Loire Valley, France Castles and Culinary Tour Itinerary - 6 Days/5 Nights
Loire Valley Summary • Tour Price Includes • Loire Tour FAQ • Loire Valley Hotel • LOIRE VALLEY TOUR BROCHURE (Adobe pdf)
Award winning Off the Beaten Path Tours voted BEST small group tours in France for active travelers by Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes Traveler, CNN Traveller, The New York Times and Travel & Leisure!
Off the Beaten Path's Loire Valley, France Tours Feature:
- Professional Off the Beaten Path, LLC Tour Guide(s) - history, culinary and wine specialists
- A personalized photo album of your tour in the Loire Valley.
- 5 Nights, deluxe historical castle hotel accommodations at Chateau des Tertres (NO Hotel Hopping)
- 10 Meals: 5 buffet breakfasts, 5 gourmet French dinners.
- All restaurants and bistros on this tour are Michelin-star and/or have been featured/recommended by top "foodie" magazines and/or fellow Michelin-star Chefs. We dine in both gourmet restaurants and our favorite hide-a-ways cherished by the locals.
- Regional classified wines included at all meals.
- Privately guided tours AND leisure time at all of the following castles (chateaux): Chambord castle, Chenonceau castle, Cheverny castle, Blois castle, Amboise castle, Villandry castle, Azay-le-Rideau castle
- FIRST CHEF: A special welcome dinner prepared by Michelin Star Chef and friend Ludovic
- SECOND CHEF: Cooking Class and Cooking Demonstration Accompanied by a Wine & Cheese Tasting during class with Michelin Star Chef and friend Damien
- THIRD CHEF (A husband & wife team): Cooking Class with celebrity Chefs, our friends Angelique and Christophe Q. at their home
- FOURTH CHEF: Dinner of gourmet recipes prepared by our friend, Michelin-star Chef Christophe C. exclusively for us on our last evening of the tour.
- Evening sunset hot air ballooning excursion
- Visit and Shop at the Weekly Village Markets in Amboise and/or Blois
- Optional visits available at Leonardo Da Vinci's home, Clos Luce, and at the International Garden Festival in Chaumont-sur-Loire
- Wine and cheese tasting throughout the trip
- Extensive Walking Daily in small villages and at the castles
- This exclusive Tour is limited to 8 guests per Tour date. Small Groups, Couples, solo travelers, friends traveling together all welcome to join.
Click the following link to download the detailed LOIRE VALLEY TOUR BROCHURE (Adobe pdf).
EMAIL US or CALL 1-877-846-2831 to speak with one of our tour specialists.
Day-by-Day Itinerary Outline for Off the Beaten Path's Loire Valley, France Tour
DAY 1: Group Meets, Hotel Check-in, Dinner Together with our FIRST CHEF - Michelin-star Chef Ludovic at his restaurant - D
"Meet and greet" by your tour guide at at St. Pierre des Corps (Tours) TGV Rail Station. There are 2 Group pick-up times: 1st pick-up is at 1:30 PM and the 2nd pick-up is at 4:00 PM. Check-in at the hotel.
DINNER: Gourmet dinner together this evening prepared by Michelin-star Chef and friend Ludovic at his restaurant which has been rated and recommended by world renowned 3-star Michelin, French Chef Alain Ducasse.
DAY 2: Shopping at the Blois Market & Exploring the Historic Town, Tour of Blois Castle, SECOND CHEF: Fun Cooking Class and Demonstration Accompanied by Wine & Cheese Tasting with Friend and Michelin Star Chef Damien - B, D
Buffet breakfast. Morning: Prior to our visit of the historic town of Blois and it's royal castle, we introduce you to the French tradition of shopping at the weekly open market. From local artisan products to French linens, paintings, clothes, food, wines, artwork and locally made jewelry, the market brings an unparalleled livelihood to villages and towns of the region. Guided visit of the market followed by time to explore and shop independently. Afterwards, guided tour of Blois Castle followed by time to explore the castle and historic town at leisure. We'll share stories about some of the most note worthy events of French history: a Queen's death, two marriages that would forever change the future of France, important accomplishments by the French monarchy, an assassination, details of the rigors of daily life during the Renaissance and quirky facts about royal marriages and deaths.
