Day Tours available from Monday to Saturday, No Day Tours on Sundays.
Private tours available.

All inclusive Package.
Lunches & drinks in caves.
Registered guide, entrance fees.
6 Nights in 4* hotel in Beaune & Tours.

LOIRE VALLEY TOURS
MONDAY: Blois / Cheverny/ Chambord
TUESDAY : Chenonceau / Amboise / Clos Luce
WEDNESDAY : Azay Le Rideau / Rivau / Villandry

Our philosophy being to be serious without taking ourselves too seriously, our guides will not give you a lecture but will take you as a friend and in a relaxed way, reveal plenty of anecdotes about the two in this beautiful regions you will be touring and will tell you about our daily life.

All our guides are licensed and bilingual. Each of them will give you detailed historical and architectural visits of the highlights of the Loire Valley and Champagne region.

Sunday: Arrival in Loire Valley.

YOUR HOTEL IN TOURS FOR 4 NIGHTS

Check in at your hotel**** l'Univers - double occupancy

Your hotel is set in a fashionable shopping area one kilometre from the Old Town. This hotel has been the most prestigious address in Tours since 1846. Many large personalities of the Europe and the New World stayed in this best hotel of Tours. In addition to its rich and historic past, as underlined by its celebrated portrait gallery, it offers all the comfort of a grand hotel established in the best traditions of hospitality and elegance “à la Française”.

Hotel may change according to their availability. Should a provider be unavailable we will offer alternatives of the same standard.

Dinner at your leisure.

Monday: Blois / Chambord / Cheverny.

Beauregard portraits gallery, the quintessence of French furniture, lunch on King Francis I’s wine and Chambord, a dream come true. THE LOIRE VALLEY HAS BEEN LISTED IN THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SINCE 2000.

Pick up: 08.45 AM at your hotel****.

Tour of the Royal Castle of Blois.

The tour begins with the guided tour of Royal Castle of Blois. The four wings of the castle courtyard (Medieval, Flamboyant Gothic, Renaissance, and Classical) offer a great survey of the architecture in the Loire Valley. Through the XIX century restorations, you will be amazed by the surprising colours of a chateau during the French Renaissance as well as by King Henry III’s bedroom, theatre of one of the most tragic events of the wars of religion, the murder of the Duke de Guise.
Drive to Cheverny for wine tasting.

Lunch at a local restaurant with Cheverny & Cour Cheverny wines.

Guided tour of the Château of Cheverny.
He has been owned by the same family since the XIII. The Marquis Hurault de Vibraye, thanks to one of the most beautiful furniture in the Loire Valley, has succeeded in giving warmth and life to his chateau. The Chateau, which led to the creation of Moulinsart in the famous comic book Tintin, is also famous for the tradition of the horse-back hunt and its impressive pack of 100 dogs. You may have a chance to witness the spectacular daily event of "the dogs' soup".

Guided tour of the Château of Chambord.
Drive to the Estate of Chambord, a national game reserve as large as the town of Paris. The chateau de Chambord is a unique monument by its architecture and proportions. Leonardo da Vinci probably took part in the conception of the project. With more than 400 rooms and its double spiral staircase, Chambord is a highlight of the Loire Valley.

 Drop-off: 05.40 AM at your hotel****, dinner at your leisure;

Tuesday: Chenonceau / Amboise / Clos Lucé.

Chenonceau’s charm at the «Ladies’ château», the birth of the Renaissance in Amboise Royal Castle, lunch with rare and matured Loire Valley wines, and all the Genius of Leonardo in le Clos Lucé.

Pick up: 08.45 AM at your hotel****.

You’ll start your day visiting the Château de Chenonceau.

The “Chateau des Dames”, bridge built across the Cher, is famous for the great feminine figures who lived in it (Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Medicis…) and for the beauty of its Renaissance gardens.

Lunch at a wine specialist’s in matured Loire Valley vintages or at a local restaurant.

Daniel, oenologist, welcomes you in his caves, former tuff stone quarries, for a tour followed by a tasting of Vouvray, Montlouis, Chinon, Bourgueil and Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil wines. In order to transcend your meal, you will pair your wines with a selection of delicatessen and cheeses (cheeses selected by Rodolphe le Meunier, 2007 cheese refiners’ world champion).

After lunch, you will tour the Royal Castle of Amboise.

Residence of Charles VII and young François d'Angoulème, future Francois I. You will discover in this wonderful castle, perfect example of transition from Gothic to Renaissance, the Saint Hubert Chapel which shelters today the grave of Leonardo da Vinci.

Guided tour of the Manor du Clos Lucé.

In order to make your tour thorough, we take you to meet the Genius in his Manor du Clos Lucé, a few yards away from the Royal Castle. Leonardo da Vinci spent there the last three years of his life and died there in 1519. After you tour his bedroom, office, reception room and kitchen, you will be in awe in front of the invention room, displayingmodels of the most spectacular machines Leonardo invented.

Drop-off: 05.40 AM at your hotel****, dinner at your leisure;

Wednesday: Azay le Rideau / Rivau / Villandry.

The purest piece of Renaissance architecture in Azay le Rideau, lunch in the steps of Joan of Arc in the Medieval Fortress of Langeais and Villandry, when gardening comes to art. THE LOIRE VALLEY HAS BEEN LISTED IN THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SINCE 2000.

Pick-up: 09.40AM at your hotel****

Guided tour of the fortress of Azay le Rideau. 

