
The Itinerary
Meet at Paris’ Austerlitz station, at 8:45a.
An alternate meeting is available in Blois, at 11a.
Details are below, “Meeting Your Trip.”
An express train brings us to Blois, in the Loire Valley, in 90 minutes.
A Blue Marble representative is generally aboard to answer questions about the valley, destribute route information, and be generally helpful. If he’s asleep in a corner, go poke him.
We size our bikes in the station forecourt, and off we go! First stop: Chambord....
A detailed route guide leads you on a 16-kilometer (10-mile) pedal through fields and forests. All but a couple of k are on bike paths or farm lanes, and traffic is minimal. Our “sweep rider” follows the rear cyclist, and is available to help you learn how to change gears, or with any mechanical issues.
Lunch in the Chambord park (not included).
Cafés, restaurants, and picnic tables with spectacular views of the château are all available.
Visit the château, or maybe change steeds and go for a horseback ride in the forest.
In the afternoon, return to Blois via a different route, or tack on a detour to Cheverny.
- Route via Cheverny is 39 kilometers / 25 miles.
- Unless everyone chooses the long route via Cheverny, our “Sweep Rider” will follow the direct route back to Blois. But we stay at the Blois station until the final rider is in, on call to assist a stranded rider.
In the evening, back to Paris on your own schedule.
Trains run hourly until 9p.
Or continue your ride tomorrow, to Chenonceau, Amboise, Vouvray, Tours.... The link will take you to another page.
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By Bus: the Itinerary
Meet at Paris’ Austerlitz station, at 9a.
An alternate meeting is available in front of the Blois station, at 11a.
Details are below, “Meeting Your Trip.”
An express train brings us to Blois, in the Loire Valley, arriving at 11a.
A Blue Marble representative is generally on board to answer questions about the valley, distribute route information, and be helpful. In all events, one is on hand both in Paris at train departure, and in Blois upon arrival.
A bus meets your train, and takes you from the Blois station, past the Blois château (you’ll be able to visit when you return), and across the river to Chambord.
If you prefer to visit and lunch in Blois before going out to the country châteaux, a second bus is available. See below for an overview schedule of the buses that will be at your service during the day.
Lunch in the Chambord park (not included).
Cafés, restaurants, and picnic tables with spectacular views of the château are all available.
Then in for a visit.
Horseback riding and cycle rental are also available for a promenade in the forest.
You may spend either 2+ or 5 hours at Chambord, depending on how much time you wish to give to each of Chambord, Cheverny and Blois. 2+ hours is ample for lunch and a visit, unless lunch is an elaborate affair and / or you are an art historian.
Two afternoon buses are on offer to continue to Cheverny and Blois. An overview of all buses is shown below.
In the afternoon, return to Blois directly, or make an additional stop in Cheverny.
If you opt to visit Cheverny, two buses are on offer to continue to Blois. The first schedule is designed to allow for a visit of the château. An overview of all buses is offered below.
Return to Paris on your own schedule: trains from Blois back to Paris run roughly hourly until 9p.
If you prefer, spend the night in Blois for the pleasure of the town. We offer a reasonably-priced, well-situated hotel, which lets you drop your baggage there in the morning when you arrive.
You may even continue your odyssey tomorrow, to Chenonceaux, Amboise, Tours.... See our trip extensions.
Bus Schedule for Inter-Château Transport
Schedules are approximate. Exact, to-the-minute schedules will be given to you on the trip.
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Bus 1 |
Bus 2 |
Bus 3 |
Bus 4 |
| Blois Station |
11:10a |
1:40p |
– |
– |
| Chambord Château |
11:50a |
2:20p |
4:50p |
– |
| Cheverny Château |
12:15p |
2:45p |
5:15p |
6:20p |
| Blois Station |
– |
3:25p |
5:55p |
7:00p |
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Loire Day Trips
The Sights
Blois, Chambord, Cheverny
Tour By...
Dates and Prices
Additional Services
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1st class train upgrades
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Mobile phone rental
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Bike equipment
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Luggage storage
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Hotels in Blois
Extensions
(Additional Days)
- Extension Day 1: Chenonceaux, Amboise
- Extension Day 2: Vouvray, Tours
- Prices, Discounts, Extras
Signing Up for a Trip
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Departure Dates for Escorted Trips
Independent departures are possible on most dates, though there are some weekend / holiday “blackouts.”
