Loire Valley Day Tour – Villandry and More
See Two Historic Loire Valley Castles with a Small Group Day Trip from Paris
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Loire Valley Day Trip to Villandry and More
Begin your day with a quick, high-speed rail ride from Paris to the heart of the Loire Valley. After meeting your guide in the city of Tours, set off to discover two of the region’s most historic castles, followed by a wonderful Vouvray wine tasting.
Loire Valley Day Tour from Paris
Price: $245 per person ($390 with 2nd Class Rail, $469 with 1st Class Rail)
Duration
Full-day trip (11 hours, return to Paris in time for a late dinner)
Departure
Before 8:00 a.m. from Gare Montparnasse in Paris
Meeting Point
The Tourist Office near the Tours rail station (just a 2-minute walk)
Availability
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from February through October
Tour Highlights
- Transportation in a modern, air-conditioned minibus in the Loire Valley
- Entrance fees at both castles
- Wine tasting (4-6 tastings)
- Expert local guide
What’s Not Included
- Lunch (a break for lunch is provided near Villandry)
- Round-trip transfers within Paris to/from Gare Montparnasse
Group Size
Maximum of 8 people (larger groups accommodated upon request)
Any tour can be made private. Contact us for pricing and details.
Loire Valley Day Tour – Villandry and More Itinerary
- Travel to the Loire
Board the high-speed TGV from Paris Montparnasse, arriving in the city of Tours in under an hour —145 miles away. Your friendly guide will be waiting at the nearby tourist office of Tours, just steps away.
- Château Azay-le-Rideau
Your first stop is at Château Azay-le-Rideau. Dramatically set on an island in the Indre River, this 16th-century castle rises from the water with elegant Italian Renaissance detailing.
- Villandry
Next, you’ll visit Villandry. Famous for its spectacular formal gardens—the finest in Europe—Villandry enchants visitors with ornately designed vegetable plots and flowerbeds. Restored by a visionary Franco-American family, it’s a true gem of French renaissance heritage.
- Lunch Break
Enjoy a leisurely lunch break near Villandry (not included). Savor local French cuisine or grab a quick bite before the afternoon’s wine tasting.
- Vouvray Wine Tasting
At 2:00 PM, delve into the enchanting Vouvray wine region. Visit a family-owned vineyard, learn about winemaking techniques, and sample Chenin Blanc’s versatile styles—from crisp dry to sweet and sparkling. Your guide will help you decode tasting notes and styles ensuring you taste like a pro by day’s end. We also offer a dedicated Vouvray wine tasting afternoon with no castle visits.
- Return to Paris
After your wine tasting, head back to the Tours rail station for your train to Paris, arriving in time for a late dinner around the bustling Montparnasse area.
Loire Valley Tour Map
Loire Valley Day Tour FAQ’s
More Loire Valley Day Tour Information
- Occasionally, last-minute or high-season rail prices exceed our posted rates. We’ll contact you if this occurs.
- If you’re arranging your own rail tickets, please wait for us to confirm exact train times.
- Tickets are emailed as a PDF for home printing.
Off-season requests can typically be accommodated—contact us for details.
Cancellation and Refund Policies
Due to the small group aspect of all of our tours, our cancellation policy is as follows. More than 7 days before tour date – 100% refundable; from 7 to 3 days before tour date – 50% refundable; less than 3 days – non-refundable. If cancelling please contact us as soon as possible to insure we can credit you properly.
What Others Say About Link Paris
| Why we love the Loire Valley – The scale and variety of Loire castles is amazing. I love the gardens at Villandry. You can buy heirloom seeds and cuttings for your home garden there. A little piece of the biggest privately-owned formal gardens in Europe, yay. Some take the bus from Paris, but we recommend Loire Valley tours from Paris by train always. – Laura |