Lunch independently in Blois.
Early Evening and Dinner: Hands-on cooking class and demonstration with friend, Michelin-star Chef Damien G. Damien is a Michelin star chef with experience that has taken him on culinary adventures around the world. After having traveled extensively to places such as Cyprus and Moscow, he has returned to his native Loire Valley to share his culinary experience and knowledge at his family restaurant; adding a new and tasteful twist to regional recipes using local, seasonal ingredients. Cooking class is both hands-on and a demonstration of recipes.
The focus is on discovering favorite recipes of this beautiful region and indulging in the French wine and cheese tasting and learning more about French cheeses with our Chef. This activity is designed for all interest levels from the beginner to the more experienced. Following class, we toast the evening with a cocktail followed by a gourmet dinner together of recipes prepared and demonstrated in class.
DAY 3: Exploring the Amboise Market & Historic Village, Tour of the Royal Amboise Castle, Afternoon Tour of Chenonceau Castle & Gardens, THIRD CHEF(A husband and wife team): Evening Culinary Class with celebrity Chefs, our Friends Christophe and Angelique Q. at Their Home - B, D
Buffet breakfast. Morning: Prior to our visit at the royal castle of Amboise, there will be time to explore Amboise's weekly open market. Again, from local artisan products to French linens, fresh cut flowers, paintings, clothes, food, artwork and locally made jewelry, the market brings an unparalleled livelihood to Amboise, and offers a wonderful opportunity to experience local culture at its' busiest time of the week. Time to explore and shop independently at the market. Afterwards: a guided visit of the Chateau of Amboise followed by time to explore at leisure. Today's castle visit includes stories of royal accidents, more stories of some of France's most important historical events, an attempted kidnapping, as well as royal love affairs and the death of royal guest, Leonardo da Vinci. Lunch independently in historic Amboise village.
Lunch independently in historic Amboise village.
Afternoon: Tour of the Castle and Gardens of Chenonceau (photo above), a castle shaped by women, this castle represents the greatest accomplishments of royal women during the Middle Ages and French Renaissance. Enjoy stories of Queens and their courts, royal love affairs, the first ever fire works display in France, parties and deception and how royal debt nearly led this castle to be confiscated by the French state.
Early Evening and Dinner: Fun, hands-on cooking class with our friends, Master Chefs Angelique and Christophe Q. at their home in the countryside near Chaumont-sur-Loire. Tonight we cook with two of France's highest rated Master Chefs. Christophe is Director of the Val de Loire Culinary Arts school and Angelique is a Professeur de Cuisine in the Val de Loire region. Both are passionate about the culinary arts, and have received top awards from and along with Paul Bocuse, Alain Ducasse and Joel Robuchon. Christophe is currently featured on gourmet television in France, as one of the Loire Valley's most highly recognized and talented Chefs. We'll prepare a three course dinner of local recipes together. The cooking class is designed to appeal to all interest levels from the beginner to the more experienced. Following cooking class, we toast to a wonderful evening with our Chefs followed by dinner together of the recipes prepared during cooking class.
DAY 4: Tour of Chambord Castle, Tour of Cheverny Castle, Sunset Hot Air Ballooning over the Loire Valley Castles and Countryside (lots of Fun), Early Dinner in Amboise - B, D
Buffet Breakfast. Morning: Guided visit of Chambord Castle. An architectural masterpiece, thought to have been the masterpiece of Leonardo da Vinci, yet never proven, we share stories about two of France's most influential Kings, Francis I and Louis XIV, their royal lifestyles and personal guests at the castle, as well as stories of Louis XIII's brother, Gaston d'Orleans.
Lunch independently at Chambord.
