Current as of: May 9, 2024 - 03:00
Loire Valley: Walks, Wine & Chateaux Trip Notes
- Ways to Travel: Guided Group, Private Group Adventures
- Destination: France
- Programmes: Walking & Trekking
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Activity Level:
2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate
- 7 Days: Flight Inclusive
- 7 Days: Land Only
- Ages: 18+
- Trip Code: TLV
Trip Overview
Discover regal estates and fine wines in the glamorous Garden of France
Enjoy a walking escape in the Loire Valley, where lavish royal residences meet some of the best winemakers on the planet. During our adventure, we stay in a fabulous chateau near Tours and an elegant country manor in the village of Beaumont-en-Véron – both offering the perfect base for a full immersion in the Garden of France.We stop at majestic castles, including Amboise (the final resting place of Leonardo da Vinci) and Chenonceau, a Renaissance marvel spanning the Cher river. We also tour picturesque vineyards, meeting expert producers and sampling their fine wines.
At a Glance
- Six nights in comfortable hotels
- Five days with walking
- Low altitude throughout
- Option to travel by train to your adventure
Highlights
- Stay in a 15th-century chateau and 17-century country manor house
- Tour Chenonceau, a magnificent chateau stretching over the Cher river
- Visit wine producers to sample their celebrated drinks at source
- Visit the lavish Château Royal d'Amboise, once home to French monarchs
- Meet members of the Loire wine brotherhoods, practically unrivalled in their knowledge of the local produce
- Enjoy tranquil walks through vineyards and along the Loire River
Is This Trip for You?
This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate). For more on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page.
The walking pace is leisurely and there is plenty of time to rest and enjoy the views. The Loire Valley is naturally hilly (making it the perfect place to cultivate grapes), so you should expect some ascents/descents during the walks. The shortest walk is 4.4mi (7km) and longest is 6.2mi (10km), with the greatest elevation gain (656ft/200m) on Day 5. The distances mentioned on the itinerary do not include walks in and around the chateaux/gardens that we visit.
The terrain and type of path/track will vary from paved tracks (which are occasionally rocky) to tarmac. All walks take between three and five hours, including lunch stops, and require a moderate level of fitness and good balance.
All walks are optional. If you would prefer to sit one out, our tour leader can provide suggestions for other activities.
Group
We are accompanied by a local tour leader, who will coordinate the airport transfers, guide all walks and join the group for a welcome dinner at the beginning of the week.
Adult min age: 18
Min group size: 4
Max group size: 16
Itinerary
Land Only
- Start City: Tours
- End City: Beaumont-en-Véron
Land Only Itinerary
Fly to Paris Charles de Gaulle; transfer to Tours
On arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, we take a transfer (approximately three hours) to our chateau just outside Tours. A characterful university town, Tours is considered the gateway to the Loire Valley and is the perfect starting point for our adventure. Before the welcome dinner, our guide will hold a meeting to discuss the week ahead, give advice on the local area and answer any questions.
Accommodation: Château de la Bourdaisière (or similar)
Start at our accommodation near Tours
We start at our chateau just outside Tours. This characterful university town is the gateway to the Loire Valley and the perfect starting point for our adventure. Before the welcome dinner, our guide will hold a meeting to discuss the week ahead, give advice on the local area and answer any questions.
Accommodation: Château de la Bourdaisière (or similar)
Walk and wine tasting along the Loire to Vouvray
This morning we set off for our hike direct from our chateau heading towards Vouvray. The route meanders through medieval villages, including Montlouis, renowned for its exceptional AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protégée) wine, and through vineyards that line the Loire River. Upon arrival in Vouvray, we visit wine cellars forged from local tufa stone and meet members of the Loire wine brotherhoods – communities of wine enthusiasts, who will generously share the history and cultural importance of wine in the region.
Accommodation: Château de la Bourdaisière (or similar)
Château de Chenonceau and walk along the Cher river
We start our day with a 25-minute transfer to the magnificent Château de Chenonceau. Known as the Ladies’ Castle since the 16th century, Chenonceau is the most visited private monument in France. This Renaissance masterpiece comprises a long, covered gallery that rests on the arches of a bridge and contains a large collection of tapestries and paintings by European masters from the 16th to 18th centuries, including Tintoretto, Rubens and Clouet.
After exploring the chateau, we take a circular walk along the river Cher, leaving the crowds as we pass through meadows and forests.
Accommodation: Château de la Bourdaisière (or similar)
Château Royal d'Amboise and transfer to Beaumont-en-Véron
After a 25 minute transfer we visit the impressive Château Royal d’Amboise this morning, sure to be one of the highlights of our trip. A former palace to the kings of France and the resting place of Leonardo da Vinci, this Unesco-protected castle is testament to European history and represents the French ‘art of living’ as well as having spectacular views of the Loire Valley. There is then free time to either explore the town of Amboise or have the option to visit Chateau du Clos Lucé, the impressive home of Leonardo da Vinci, for the last three years of his life.
After lunch, we take an afternoon hike through the Amboise Forest and along the Loire River, before transferring one hour, to our second accommodation in Beaumont-en-Véron. On our way, we stop in the village of Bourgueil to see the vineyards and sample the local produce.
Accommodation: Manoir de la Giraudière (or similar)
The Saumur-Champigny vineyards
Today will be devoted to the discovery of the wonderful Saumur-Champigny vineyards. In the morning, we take a 30-minute transfer to the Unesco town of Saumur, surrounded by the Anjou vineyards. We embark on a guided walk of the town, marvelling at medieval architecture and discovering the royal history of the area.
