Riverloire

The ultimate travel agency in the Loire Valley

Gourmet tour

gourmet tour in the loire valley

Highlights: Wine & Gastronomy - Life style - Castles - Michelin star restaurants
Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
Date: From April to December
Transportation: Fully chauffeured private luxury car with your guide
Accommodation: Deluxe 4* Manor Hotel downtown Amboise and 4* Relais & Chateaux Hotel
 

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Overview

Known as the "garden of France", the Loire Valley produces an abundance of fruit and vegetables as well as an assortment of produce, game and fish, to not even mention the extensive range of cheeses native to the Loire Valley.

The Gastronomy tour will welcome you in the heart of France and have you fall in love with the intense aromas, beautiful thought out flavors and sensational tastes of delicately crafted masterpieces

Visiting the impressive castles and chateaux of the region will make dining like kings and queens a true reality. Not only will you experience magnificent tastes at the hand of Michelin star chefs, but get to touch, smell and use the finest ingredients the area has to offer, in a private master class.

Experience the thrill of lively market places as passionate vendors suggest the best serving of their produce, refresh with the crisp and enchanting aromas of the best local wines and indulge in a classic Tarte Tatin or other decadent sweet options the area has to offer.  

The layout of the gourmet tour is just an example of a possible itinerary. Feel free to ask for more information about the options, or to have your own tour designed according to your taste.

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Itinerary

Day 1: Amboise market, an introduction to the local products

Every Friday and Sunday, the market takes place on the Loire River banks in Amboise. Stroll between the stands and discover all the delicacies the region has to offer. After a typical lunch, set up for the cultural visit of the town.

Day 2: From fresh fruits to dry fruits…

Visit some famous castles and gardens and learn how the local producers turn the locally grown fresh pears and apples into mouthwatering sweets. The chef of your first Michelin star restaurant will welcome you for dinner.

Day 3: Tasting and cooking

Around the corner of an Amboise street, discover the work of an authentic walnut and nut oil producer. Then, we’ll make our way to Vouvray for your first wine tasting. After lunch, our chef is awaiting you for a special cooking class: the apéritif à la française. Back in Vouvray, you will taste for dinner the cooking of another Michelin star chef.

Day 4: The Beauty, the Beast and the goats…

If Chenonceau is often considered as the “Lady” castle or “the Beauty”, Chambord is without any doubt the largest castle, or “the beast” of the area. You will visit both, but also go to a local goat farm that makes goat milk cheese, one of the specialty of the Loire Valley. In the evening, try out your new hotel and its Michelin listed restaurant.

Day 5: Castle, Wine and Chocolate

Cheverny is more than just a castle, it is also a wine appellation… You will enjoy both as well as the nearby chocolate factory. For your dinner, Fumiko is added a little Japanese touch to her husband gourmet cuisine, applauded again by the famous Michelin guide.

Day 6: A culinary promenade in Tours

Accompanied by your chef, you will visit the Halles of Tours and select the products you are going to prepare. After your private class, enjoy the lunch you have cooked together.

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Price & inclusions

Price starting from € 3 590,00 per person (€ 7 180,00 for a party of 2 people)

Subject to availability at the time of the booking.

This package includes:

  • 3 Nights in a 4* Manor Hotel.
  • 2 Nights in a 4* Relais & Châteaux© Hotel.
  • Daily breakfasts.
  • 6 Gourmet lunches with drinks included (including lunch after your cooking class on day 6).
  • All private transportation and transfers with an English-speaking guide through your entire stay, with periods of free time.
  • 5 dinners bookings and transfers by taxi from and to the restaurants when required in the evening.
  • All the entrance fees for the Chateaux of Amboise, Clos Lucé, Azay le Rideau, Villandry, Chenonceau, Chambord and Cheverny.
  • A privately guided visit of a local dried fruits factory, including tasting.
  • A privately guided visit of a local nut oil producer, including tasting.
  • A privately guided visit of a local goat farm, including cheese tasting.
  • A stop in a chocolate shop.
  • 2 private visits and wine tastings in a stunning troglodyte wine cellar and in a private domain.
  • 2 private cooking lessons with a Chef.
  • 2 private walking tours of different markets.
  • A pedestrian itinerary of the city of Amboise.
  • RiverLoire local assistance.
  • Fees and taxes.