Guest-Initiated (escorted) departures can be schedules for groups of 4 or more, subject to availability.
| May 29, Saturday |
July 17, Saturday |
August 24, Tuesday |
| May 30, Sunday* |
July 18, Sunday* |
August 31, Tuesday |
| June 10, Thursday |
July 24, Saturday |
September 7, Tuesday |
June 15, Tuesday
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July 25, Sunday* |
September 18, Saturday |
| June 22, Tuesday |
August 3, Tuesday |
September 19, Sunday* |
June 29, Tuesday Trip Full |
August 10, Tuesday |
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July 7, Wednesday (Tues. trip full)
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August 17, Tuesday |
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* Optional extension days following Sunday departures are accompanied by a Blue Marble Trip Genius (that’s what we call ourselves)
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Prices
Train + Bike:
175€ / person
159€ / person for regularly-scheduled departures where registration is received at least 30 days in advance (see exceptions, below)
Includes...
Train + Bus:
135€ / person
119€ / person for regularly-scheduled departures where registration is received at least 30 days in advance (see exceptions, below).
Includes...
- Train from Paris to the Loire Valley and return.
A discount is available to guests who do not need train tickets in one or both directions.
- Bus from Blois to Chambord, Cheverny and return to Blois.
- Entry fees to any of Blois, Chambord or Cheverny castles.
No refund is available for castles not visited. Entry fees to other / alternate attractions are not included.
- Tour Manager
A Blue Marble is present, at the Paris station, generally (but not always) on the train to Blois, in Blois, in Chambord, and back in Blois for assistance in boarding the return train. Also reachable by cell phone at all times.
- Our Route Guide
Discusses the sites en route, bus meeting times and points, and schedules for return trains to Paris.
Discounts (must be claimed at time of sign-up, cannot be applied retro-actively)
- No Train Tickets: -32€
Discount is 16€ if you need tickets in one direction only.
Discount assumes that you are either travelling on a railpass, or that you are reaching / leaving Blois by other than train.
- Bringing Your Own Cycle: -35€
Train + Bike version only.
- Early Registration: see differential pricing, above.
For the discount price to apply, registration and full payment must be received by 4p, Paris time, 30 days prior to the trip date (for example, by April 15 for a May 15 trip). The discount is based on an advance-purchase rail fare, and so cannot be applied if registration is not complete at that point. This means, for example, that if your credit card issuer initially declines to process the foreign transaction (a common occurance) on the last day of eligability for the discount, and the charge does not go through until the next day, the discount price does apply.
Early registration discount does not apply to children 11 and younger, who receive a larger, age-based discount, regardless of sign-up date.
Early registration discount does not apply to Guest-Initiated departures (trips scheduled for you and your party).
Early registration discount does not apply to riders claiming a “no train ticket” discount.
- Picking Up Your Cycle at Our Office, and / or Returning it There (Independent Trips Only): -10€in each direction.
Cycle pick-up must take place on the office opening day prior to your independent trip, between 4 and 6:30p. Cycle(s) must returned to our office on the business day following your trip, by 12 noon.
- Age-Based Discounts
Not cumulable with “no train tickets” or “group / family” discounts. Child discount is not cumulable with “early registration” discount.
- Child (11 and younger): -50€
- Youth (12 - 25): -20€
- Group / Family
- 3 travellers: -10€ per traveller 26 and older (does not apply to travellers under 26, but who receive higher, age-based discounts)
- 4 or more travellers: -20€ per traveller 12 and older (does not apply to travellers under 12, but who receive higher, age-based discounts).
“Group / Family” discounts can be used, even if some members of the group can take advantage of higher, age-based discounts. The highest applicable discount will be used for each traveller.
“Group / Family” discounts do not apply to Guest-Initiated departures (trips scheduled at your request).
Optional Extras
Must be ordered in advance, and are subject to availability.
- First Class Upgrade on the Train: 26€ / person
- 12€ for outbound only, 16€ for return only
- 20€ return (10€ in each direction) for travellers 12 - 25 years old
- 14€ return (7€ in each direction) for travellers under 12
- Cell Phone Rental: 10€ for the first day, +5€ per additional day
- Calling charges, if any, are additional, typically 0.50€ / minute. Incoming calls are free.
- Longer-term rental rates are available, see here.
For escorted trips, phone will be delivered on board the train, and must be returned to our Trip Manager at the end of your time in the Loire Valley, or to our office if rental is longer term.
- Bike Equipment
- Helmet: 5€
Helmets are not legally required, and most riding is on low-traffic roads. However, as any cyclist knows, they are strongly recommended....
- Rain poncho: 5€
- Pre- or Post-Trip Hotel in Blois, with Breakfast: 40€ / person double or twin occupancy. 61€ single.
- Centrally-located 2-star hotel, all rooms with shower or bath and WC, including tax, continental breakfast, agency charges.
- Solo travellers may ask to share, and will be able to do so if someone else of the same gender requests the same. You will initially be charged the single rate. The difference refunded after the trip if a roommate can, indeed, be found.
