Le Magnifique

Incroyable Chateau Tour (7 days)

If you have ever dreamt of staying in a French Château, then join us for 7 days in the luscious Loire Valley and explore at least seven of the most enchanting châteaux, ancient villages and historic cities. Experience the wine and food of this most beautiful region of France. Home will be two magnificent châteaux that are now run as luxury hotels. On this small group tour, enjoy private transport for the daily excursion, gourmet regional food, local Loire wines and soak up the ambience of the Valley of the Kings.
These are small group tours for no more than 6-8 people

Tour Dates

May 31st – 6th June 2026 FULLY BOOKED
June 28th – 4th July 2026
September 20th – 26th 2026
April 11-18 2027
May 30 – June 5 2027
Aug 15-21 2027
September 26 – October 2 2027

Are the released dates not suitable? If you are a group of 2–8 guests, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss alternative dates. Our Château tours season runs from the beginning of April until the end of October.

DAY 1 Arrival & Welcome

Welcome

Arrive in the Loire Valley to start your fabulous tour of some incredible Loire Valley Châteaux. It only takes an hour from Paris Montparnasse and your hosts will collect you from Tours (Saint-Pierre-des-Corps) train station.

Settle in at the sumptuous Château de Rochecotte, situated about forty minutes away in the direction of Saumur, in the village of Coteaux-sur-Loire, in a refined setting combining modernity, baroque and classical styles, close to the vineyards of Saint-Nicholas de Bourgueil and the mighty Loire River. The current architecture of the chateau that we see today was carried out in 1828. Before that, it was a military stronghold during the 100 years’ War, responsible for monitoring the movements of the English troops

Chinon

No trip to the Loire Valley would be complete without a visit to the quaint mediaeval town of Chinon nestling on the banks of the Vienne River, so in the late afternoon we will drive there for a little wander through the picturesque narrow cobbled streets lined with ancient houses, shops and restaurants.

This lovely area is renowned for its Royal Fortress, dating back to 1160, built on an impressive rocky spur. The vineyards and grapes grown on either side of the river are made into wine.
This was the favourite home of Plantagenet King Henry II and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine. Their Kingdom extended from Scotland to the Pyrenees, but they governed from Chinon’s fortress. Joan of Arc is immortalised here with a huge bronze statue.
Dinner will be at the Michelin-rated restaurant Les Années Trente.

DAY 2 Château d’Azay-le-Rideau & Château d’Ussé

Each day starts with a delicious continental breakfast before hopping aboard private, air conditioned transport for guided tours so that you get to explore the culture, history and stunning sites of the Loire Valley in comfort. There’s no rushing, no big buses, no dashing through a list to tick off. This is slow tourism where you get to explore the splendours of the Loire Valley and truly enjoy a tour where you’ll make memories to cherish

Today we will visit two of the most dazzling must-see neighbouring châteaux of the Loire Valley

Château d’Azay-le-Rideau

Built on an island of the Indre River at the beginning of the 16th century, the French Renaissance style Château d’Azay-le-Rideau is one of the most romantic castles in France.

Surrounded by water, the white stone castle is reflected in the water to give the illusion of a floating castle. The château has wonderful architecture including a magnificent stone staircase, lavishly decorated rooms and a romantic park.
The castle is in the centre of the pretty town of Azay-le-Rideau where we’ll have lunch at a traditional bistro and time to visit the lovely boutiques and artisan shops

Château d’Ussé

It’s just a short journey to the fairy tale pretty Château d’Ussé. This is the castle that inspired Charles Perrault, the famous French fairy tale author to write the story of Sleeping Beauty

The castle also has gorgeous gardens designed by André Le Nôtre, who also designed the gardens of Versailles for King Louis XIV.
There’s time for wine tasting paired with chocolate at the nearby Château de Miniere before dinner. We’ll discover several vintages in the sweetest of ways before enjoying a gourmet dinner back at Château de Rochecotte.

DAY 3 Château de Villandry & Tours

After breakfast, we head to Château de Villandry, which has the most incredible gardens and has been dazzling visitors since the 1920s

Château de Villandry

With a history dating back to the 11th century, the gardens have undergone numerous transformations, but acquired their current Renaissance form in the early 1900s, replacing the English garden style that was employed in the mid-1800s. Now, the French style gardens include a water garden, ornamental flower gardens, vegetable gardens, labyrinths and fruit trees. One of the last major castles built in the Loire Valley during the Renaissance. The château became the property of Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother, Jerome, King of Westphalia, in the 19th century. Now it is privately owned. We’ll then head to the city of Tours and choose a bistro to have lunch at Place Plumereau

Tours

Thanks to restoration efforts in the 1960s, Old Tours has been beautifully preserved, offering charming streets, bustling markets and stunning landmarks like the Saint-Gatien Cathedral and Basilica of Saint-Martin.