Testimonials

If you’ve just returned from this “Gourmet tour” tour we’d love to hear from you...

We had three tours with River Loire during our recent stay in Amboise. Flore gave us a wonderful walking tour of Amboise on our first afternoon . We saw the Chateau Amboise and the the Chateau de Clos Luce. She was knowledgeable and informative and made the tour enjoyable. We did a cooking class with a Michelin chef and wine tasting on the second day led by Claire. On the third day Flore toured with us again we we saw the beautiful gardens at Villandry and the Chateau Chambord. Amazing three days. Flore especially went out of her way to make sure we had an enjoyable time.

Ernest (USA), a Tripadvisor comment (5 stars) - September 2022

We spent 6 days in the Loire Valley. Our guide, Audrey was excellent: She was really knowledgeable and very much enthusiastic. I already had experienced private tours in several countries, but the one with RiverLoire was definitely the best!

Francis (Singapore) - October 2017

Audrey, our private guide, speaks very good English, she is extremely knowledgeable and has a great personality. Our wine guide, Clement is also very nice. Both of them were always on time.
The car, an Audi A6, was clean and new, the location of the hotel is great.
We definitively learned a lot and the cooking class was a highlight; Both the Michelin star chef and his wife were wonderful.

Nancy & Mike (USA) - June 2017

Dear Thierry,
Yes, River Loire exceeded our expectations ! We enjoyed both hotels we stayed at and we like all of our guides. We were particularly impressed with Maryke’s knowledge about wine and Aurzell enthusiastically brought history alive with wonderful stories about the people of the region. Thank you for everything and continue to provide the excellent services we experienced.

Tim & Sharon (USA) - September 2015

Bonjour Claire,
The whole experience was excellent from the responses to my initial inquiries, to the organization and professional presentation of our itinerary and then the actual visit.
All of the staff were helpful and friendly. We always knew what was happening, when and with whom. I really couldn't fault anything.
I would happily recommend RiverLoire to any of my friends planning a trip To France.

Peter (Australia) - July 2014

Hi Thierry,
I want to thank you again for the incredible week we had in the Loire Valley. The trip was very well organized, restaurant suggestions were excellent and it was very thorough. We loved all the hotels and the cooking class and really enjoyed bottling our own wine. It was awesome and a lot of fun!

Lynette (Canada) - March 2014

We had a very good trip home, no dramas, and France is always on my mind, because I can never find food here that tastes anywhere near as good as the food I experienced whilst there. Especially the yoghurt, Thank you Delphine.
I can honestly say the food that stood out the most was the fresh figs and cheeses I had on Hannah's birthday night. I would never have experienced those had we not booked our trip with you guys and I am so glad we did.
If it sounds like I have gone overboard with my praise, it is just because I did thoroughly and genuinely enjoy every bit of it. It couldn't have been better. And it did mean that much to me.
You will definitely be hearing more from me and seeing more of me...
And finally Thank you all, for such a wonderful holiday.

Darren (Australia) - May 2013

Hi Delphine,
Ugh trying to get back to real life ; Thank you again for being a wonderful hostess. I actually found sausison at the duty free shop at Charles DeGaulle perfectly wrapped. Brought it back and it was delicious. I managed to 'smuggle in' all the wine safely in the wine skins as well. yeah! Here's a couple of pix!! I will highly recommend RiverLoire to anyone I know traveling to France. Thanks again (and to Thierry and Karen too!!) Cheers!

Lisa (USA) - April 2013

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