The Châteaux, Gardens & Wines of the Loire Valley

If you arrive in Paris today, please arrive by 7:00 am. A Girls' Guide representative will meet everyone at 8:45 am at a cafe near the Gare de Lyon train station and escort you to the platform, where you'll catch the 09:57 morning train to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps (Tours). It's about an hour from Paris. Don't worry about booking the train. We'll take care of that for you. 

Our Loire adventure begins in the lovely village of Azay-le-Rideau. We will explore the storybook chateau, an architectural treasure that Balzac referred to as "a faceted diamond,” and then enjoy lunch at the gourmet bistro l’Epine. 

We will proceed to the magnificent château of Villandry, renowned for its terraced gardens surrounded by kilometers of pollarded linden trees, yew, and boxwood borders. We’ll marvel at the clipped topiaries, ornamental Renaissance flower gardens, and incomparable potager. 

Then, we'll head to Tours, a UNESCO World Heritage city nicknamed “Le Petit Paris,” to settle into Les Trésorières, a luxe boutique hotel in the historic center.

After free time to unwind or stroll the charming old quarter, we’ll convene for a sparkling welcome toast and then visit La Maison des Halles for refined néobistrot cuisine.

Today, we’ll explore the picturesque royal town of Amboise, where the French Renaissance blossomed. We’ll tour the royal chateau and gardens perched above the Loire, then savor the historic charm of its pedestrian quarter.

Lunch is a feast of market-fresh regional fare at l’Ecluse, tucked in a verdant garden.

Next, we'll cross the Loire and enjoy a panoramic view of the chateau en route to the Vourvray wine estate of Chateau de Valmer. Winemaker Jean de Saint Venant is the 5th generation managing this award-winning winery. The Chenin Blanc grape is key to Vouvray’s versatile styles, from sparkling to classic dry, tender, and sweet. After the winery tour and tasting, we'll visit Valmer’s remarkable garden and potager with edible plants, restored by renowned dendrologist Alix de Saint Venant.

Back in Tours, you’ll have late afternoon and evening to shop, wander, and dine at one of the myriad restaurants near our hotel. We'll offer recommendations, including ethnic cuisine options.

Sunday morning is ideal for a relaxed walking tour of the city. A knowledgeable local guide will introduce us to Tours’ finest monuments, including Saint Gatien Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece that has watched over the city for a thousand years, and the famed Place Plumereau, lined with picturesque timbered houses.

Next, we will set out into the countryside to the delightful rural inn Les Closeaux, where owner-chef Christophe will prepare us a Sunday lunch featuring regional dishes.

The Loire’s hottest cultural icon is our afternoon destination. We'll start our journey at the Domaine de Chaumont Arts and Nature Center, featuring its grand, fully furnished Renaissance chateau and stable complex, which integrates works by prominent international contemporary artists into its historical interiors.

The visit concludes with the festival garden and sculpture park.

Celebrating our final evening in Tours, we'll dine at Le Chien Jaune, a traditional Brasserie serving up fan-favorite classic French dishes.

Today, we’ll visit the fabled and enchanting Chateau of Chenonceau. Its history was intrinsically influenced by a succession of remarkable women, including legendary rivals Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poitiers. 

We’ll begin with a flower-arranging demonstration by Jean-Francois Boucher, who has been honored as a meilleur ouvrier de France and is responsible for the chateau’s magnificent floral installations. 

Our tour of the romantic chateau will highlight its restored interiors, featuring period furnishings and a masterful collection of paintings. We'll enjoy an exclusive walk through the Renaissance gardens led by Nick Tomlan, who designs the plantings and has recently landscaped the Russell Page-inspired garden.

Later on, we'll indulge in a Loire wine and cheese-tasting lunch at Chateau de Civray, hosted by Geoffrey Nivard, a young cheesemonger and sommelier. He'll lead the tasting, drawing on his experience working in a London shop that supplies Buckingham Palace with French cheese. His tastings are both entertaining and informative.

Mid-afternoon, we travel east to check into our chic 4-star home base for the next three nights. Le Relais de Chambord overlooks Chambord, the Loire’s largest chateau, and is situated within a walled park that's almost the size of innercity Paris.

Pamper yourself at the spa, bike across the park, stroll along the Cossan River, or relax over a tea or cocktail on the hotel terrace with its magnificent view of the grounds.

Tonight’s casual dinner will be in one of the Relais’ restaurants.

After breakfast, we'll set off early for an experience at the Grange aux Savoir Faire cooking school. Here, we'll prepare a healthy lunch of savory and sweet in-season cuisine made with fresh organic produce from their marvelous kitchen garden. 

We’ll return briefly to our hotel before exploring the crown jewel of the Loire: the imposing Chateau de Chambord. This monumental castle was a pet project of François I and was intended to awe rival monarchs with its sheer scale and the originality of its architectural features. We’ll also visit the chateau’s recently installed formal garden.

You’ll have time to relax before dinner at Le Rendez-vous des Gourmets in nearby Bracieux. Autumn is the prime season to experience Sologne, a historic French hunting territory, and the regional dishes at this refined country restaurant are an authentic treat.

This morning, we’ll indulge in a later start to allow you to sleep in, venture out for a stroll or jog in the park, or linger over the extensive breakfast offerings.

Mid-morning, we will cross the Loire River to Blois, where our exploration of this royal city begins at the Chateau of Blois, a former residence of seven kings and ten queens. It is a stunning blend of architectural styles, featuring distinct Gothic, Renaissance, and Classical elements. You’ll learn about the dramatic role the chateau played in French history.

You have the afternoon free to lunch at one of many restaurants in Blois’s charming historic center, shop its chic boutiques for Loire mementos and original gifts, and explore the scenic side streets lined with timbered and stone builds dating back over 500 years.

Back at the Relais, we’ll have time to enjoy the spa and pack before a celebratory dinner at the hotel’s delightful restaurant, Le Grand Saint-Michel, where we’ll toast the experiences and laughs we’ve shared and lasting friendships made.

After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll sadly have to say au revoir to the Loire Valley. A chauffeur will drive the group back to Hotel Des Grands Voyageurs in Paris (our optional post-trip night Add-On). You can take a taxi from here to your next destination or the airport. 

If you are flying out today, please ensure your flight home or to your next destination is after 5:00 p.m.

Au revoir, France!