- 3-course dinner in a pleasant Blois restaurant, available after Saturday and Sunday departures only: 29€
Our Blue Marble Trip Genius :-) is there to help with the menu. We choose restaurants a bit “off the beaten track,” run by locals we have long known. As a town with many tourists, Blois otherwise offers its share of “traps.”
- Cycle Insurance: 5€ / rental day
For policy conditions, see here.
- Transport of Cycle Back to Paris
If you do not wish to return to Paris at the end of your Day Trip, we can transport your cycle for you at a cost of 15€ (following escorted Day Trips only). Alternatively, you may keep it, and bring it in yourself on a later date. In this latter case, additional cycle rental charges apply, and you must return the cycle to our office during our opening hours. Sending your cycle back to Paris is also possible after extension days, but costs are typically higher. See the information on trip extensions for details.
Trip Extensions
On to Chenonceaux, Amboise and Tours, by Bike or Train.
Trip extensions add a second, and (if desired) a third day to your journey. The title link will bring you to a new page, for details.
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Cancellations and Refunds
Trips Operate “Rain or Shine”
If you have signed up for the “Train + Bike” version, and wish to switch to the “Train + Bus” version, you may do so at any time until the eve of departure (in the event of a bad weather report, for instance). There is no additional charge, but the difference in price between the bus and bike versions is not refunded.
Call or e.mail our Paris office before our close of business, and obtain your change code (absolutely required — without it, there will be a 10€ additional charge for the change).
If you reach the Austerlitz station, or even Blois, with the bike, look at the sky, and decide you prefer the Train + Bus version, you may switch on the spot for a fee of 10€ (cash only, paid to your Trip Manager).
Cancellation of Your Participation
Cancellation of your participation in a trip, and / or of any optional extra services, is effective only when received in writing by our Paris office (fax, post, or e.mail).
For cancellation to be effective, you must obtain a cancellation code. No refunds will otherwise be made.
With a cancellation code, costs will be refunded less the following amounts:
- 2 weeks or more prior to trip departure: an administrative charge of 30€ / person.
If either the hotel night in Blois, or an independent extension which includes hotel nights, has been subscribed, an addtional 20€ charge per hotel room canceled will apply.
If you are a Founding Member of a Guest-Initiated departure, the cancellation charge is 54€ / person.
- 5 - 13 days prior to trip departure: 50€ / person.
If either the hotel night in Blois, or an independent extension which includes hotel nights, has been subscribed, an addtional 30€ charge per hotel room canceled applies.
- By close of business in our Paris office on the eve of trip departure: 90€ / person.
If either the hotel night in Blois, or an independent extension which includes hotel nights, has been subscribed, an addtional 40€ charge per hotel room canceled applies.
No refunds can be made on or after the start date of the trip.
For the purposes of cancellation, optional extras and Extension Days, if any, are considered to be a part of the total trip cost.
Examples: if you cancel your trip and your cycle trip and your rental helmet 3 weeks prior to the trip, the total trip cost is considered to be 164€ (159€ + 5€). The refunded amount is 129€ (159€ - 30€). If you cancel only your helmet, no refund is available, as the administrative charge is greater than the refund amount. But, at least you don’t have to lug around a piece of styrofoam for the day.
Cancellation by Us, Blue Marble
Trips require at least 2 participants to operate.
If you are the only one to join a given departure as a solo traveller, we will cancel the trip 3 days prior to trip departure, at the close of business.
Solo travellers: if you are the first to sign up for a trip, please give us a means to reach you at the close of business 3 days prior to your trip start (for example, Saturday for our Tuesday departures). If an e.mail address, be sure to check your e.mail. If you are travelling, and cannot see your e.mail, please call us to confirm the conditions of operation of your trip.
In the event of a cancellation, registered participants will have a choice of either:
- A full refund
- Making the trip independently, with a “Route Book” provided by us.
There is no reduction in price if this option is selected. A Blue Marble representative meets you at the Austerlitz station at the regular meeting time, briefs you on the day’s activities, and remits any equipment ordered, as well as the route book. If applicable, you will return any equipment (such as the bike) to our office on the day following your trip.
Registering for a Trip
Please follow a link to whichever trip application applies to you:
Train + Bike Day Trip Application – – – Train + Bus Day Trip Application
If part of your party is doing each, please fill out two application forms, one for each part of the group.
If you are also signing up for Extension Days, please also send the Extension Application.
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Meeting Your Trip
Trips assemble at the bumper for track 12 of the Austerlitz station, at 8:45a for cyclists, 9a for train+bus riders.
The bumper is the thing at the end of the track, the point at which an arriving train would plow into concrete were it to fail to stop.
An alternate meeting is available in front of the Blois station at 11a.
As you face the station from the street, our meeting spot is to the right of the main entrance, beyond the café terrace.
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