Untamed Loire bike tour

Untamed Loire bike tour 6 or 5 days
  • Loire Bike Tour
From 620 € *
/ PERSON
  • Duration: 6 or 5 days
  • Distance: 188km
  • Level: Médium / Atheltic

Cycle on your electric bike along the untamed Loire, from its sources…

This route through “untamed countryside” takes in mountains, gorges and hidden valleys. Pedal along roads and paths up to the high plateaus of the Mézenc, passing through the village resort of Les Estables, Mézenc and Mont-Gerbier-de-Jonc. You will then ride alongside the river in the Ardèche to reach the Issarlès lake. After a quick dip in the lake (weather depending!), pedal through the magnificent upper Loire gorges and through stunning villages such as Lafarre, Arlempdes and Goudet with its polychromic roofs. What a delight to cycle alongside this untamed river, which very nearly lost its identity in the 1990s (due to a project to build a new dam).

  • Difference in altitude: 3800 m – Country roads and easy trails 
  • Family Tour for children from 14 (according to cycling abilities)
  • Price (per person, on a basis of 2 people sharing)
    • Guesthouses & 2 or 3* hotels
Fares Half-board 
Your bike tour including:
Your bike trip Half-board basis*
Luggage transfer (1 bag maxi 13kg / pax)
Digital guiding solution and a map
Phone assistance
€680 / pers.
“Happy Tour” – Discount from 4 pers. with the same booking file -€40 / pers
Extras
Rent a trekking E-bike + 2 panniers +€140 / bike
Rent a trekking bike + 2 panniers  +€80 / bike
Option – Single room (1 pers.)  +€150
No last night in Le Puy -€60 / pers

*Your stays in Le puy are booked on the bed & breakfast option 
Agency fees : €10 / pers

 

Click on the schedule to book your e-bike trip – See General terms and conditions

 

 Advantages of a bike tour with L’Autre Chemin:

    • You travel by your own
    • Extra : We provide modern electric bikes that are both comfortable and easy to ride. Bikes are insured
    • Your stopovers are in guesthouses or family-friendly hotels, providing a comfortable and authentic base from which you can discover the local area and enjoy a real change of scenery.
    • Your luggage is transported to each stopover (you only need to carry what you need for the day with you).
    • All of the itineraries have been tested to ensure that our packages are both extraordinary and accessible.
  • Day after Day

    Please note that every stopover is given as an indication and may be modified according to the availability of accommodation 

    Day 1 : Your arrival in Le Puy-en-Velay

    A nice opportunity to discover the ancient town an the European capital of Saint-James way.
    On the morning come and join us in Coubon wher you can leave your car and take your bikes.

    To do, to see :
    • Le Puy-en-Velay
    > Crozatier Museum
    > Notre-Dame de France
    > L’Hôtel-Dieu
    > Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe chapel
    > The medieval town
    > The Cathedral
    > Pass 3 monuments


    Day 2 : Le Puy-en-Velay – Les Estables - 52 km - D+1270m

    After taking possession of your bikes, follow a path that offers stunning views of the Loire. You ride through hills and forests towards the villaget of les Estables beneath the Mount Mézenc.

    To do, to see :

    • Chadron
    >The church St-Armand
    > The view on the Loire valley and more ...

    The valley of la Gazeille near Le Crouzet

    • Alleyrac
    > The Saint-Martin
    > The scissors cross

    • Présailles
    > The catle of Vachères - No visit
    >The churh and the mission cross

    • Freycenet-la-Cuche
    > Castle
    > Longetraye cave
    > Mini-golf

    • Les Estables
    > Hiking on the Mézenc Mount
    > Bees of the Mézenc
    > GAEC farm
    > The church
    > Mountainbiking with an instructor
    > Tree ropes aventure
    > Climbing, Via ferrata – réservation possible
    > Paragliding


    Day 3 : Les Estables - Le Béage – 46km - D+910m

    Today, you will cross over into the Ardèche department as you follow the Loire into the Monts d’Ardèche regional natural park. Mont-Gerbier-de-Jonc, Sagnes et Goudoulet, Le Béage… So many characteristic and lovely places to visit on the way!

