Loire à Vélo with Kids: Make Orléans Your Base Camp

The Loire à Vélo is one of Europe's most family-friendly cycling routes. Flat, well-signposted and safe: it's the perfect adventure to enjoy with children. And Orléans, right in the heart of the route, is the ideal stop to rest the bikes, recharge and explore a historic city at a human scale.

Why choose Orléans as your base?

Orléans sits at a strategic point on the Loire à Vélo: midway between Nevers and the Atlantic coast, with easy connections to Tours, Blois and Sully-sur-Loire. The city is just 1 hour from Paris by TGV — perfect for a Friday evening departure with kids and bikes in tow.

On the ground, the landscaped Loire riverbanks offer kilometres of safe cycling paths, ideal for younger riders. The Sainte-Croix Cathedral, medieval lanes and lively terrace cafés in the old town round off the experience — no pedalling required.

Urban Jungle Hôtel: built for cycling families

Labelled Accueil Vélo (official French cycling hospitality standard), our eco-friendly boutique hotel is designed with cyclists in mind. Free secure bike storage, basic tools on hand, and route advice: everything is in place to make your stay as easy as your day in the saddle.

What families love most:

• 🚲 Free secure bike storage — your bikes sleep safely overnight

• 🍳 Breakfast served until 10am — no rush on family mornings

• 📍 City centre location — 5 minutes' walk from the Loire riverbanks

• 🌿 Green Key certified — a great lesson in sustainability for the kids

A 2-day family itinerary around Orléans

Day 1 — Arrive in Orléans, ride along the quays to the Pont de l'Europe and back through the old town. Expect 15 to 20 km, entirely on safe dedicated paths. Evening: dinner on a terrace on Place du Martroi.

Day 2 — Head towards Châteauneuf-sur-Loire or Sully-sur-Loire (30 km round trip). Kids discover châteaux and nature, you cycle car-free. Back before dinner, bikes safely stored at the hotel.

Book your Orléans stopover

Whether you're passing through on the Loire à Vélo or using Orléans as a base to explore the region, Urban Jungle Hôtel has everything you need for a successful family stop.

Book direct at urbanjungleorleans.com and get the best rate guaranteed.