France · LOIRE VALLEY TOURS
Chenonceau spans the river, Chambord has the double staircase and Amboise has the view. These 15 sort the day trips from Paris and the local admissions by price, château count and whether a tasting is included.
Enter Château de Chambord with a one-day ticket and skip the ticket-counter line. Explore more than 60 rooms, temporary exhibitions, the double-helix staircase, formal gardens, and a vast 5,000-hectare park. A 20-minute multilingual film and free guide help explain the castle’s unusual design.
“Beautiful, big castle with lots to see. I took the I-pad guide, that is a nice addition.”
Explore Chenonceau Castle and its flower-filled gardens at your own pace with a one-day admission ticket. Walk through the château built over the Cher River, visit the Dômes and Carriage galleries, and use an audio guide available in 16 languages. Allow at least half a day.
“The château and grounds are gorgeous, and the history is clear and fascinating. There are, for good reason, crowds. Be patient and pleasant, and it's fun to be with them.”
Visit Château du Clos Lucé, Leonardo da Vinci’s last home, then wander its interactive park filled with life-size machines, audio stations, and translucent panels. Explore his workshops, inventions, painting and architecture exhibits, plus a digital show. Allow at least half a day for the full experience.
“It was very interesting and I immensely enjoyed it!”
At Caves Ambacia in Amboise, a guide such as Yanis or Tomas leads you through 15th-century troglodyte caves, a five-senses wine lesson, and a vintage collection before a sommelier tasting of six Loire wines with cheese and charcuterie.
“Excellent guide and whine tasting! Had the opportunity to fill up up wine cellar as well!”
At Caves Ambacia in Amboise, you’ll explore 16th-century wine cellars, awaken your senses, and taste six Loire wines with a sommelier such as Thomas, François, or Louan. Cheese and charcuterie accompany the tasting, with an on-site deli and bistro available afterward.
“This was one of the more educational wine tastings we’ve ever been on, and we’ve been on MANY! The pairings were sublime. A highly recommended experience.”
Drive from Chinon to Château du Petit Thouars for a guided vineyard, winery, and cellar tour with hosts Sebastian or D’Arcy. Taste several Loire wines, choose a bottle, then enjoy a generous picnic of local meats, cheese, salads, baguette, and dessert overlooking the château.
“We enjoyed the history of the chateau and the resident family. The tour of the vineyards and cellars was informative. The host was amicable and very educated on the working of the estate. Delicious wines; we bought several. The picnic was divine!”
Meet at 9 a.m. in Tours for a small-group morning with guides such as Alycea, Pierre, Simon, or Vincent. Visit a vineyard, limestone cellar, and larger wine operation, tasting sparkling and still Vouvray, Loire reds, cheese, and charcuterie.
“Nice tasting of Chenin blanc wines and great explanation on how they are made. Would recommend this tour”
Spend 510 minutes visiting Chenonceau and Chambord with an English-speaking guide, plus a regional lunch at privately owned Château de Villesavin. Small groups of up to eight travel by minivan from Tours, with guided visits and free time at each major château.
“I was between days travelling with friends so this tour gave me the best option to see the two most visited Chateaux of the Loire as well as lunching in a private chateau. Marion our guide was helpful and knowledgeable- and enjoyable company. Highly recommended.”
Fly over Château de Chenonceau and the Loire Valley for about an hour, with morning and evening departures from March to October. Pilot Aurimas and the team explain the process in French and English, then return you by 4x4 for local wine, cheese, sweets, and a traditional ballooning certificate ceremony.
“Great trip, got to see Chateaux and the French countryside. The champagne and breakfast after the flight was wonderful. Enjoyed helping roll the balloon up after the flight”
Spend a full day with an English-speaking guide such as Roxanne, Christian, or Ingrid, visiting Chenonceau and Chambord, tasting Loire wines at Les Caves Ambacia, and eating lunch in Amboise. The eight-seat van keeps the day personal, but castle visits are tightly timed.
“We were a group of 4 ladies (aged 14 to 72). We only had 1 day in the area and wanted to maximize our time. Going with a guide was our best bet. Audrey met us in Amboise, we climbed into her van, and we were off. At the two chateaux she delivered her wealth of information and guided us through some highlights and then gave us a short amount of free time to explore. I wish we had more time, but the agenda was jam packed. Between the two chateaux we went to the Caves winery where we learned about aromas of the local wines and watched a very…”
Spend 8.5 hours with a small group of up to eight, visiting Chenonceau and Chambord from Amboise. Your English-speaking guide, such as Alex, Chloe, or Dimitri, handles the driving and château context, while lunch at family-owned Villesavin adds a personal Loire Valley touch.
“Chloe was an incredible guide! She made the experience engaging and informative for our entire family. We saw amazing French chateaus, enjoyed a wonderful lunch, and learned about the French history and people which shaped these magnificent places. It was a day we will remember forever. Thank you!”
Travel from Tours in a van with up to eight people and an English-speaking guide such as Ilia or Charline. Tour Chambord’s double helix staircase, cross Chenonceau’s bridge over the Cher, explore gardens, and stop for lunch in a traditional village.
“The tour guide was excellent making sure we were all comfortable and informed throughout our time in this spectacular area of France. Bravo!”
Travel by minivan from Tours with up to eight people, visiting Azay-le-Rideau’s Renaissance château and Villandry’s formal gardens. Guides such as Chloe, Dimitri, Agatha, and Elodie lead the morning in clear English, with time for photos and independent wandering before returning around 1:30 PM.
“Dimitri was a gracious, interesting guide who I enjoyed very much. The two castle are smaller and easy to navigate. A really nice day and so close to Tours!”
Travel from Tours by minivan to Vouvray and Amboise for two wine tastings, an underground cellar visit, and a practical lesson in Loire wine. The group is limited to eight, and guides such as Alex bring a friendly, personal touch to the afternoon.
“The tour was perfect for what I was looking for, a fantastic variety of white wine from the same region. I learned a great deal and the guides were knowledgeable and very friendly. I toured with a small group with Alex and she was the best! Thank you Alex!”
Join pilot Kevin and the Amboise Montgolfière team for a one-hour sunrise or sunset balloon flight over the Loire Valley. Watch the balloon inflate, float above vineyards and castles, then celebrate with Champagne or grape juice and a visit to Caves Plou & Fils.
“Our Hot-air Balloon sunrise experience was terrific from start to finish. Our pilot (Kevin) and his crew were very professional and made us all feel at ease ... even the nervous passenger who burst into tears on take off was relaxed and happy at the end of the ride. The scenery was breathtaking and the feeling of floating just above the trees, over the corn fields and over the river was amazing. Our touch down was perfect, although the horse in the paddock we landed in looked a little surprised. I would recommend this experience to anyone wanting to see the Loire Valley from a different perspective.”
Pick a city, a coast or a cellar.