    To do, to see :
    • Mont-Gerbier-de-Jonc
    > The Sources of Loire
    > Hiking on the Gerbier Mount

    • Sainte-Eulalie
    > The village
    > The Clastres farm

    • Le Béage
    > The village
    > Panorama on the Ardèche mountains
    > Horse-riding


    Day 4 : Le Béage - Goudet – 44 km - D+900m

    An itinerary through the countryside, during which you will see the Cros de Géorand flood defences and the Issarlès volcanic lake (a great place for a swim). The route takes you up to the villages of La Chapelle Graouillouse and Lafarre, where you will cross back into the Haute-Loire. An extraordinary ride through the Loire gorges to discover some extraordinarily beautiful communes: Arlempdes (whose Marquis was France's first aeronaut in 1783, along with Pilatre de Rozier) and Goudet.

    To do, to see :

    A faire, à voir :
    • Issarlès
    > The volcanic lake
    > Troglodyte house
    > Connoeïng

    • Lafarre
    > The scenic village
    > The Tour of Mariac
    > Cros de Lafarre castle
    > The church

    • Arlempdes
    > The ruins of the castle standing over the Loire
    > Basaltic organs
    > The St-Pierre Church
    > The old door : La Poterne
    > Rurality museum

    • Goudet
    > The village
    > The tower bell of the church
    > The Beaufort castle standing over the Loire
    > Beaches (be careful, swimming is not supervised)
    > The walk along the Loire on the small trail


    Day 5 : Goudet – Le Puy-en-Velay – 44km - D+720m

    Summon up plenty of energy to cycle up to the plateaus that overlook the Loire valley. Your efforts will be rewarded when you join Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille (The starting point of Stevenson trail) and the ride to Solignac-sur-Loire with its ancient ramparts.

    To do, to see :

    • Le Ponteils
    > Basaltic organs and the du Mill of the Rocher

    • Saint-Martin de Fougères
    > The church

    • Solignac sur Loire
    > The Beam fall
    > The ancient walls of Solignac-sur-Loire


    Day 6 : Le Puy-en-Velay

    End of our services after the breakfast


  • Extras & services

    As an optional extra, L’Autre Chemin offers:

    Lone traveller?

    L’Autre Chemin offers high quality accommodation in a single room, for a small surcharge: +€150

    You want to rent a bike

    L’Autre Chemin offers the rental of hybrid bikes with 2 panniers : + €140 / bike
    L’Autre Chemin offers the rental of standard trekking bikes without assistance with 2 panniers : +80€ / bike

    No last night in Le Puy

    If you do not wish to enjoy the last night at Puy-en-Velay, we will deduct €60 from the amount of your trip.

  • Accommodationdation

    L’Autre Chemin has teamed up with a selection of guesthouses and small, traditional hotels to offer guests the best that the Haute-Loire has to offer, ensuring that every stopover is an opportunity to learn about the architecture, lifestyle, gastronomy and local people of this region.

    Example of accommodation

    La Table d'Elodie - le Béage

    La Table d’Elodie

    Le Chalet d’Ambre

  • Price Info

    Prices include: 

    • Accommodation in double, twin, triple or multiple room with half-board (except stopovers in Le Puy proposed in B&B option)
    • French holiday tax,
    • Luggage transfers (1 bag maxi 13kg / pax) to every stopover,
    • A digital guiding solution and a map
    • Telephone assistance

    Extra 

    • Rent of an E-bike
    • Rent of a trekking bike
    • Single room
    • No last night in Le Puy

    Prices do not include:

    • Transport and transfers to the starting point,
    • Any meals included in the selected option, drinks,
    • Spending money, any optional visits or activities,
    • Cancellation or multiple-risk insurance
    • Agency fees : €10 / rider.