Romance in the Loire Valley by Bike + Boat

Cycling in the vineyards of the Sancerre

Map Loire

Route

Tour profile / Level 2

Moderate guided tour with average of 25 miles per day. Routes follow the Loire, field paths and asphalted side roads, some hilly stretches.

Itinerary Nevers – Briare

Day 1: Nevers round trip, approx. 15 km
Arrival between 13:00 and 14:00 and welcome on the boat at the berth. After dinner, there is an evening bike test ride through the surrounding countryside.

Day 2: Nevers - Guetin, approx. 23 km
You start with a short ride to the village of Guetin. First take some time to visit the town of Nevers. There are many sights to see, including the winding streets filled with houses from the 14th to 17th centuries. The origins of Nevers date back to Roman times. Nevers has been the seat of the bishop since the 5th century and has a castle and several interesting churches.

Day 3: Guetin - Beffes, approx. 37 km
Today you start in the small village of Guetin on the Canal Lateral du Loire. On the way, a visit to the aqueduct with its two impressive locks is a must! As you ride north towards Beffes, you will pass beautiful wooded areas with idyllic villages and country estates.

Day 4: Beffes - Sancerre, approx. 38 km
Immediately after breakfast, get on your bike and start the cycle tour through the famous Pouilly-Fumé wine region to La Charité-sur-Loire, an ancient Roman town. From the 16th century stone bridge, you can enjoy a magnificent view over the town and the Notre Dame church. You then cycle on towards today’s final destination, the wine town of Sancerre.

Day 5: Sancerre - Sury-Près-Léré, approx. 34 km
Sancerre wines, especially the white wines, are famous all over the world. Today’s cycle tour takes you on a picturesque route through the wine-growing areas of Sancerre and through the surrounding villages to the charming village of Sury-Près-Léré.

Day 6: Sury-Près-Léré - Briare, approx. 38-51 km
Today’s cycle tour to Briare takes you through typical French countryside with rolling hills, country estates and small villas. On the way, you will pass the historic locks of Châtillon-sur-Loire and continue to St. Brisson, where you will see the impressive medieval castle. We end the day with a visit to the magnificent aqueduct over the Loire in Briare. You will spend the last two nights at anchor in the typically French small town of Briare.

Day 7: Briare - Rogy-les-sept-Écluses - Briare, approx. 50 km
Your last cycle tour of the week takes you to the ’Pont Chevron’ castle on a small, picturesque lake. At lunchtime you will find yourself in the village of Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses, known for its historic seven locks. You cycle past the 16th century castle at Bléneau through the lake region to Ouzouer-sur-Trézée and finally back to Briare. A worthy end to your bike and boat trip in the heart of France.

Day 8: Briare
Individual departure and disembarkation after breakfast until 10 am.

Itinerary Briare – Nevers

Day 1: Briare round trip, approx. 15 km
Individual arrival and embarkation between 13:00 and 14:00. Bike test ride through the surrounding countryside after dinner on board.

Day 2: Briare - Rogy-les-sept-Écluses - Briare, approx. 50 km
Our first real cycle tour of the week takes us to the Pont Chevron castle, which is situated on a small, picturesque lake. Around midday, you will find yourself in the village of Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses, which is known for its seven historic locks. Via the 16th century castle at Bléneau, you will cycle through a lake landscape to Ouzouer-sur-Trézée and finally back to Briare.

Day 3: Briare - Sury-Près-Léré, approx. 38-51 km
Today you start with a visit to the magnificent aqueduct over the Loire in Briare. With a bit of luck and good planning, you can see the Clair de Lune pass by here, high above the river. Later, you will travel to St. Brisson, where you will see the impressive medieval castle. Continue past the historic locks of Châtillon-sur-Loire. The cycle tour towards Sury-Près-Léré takes you through typical French countryside with rolling hills, country estates and small villages.

Day 4: Sury-Près-Léré - Sancerre, approx. 34 km
The Sancerre wines, especially the white wines, are famous all over the world. Today’s ride takes you on a picturesque route directly through the vineyards of Sancerre and through the surrounding villages. In Ménétréol, situated among the vineyards of Sancerre, you will have the opportunity to taste some wine before returning to the Clair de Lune.

Day 5: Sancerre - Beffes, approx. 38 km
Immediately after breakfast, get on your bike and start the day’s tour through the Pouilly Fumé wine region to La Charité-sur-Loire, an old Roman town. Cross the 16th-century stone bridge towards the center for a magnificent view of the town and its Notre Dame church. Continue towards today’s destination, Beffes.

Day 6: Beffes - Guetin, approx. 37 km
From Beffes, head south past beautiful wooded areas, pretty little villages and landscapes. Later in the day you will end up in the small town of Apremont, where you will have the opportunity to visit the 12th century castle and the surrounding beautiful gardens. You then continue to the village of Guetin on the Lateral du Loire canal. On the way, a visit to the aqueduct over the River Allier with its two impressive locks, each around 9 meters high, is a must!

Day 7: Guetin - Nevers, approx. 23 km
You end this week in the heart of France with a short ride to the town of Nevers, where there are many sights to see, including the winding streets with houses dating from the 14th to 17th centuries. The origins of Nevers date back to Roman times. Nevers has been the seat of the bishop since the 5th century and has, among other things, a castle and some interesting churches. To celebrate the end of your cycling week, you can of course relax on the city’s various terraces and enjoy the local wine.

Day 8: Nevers
Individual departure and disembarkation after breakfast until 10 am.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Due to changing wind and weather conditions as well as organizational requirements we reserve the right to make changes of routing and program.

