Petite Chateau Tour (6 days) - Loire Valley Chateau Tours

Six of the Best

Petite Châteaux Tour (6 days)

Join us for 6 days in the luscious Loire Valley and explore the most enchanting châteaux, ancient villages and historic cities. Experience the wine and food of this most beautiful region of France. Home will be a charming countryside B&B, originally an 18th century winegrower’s farmhouse in the heart of the Loire Valley. On this small group tour, enjoy private transport for the daily excursion, gourmet regional food, local Loire wines and soak up the ambiance of the Valley of the Kings

These are small group tours for no more than 6 people

Tour Dates

April 15-20 FULLY BOOKED
May 13-18
July 22-27
April 14-19 2025 FULLY BOOKED
May 12-17 2025
July 21-26 2025

Released dates not suitable? If you are a group of 2 – 6 guests please do not hesitate to get in touch to discuss alternative dates. Our Chateau tours season runs between 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 the Loire Valley. Your hosts will collect you from local train stations if you’re arriving from Paris by train. If flying to local airports we will also collect from Poitiers or Tours airport

Settle in at Maison de Lavande in the quaint village of Ranton in the middle of the French countryside, famous for its troglodyte caves and uninterrupted views across the valley of fields of sunflowers, wheat, corn and rapeseed. The house was the original village winery and has been tastefully and luxuriously renovated into the charming/boutique Guest House that it is today. Take a dip in the jacuzzi, relax in the garden and enjoy a glass of bubbles.
In the early evening we will head to a Plus Beaux Village, the bijou Montreuil Bellay. After a wander round the village which has a lovely mediaeval chateau, dinner will be at the gorgeous Restaurant L’Auberge des Isles, nestled at the foot of the chateau along the River Thouet

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 chateaux 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 a degustation (wine tasting) at a nearby chateau before dinner. One of the few chateaux in the Loire valley to be surrounded by its vineyards, we’ll taste several vintages before enjoying a barbecue at Maison de Lavande

DAY 3. Château de Chenonceau & Amboise

Aristocratic pomp and architectural grandeur are on the agenda for the next 2 days. The Château de Chenonceau is one of the best-known and most- visited châteaux in the Loire Valley. Spanning the Cher River, its architecture is a fascinating mix of late Gothic and early French Renaissance. 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 tapestries and paintings by European masters from the 16th to 18th centuries, including Tintoretto, Rubens and Clouet

The long covered gallery where royal balls were once held is breath-taking. 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 chateau grounds

Amboise

After this we will drive to Amboise and check in to our overnight accommodation. We will be staying at Maison Hulotte, hosted by Agnès

The view of the castle on one side and the Loire on the other make it unique. It was entirely renovated in 2021 in the spirit of a “French family house”. https://www.maisonhulotte.com/en

It’s your choice how you fill the rest of the afternoon. There is time to visit the impressive Château Royal d’Amboise, resting place of Leonardo da Vinci or close by, the lovely Château de Clos Luce with its beautiful gardens is where da Vinci lived his last years. Or you can simply relax in the town, visiting the shops and bistros.

There are several excellent restaurants in the town for our dinner, and we’ll choose one together

DAY 4 Château de Chambord and Château de Cheverny

After an early breakfast served by Agnes we will head off to the monumental Château de Chambord, one of the most recognisable, largest and famous château 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 building of 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 and chimneys, which was designed to look like the skyline of Constantinople, is simply unforgettable.

Lunch will be taken at one of the many eateries in the chateau 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.

A relaxing light dinner this evening will be back at Maison de Lavande

DAY 5 Chinon and Château de Villandry

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.

Chinon

This lovely area is famed for the Royal Fortress dating back to 1160, built on an impressive rocky spur, its vineyards and the grapes grown on either side of the river are made into wine

For noble gastronomic reasons, it can then be turned into red wine jam, which is the key ingredient, along with apples, for making the delicious Chinon tarte du vigneron , which we will of course sample.

This was a 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. We’ll wander through the picturesque narrow cobbled streets lined with ancient houses, shops and restaurants.

Lunch will be at Le Bistro on the picturesque town square

Château de Villandry

Not far away, the Château de Villandry has the most incredible gardens which have dazzled visitors since the 1920s

With a history stretching back to the 11th century, the gardens have undergone many transformations but acquired their current Renaissance form in the early 1900s, replacing the English garden style 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.

Our final farewell dinner together will be at Maison de Lavande, sharing sumptuous platters of cheese, meat and fish

DAY 6

After a last breakfast together, which will give us a chance to reminisce about our tour experiencing this unique part of France, you will be driven to Saumur to pick up the TGV (or local airport) to take you onwards to your next adventure.

6 days, 5 nights
PRICE: €3,250 per person
All tours include:
Private en suite accommodation in our renovated guest house, Maison de Lavande, and one overnight stay at Maison Hulotte
Collection and return to local airports of Tours or Poitiers or local train stations of Chinon, Tours or Saumur.
Guided tour with a knowledgeable local guide
Comfortable, air-conditioned transport
5 Breakfasts
4 Restaurant lunches as per itinerary
2 Restaurant evening meals as per itinerary
3 Evening meals made from seasonal produce with local wine
Admissions and entry fees as per itinerary
Garden with Jacuzzi and seating areas for relaxing in after your day
Wifi
Laundry facilities
Our undivided personal attention

Reserve Your Place

When Memories Speak: Guests Share Their Unforgettable Loire Moments.

"We recently stayed at Maison de Lavande and were compelled to share our wonderful experience at this exceptional chambre d’hôte. It’s a haven for anyone wanting to experience rural France, offering peace and tranquillity from the moment you enter the beautiful courtyard, alive with lavender, bees, and butterflies. The remote location does mean driving to a restaurant, but the serene beauty of the place makes it worthwhile. We enjoyed delightful meals at nearby locales, all recommended by our warm and accommodating hosts, Graham and Jackie. The vicinity is rich with châteaux, picturesque villages, and superb wine tasting opportunities—we left with our boot stocked! Our room was a stylish, comfortable sanctuary equipped with every facility one might need. It seems this gem is primarily known to the French, but we hope more Brits will discover this welcoming and less touristy region of France. It was simply amazing!"

Rob & Jane Harrington

"The sheer amount of Chateau’s available in the Loire Valley region alone is astonishing. Graham and Jacqueline’s knowledge of each Chateau is fantastic. Their love for each and every Chateau is evident to see when touring all of the Chateau’s available. Graham and Jacqueline were superb from the start to finish. It is evident to see how passionate and enthusiastic they both are and this Is relayed into their tours of all the Chateau’s. "

Scott Johnson & Emma Coupe

"Journeying through the Loire Valley with Loire Valley Chateau Tours was an experience of a lifetime. Not only did I discover the captivating history of the châteaux, but I also felt a deep connection with the region. This wasn’t just a trip; it was a transformation."

Sophie Taylor

"The expertise and passion of the guides made all the difference. Every detail, from the wine tastings to the curated historical anecdotes, was impeccable. I've traveled a lot, but this... this was different."

Liam Kelly

Got questions?

Simply complete the form below and we’ll get straight back to you

Don’t hesitate! Drop us a message and step closer to your dream journey through the enchanting world of the Loire Valley’s châteaux and gardens. We’re eager to hear from you and to help you uncover the many treasures awaiting you!