3. From Amboise: Villandry, Wineries, & Family Castle
Meet your guide in front of the Tourist Office of Amboise at 9:30 AM and board the minivan for an amazing day in the Loire Valley. Begin with a visit to the Chateau de Villandry, a must-see château of the Loire Valley, and time travel to life in 16th-century France. Your tour guide will take you through all the rooms of the chateau and tell plenty of funny anecdotes.
Afterward, enjoy a complete discovery of the gorgeous gardens of Villandry. Your local guide will share all their knowledge of these gardens and show you the hidden corners where you can get the best views of the château. Explore the ornamental kitchen garden, the maze, and the classical water garden.
Then, get back on the minibus for a short drive to your next stop — Chateau de l'Islette — a family-owned chateau still inhabited today. Your guide will take you to the most intimate rooms of the chateau, like the parent's bedroom, the kid's corner, and the family kitchen. You may even get the chance to meet the owners who will share with you their daily life in this house. Savor a lovely aperitif near the river in the park of the chateau, and sample a glass of local wine with a tasty local delicacy. This moment will definitely be one of the highlights of your day.
Next, head back to the city of Tours with your guide. From 1:30 PM–2 PM, your guide will park in front of the Tourist Office and give you 30 minutes free time. They will help you with recommendations of nice French boulangeries (bakeries) where you can buy an extra snack. At 2 PM, hop back on the bus and make your way to Vouvray to discover this beautiful wine area and its elegant sparkling and white wines.
During the afternoon in Vouvray, visit a family wine estate and a grand wine house situated just along the Loire River. Take a tour with your guide to help you better understand the diversity of Loire wines and its terroir. Learn the different steps of wine tasting and train your nose to identify many wine aromas. To do so, you will also taste wines from the other wine appellations of the region. After this experience, the Loire wine area will have no secrets left for you. Before saying goodbye, share an aperitif made of local products like cheese, rillettes, and fresh bread — the perfect match for Loire wines — with a stunning view before returning to Amboise Tourist Office.