The Château of Azay le Rideau is one of the purest gems of Renaissance architecture in the Loire Valley. Financer Gilles Berthelot’s Chateau, delicately placed on an island on the Indre river, still shines today thanks to the lightness and balance of its mullioned, pepper pots, dormers and above all its graceful staircase.

We will not forget to admire the Chateau under every angle with a stroll around the English style garden, a jewel case of greenness for what is considered today as one of the most beautiful stone diamonds in Touraine.

Lunch at a family estate or at a traditional restaurant. 
Local products and great wine tasting of Bourgueil or Chinon wines.
A true authentic moment.

Discovery and presentation of Rivau gardens and château.

Rivau offers a remarkable balance between architecture, gardens and contemporary art. Discovering this confidential place is a funny and original experience. You will be amazed by the majestic aspect of this XVth century fortress, contrasting with its quirky art exhibition. The masterpiece of Rivau is the huge garden, inspired by fairy tales and cartoons.

Laid on 14 acres, and integrally designed by Patricia Laigneau, owner of the château, they offer the best occasion to stroll and relax among trees, flowers and contemporary vegetal composition.

Guided tour of one of the most spectacular gardens of Touraine, Villandry.

By its diversity and originality (Love Garden, Kitchen Garden, Aromatic and Medicine Plant Garden, Water Garden and the brand new Sun Garden) and by its size ( 15 acres, 1150 linden trees), Villandry is the Loire Valley garden not to be missed. With your guide, learn to speak the language of a medieval and Renaissance garden, discover the power of thyme and basil on your health.

drop-off: 05.40 PM at your hotel****, dinner at your leisure.

Thursday: Transfer to Beaune

Check-out after breakfast
Taxi transfer from Hotel**** to Saint-Pierre des Corps train station
TGV Transfer from Saint-Pierre des Corps train station to Beaune Train Station.

Taxi transfer from Beaune train station to your hotel*****

YOUR HOTEL IN BEAUNE FOR 2 NIGHTS

Check in at your hotel***** Le Cep - double occupancy.

Ideally located, the hotel is in the very heart of historic Burgundy, just a stone's throw from the center of Beaune. The Hotel is two minutes walking distance from the famous Hospice de Beaune and its magnificent cathedral Notre Dame. Affiliated to the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, which include some of the best hotels in the world all representative of their regional identities, Le Cep owes its charm to the uniting of 2 private mansions and their historical 16th century courtyards.

Hotel may change according to their availability. Should a provider be unavailable we will offer alternatives of the same standard.

Dinners at your leisure.

Friday: Côte de Beaune

Guided tour of the Hospices de Beaune and vineyards of the Côtes de Beaune, local lunch in a winery and afternoon tasting in Meursault.

Pick-up: 09.15 AM at your hotel*****

Guided tour of the Hospices de Beaune.

Typical example of Burgundy flamboyant gothic style, this former hospital founded in 1443 by the chancellor Nicolas Rolin and his wife Guigone de Salins is the testimony of the Flemish influence on the duchy of Burgundy. As far as architecture, it is worldwide famous for its colorful polychromatic glazed tile roofs. The Last Judgment triptych painting by Flemish painter Rogier Van Der Weyden is the highlight of the visit. You will tour the Salle des Pôvres (where the sick ones were looked after), the kitchens, the pharmacy and other rooms exhibiting artifacts and tapestries.

Sightseeing of the famous villages of Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault, Volnay & Pommard.

Picturesque drive and entertaining presentation of the appellations, stop by Grand Cru Montrachet

Cellar tour and wine tasting at a family winery.

In 1848, the owner was only 24 when he founded his own wine house. The railway had just arrived in Meursault and Jean had the intuition that it would help make the fame of Burgundian wines. The name soon became synonymous to great white Burgundy wines. The cellars date back to the 15^th century and are among the most prestigious in Burgundy.

Lunch at your leisure.

Cellar tour and wine tasting at a family winery.

To finish your day, you will enjoy a wine tasting in an old local winery.The method of vinification is highly original. A convivial moment with great wines.

Drop-off: 05:40 PM at your hotel*****, dinner at your leisure

Saturday: Côte de Nuits

Guided tour of chateau de Clos Vougeot and vineyards of the Côtes de Nuits, local lunch in a winery and afternoon tasting in Nuits Saint George or Hautes Côtes de Beaune

Pick-up : 09.15 AM at your hotel*****

 

Guided tour of the Chateau du Clos de Vougeot.

Founded in 1098 by monks, the vineyard of Clos de Vougeot covers 50 hectares. The castle houses the brotherhood of the knights of the tastevin. Its wines are ones of the most famous in Burgundy with a Grand Crus: Le Clos Vougeot. Today the vineyard is divided between 80 owners.
Transfer to a local domain for lunch.

Nuits Saint Georges, Vosne-Romanée, Gevrey-Chambertin.

Introduction to the vineyards and to the "Village", "Premier" and "Grand Crus" classifications, stop by Grand Cru Romanée-Conti.

Cellar tour and wine tasting at a family winery.

Founded in the 1950s this domain produces 18 different appellations 5 of which are Grands Crus and 7 Premiers Crus. Located just a hundred metres away from the famous chateau de Clos Vougeot, the domain also benefits from a perfect setting right in the heart of the village.

Lunch at your leisure.

Cellar tour and wine tasting at a family winery.

Historically based in Nuits-Saint-Georges, in the Côte de Nuits, this family offers Domaine wines (Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune) and a traditional signature of Burgundy wines. You will enjoy a final tour and wine tasting to experiment another face of Burgundy. from the grape to the bottle, you will discover all the secrets of the winemaking.

Drop-off: 05:30 PM at Tourist Office of Beaune