France·October 10 - 16 2025

The Châteaux, Gardens & Wines of the Loire Valley

Walk in the footsteps of the kings and queens of France through the legendary Loire Valley

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Overview

If it's French splendor, style, and gastronomy you seek, the Loire Valley will surpass all your expectations. Beyond visiting iconic chateaux like Blois, Chambord, and Chenonceau, we’ll explore historic towns, enchanting villages, and gardens more beautiful than you could imagine. We're in France, so no trip would be complete without stops to savor fall produce and the spectacular wines produced here. Chinon’s Cabernet Franc is among our founder’s favorites. Sancerre and Vouvray are world-renowned. Plus, you’ll discover light reds such as Saumur Champigny, which marries perfectly with fish or can be enjoyed chilled in summer. October is an ideal time to visit the Loire Valley - 65 °F (18 °C) during the day and 50 °F (10 °C) at night, with low humidity.

Highlights

Wander the legendary terraced gardens of Villandry.

Wander the legendary terraced gardens of Villandry.

Wake up in a vast enclosed park overlooking magnificent Chambord, France’s largest Renaissance chateau

Wake up in a vast enclosed park overlooking magnificent Chambord, France’s largest Renaissance chateau

Create a delicious organic lunch with a Loire chef

Create a delicious organic lunch with a Loire chef

Discover the contemporary art installations and international garden festival at Domaine de Chaumont

Discover the contemporary art installations and international garden festival at Domaine de Chaumont

Experience Chenonceau, the most romantic chateau and learn about its female-focused history

Experience Chenonceau, the most romantic chateau and learn about its female-focused history

Explore the Royal City of Blois while shopping its chic boutiques

Explore the Royal City of Blois while shopping its chic boutiques

Delight in discovering historic Tours on an insider walking tour

Delight in discovering historic Tours on an insider walking tour

Visit a Vouvray chateau estate and sample its wines

Visit a Vouvray chateau estate and sample its wines

Itinerary

Here's a day-by-day itinerary of the trip

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Paris

Day 0: Pre-Trip Night in Paris - Thursday, October 9th, 2025

The trip officially starts tomorrow, October 10, but If you're flying overnight to get to Paris, you may want to consider arriving a day early so you have time to rest, relax and get acclimated to the local time. Please select the optional Add On to arrive one day early. 

Either way, you should fly into Paris (Charles de Gaulle or Orly Airport). If you're arriving a day early, grab a taxi at the airport (they are clean, plentiful and safe) and have the driver whisk you to the Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs.

Enjoy a stroll through the beautiful streets of Paris, sit in a cafe and watch the people, stroll through the Luxembourg Gardens - there's so much to do!


Not Included

Hotel

Meals

Airport Transfers

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Azay-le-Rideau

Day 1: Friday, October 10th, 2025

We'll meet at 8:45 am at a cafe near the Gare de Lyon train station. A Girls' Guide representative will meet you there and escort you to your train seats where you'll catch a 09:57am train to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps (Tours) - about an hour from Paris. Don't worry about booking the train. We'll take care of that for you. If you are arriving in Paris today, please arrive no later than 7:00 am.

Our Loire adventure begins in the lovely village of Azay-le-Rideau. We’ll visit its storybook chateau, an architectural gem Balzac called “a faceted diamond,” followed by lunch at gastronomic bistro l’Epine. After getting acquainted over a leisurely meal, we'll discover Villandrys magnificent chateau and famed terraced gardens framed by kilometers of pollarded linden trees, yew, and boxwood borders. We’ll marvel at the clipped topiaries, ornamental Renaissance flower gardens, and incomparable potager. It’s truly magical.

We'll then head to Tours – a UNESCO World Heritage city nicknamed “Le Petit Paris”, to settle into Les Trésorières, our luxe boutique hotel nestled within the historic center.

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

Included

Lunch

Dinner

Not Included

Breakfast

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Amboise

Day 2: Saturday, October 11th, 2025

Today, we’ll explore the picturesque royal town of Amboise, where the French Renaissance blossomed. It was the childhood home of Francois the 1st and where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years as “the King’s first painter, architect, and engineer.” We’ll tour the Royal chateau and gardens perched above the Loire, then savor the historic charm of its pedestrian quarter.

Our lunch of market-fresh regional fare will be at l’Ecluse, tucked within a verdant garden.

Next, we will 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 represents the 5th generation to manage this award-winning winery. The Chenin Blanc grape is the secret of Vouvray’s versatile range of styles - from sparkling through classic dry, tender, and sweet. Following our winery tour and tasting, you can visit Valmer’s listed “remarkable” garden and potager featuring edible plants, restored by Alix de Saint Venant – a renowned dendrologist and garden designer.

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 will provide recommendations, including ethnic cuisine options.

We'll stay overnight at Les Trésorières.

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Wine Tasting

Not Included

Dinner

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Tours

Day 3: Sunday, October 12th, 2025

Sunday morning is ideal for a relaxed walking tour of the city. Your knowledgeable local guide will introduce you to Tour’s finest monuments. Highlights are 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 seasonal regional dishes.

The Loire’s hottest cultural ticket is our afternoon destination. Our discovery of Domaine de Chaumont Arts and Nature Center begins with the majestic furnished Renaissance chateau and stable complex, where creations by major international contemporary artists are integrated within its period interiors.

The visit continues with the garden festival and sculpture park.

On our final evening in Tours, we will dine at Le Chien Jaune, a traditional Brasserie serving your favorite classic French dishes.

We'll stay overnight at Les Trésorières.

