Riverloire

The ultimate travel agency in the Loire Valley

Fully guided over 5 days

Blois rive gauche - Loire river

Highlights: Castles Grand Tour - Wine & Gastronomy - Life style - Free time
Date: All year along
Transportation: Fully chauffeured private luxury car with your guide
Accommodation: Luxury holiday rental downtown Amboise
 

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Overview

This tour is long enough to make you feel part of the Loire Valley.

It, of course, includes all the must see of the area like the castles of Chenonceau, Amboise, Chambord, Cheverny, Clos Lucé, Azay le Rideau and the gardens of Villandry and Chaumont, but also more confidential villages.

The length of your stay will also allow you to enjoy the peaceful way of life that prevails in the region. Go to the market in Amboise to meet the cheese producer, chat with the fruit and vegetable grower or taste the locally made walnut oil… Visit the most elegant or truly original shops in Tours, and have a drink in the Trip Advisor voted “best place”, the Place Plumereau.

To give you more flexibility and increase your feeling to be “at home”, we have selected for you a luxury rental apartment, also run by RiverLoire, located downtown Amboise. It is not only comfortable with top of the art features, but the well equipped kitchen will allow you to cook your local product unless you rather have a private chef cooking them for you, for a unique experience! 

Remember that this is just a suggested itinerary… but we have a lot more to offer… So don’t hesitate to get in touch with us and tell us what your dream would be… and we will do our best to make it happen.


Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Amboise, the heart of the Loire Valley

According to your time of arrival, enjoy a light typical French lunch, at the bottom of Amboise Castle, before starting the visit of this iconic chateau, with your private guide. Discover your new “Home away from Home”, at the bottom of the castle, for your first royal night!

Day 2: Downstream the Loire river

Start your exploration of the Loire valley, with a day between castles -Azay le Rideau-, gardens -Villandry- and wines –Bourgueil and Chinon- for a full experience.

Day 3: Chenonceau, the Ladie's Castle

Chenonceau castle, known as the “Ladie's Castle” is worth a full day visit. Beside the castle it-self, take your time to stroll in the magnificent gardens, look at the Loire River gently running between its arcs and don’t miss the gourmet lunch at the Orangerie restaurant.

Day 4: A unique experience around local wines & french gastronomy

Some tourists just taste the wine, but you are going to “experienced it”. Be ready to “see” and “touch” it in a style offered to few travelers and in places open only to RiverLoire guests. To complete your French experience, learn how to prepare what French people call an “aperitif” with a private chef.

Day 5: A day off the beaten tracks…

Loire Valley is often called the “garden of France”. Discover some of the most beautiful villages, including some hidden jewels far away from the crowded tourist path.

Day 6: Upstream the Loire river

Continue your exploration of the Loire Valley, following the Loire River downstream to Chambord, the largest castle of the Valley and Cheverny, the most elegantly furnished one. On the way back you will drive through well preserved villages, farms, forest that make this area so unique.

Day 7: Amboise, cradle of the Renaissance

No travel today. Take your time to discover by foot, the city of Amboise, its market and its other highpoints… the Clos Lucé, the last residence of Leonardo da Vinci, dedicated to the life and work of the genius.

Day 8: Between heaven and earth

Chaumont is known worldwide for its international Garden festival that runs from mid-April to mid-October. After wandering through the 25 elaborate gardens arranged around the theme of the year, it will be time to go back to Amboise for a free afternoon, before embarking on board your air balloon for a new perspective!

Day 9: Tours, Capital of the Loire Valley

Tours is the regional capital of the Touraine. From the food market to the delightful shops, you will have plenty to do and see today. Don’t miss the medieval and renaissance area, the ideal place to enjoy lunch surrounded by 1000 year old houses. A must do according to Trip advisor!

Day 10: Last day in the Loire Valley

Time to pack and say good-bye! We hope you have truly felt special during your stay…

 


Price & inclusions

Price starting from € 4 995,00 per person (€ 9 980,00 for 2 people sharing a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment)

Subject to availability at the time of booking.

It includes:

  • 9 Nights in a luxury 2 bedroom apartment in Amboise.
  • The necessary for your first breakfast.
  • 7 lunches with drinks included, and 3 dinners, without the drinks, in outstanding places, to experience the Loire cuisine.
  • All private transportation and transfers with a private English-speaking guide throughout your entire stay, with periods of free time.
  • All the entrance fees of the Loire castles and gardens listed with private guiding (Amboise, Villandry, Azay le Rideau, Chenonceau, Montresor, Chambord, Cheverny, Clos Lucé, Chaumont sur Loire).
  • A stop at a charterhouse.
  • Privately guided walking tours of the towns of Loches and Tours.
  • The access to the wine cellars with wine tastings.
  • The visit of a privately owned castle.
  • A cooking class in a private property with a personal Chef followed by a tasting served with Sancerre wines.
  • RiverLoire local assistance.
  • Fees and taxes.