Place Plumereau is the heart of Old Tours, where lively cafes and half-timbered houses create a picturesque and vibrant atmosphere.
Strolling through Rue Colbert or Rue des Halles, visitors can explore quaint boutiques, historical sites and delightful terraces perfect for people-watching. Whether enjoying views across the Loire River or wandering through centuries-old streets, Tours seamlessly blends history, culture and modern charm.
We’ll return to Château de Rochecotte and have another delicious dinner

DAY 4 Château de Chenonceau & The Château de Chissay

Aristocratic pomp and architectural grandeur are on the agenda for the next 3 days. After breakfast, we bid farewell to Château de Rochecotte and make our way to Château de Chenonceau. This is one of the best-known and most-visited châteaux in the Loire Valley. Standing on an arched bridge spanning the Cher River, its architecture is a fascinating blend of late Gothic and early French Renaissance styles. The list of aristocrats and nobles who have lived in it is astounding, including Diane de Poitiers, the famous and beautiful mistress of the French King Henri II, as well as his wife, Catherine de Medici.

Château de Chenonceau

Chenonceau is the most visited private monument in France and is sumptuously decorated. The rooms are filled with period furniture, tapestries, and paintings by European masters from the 16th to 18th centuries, including Tintoretto, Rubens, and Cloue

The long covered gallery where royal balls were once held is breathtaking. The kitchens are amongst the finest examples of Renaissance kitchens in the world. The gardens of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici are exquisite, and every room is filled with the most elegant display of flowers created by the castle’s famous florist Here we will indulge in a delicious lunch in the château grounds at L’Orangerie.

After lunch, we will spend time wandering around the gardens and estate. Then we will travel to our new accommodation The Château de Chissay, which will be our home for the final three nights.

The Château de Chissay

Located between Montrichard and Chenonceaux, this former castle was built in the 12th century and further developed in the 16th century. Louis XI stopped here and It was converted into a hotel in 1986, but conserved its chapel and dungeon from the 13th century.

Dinner will be taken at the chateau this evening.
Depending on availability, we may have to use the Château de la Bourdaisière as an alternative. This beautiful and tranquil chateau is located about twenty minutes east of Amboise just outside the village of Montlouis-sur-Loire. During the Renaissance it was transformed from a 14th century fortress to the building we see today.

DAY 5 Château de Chaumont and Amboise

Château de Chaumont

Built on the site of a former fortress, Château de Chaumont with its towers and turrets has evolved greatly over time influenced by Queen Catherine de Medici, wife to King Henry II, as well as Henry’s mistress, Diane de Poitiers, and looks like it came straight from the page of a fairy tale. It’s a must-see, especially if you want to add a little magic to your vacation.

Rebuilt a few years after Louis XI had the château burned and razed to the ground in 1465, the restored château is now famous for its yearly garden festival. With a breathtaking view of the Loire from the once ‘north wing’, the Château de Chaumont also hosts works of incredible architecture.

After having lunch in the château grounds at restaurant Grand Velum we will travel a short distance to Amboise.

Amboise

With its gorgeous architecture to admire and delightfully quaint, narrow streets to wander around, the town of Amboise offers a reflection of everything beautiful imported into France from Italy during the Renaissance.

Here, you can explore on your own: There is time to visit the impressive Château Royal d’Amboise, resting place of Leonardo da Vinci or close by, the lovely Château du Clos Lucé with its exquisite gardens is where da Vinci lived his last years. Or you can simply relax in the town, visiting the artisan boutiques, known for their unique handcrafted items and local specialities, such as French-made scarves, jewellery, handbags and more. Or, you may just want to sit outside a bistro with a glass of wine, soaking up the ambience.

We’ll stay in Amboise for dinner at the Michelin-rated restaurant L’Ecluse

DAY 6 Château de Chambord and Château de Cheverny

After an early breakfast, we will head off to the monumental Château de Chambord, one of the most recognisable, largest and famous châteaux in the world.

Château de Chambord

King Francis I, known as the Renaissance King and patron of Leonardo da Vinci, spent a fortune creating this opulent and intricately designed building of 85 staircases, 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces, 365 chimneys and a world-famous double-helix staircase that has been attributed to Da Vinci.

The Staircase is designed in such a way that two people can go down at the same time without ever seeing each other. Marvel at the panoramic view from the rooftop terrace towards the vast gardens. The rooftop itself, with its impressive spires, turrets, and chimneys, which was designed to resemble the skyline of Constantinople, is simply unforgettable.
Lunch will be taken at the Saint Louis Bistro in the château grounds.

Château de Cheverny

In the afternoon, a short drive will bring us to the Château de Cheverny. Built in 1634, the estate has been privately owned for over six centuries by the Hurault family.

The woodland-surrounded château features a unique collection of antiques, tapestries and paintings. It is considered to be one of the most elegantly furnished castles in the Loire Valley. It’s also famous for its 19th-century kennels, which are home to more than 100 hunting dogs.

