Loire Valley & Wine Experience

Paris – Chambord – Blois – Loire Valley. We collect you from your hotel in Paris at 07:30. It is 180 km to the Loire Valley via the motorway – around 2.5 hours in your comfortable, air conditioned Mercedes minivan. En route, your guide introduces the Loire châteaux and their place in French heritage.

From 10:00–12:00 you visit the Château de Chambord. Celebrated for its French Renaissance architecture, it was built between 1519 and 1547 under King Francis I and is the largest château in the valley, with 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces and 84 staircases. Its open double spiral staircase is a highlight – the two spirals rise side by side without meeting – and may have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci.

At 12:00 you drive to Blois – about 20 minutes for 17 km – arriving around 12:30. You have time for lunch until 14:00. From 14:00–15:30 you explore the Royal Château of Blois in the centre of town. Once a residence of several French kings, it is also where Joan of Arc came in 1429 to be blessed by the Archbishop of Reims before departing to campaign against the English. The château brings together four distinct architectural styles and contains 564 rooms, including 100 bedrooms each with a fireplace, and 75 staircases.

At 15:30 you continue to the Plou et Fils winery – about 30 minutes for 30 km. From 16:00–16:45 you tour the cellars and enjoy a guided tasting at this long‑established family estate, learning about local winemaking before sampling at least seven wines – red, rosé and white.

You depart at 16:45 for Domaine de la Tortinière, Château Hôtel Val de Loire – about 45 minutes for 40 km – arriving around 17:30 for check‑in. You then have free time for the evening.

Loire Valley – Chenonceau – Amboise – Clos Luce – Loire Valley. You depart Domaine de la Tortinière at 09:00 for the Château de Chenonceau – about a 30 minute drive. From 09:30–11:30 you visit Chenonceau with your guide and pre-arranged entry. Nicknamed the Ladies’ Castle for its links to figures such as Catherine de Medici, it spans the River Cher on distinctive arches. You also explore the Renaissance gardens, planted with more than 130,000 flowering plants. You receive a room by room brochure and have a little free time to wander the grounds.

At 11:30 you continue to Amboise – around 20 minutes – arriving at about 12:00 for a lunch break. You can choose a café or restaurant along the main pedestrian street by the castle.

From 14:00–15:30 you tour the Château Royal d’Amboise with access and an interactive HistoPad. This 15th century royal residence illustrates the transition from Gothic to Renaissance architecture, and you visit the chapel where Leonardo da Vinci’s tomb lies.

You then walk about 400 metres to the Château du Clos Lucé to visit Clos Lucé and the Parc Leonardo da Vinci from 15:45–17:30. Leonardo spent the final three years of his life here – the site was recognised by Time magazine among its 100 extraordinary destinations in 2021. After the visit, you have free time in Amboise.

At 17:30 you drive back to Domaine de la Tortinière – about 40 minutes for 36 km – arriving around 18:15, with free time for the evening.

Loire Valley – Villandry – Amboise – Chaumont-sur-Loire – Paris. You depart Château Hôtel Domaine de la Tortinière at 09:00 for about an hour’s drive to the Château de Villandry, visiting from 10:00–11:30. At 11:30 you continue to Amboise for lunch, arriving around 12:30 – you can choose from the many cafés and restaurants along the main pedestrian street near the castle entrance until 14:00. At 14:00 you head to a local winery, arriving around 14:30 for a guided cave visit and tasting, then depart at 15:30 for the Château de Chaumont.

From 16:00–17:30 you visit Chaumont, founded in the 10th century and rebuilt in the 15th by Charles I d’Amboise. Classified as a monument historique since 1840, it later became state owned and is now open to the public. In 1559 Catherine de Medici required Diane de Poitiers to exchange Chenonceau for Chaumont – Diane spent her final three years here.

At 17:30 you leave for Paris – a journey of around three hours – arriving at approximately 20:30 for drop off at your hotel.