Testimonials

If you’ve just returned from this “Fully guided over 5 days” tour we’d love to hear from you...

Amazing trip to Loire Valley with River Loire
We just returned from a 9 day tour of the Loire Valley with River Loire. Claire planned our itinerary. we were so pleased with all the activities planned for us. Our primary tour guide Tiffany was professional, knowledgeable and so thoughtful. She definitely made our trip most enjoyable. We were also fortunate to have a private wine tasting with Master Somilier , Kapil that we throughly enjoyed. Auzelle was so enlightening with her knowledge of for all historical periods.
We are so appreciative of our well planned and executed experience. Everyone we met in the company was so friendly and sincerely wanting to make our vacation a special one

Liz (USA), a tripadvisor review (5 stars) - May 2023

A group of us spent 6 days in the Loire on a tour organized and conducted by RiverLoire. From my first interaction with them through the website to the last day of the tour they were very professional. They arranged a great itinerary and we were guided by Tiffany for the 6 full days. The hotels, meals and itinerary were perfect. They were always on time, responsive to our needs and very helpful. I would highly recommend them to anyone who wants a great luxury tour of the Loire region.

Christine (USA), a tripadvisor review (5 stars) - April 2019

Tiffany was our guide and she was full of enthusiasm. She added fun and excitement to the whole trip. We were very satisfied with the hotel because it was a good mix of traditional and contemporary style with convenient location. This was our second time traveling with Riverloire and our high standards are maintained.

Francis (Singapore) - July 2018

My wife and I booked a 10-day tour with Riverloire, and it was fantastic from start to finish. The staff was very accommodating in working with us to create the kind of private, personalised tour at the pace we wanted. Perfection personified. We elected to take advantage of the opportunity to stay in one of the apartments they offer, in lieu of staying in a hotel. Besides being in the heart of the city of Amboise, the apartment was a real gem, comfortable, warm, and it has a washing machine. Audrey, our primary tour guide, was very informative and kept us on schedule. And she was a good companion to boot. All in all, two thumbs up, way up.

Stephen (USA), a tripadvisor review (5 stars) - May 2018

Our guide, Audrey was excellent, knowledgeable and very enthusiast. Clément’s knowledge allowed me to share a memorable wine experience in Sancerre. The itinerary was even better that what I was expecting, with Chateaux and gastronomy! RiverLoire is really easy to contact online and they made of our stay a great adventure.

John (Australia) - September 2017

We spent 8 days with RiverLoire. The castles are mortar and stone, but Audrey our private guide made them come alive with her descriptions of their history and owners. Her presentations were spellbinding. We were enthralled, our request were “no problem” our days were full of laughter and fun, the restaurant were unique and wonderful. Her fluency in English was incredible. We were totally impressed and satisfied.
With no previous experience with River Loire, you never know whether the website is an accurate representation of reality, but from the beginning to the end you exceeded our expectations with a great planning and execution. This was definitely a wonderful way to celebrate our wedding anniversary and we would be happy to be able to do this again.

Edward & Joan (USA) - June 2017

All my guides were terrific! Both Audrey and Marine were very knowledgeable about history. They were all able to discuss economics, politics, environmental and climate concern and we had excellent conversations. Clement and I focused on wines and he was very helpful. He even gave me some new ideas for Museum exhibits in California. They were the best guides I have ever had in Europe!

Libbie (USA) - June 2017

We had Audrey, Marine and Clement as our guides during our 11 day trip with RiverLoire. We loved all of them and we would highly recommend them to future travelers. By the end of our 2-3 days with Marine and Audrey we felt like they were our adopted family.
All of our hotels were wonderful. This was a wonderful experience, a nice mix of city and country spanning several centuries of history. We were exposed to several different cities and French culture. A delightful trip with extraordinary weather as well.

Lindsay, Justin, Judith & Clarence (USA) - May 2017

Frederique was an outstanding guide in every way. She demonstrated enormous knowledge of each Chateau we visited. The two vineyards we visited were excellent. Enjoyed Peter our wine guide. The itinerary was good and the choice of restaurants for lunch were excellent. We would be pleased to recommend to all our friends.

Raymond (New Zealand) - May 2016

We spent 9 days in the Loire Valley with River Loire and the organization was great. All of our tours were excellent with our three pleasant, caring and knowledgeable guides.

Fred & Donna (USA) - September 2015

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