Loire Valley Castles, Wine & Gastronomy

Arrival at CDG airport and welcome by Artoo Travel CEO. Your private driver will escort you to the Loire Valley.

11 a.m. Château of Chambord 

Visit of the Château with histopad and the French-style gardens. Avisit of this masterpiece of the French Renaissance, with its extraordinary architecture to the glory of King Francis I where the spirit of Leonardo da Vinci still lives. Lunch in Chambord or Cheverny.

2.30 p.m. Château of Cheverny 

Guided visit of the Château and gardens. A private château that has been the residence of the same family for over 6 centuries…See the finest furniture collection in the Loire Valley châteaux.

5 p.m. Monmousseau wine cellar 

Visit and tasting. After an emotional journey through a world of light, you will be introduced to the secrets of the great wines with fine bubbles at the heart of one of the biggest tuffeau stone cellars in Touraine.

7 p.m. Check-in at the hotel (in or near Blois)

Then dinner at the hotel or in one of the restaurants in the centre of Blois.

10 p.m. Sound & Light Show at the Royal Château of Blois – From 21 April to 23 September

A chance to enjoy an amazing experience! On the 4 façades of the courtyard, projections of monumental video images transform the château and bring it to life.

♦ WHAT IS INCLUDED ♦ Transfer | Tour | Accomodation | Catering

10 a.m. Château Royal of Blois 

Guided visit. The château evokes the destiny of 10 queens and 7 kings and reveals all the secrets of the French Court…A wonderful example of the evolution of French architecture from the 13th to 17th century.

11.30 a.m. A prestigious horse and carriage ride 

A prestigious Percheron horse and carriage ride through the old town. A guided tour taking you to the banks of the River Loire for a tasting of regional specialties at a buffet including an aperitif, various dishes, Loire Valley wines and coffee.

2 p.m. International Gardens Festival 

Self-guided visit of the International Gardens Festival at the Domaine de Chaumont sur Loire (from April to November). 30 new and original creations made by designers from all over the world.

4 p.m. Château of Chaumont sur Loire 

Self-guided visit. A panoramic view over the untamed Loire with one of the finest perspectives over the royal river !

5.30 p.m. A trip in a traditional boat on the River Loire

A trip with the Millière-Raboton association. Leaving from Chaumont sur Loire, a chance to enjoy new discoveries and unexpected encounters on the Loire, Europe’s last untamed river.

7.30 p.m. Check-in and dinner at the hotel in or around Amboise.

♦ WHAT IS INCLUDED ♦ Transfer | Tour | Accomodation | Catering

10 a.m. Château Royal of Amboise 

Guided visit. The magnificent château attracted the royal court and artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, whose resting place is in the chapel. Customised services for groups (visits and/or private tasting on request). Lunch in the town centre of Amboise.

2.30 p.m. Château of Clos-Lucé 

Self-guided visit of the château – Parc Leonardo da Vinci. An immersion in the daily life of Leonardo da Vinci, who lived here from 1516 to 1519: his bedroom, his work room…and 40 models of his inventions!

Free time in the town of Amboise to relax.

7 p.m. Check-in and dinner at the hotel Amboise or Chenonceau

Optional extra day 3 or day 5: For the romantic couples, you may have a French romanticism & art of “hand kiss” workshop in the gardens of Château de Chenonceau or Château Royal of Amboise . You will find out the origins of French romanticism and the proper way of making a hand kiss to a lady. 

Optional extra day 3 or day 5: Enjoy a hot air balloon experience either at 7 a.m. or at 6 p.m.

♦ WHAT IS INCLUDED ♦ Tour | Transfer | Accomodation | Catering

10 a.m. Les Roches mushroom cellar and underground city – From March to November 

Explore the fascinating world of mushrooms growing 50 metres underground. Then, deep down in the gallery, see the incredible recreation of an underground town sculpted from the rock. Striking realism during a timeless visit…

11.15 a.m. Le Clos Roussely winery 

Enjoy an authentic and convivial experience discovering the wines from this wine cellar with the “Excellence Welcome” label during a guided visit to a certified organic vineyard, the underground cellar and a tasting with a buffet lunch

2.30 p.m. Village of Chedigny “Remarquable Garden” 

Self-guided visit from April to September. Succumb to the charm of this exceptional village where 800 rose bushes and thousands of perennials grow all along the streets…

5 p.m. Ferme du Gros Buisson 

Fresh flour and saffron producers. Guided tour of a wheat farm with a Tyrol flour mill. Then, you will discover the “Apéritif Maison”: A saffron beverage and a warm goat cheese on a gingerbread with pepper.

 7 p.m. Check-in and dinner at the hotel

On the outskirts of Tours (Chambray, Joué Lès Tours, Saint-Avertin, Montbazon)

♦ WHAT IS INCLUDED ♦ Tour | Transfer | Accomodation | Catering

9.30 a.m. Château of Chenonceau 

Audio-guide visit of the Château then self-guided visit of the gardens. Chenonceau with its rich furnishings and wonderful flower gardens, gracefully spans the River Cher, making this a unique site…Special botanic and/or floral art visits for groups on reservation.

Lunch at the Château de Chenonceau or in the village of Chenonceaux or during a boat trip on La Bélandre.                                                  

3 p.m. Boat trip on the River Cher 

A trip on La Bélandre with a commentary and a chance to pass below the arches of the Château de Chenonceau, for a unique perspective on the monument!

5 p.m. Père Auguste wine cellar 

Visit and tasting at the “Caves du Père Auguste”, a wine cellar for visitors with the “Excellence Welcome” label. The Godeau family has been at work for 5 generations in the wine cellars dug out by their ancestor. They welcome visitors to share an experience focusing on their quality wines.

7 p.m. Check-in and dinner at the hotel

On the outskirts of Tours (Chambray, Joué Lès Tours, Saint-Avertin, Montbazon)

Optional extra day 3 or day 5: For the romantic couples, you may have a French romanticism & art of “hand kiss” workshop in the gardens of Château de Chenonceau or Château Royal of Amboise. You will find out the origins of French romanticism and the proper way of making a hand kiss to a lady.

Optional extra day 3 or day 5: Enjoy a hot air balloon experience either at 7 a.m. or at 6 p.m.

♦ WHAT IS INCLUDED ♦ Tour | Transfer | Accomodation | Catering

9.30 a.m. Guided visit of the city of Tours 

Tours, a city of Art and History, never fails to charm visitors with its ancient districts, squares and pedestrian streets lined with half-timbered houses, and its historic monuments (cathedral, town hall…).

Lunch in the centre of Tours or in Villandry.

2 p.m. Château of Villandry 

Audio guide visit of the Château then self-guided tour of the gardens. Take the time to stroll through the six exquisite gardens (vegetable garden, ornamental garden,, sun garden…). In the Château: 18th century interiors and a collection of Spanish paintings.

4.30 p.m. Poires tapées or wickerwork 

Exploring local skills: Poires tapées (dried pears) from Rivarennes or wickerwork from Villaines Les Rochers.

6.30 p.m. Check-in and dinner at the hotel

On the outskirts of Tours (Chambray, Joué Lès Tours, Saint-Avertin, Montbazon)

♦ WHAT IS INCLUDED ♦ Tour | Transfer | Accomodation | Catering

After breakfast, and at your request, your private driver will escort you to Paris CDG airport for your return flight home.

BON VOYAGE!

♦ WHAT IS INCLUDED ♦ Transfer | Catering