Our farewell dinner this evening will be at Château de Chissay

DAY 7

After a last breakfast together, which will give us a chance to reminisce about our tour experience in this unique part of France, you will be driven to Tours train station to pick up the TGV to take you onwards to your next adventure. 7 days, 6 nights PRICE: €5,950 per person All tours include:

Private en suite accommodation at two Châteaux
Collection and return to Tours train station
Comfortable, air-conditioned transport
6 Breakfasts
6 Restaurant / Bistro lunches as per the itinerary
6 Restaurant evening meals as per the itinerary
Admissions and entry fees as per the itinerary
Our undivided personal attention

Reserve Your Place

Are the released dates not suitable? If you are a group of 2–8 guests, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss alternative dates. Our Chateau tours season runs from the beginning of April until the end of October.

When Memories Speak: Guests Share Their Unforgettable Loire Moments.

"I wanted to tell you how very, very much I enjoyed your hospitality. Your efforts went above and beyond and I sincerely appreciated all of the extra effort you both put into making our stay first-rate. I wish I were a travel guide because I would rate your tour as five+ stars - a Conde-Nast or Travel & Leisure, or AAA “Gem”. What made it five stars? The cream in the refrigerator, wash cloths that appeared after our first night, exceptional evening meals, Graham’s “right balance” of providing info at the sites to his critical eye for finding the perfect photo. The stage was set the first night when we walked through the delightful town seeing the flowers and houses to eating an excellent meal. I realize you may think, “Kate liked everything so how discriminating is she?”, but I assure you I have a very critical eye and exceptionally high expectations—you both met them all. It is a difficult job trying to meet the expectations of many people from different cultures, but your “servants’ hearts” shine through in every way. Intimate tours, exceptional guides, five-star hospitality, this is seeing the Loire Valley and its magnificent chateaux at its finest!! Many, many, thanks!! "

Kate Felix (Colorado)

"I have just returned from the fantastic Seventh Heaven, 9 day Grande Chateaux Tour! I can’t say enough about how wonderful our two hosts: Jacqui and Graham were. Jacqui is a first rate cook and baker. We had wonderful meals and snacks during our stay, and the desserts were to die for. Graham was an excellent guide, providing a good balance of information and knowledge with the intuition to know it was time to let us explore on our own. The accommodations were first rate. A nice blend of old world rustic charm with all the modern amenities. Beds were large and comfortable. Rooms were very clean and nicely decorated. The bathrooms were spacious with beautiful tiled showers, heated towel bars, and plenty of space to arrange toiletries. The chateaux were beautiful and we saw a nice mix. Graham did an excellent job telling us the history of the Chateaux and pointed out the important items to notice. Knowing my interest in churches, Graham personalised the tour and stopped at a few churches that he knew I would enjoy. There were two other friends that joined me on this tour so in effect, the three of us had a private tour. Our two hosts provided us with a truly wonderful vacation. We had five star accommodation and meals, a private and knowledgeable tour guide, and the magnificent background of the Loire Valley and its beautiful chateaux. Who could ask for more? As three very experienced world travellers, we all agreed that this was the best vacation we ever had! "

Matthew (Massachusetts)

"Graham and Jacqui were born to do Loire valley chateaux tours. Their passion for the region and for these extraordinary architectural and historical buildings is evident in all they do to make your visit interesting, colourful and delightful. Their hospitality is generous, and their home and garden are welcoming and comfortable on every level. The food we had at Maison de Lavandre was equal to the delicious food we had in all the restaurants they had booked. That picnic on the banks of the Loire was especially memorable and unexpected – and yet another example of how they thought of everything. Graham and Jacqui’s careful consideration comes through in all the detail, the planning and the execution of a wonderful tour. The chateaux visits were spectacular and complemented perfectly by visits to beautiful Loire valley towns and by the sampling of some wonderful local wines and food. It all adds up to a great ‘file’ in one’s memory bank. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Loire Valley Chateaux Tours – you will be amazed and delighted at every turn, and you will learn more than you can possibly imagine about why this region is such a treasure. "

Karey Evett

"Having just come home from a fantastic 9 day tour with Graham and Jacqui, I wanted to recommend this trip to anyone who wishes to explore the beautiful Loire region. We were treated to the warmest hospitality, a sumptuous home from home as our base, complete with dogs, chickens and cat, and a full schedule carefully tailored to include a wide variety of splendid chateaux – each with an inspirational and humbling style, history and heritage to explore - interwoven with visits to charming markets, towns and villages, all with the calming backdrop of the magnificent Loire, Vienne and Cher rivers. Delicious wines to sample and food to indulge in – not just in gorgeous restaurants but at Maison de Lavande to. Jacqui is a warm host and accomplished baker, and Graham is a wonderful, knowledgeable, courteous guide as well as a very good driver. Thanks to them both, I fell in love with this glorious region, and will return again soon. An unforgettable experience. "

Rosie Kennar

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