Services

  • 7 nights on board in cabin with private facilities 

  • Full board (breakfast, packed lunch for bike days, dinner) 

  • Coffee & tea on board 

  • Cycling tour guide

  • Min. 3 city walks with tour guide

  • Ferry fares

  • Free WiFi (limited available in lounge and on deck)

  • Maps and information material per cabin 

  • GPS Tracks (on request)

Dates & Prices

Dates

Merkmale

    Season / Period
    Type
    S2   10.06. - 17.06.25
    Briare - Nevers
    S1   24.06. - 01.07.25
    Briare - Nevers
    S1   08.07. - 15.07.25
    Briare - Nevers
    S1   22.07. - 29.07.25
    Briare - Nevers
    S1   05.08. - 12.08.25
    Briare - Nevers
    S2   03.06. - 10.06.25
    Nevers - Briare
    S2   17.06. - 24.06.25
    Nevers - Briare
    S1   01.07. - 08.07.25
    Nevers - Briare
    S1   15.07. - 22.07.25
    Nevers - Briare
    S1   29.07. - 05.08.25
    Nevers - Briare
    S2   12.08. - 19.08.25
    Nevers - Briare

    Extras

    Discount for children
    with min. 1 full-paying person  
    0-2,99 years -100%
    3-11,99 years -30%
       
    Bicycles & equipment
    24-speed-bike incl. helmet and insurance 115
    E-bike incl. helmet and insurance 225
    Children bike 60
    Children seat  15
    Tagalong 55
    Children trailer 199
       
    Extras
    special diet (gluten free, lactosefree, vegan)* 100
    * must be mentioned when booking (vegetarian diet is free of charge), €150,- when ordered on arrival!

    Best - Price - Guarantee

    If you would verifiably receive better conditions and/or prices from another tour operator at the time of booking we guarantee at least the same conditions PLUS 1 handlebar bag for FREE!
    All prices per person in EUR

    Ship

    Welcome aboard the CLAIR DE LUNE! (Category Comfort Plus)

    Facilities

    The Clair de Lune was originally built in 1936 as a freight ship in Belgium.  In 1982 the barge was built into a passenger ship, first named ‘Steile Bank’ and ‘Summerjazz’.
    Since May 2014 we redesigned it and renamed the ship ‘Clair de Lune’. Aboard there is a big and cozy salon with big windows for a perfect view. WiFi is available in a limited amount (free up to 100 MB).


    Catering

    The cook on board is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast, packed lunch and a warm dinner in the evening. The catering consists of full board. Catering starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day. Vegetarian catering is possible, please announce this with reservation and discuss it again with the tour guide on site.


    Cabins

    There are 5 split level bed cabins, 3 double bed cabins and 1 single bed cabin available.Showers and toilets are provided in each cabin. There is air-conditioning in the cabins and the windows can be opened.


    Languages on board

    German, English

     

    Bicycle

    Important Information: It is not permitted to bring own E-Bikes on this tour!


     

    Bicycles inclusive panniers

    Te available bikes for this tour are either 24-speed bikes or our E-bikes. Bikes are equipped with a helmet, panniers, a lock and a water bottle. You can also rent:

    • childrens bikes (from 9 years and older, 21-speed)
    • tagalongs (5-9 years)
    • trailers (babys)
    • child seats (11 months to 5 years)

    E-Bikes | Electric bikes | Pedelecs

    The shiftable, low noise electric drive of our modern e-bike relieves you of some of the work and increases the pedal force up to 3 times. So you can now book a bike tour together with cyclists who have different fitness level. Acclivity can be handled easily.

    Useful

    Arrival - Parking - Departure

    Arrival by plane

    Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
    The nearest airport to the embarkation point of the barge is Paris Charles de Gaulle. By train it is about 2,5-3 hours to the railway station in Briare/Nevers. A taxi from the airport in Paris to the mooring place will take about 2,5-3 hours.


    Arrival by train

    Nevers
    Walking distance to the barge is about 30 minutes. By taxi it takes 10 minutes and will cost around € 30,-.

    Briare
    Walking distance to the barge is about 20 minutes. A taxi will take about 10 minutes and will cost around € 30,- .


    Arrival by car

    You can park your car free of charge in the public areas around the piers in Nevers and Briare.


    Participants

    Minimum: 12 persons
    Maximum: 17 persons

    Videos

    Travel stories

    4,5 of 6 Stars | 4
    We spent a delightful week on board the Claire de Lune, riding from Nevers to Briare. We saw castles and cathedrals aplenty, tame and sedate canals and wild, wide, untamed rivers ... J.H. 07/24
    4,4 22.07.2024 | Robert F. Romance in the Loire Valley by Bike + Boat

    July 8 to 15 Bike and Barge on the Claire De Lune

    We were happy overall with this trip, but we're not pleased with three aspects. 1. The trip was ranked 1-2 in difficulty, but the ride to Sancerre was definitely above a 2. 2. The places that we stopped for breaks were not well thought out. Some ...
    • Overall satisfaction 4
    • Booking handling 6
    • Travel documents 5
    • Per-Tour information 5
    • Accomodation 4
    • Board 6
    • Route description 5
    • On-site assistance 4
    • Route-character 2
    • Bicycle + equipment 3
    • Price-performance ratio 4
    more
    5,8 27.06.2023 | David R. Romance in the Loire Valley by Bike + Boat

    Great staff made for a great tour

    The four staff - Michael, Jen, Edwin, and the Captain were outstanding. Michael led us to all the sights and found great places for breaks. The food was excellent - the best yet, on any bike trip. The boat was always there at the end of the day. This ...
    • Overall satisfaction 6
    • Booking handling 5
    • Travel documents 6
    • Per-Tour information 6
    • Accomodation 6
    • Board 6
    • Route description 5
    • On-site assistance 6
    • Route-character 6
    • Bicycle + equipment 6
    • Price-performance ratio 6
    more
    load more travel stories

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