Travel back to the days of the French Renaissance on a full-day tour of the châteaux of the Loire Valley. Enjoy a lunch in a privately owned and still-occupied castle. Start with a visit to Chenonceau, and pass the must-see castles of the French “Valley of the Kings,” including Chaumont, Amboise, and Blois. Upon arrival at the Château de Chenonceau, admire the unusual castle built on a bridge across the Cher River.  Stroll through the manicured gardens, named after Catherine de Médicis and Diane de Poitiers, the famous women who once lived there. Take time to appreciate the refined architecture, beautiful antiques, and lovely arrangements of fresh flowers. Discover glorious works of art and architecture as your guide selects the most emblematic rooms to visit. On your way to lunch at the Chateau of Villesavin, admire authentic French villages and the countryside. Eat a traditional French lunch with local products and local wine. Arrive at Chambord and discover the apartments of Francis I. View the double helix staircase, an emblem of Chambord. Hear memorable anecdotes and see hidden details. Get breathtaking views of the castle during a coffee break in Chambord Park. Enjoy the most striking view of Château de Chambord, before ending your tour in the evening.

Meet your guide at the tourist office in Tours and drive in a minivan to Vouvray. Discover this beautiful wine area full of passionate winegrowers. Meet a French winemaker in a charming family-run estate. See the vines and visit the traditional vat room and the cellars. During this visit, you will improve your knowledge regarding wine-making and of course wine tasting. Elegant sparkling wines and white wines are produced in this area. After this first visit, explore one of the famous underground caves that were dug during the 10th century in order to extract stones and today used by a famous Loire Valley wine house for producing and storing wines. Throughout the afternoon, your guide will share his knowledge with you, to help you understand the diversity of Loire wines and their specific terroir. You will learn the different steps of wine tasting and train your nose to identify many wine aromas. Benefit from your guide's tips and tricks and learn to taste like a professional. Afterward, you will be driven back to Tours, where your tour will end. 

Benefit from pick-up by air-conditioned, 8-seater van and head to the picturesque Château de Chenonceau with magnificent Renaissance gardens. Then, go to Amboise for a wine tour with tastings. Visit Les Caves Ambacia for a wine experience and sample some of the wines of the Loire Valley at a tasting with a sommelier. Lunch at leisure in Amboise. Continue to Chambord for a guided tour of the chateau. Admire the fine details of the largest chateau in the Loire Valley, including a double helix staircase by Da Vinci. Get dropped off in Tours at 5.30 PM or Amboise at 6:00 PM. Admire the fine details of the largest chateau in the Loire Valley, including a double helix staircase by Da Vinci. Get dropped off in Tours at 6 PM or Amboise at 6:45 PM.

Uncover the best of Vouvray without hours of stressful planning, coordinating, and trying to contact wineries. On Grape Discovery's self-guided Vouvray wine tour, you take control without any of the stress. Just tell us how many wineries you want to visit and if you want lunch included and we will plan, coordinate, and book everything for you. We will send you a custom itinerary and map once everything is confirmed so all you have to do is turn up and enjoy tasting all the delicious wines. All of the wineries are within a 30-minute drive of Tours and Amboise. Itineraries are customised and are subject to change. If you want to cycle please message us after booking so we can ensure enough travel time in your itinerary. Example Itinerary: Begin your adventure at the first venue, a legendary winery known for its stunning Vouvray wines. Immerse yourself in a guided tasting that reveals the secrets behind their exceptional craftsmanship. Head to a quaint local restaurant for a delectable traditional lunch. Feast on fouées, the airy local bread, paired with local cheeses and charcuterie. Make sure to add lunch if you want us to organise this for you. Your wine journey continues at the second Vouvray winery. Immerse yourself in a guided tour through the legendary troglodyte caves and learn more about what makes Vouvray unique. Take a seat to taste their full range of wines from dry to sweet, sparkling to still. Want more than two tastings? Choose the Three Tasting Tour and conclude your tour at a third Vouvray winery, known for its elegant wines. Take a leisurely stroll through the vineyards as you learn about sustainable viticulture practices and enjoy a final tasting.

Explore the Bourgueil wine region famous for its Renaissance castles and wines. Tour around local wineries, and savor regional wines on this day trip from Tours. Begin by traveling to a traditional winery with your guide and learn about wine production from the grape to the bottle. See the vineyards and learn about the area's soil diversity that gives the wine a delicate and fruity taste. After that, arrive in Chinon, a charming small town surrounded by vineyards. Explore the picturesque town featuring preserved medieval half-timbered and Renaissance townhouses. Have time to stroll the streets, do a spot of shopping, or try some local Chinon specialties such as pork rillettes. After a break, enjoy a wine-tasting session in the famous Chinon wine region. Entice your palate with fine red wines produced in the area and hear how to detect different notes in the wine

