- L’Autre Chemin
- Séjours
- Untamed Loire bike tour
From €660 / pers
With luggage transfer
Untamed Loire
Travel by electric bike or, depending on your preference, by hybrid bike, following the wild Loire River from its source. A truly “wild” route that blends mountains, gorges, and hidden valleys. You’ll crisscross roads and paths to reach the high plateaus of Mézenc. You’ll then be accompanied by the first waves of the river in Ardèche to reach Lake Issarlès. After a quick swim in the lake (depending on the season!), you’ll cycle through the magnificent gorges of the “upper Loire,” passing through beautiful villages like Lafarre, Arlempdes, and Goudet with its multi-colored roofs. What a wonderful experience to ride this wild route, which almost lost its charm in the 1980s and 1990s (due to a dam construction project). From Goudet, you’ll head up the valley to reach Saint-Martin de Fugères before diving back down to the Loire via Pont de Chadron.
A nature trip combining the pleasure of riding the small roads of Haute-Loire, the trails, and crossing the landscape sculpted by the Loire River! Your stops are punctuated by pleasant and varied stops, offering you the opportunity to discover the local cuisine and meet the locals! To plan your stay, check out our tips!
What we like: Exploring our memories of geography lessons and being amazed by the trickles of water that give rise to France’s largest river.
The advantages of your bike tour:
- You travel independently and follow a specially adapted route.
- Accommodation in a double, twin, or multiple-occupancy room with half-board
- You can also choose from modern electric bikes for comfort and convenience.
- L’Autre Chemin also offers children’s bikes or child trailers.
- Easy to navigate, you have access to a digital guidance app.
- Your luggage is delivered at each stop (one bag max. 13kg/person).
- For this trip, the bikes provided by the agency include the guarantee “Sereine mind”. For more information, see the Insurance section.
- Our travel bikes for this trip
What we like: Exploring our memories of geography lessons and being amazed by the trickles of water that give rise to France’s largest river.
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The advantages of your bike tour:
- You travel independently and follow a specially adapted route.
- You can also choose from modern electric bikes for comfort and convenience.
- L’Autre Chemin also offers children’s bikes or child trailers.
- Your tour is bookes with half-board basis
- Easy to navigate, you have access to a digital guidance app.
- Your luggage is delivered at each stop (one bag max. 13kg/person).
- For this trip, the bikes provided by the agency include insurance. For more information, see the Insurance section.
- Our travel bikes for this trip
Your route:
- Elevation gain 3,810 m – Country roads and trails
- Self-guided cycling tour, you choose your departure
- Medium difficulty – Trails and small country roads – Variations are possible to shorten your cycling days.
- Family: Children aged 13 and over (depending on their ability – variations and additional days are possible to make it accessible to younger children, please contact us)
- Accommodation: In a private room (B&B, cottage, hotel, or alternative accommodations)
- IMPORTANT: Cycling touring requires good self-management skills: Knowing how to change an inner tube, repositioning a derailed chain, and also good bike handling skills.
- What climate? See our Frequently Asked Questions
- Program day / day
- What's in your trip ?
- Extra
- Accommodation
- Access to Le Puy and car parking
- Need help ?
Please note that every stopover is given as an indication and may be modified according to the availability of accommodation
A day exploring the town of Le Puy-en-Velay.
An opportunity to discover the Velay city! You'll stroll through the secret streets of the upper town and discover the Cathedral, the starting point of the Way of Saint James.
Discover:
> The Cathedral and its Cloister, the starting point of the Way of Saint James
> Notre-Dame de France
> The Saint-Michel Chapel
> Crozatier Museum
> The narrow streets of the upper town
> The Hôtel-Dieu and its exhibitions
> The Polignac Fortress
> Monument passes on sale at the Tourist Office or at the monument ticket offices.
> Bobbin Lacemaking Training Center
> The Henry Vinay Garden (Horseshoe Park)
From Le Puy-en-Velay, cycle along the Velay Greenway before joining the GR3 trail, which offers magnificent views of the Loire. You'll cross mountains and forests toward the resort village of Les Estables, under the watchful eye of Mont Mézenc. Discover:
• Brives-Charensac
> The bridges spanning the Loire
• Chadron
> St. Armand Church
> The view of the Loire Valley and much more...
