This tour is perfect for those seeking a tranquil escape. Begin your adventure with an overnight ferry from Portsmouth to the historic town of St Malo. From there, we’ll meander southward, immersing ourselves in the idyllic French countryside for four blissful days.
LOVELY LOIRE: SHORT BREAK
At a Glance
Tour Dates
22 May 2025 26 May 2025
21 May 2026 25 May 2026
Duration
5 Days
Tour Starts in
Portsmouth, UK
Tour Leaders
Travel Distance
Approx 709 miles
Difficulty
Roads
100% Tarmac
Hire Bikes
Available
Price From
1595 £
Tour Overview
After our overnight ferry from Portsmouth, we leave the charming old town of St Malo through Dinan with its medieval ramparts and half-timbered houses on the banks of the Rance before our first night in Angers.
Angers sits in the heart of the Loire Valley and is famed for its 75m spires of the gothic Cathedral St Maurice. Did you know it is also home to Cointreau, so your after dinner liqueur is sorted. The following day our route follow the Loire itself. There is a chance to visit Chateau Chenonceaux bridging the river Cher a tributary of the Loire. This incredible castle owes its history to a long list of strong women. It’s one of half a dozen fine Chateau’ en route today as we head for Chartres for the night.
In Chartres we discover a highlight of the tour; each evening over twenty sites are illuminated in a stunning light show. Possibly the most remarkable is the Collegiate Church of Saint Andre, an incredible moving backdrop to an already beautiful city.
Our final night leaves the bright lights of Chartres behind for the quaint port of Honfleur, Normandy. This small unspoiled port where the Seine meets the sea has been painted by both Claude Monet and Eugene Boudin amongst others. The harbour side is ringed with a jumble of colourful traditional houses jostling for the best view. Almost all the houses are now bars or restaurants now, as it’s one of the finest places to sit and watch the world go by. Having soaked in Honfleur we head west to our final destination, the Port of Caen where where there will be an opportunity to visit the Pegasus Bridge Memorial and Museum before our late afternoon crossing to Portsmouth arriving in the evening.
Our riding pace is relaxed with mileages averaging just 150 miles per day over the tour leaving time to soak up the characteristic French hospitality with long lunches and longer evenings! Alongside the scenic riding, we’ll stay at some superb accommodation typical of the area. Add French food and wine as a reward for a day on the road and you have a winning combination.
A few days bombing around Northern France has ended up ranking alongside or ahead of all our past holidays, including Kenyan Safaris, Fiji, The Maldives, and many others. Who would have thought it! Brilliant!
Motorrad Tours welcome all makes and models of bike on tour. We also have a range of BMW bikes that you can hire. All our hire bikes for Classic and European Explorer Tours are current model BMW’s complete with ABS, Heated Grips, Panniers, Top Box, Tank Bag, Inner bags for all boxes and a pre programmed BMW Navigator GPS included.
| Price option | Solo Rider Shared Room | Solo Rider Single Room | *Rider and passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riding Your Own Motorcycle | 1595 | 1895 | 2195 |
| Including an F800GS, F900GS or F900XR Hire Bike | 2120 | 2420 | 2720 |
| Including an R1300GS, R1250RS or R1250RT Hire Bike | 2220 | 2520 | 2820 |
| Including an S1000XR Hire Bike | 2245 | 2545 | 2845 |
| Including an R1300GS Adventure Hire Bike | 2295 | 2595 | 2895 |
| Including a K1600 Grand America Hire Bike | 2320 | 2620 | 2920 |
* Rider and Passenger price is for both people, not per person.
HIRE BIKES: If you are booking with a hire bike we will hand your bike over on the afternoon prior to the first tour day. This will give you a chance to get familiar with the bike, make any adjustments, arrange your packing and not waste any time on the first day riding.
Day 1 Your overnight ferry departs Portsmouth for St Malo.
Day 2 From the old town of St Malo we are heading south through charming Dinan with its medieval ramparts and half timbered houses for the beautiful medieval walled town of Angers on the edge of the Loire Valley
Day 3 An easy days ride meandering north of the river to Chartres with its massive Gothic Cathedral to experience Chartres en Lumieres
Day 4 Now we are heading for the coast and our home for the night is the picturesque port painted by Monet and Boudin
Day 5 We ride through the Suisse Normande today hugging the coast on our way to our Cherbourg ferry. Our ferry leaves late afternoon and arrives in Poole in the evening. This leaves time to visit the popular Pegasus Bridge and Overlord museum or the wonderful tapestries of Bayeux en route.
- UNESCO Listed Chartres Cathedral
- The UNESCO Listed Loire Valley
- Chateau Chenonceau
- Night in heart of Angers
- Chartres en Lumiere
- Riding through the Suisse Normande area
- Enjoy traditional french cuisine
Go on one now! It far exceeded my expectations and I expected a lot! The whole experience was fantastic from beginning to end.
What's Included
- Pre tour pack including tour information, Michelin maps, route notes and GPS routes in Garmin/BMW format
- Electronic copy of the World of BMW Touring Essentials Book
- All accommodation as listed in the itinerary
- All breakfasts
- Welcome and farewell dinners (excludes beverages)
- Motorrad Tours Tour Leader throughout the Tour
- Ferry crossings from the UK to France and back
- Commemorative Polo Shirt for all riders and passengers
- Expert advice and support throughout
- The protection of booking with a fully bonded tour operator
Not Included
- Fuel
- Lunches
- Dinners other than those listed
- Travel Insurance
- Anything not listed as included
Tour Availability
| From | To | Days | Nights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
22-May-2025 |
26-May-2025 |
5 |
4 |
|
21-May-2026 |
25-May-2026 |
5 |
4 |