Included

All meals

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Touraine

Day 4: Monday, October 13th, 2025

Today, we’ll visit the fabled and enchanting Château of Chenonceau. Its history was intrinsically influenced by a succession of remarkable women, including legendary rivals Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poitiers. The chateau’s furnishings, painting collection, and gardens are exceptional. 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 château’s magnificent floral installations. 

Our tour of the romantic chateau will focus on its exceptional restored interiors filled with period furnishings and a masterpiece painting collection. Your exclusive walk through the remarkable renaissance gardens will be led by Nick Tomlan, who designs their plantings and recently landscaped the contemporary Russell Page-inspired walled garden.

Our unique Loire wine and cheese-tasting lunch will be hosted at the privately owned Chateau de Civray, by its owner, Countess Diane, and will be led by young cheese monger and sommelier Geoffrey Nivard. Until recently, Geoffrey worked for a famous London cheese shop supplying Buckingham Palace with French cheese! Passionate about his native region, Geoffrey’s 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 the size of Paris.

You can pamper yourself at the spa (additional charge not included. Reservations required), 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 Chateau.

Tonight’s casual dinner will be in the Relais’s clubby bar.

Included

All meals

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Chambord

Day 5: Tuesday, October 14th, 2025

We'll set off early for a highlight 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 Château 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. The influence of Leonardo da Vinci’s architectural studies is evident in the unique double-helix central staircase and a Greek cross footprint. We’ll also visit the chateau’s recently installed formal garden.

You’ll have time to relax before dinner in nearby Bracieux, at Le Rendez-vous des Gourmets. 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.

We stay overnight at Le Relais de Chambord.

Included

All meals

cooking class

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Chambord

Day 6: Wednesday, October 15th, 2025

This morning, we’ll indulge in a later start to allow you time 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 your discovery 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 periods, with distinct Gothic, Renaissance, and Classical wings. 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 it's 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.

Included

Breakfast

Dinner

Not Included

Lunch

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Paris

Day 7: Thursday, October 16th, 2025

After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll sadly have to say au revoir to the Loire Valley. *Our chauffeur will drive the group back to Hotel Des Grands Voyageurs (our post trip night optional Add On.  From here you can taxi to your next destination or the airport. If you are flying out today, please make sure your flight home or to your next destination is after 5:00 pm.

Au revoir France!

Included

Breakfast

You'll Be Staying Here

 Les Trésorières

Les Trésorières

Les Trésorières is an intimate 5-star hotel combining tradition and modernity in the gastronomic heart of Touraine's historic capital.

 Le Relais de Chambord

Le Relais de Chambord

Le Relais de Chambord is nestled amid an amazing 5440-acre estate. Click on the link, and you'll be WOWED! 

Hosts

Casey O’Brien Blondes

Casey O’Brien Blondes

This trip will be led by Casey O’Brien Blondes, a GG2P Colleague based in the Loire Valley since 1992. A dual-national and author of two travel and lifestyle books about France, Casey knows the Loire Valley, its history and vibrant culture intimately. Her insider connections offer a privileged entrée to this fabled region. Casey receives rave reviews from GG2P clients!  

Price

Private Room

Private Room

Everyone gets their own fabulous room!

FROM$8,465

Add Ons

Arrive one night early in Paris

Arrive one night early in Paris

Includes one night and breakfast at the Hotel Des Grands Voyageurs

PRICE$550.00

ADD THIS
Stay one night Longer in Paris

Stay one night Longer in Paris

Includes one night and breakfast at the Hotel Des Grands Voyageurs

PRICE$550.00

ADD THIS

The garden of France

The Loire Valley

The Loire Valley is famous for its world-class wines. The Valley is laced with vineyards from Sancerre to the ocean, and it offers wines to suit every palate from sparkling vouvrays to vibrant Sancerres.

The Loire Valley

What's Included

What's Included

Everything stated in the itinerary above including all meals plus wine with dinner.

Lodging at 4* (or more) unique Hotels, Chateaux or Abbey’s

Welcome drinks

Train tickets to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps

Visit to the storybook chateau in Azay-le Rideau

Cooking Class

Visit to Villandry's Chateau

Guided Walking Tour of Tours

Tour of the Royal Chateau & Gardens in Amboise

Wine Tastings

All guides, experts and entry fees

Transportation back to Paris at the end of the trip

Roundtrip airfare to France

Any spa treatment desired

Any personal souvenirs or purchases.

Meals on your own

Additional wine, beer or spirits beyond what is offered at meals.

Travel and Medical Insurance (required)

Airport transfers on arrival and departure

FAQs

Fly into Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris and catch the train to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps. We will tell you what take. Train and air fares are at a cost to you.

The trip officially starts on the afternoon of October 10th, but if you are traveling across an ocean to get to Paris, consider arriving a day early so you have time to relax and adjust to the local time zone before catching the train the next day. We have booked a block of rooms at the Hotel des Grande Voyageurs for the night of Oct 9th. Those can be booked directly on our website under the ADD ONS page. Please let us know if you have any questions. 

We will have a zoom call about 6 weeks before the trip starts to discuss all that information and give you a packing list. Here is a great website that we love that will help you with packing and travel trips.

October is an ideal time to visit the Loire Valley - 65 °F (18 °C) during the day and 50 °F (10 °C) at night, with low humidity. The average temperature is      58 °F.

This trip will be led by Casey O’Brien Blondes, a GG2P Colleague based in the Loire Valley since 1992. A dual-national and author of two travel and lifestyle books about France, Casey knows the Loire Valley, its history and vibrant culture intimately. Her insider connections offer a privileged entrée to this fabled region. Casey receives rave reviews from GG2P clients!  

Inquire about this trip

The Châteaux, Gardens & Wines of the Loire Valley

France· October 10 - 16 2025· 6 nights

FROM$8,465/pp