• Coubon
> St. Georges Church
> Poinsac Castle
> Volhac Fortified House
Louade Waterfall
• Alleyrac
> Saint-Martin Church
> The Scissor Cross
• Présailles
> Vachères Castle - Closed to the public
> The church and the wrought iron Mission Cross
• Freycenet-la-Cuche
> The church
> The Fortified House
• Les Estables
> Mont Mézenc
> Les Estables Church
> Lugik Parc, all-season toboggan run
A day where you'll head to the Ardèche department to discover the nascent Loire, this stream not quite a river yet, and the Monts d'Ardèche Regional Natural Park. Mont-Gerbier-de-Jonc, Sagnes and Goudoulet, and Le Béage are all typical and pleasant stops that will allow you to follow the flow of the Loire.
Things to do and see:
• Mont-Gerbier-de-Jonc
> The Sources of the Loire
> Climbing the Mount
• Sagnes & Goudoulet
> Churches of Saint-Robert & Sainte-Marguerite
• Le Béage
> Visit the village
> Views of the Ardèche mountains
A nature trail during which you will discover the volcanic lake of Issarlès (a beautiful swimming spot). The route will take you to the villages of La Chapelle Graouillouse and Lafarre, where you will return to the Haute-Loire region. You will continue to discover two stunningly beautiful villages: Arlempdes (its marquis, along with Pilatre de Rozier, was the first balloonist in 1783) and Goudet.
Discover:
• Issarlès
> The volcanic lake formed by a violent volcanic eruption (138m deep)
> The walk around the lake leads to a troglodyte dwelling
• Lafarre
> The promontory village
> The Mariac Tower
> Cros de Lafarre Castle
> Its church and its bell tower
• Arlempdes
> Awarded the Most Beautiful Villages of France label
> The remains of its castle perched on a volcanic peak overlooking the Loire. > The Ecomuseum
> Saint-Pierre Church
• Goudet
> Stroll through the heart of the village center and discover the polychrome rooftops
> Walk along the path that runs along the Loire and leads you to wild gorges
> Beaufort Castle
You'll climb to admire the Wild Loire from the road that leads you to Camp d'Antoune (Gallo-Roman remains) before reaching Ponteils and its basalt flows and the Moulin du Rocher. The route will then take you to Saint-Martin-de-Fugères before returning to the Loire and the village of Solignac-sur-Loire, which overlooks the river. You'll then reach the town of Le Puy-en-Velay for your last night, unless you prefer to cancel.
End of tour with luggage collection from 5 p.m. at our partner or optionally with an additional night in Puy-en-Velay (overnight stay & breakfast with luggage delivery to the hotel)
Places to Discover:
• Saint-Martin-de-Fugères
> The church
• Ponteils
> The basalt columns of the Moulin du Rocher
• Solignac-sur-Loire
> The Beaume waterfall, harmoniously blending volcanic rock and tumultuous water.
> The ramparts of Solignac, overlooking the Loire Valley
Prices include:
- Accommodation in a double, twin, or multiple-occupancy room with half-board
- Tourist taxes,
- Luggage transfer at the stopover (one bag, max. 13kg/person),
- Access to the guidance app and travel diary,
- Telephone assistance.
Extras
- Electric bike rental or a non-electric bike rental, two rear panniers, a helmet, a light repair kit,
- Multrisks and cancellation insurance
- Single supplement
-
Additional night in hotel*** Le Puy-en-Velay (overnight stay & breakfast with luggage delivered to the hotel)
This price does not include
- Transportation and transfers to the starting point Meals other than those listed in the description
- Multirisks and annulation insurance
- Parking Bike rental
- GPX tracks (we do not provide GPX tracks for our routes – guidance via the app)
- Drinks, spending money, any visits or activities
- Generally, anything not listed in the “This price includes” section
Administration fees
- €12/person if ordered online
- €15/person via quote
As an optional extra, L’Autre Chemin offers:
You want to rent a bike
- Electric-assisted hybrid bike rental with two panniers + guarantee Sereine mind: +€155/bike
- Non-electric hybrid bike rental with two panniers + guarantee Sereine mind: +€100/bike
If you plan to travel with your bike, please ensure certain points: If it is an electric-assisted bike, the battery must have a minimum power of 400 or even 500 watts. Please note: the battery must be removable; if not, please contact us to check availability. It is imperative that your bike is in perfect working order before departure. Remember to have it serviced. Please bring a suitable repair kit and a smartphone mount for the handlebars. Our routes combine small roads and trails; your bike must be a hybrid, mountain bike, or gravel bike with suitable tires. City and road bikes are therefore prohibited. Our trips are more or less sporty, and a basket on the handlebars is to be avoided, as are large city bags. You’ll be riding on trails, and this type of equipment risks destabilizing the bike’s balance and making it difficult to transfer bikes (similarly, front mudguards make it difficult to load bikes onto trailers, so avoid them). Any doubts? Contact us.