Depart Tours or Amboise to journey into the Loire Valley and discover some of its famous châteaux. Stop at the Château de Blois, notable for its unique mix of Medieval, Gothic, Renaissance and Classical architecture. The former home of kings Louis XII and François I, its history is steeped in tragedy and is notable as the place where Joan of Arc went to be blessed by the Archbishop of Reims before departing with her army to drive the English from Orléans. Pause for a wine tasting and sample some of the organic wines of Cheverny and Cour-Cheverny. The Cheverny appellation produces elegant reds from the pinot noir and gamay grapes, as well as fruity whites from the chardonnay and sauvignon grapes. Sample a stunning organic white wine made from the romorantin grape, imported into the Loire Valley by King François I. Take a guided tour of the Château de Cheverny, owned by the same family since the days of Louis XIII. See some of the most beautiful furniture in the Loire Valley, and learn the château's rich history, such as its connection to Tintin comic books and the impressive hunts on horseback that used to take place with a pack of 100 dogs. You may even get to see the spectacular daily event of “the dogs’ soup!” Move on to the Château de Chambord, one of the most recognizable châteaux in the world for its distinctive French Renaissance architecture. Discover the vast national game reserve of the largest château in the Loire Valley, and learn the monument's fascinating history, including the unverified tale of Leonardo da Vinci's involvement in its construction. Return to your original departure town, with drop off in Tours at 18:00 or Amboise at 18:45.

Get picked up in the morning before driving to the Loire Valley and start your day touring the Château de Chenonceau. The Chateau des Dames bridge built across the Cher is famous for the great heroines who lived there (Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medicis) and for the beauty of its Renaissance gardens. Next, head to a wine tasting with a wine specialist at Caves Ambacia in Amboise. An oenologist will welcome you into the caves, former tuff stone quarries, for a tour. This will be followed by a wine tasting of Vouvray wines.  After this, tour the Royal Castle of Amboise, residence of Charles VIII and the young François d’Angoulème, future Francois I. Discover a perfect example of the transition from Gothic to Renaissance architecture and the Saint Hubert Chapel, which today houses the grave of Leonardo da Vinci. Finally, head to the Manor du Clos Lucé, a few yards away from the Royal Castle. Leonardo da Vinci spent the last 3 years of his life there and died there in 1519. See his bedroom, office, reception room and kitchen, and be awestruck by his invention room, displaying models of his most spectacular inventions. End your day by being dropped off in Amboise at 5:30 PM or in Tours at 6 PM.

Meet your guide in front of the Tourist Office of Tours at 9:30 AM and board the minivan for an amazing day in the Loire Valley. You are going to live an unforgettable experience : in the morning, set off to discover two castles in the region: the "perfect" castle of Azay le Rideau and the beautiful castle of Villandry. You will start with a visit to the Château d'Azay le Rideau, a true jewel of Renaissance architecture built by a secretary of the King Francis 1st. Your passionate guide will accompany you on all the visits and will share with you the stories of the estate. Then, arrival at the Château de Villandry to visit the gardens, a jewel of French heritage built during the Renaissance. Your guide will accompany you through the remarkable formal gardens of Villandry, of breathtaking beauty and delicacy. You will able to walk in the vegetable garden, the maze, around the water garden... Your guide will also show you the best spots to get the best view of this tremendous work. At 2.00PM, you're off to Vouvray, a beautiful wine area full of passion-driven winegrowers! Meet a genuine French winemaker in a charming family-run estate! Visit the traditional wine cellar (bring your coat, it can get cold in the cellar !) . During the visits, your hosts will share their knowledge so you can appreciate the Vouvray wine and all the work and tradition that goes with it! The main grape variety of Chenin blanc allows the production of a great variety of white wines either dry, sweet or sparkling! Afterwards, you will be driven back to Tours, where your tour will end at 6:30pm.

Meet your guide at 9:00am in front of the Tourism Office in Amboise and let's start the day! First, with a visit to the Château d'Azay le Rideau, true jewel of Renaissance architecture with its building of exemplary order, its history mixed between the 16th century and the 19th century will not leave you indifferent. Your passionate guide will accompany you on all the visits and will share with you the stories of the estate. Then, arrival at the Château de Villandry to visit the gardens, a jewel of French heritage built during the Renaissance. Your guide will accompany you through the remarkable formal gardens of Villandry, of breathtaking beauty and delicacy. He/She can also show you some of the best views to get the perfect picture. You will admire with your guide the vegetable garden, the maze, the 1500 trees surrounding the property... At 2.00PM, you're off to Vouvray, a beautiful wine area! Meet a genuine French winemaker in a charming family-run estate! Visit the traditional wine cellar (bring your coat, it can get cold in the cellar !) . During the two visits, you will certainely improve your knowledge on wines. The main grape variety of Chenin blanc allows the production of elegant white wines, dry, sweet or sparkling! Afterwards, you will be driven back to Amboise, where your tour will end at 6:00pm.