5-Day Luxury Wine, Gourmet and Castle Experience in the Loire Valley

Experience the castle life staying in a luxury chateau in the heart of Loire Valley with this 5-day luxury tour. Enjoy the Loire Valley and experience the French art de Vivre off the beaten track with a passionate guide and meet with locals, wine lovers, and gourmet chefs.

Itinerary: 

Day 1 : Transfer to Loire Valley & Orléans

Meet and greet with your English-speaking driver-guide in Paris.

Private transfer from Paris to Loire Valley with a stop in Orléans: Joan of Arc town.

Visit the old town classic sights such as the famous Sainte Croix cathedral, the Hôtel Groslot d’Orléans, the Jeanne d’Arc house, the city parks and Place du Martroi. Admire the many stone-built of half-timbered Renaissance houses and a splendid viw over the Loire River.

Transfer to your 4-star beautiful Chateau hotel, in the heart of the Loire Valley. The château offers a park stretching over fifteen hectares and a gastronomic restaurant.

You will love the family atmosphere and charming, tastefully decorated bedrooms and experience a unique château stay! Evening at leisure.

Day 2: Castles tour – Chenonceau & Villandry

Meet with your driver-guide at your hotel reception for a full-day private tour.

Start with the visit of Chenonceau castle. Designed and owned by women only, Chenonceau is therefore also known as the Château des Dames - Ladies' Château. Take time to explore the garden, from the Green Garden, designed by Bernard Palissy, to the Italian maze and the floral harmony of the garden... You could spend hours relaxing there.

Following the visit, enjoy a 1-hour floral workshop. Meet with the floral designer of the castle, “Master Craftsman of France”, and enjoy a demonstration and creation of compositions cultivated specially in the flower garden of the castle.

In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of Villandry castle and garden. Chateau de Villandry is known as the "world's most famous vegetable garden" for colorful veggies block-planted in a spectacular embroidery of living colours.

Day 3: Cooking class and cruise, medieval town

Meet with your driver-guide at your hotel reception for a full-day private tour.

Upon arrival in the picturesque countryside of Chinon, enjoy a gourmet experience and a cooking class. You will be welcomed in a beautiful charming country home by a friendly former Chef, passionate about the Loire and nature. Tour the old farmhouse, visit the vegetable garden all surrounded by flowers and enclosed by walls. See the chickens and geese and choose seasonal fruits and vegetables to cook a delicious homemade meal to enjoy together.

After your meal, the next stop is in a charming village on the Loire river bank and meet with a winemaker, skipper of a beautiful traditional boat of the Loire. Enjoy a 2-hours private river cruise on his traditional wooden boat. Relax and enjoy the view over Montsoreau castle and the villages while tasting some fine Loire Valley wines.

On the way back to your hotel, stop in Chinon medieval town. The old town of Chinon is dominated by its castle, a real fortress endowed with ramparts. A walk in the medieval town reveals pretty half-timbered houses and period properties. From the old town, a sloping path takes you to the château on foot. Up there, the view of the town and its surroundings is fantastic.

Day 4: Amboise and wine

Meet with your driver-guide and start the day with a tour of the Clos Lucé in Amboise, the last home of the genius Leonardo DaVinci. With your guide, get a real insight into his imagination and genius through the displays of his inventions.

Late morning, arrive in a beautiful chateau wine estate and meet with the winemaker and his wife for a unique visit of the cellar. The visit will be followed by a wine tasting in their home (the château) and the wife will be happy to talk about her passion for art and show you her paintings.

Later, enjoy a gourmet picnic in the splendid garden of the wine estate. 

In the afternoon, continue with the visit of Amboise castle and sightseeing of the picturesque little town, or a winery visit and wine tasting.  

Day 5 : Chambord, Blois and transfer back to Paris

End your stay in Loire Valley with the visit of the world famous Chambord castle. With about 426 rooms, 282 chimneys, and its famous double revolution staircase, the castle offers a memorable visit!

On your way back to Paris, enjoy a stop in Blois charming town.

A nice way to end this trip in Loire Valley enjoying the view over the Loire river. Free time for lunch, and transfer back in Paris after lunch.

Some photography for this tour courtesy of  ©ImagesdeMarc & ©Domaine de la Tortinière.