Discover Two Days of Magic in the Loire Valley Book Your Adventure 2-Night Loire Valley Tour from Paris Price: $1,050 ($1,181 with 2nd Class Rail, $1,256 with 1st Class Rail). Departure Time: Before 8:00 a.m. from Paris. Duration: 3 days / 2 nights Meeting Point: Tourist office in the city of Tours Group Size: 8 guests maximum Availability: Daily except Sunday, March 15–October 31. Off-season by request. Any tour can be made private—contact us for pricing and details. Tour Highlights Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 2 nights at 4-star Hôtel Clos Amboise with breakfast included. All castle admissions and tasting fees included. 2-Night Loire Valley Tour Itinerary Day 1 — Paris to the Loire Valley Morning TGV from Paris to Tours — about an hour. Meet your guide at the Tourist Office and head straight to Chambord, the largest and most recognizable château in the Loire Valley. François I began building it in 1519 as a hunting lodge, which gives you a sense of the scale of ambition involved. The double-helix staircase at the center — often attributed to Leonardo da Vinci — allows two people to ascend and descend simultaneously without ever meeting. The rooftop terrace is worth the climb for views across the 5,400-hectare estate, the largest enclosed park in Europe. Between castles, a wine tasting at Caves Ambacia. The Loire is one of France’s most diverse wine regions — Vouvray, Chinon, Sancerre, Muscadet — and the caves here give you a solid introduction with a sommelier guiding you through the local varietals. Then Chenonceau, arguably the most beautiful château in France. Built spanning the River Cher, it’s known as the “Château des Dames” because it was shaped by a succession of remarkable women — Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Medici, Louise Dupin. The long gallery over the river served as a hospital in WWI and straddled the demarcation line between occupied and free France during WWII, making it an escape route. The gardens are distinct on either side — Diane’s formal and geometric, Catherine’s more expansive — reflecting the rivalry between the two women. Arrive at your hotel in Amboise by 6:30 p.m. Evening free for dinner on your own — Amboise has excellent restaurants along the river and in the old town. Ask your guide for recommendations. Day 2 — More Châteaux Breakfast at the hotel. The morning is flexible. Two options: Walk to the Royal Castle of Amboise, directly above the hotel, where Leonardo da Vinci is buried in the Chapel of Saint-Hubert. Then on to Clos Lucé, the manor house where Leonardo spent the last three years of his life at the invitation of François I. The house has been turned into a museum of his inventions, with models built from his drawings — flying machines, bridges, military devices. The gardens have full-scale working versions of several of his designs. It’s a 10-minute walk from the castle. Or sleep in and enjoy a leisurely morning in Amboise before the afternoon tour. Midday train from Amboise to Tours — just 20 minutes — to meet your guide for the afternoon. Villandry first, famous for its gardens more than the château itself. The ornamental gardens are laid out on three terraces — a water garden at the top, ornamental flower gardens in the middle, and a geometric vegetable garden below that’s one of the most photographed in France. Then Langeais, a medieval fortress with a rare collection of 15th-century furnishings that give you a sense of how these places were actually lived in. And Ussé, the castle on the edge of the Chinon forest that supposedly inspired Charles Perrault’s Sleeping Beauty — you can see why from the approach. Back to Amboise by 6:30 p.m. Evening at leisure. Day 3 — Departure Breakfast and check out. Amboise station is less than a mile from the hotel — an easy walk or quick taxi. If you skipped the castle and Clos Lucé on Day 2, this morning is your chance before your train. Flexible departure times available for your return to Paris. Your Hotel The 4-star Hôtel Clos Amboise sits in a classic manor house at the foot of the Royal Castle. Amboise is the ideal base for the Loire — centrally located for château visits in every direction, small enough to explore on foot, and home to Leonardo da Vinci’s tomb. Breakfast included each morning. If Clos Amboise is unavailable, we arrange comparable accommodation. Getting There Tours is about 1 hour from Paris by TGV from Montparnasse station. Rail tickets can be booked through us or on your own — if booking yourself, please wait until we confirm exact train times. Occasionally, last-minute or peak-season rail prices will be higher than listed. We’ll always contact you before booking if that’s the case. Ready to Book Your Loire Valley Adventure? Why we love the Loire Valley –  One of the best parts of this tour, regardless of which day you choose, is the wine tasting experience.  I learned a lot about Loire wines. For instance, the local gravelly soil is perfect for complex white wines and light reds. Why? I don’t know, but the wine is delicious. – John You May Also Like Normandy and MSM Overnights See the D-Day beaches and Mont Saint Michel. Overnight in charming Bayeux. Loire Valley Day Tour Visit the Loire’s legendary châteaux! See Chambord and Chenonceau. Normandy D-Day Tour Walk on Omaha Beach and visit the American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer. Ready to Book Your Loire Valley Adventure?