Afternoon, Guided visit of Cheverny Castle. An original jewel among the most famous castles of the Loire Valley, the present Castle of Cheverny was built during the reign of Louis XIII in the classical style. The castle boasts a distinguished symmetrical architecture that began to appear in France in the early 17th century. Here at Cheverny we'll talk about stories of ownership, fraud to the state, the castle as a gift to a special royal mistress and a King's brother and the castle's hunting reputation.
Evening: Set off into the sunset on a beautiful hot air balloon this evening with our friend, professionally licensed pilot, Charles and his professional flight team. Following your sunset flight floating above the castles of the Loire Valley, we top off this once in a lifetime experience with Champagne and flight awards certificates.
DINNER: Early dinner (French picnic) together in Amboise village prior to hot air ballooning.
DAY 5: Tour of Villandry Castle and Gardens and Azay-le-Rideau Castle, FOURTH CHEF: Special Celebration Dinner Together Prepared by Friend, Michelin-star Chef Christophe C. at His Restaurant - B, D
Buffet breakfast. Morning: Winding our way along the Vienne & Loire Rivers, our first stop of the day is at Villandry Castle and its' Renaissance Gardens. Learn about the numerous owners of the castle and how after the castle's gardens were left in ruin for centuries, one man discovered a very important document in order to re-create the original Francis I Renaissance gardens. The unique Renaissance gardens of Villandry are among the most fascinating gardens of France.
Lunch independently in Villandry.
Afternoon: Our 2nd visit in the southern Touraine today is at the fairy tale, moated castle of Azay-le-Rideau Castle, a spectacular masterpiece built during the early years of Francis I's reign. The castle reflects all of the refinements of Renaissance architecture and epitomises the qualities of a traditional French chateau with its high roofs, tall watch-turrets, long rows of windows and dormer-windows and majestic Italian structure.
Dinner with our 4th Chef: Prepared by our friend and Michelin Star, Master Chef, Christophe C. Christophe has had the great pleasure of working with the late Bernard Loiseau and ever talented Christian Willer before venturing out into the culinary world on his own, and opening his gem of a restaurant in the late 1990's. Dinner at Christophe's represents a gourmet discovery of Loire specialties to top off this fabulous week together. If Christophe's schedule permits, he'll welcome us into his kitchen for a brief cooking class demonstration of his treasured recipes.
DAY 6: Loire Valley Tour Conclusion - B
Buffet breakfast. Your Loire Valley Tour concludes today with a 10 AM arrival to St. Pierre des Corps TGV Rail Station. Earlier and later departures can be organized. Please contact us for details.
Click the following link to download the detailed LOIRE VALLEY TOUR BROCHURE (Adobe pdf).
(B) = Breakfast Included, (L) = Lunch Included, (D) = Dinner Included
More Loire Valley Tour Guest Testimonials:
"I loved ALL aspects of the tour; hot air ballooning, wine and cheese tasting, the hotel, our guide, the different castles, the dinners! The cooking classes were especially fantastic. Don't change a thing! You really made this experience wonderful!" Wendy Barnett, Melbourne, Australia (Loire Valley Tour Itinerary) - dining at friend, Michelin Star Chef Christophe C.'s restaurant
"Just a short note to say thanks for everything you did on the tour, we really enjoyed ourselves again. We feel very fortunate to have "discovered" your tours, they are definitely the best group tours we have ever been on. We had a great time, it was especially neat to spend so much time with Christophe & Angelique (Loire Valley)." Bill & Laurie Crimando, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI (Loire Valley Castles and Culinary Tour, Bordeaux Wine and Culinary Walking Tour, Burgundy Wine and Culinary Tour) - pictured at Christophe & Angelique's home during cooking class dinner.
"I did want to let you know how much I enjoyed myself on the tour and it certainly will be a highlight to remember - and look at the photos with wonderful memories. I really enjoyed the hot air ballooning, loved the history, all the chateaux were great and interesting. I liked the combination of history, food and wine that this trip offered and the good value of the trip itself. Thanks again!" Lisa Jarrold, Brisbane, Australia (Loire Valley Castles and Culinary Tour) - pictured with friend, Michelin Star Chef Christophe C. at his restaurant