Add a final night in Le Puy-en-Velay
Enjoy one last night in Le Puy-en-Velay at the end of your tour. We’ll take care of booking your overnight stay and breakfast at a 3-star hotel in the city center, and your luggage will be delivered directly to reception.
L’Autre Chemin has developed numerous partnerships with guesthouses and small traditional hotels to offer you the best of Haute-Loire and to ensure that each stopover is an opportunity to discover the architecture, the art of living, the gastronomy, but also a moment of exchange and meeting.
By Train
The town of Le Puy-en-Velay has a train station that takes you right to the city center, close to your first hotel and all the sights and shops. In short, it’s very pleasant to take the train from home to begin your cycling trip to Le Puy. Psst, even if the journey may seem long, when you arrive via Saint-Etienne, the tracks run alongside the wild Loire Valley, a very pleasant sight.
By Car
Le Puy is accessible by road, notably via two main roads: the RN88 from Saint-Etienne/Lyon or Aubenas/Mende, or via the RN102 (Clermont-Ferrand). There are suitable parking lots on site, but we’ll explain everything in your travel guide!
- Paris: 515km
- Lyon: 134km
- Marseille: 300km
- Toulouse: 350km
- Montpellier: 250km
Where to park in Le Puy?
- Breuil underground car park – Place du Breuil (near Ibis Styles and Ibis Centre) – Closed Sundays and public holidays – 7 days: €60 & 14 days: €100/14 days – Reservations: +33 4 71 02 03 54
Le Puy above-ground car parks – Rates: €10/week and €20/month. Subscriptions must be reserved and paid in advance at the Mobilité-en-Velay commercial center. Tel. +33 4 71 02 60 11 (open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) – Height limit 2.20 m & length 5.50 m maximum. These car parks are served by a free shuttle or the urban transport network.
- Bertrand de Doue Parking: Parking without video (near train station, Ibis Styles & Budget)
- Estrouilhas Parking: Parking without video (near Ibis Centre)
- Quincieu Park and Ride Parking: Parking without video (near Ibis Centre)
- Montredon Park and Ride Parking: Parking without video (free bus service to the city center)
- Dunant Parking (free bus service to the city center)
- Train Station Parking: Video-monitored parking – €6 / 24 hours (near Ibis Styles & Budget)
- Carmes Parking: Video-monitored parking – €30 / week – Reservation: +33 7 68 10 76 81 (near Ibis Styles & Budget)
- Foch Parking – 6 avenue du Maréchal Foch – Video surveillance – (near Ibis Styles & Budget) – 7 days: €30 & 14 days: €60 – Reservation: +33 7 68 10 76 81
- Saint-Jacques Parking (Center served by bus) – 13 bis de Roderie – Aiguilhe – Video surveillance – Reservation: +33 4 44 43 97 43 – 7 days: €29 & 14 days: €55 (near Ibis Center)
- La Malle Postale – Parking at 7km from Le Puy – Drop-off and pick-up guaranteed – 7 days / 7– 7 days: €30 & 15 days: €50 – Reservation: 04 71 04 21 79 Prices given for information purposes only, subject to change without notice
Whether you want to book your stay or ask us any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
with L'Autre Chemin
From €895 / pers.
with luggage transfer
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€1010 / pers.
Bag transfer & journey back to Le Puy
Dialogue with sir Stevenson, bike tour on the Stevenson trail
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Dès 995€ / pers
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