After, we transfer to the starting point for our hike through the vineyards and countryside near Souzay-Champigny. We visit a wine producer during the hike and sample their AOP Saumur-Champigny wine, before returning to Souzay-Champigny, where we have time to visit ancient troglodyte dwellings and a local mushroom producer.
Accommodation: Manoir de la Giraudière (or similar)
Gardens of Villandry
On our final full day in the Loire Valley, we take a 30-minute transfer to Château de Villandry, whose gardens have dazzled visitors since the 1920s. With a history stretching to the 11th century, the gardens have undergone many transformations but acquired their current Renaissance form in the early 1900s, replacing the English garden style employed in the mid-1800s.
We have free time to explore the extensive estate and castle independently, before coming together for a short transfer to our last hike of the week, this time along the banks of the Cher towards the village of Azay le Rideau where we also have time to explore the castle. We return to Beaumont-en-Véron, stopping on our way in the historic city of Chinon.
Accommodation: Manoir de la Giraudière (or similar)
Transfer to Paris Charles de Gaulle; fly to London
After breakfast, we transfer to Paris for our flight to London.
End in Beaumont-en-Véron
After breakfast, we say our goodbyes and begin our return journey home. If you’d like to explore more of the Loire Valley, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay in Beaumont-en-Véron.
Accommodation
Château and Country Manor House
Immerse yourself in the history and regal character of the Loire Valley with the accommodation on this trip, which is split between a historic château and a manor house.
Tours: Château de la Bourdaisière (nights 1-3)
This Renaissance-style château outside the city has extensive grounds comprising landscaped gardens, a large orchard with more than 100 fruit tree varieties, and a dahlia garden created by renowned landscape architect Louis Benech. The 26 stately rooms and apartments were renovated by owner Prince Louis Albert de Broglie (aka the Prince Gardener), while other hotel amenities include a large, heated swimming pool and tennis courts.
Beaumont-en-Véron: Manoir de la Giraudière (nights 4-6)
Stay in a 17th-century manor house just 3.7mi (6km) from Chinon and its medieval fortress. Situated within a Regional Nature Park (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and overlooking a vineyard, the hotel has 24 rooms with period furniture plus an outside seating space where the group can gather. It‘s also about a five-minute walk along country lanes to the Vienne River, where bird life flourishes and a peaceful moment or two can be enjoyed.
Single supplement from £ 575
Food & Drink
Six breakfasts, two lunches, one dinner and three wine tastings are included.
Our included lunches will be taken during the hikes, either as a picnic or in local cafés/restaurants, while the included dinner is at the château restaurant/at a traditional restaurant in Tours. For lunches not included, there will be an opportunity to visit a boulangerie (bakery) for freshly baked goods to take with you on the walks. For dinners not included, it’s possible to dine at the accommodation or venture to a restaurant in Tours or Chinon.
Vegetarians can be fairly easily accommodated in this area of France (particularly in Tours); however, vegans may find the variety of dishes available is rather limited. Larger supermarkets can provide gluten-free bread and baked goods but this is less common in local bakeries.
Transport
All transport mentioned in the itinerary is included, except for optional excursions or where a client may choose to curtail a group walk. Airport transfers and transfers during the week will be by private, air-conditioned minibus or van.
Weather & Seasonality
The Loire Valley experiences fairly mild temperatures between May and October. Daily temperatures in May-June and September-October rarely exceed 18C (64F); however, the summer months of July and August can experience much warmer temperatures (an average of around 26C/79F). Rainfall is common throughout the year, so be sure to pack waterproofs.
While the weather is less predictable outside summer, it can be a more favourable time as you miss the crowds of July-August. Some of the gardens at the Château de Villandry are planted twice during the year so they are at their finest throughout the visitor season (March-November).
Joining Instructions
Key information
Start hotel: Château de la Bourdaisière, 25 Rue de la Bourdaisière, 37270 Montlouis-sur-Loire
Phone: +33 2 47 45 16 31
Recommended arrival time: 5pm. There is a welcome briefing and dinner in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately
Airport: Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately a 3hr 30min drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are:
Take an Exodus transfer
Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.
Make your own way
If you are coming from the UK, you may prefer to take the Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, then meet the group transfer at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Alternatively, you can fly into Tours from some UK airports. From Tours Val de Loire Airport (TUF), the start hotel is a 25-minute taxi ride (approximately €40), or we can arrange a private transfer – please speak to your sales representative for more details.
The cost of a taxi from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to the start hotel is in the region of €400 one way, so we advise joining the group transfer if possible.
If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Catching your return flight
There’s a group departure transfer to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Tours
Location end: Beaumont-en-Véron
What To Take
Essential Equipment
- Traditional or lightweight walking boots with good ankle support and a strong sole
- Waterproof/windproof jacket (preferably Gortex) and over trousers (over pants)
- Warm two-season jacket or sweater/fleece
- Large water containers or Thermos flask
- Backpack (25/30 litres)
- Sun hat, sunscreen and lip salve
- Empty lunch box
We also advise using dry flow wicking clothing rather than cotton as it dries much more quickly and is more comfortable when hiking.
Optional Equipment
- Walking poles (useful for ascents/descents)
- Swimwear
Practical Information
Visa
France
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter France. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/france
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/france
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/France.html
Vaccinations and Health
France
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
Ticks are known to be present in this region and can carry lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis and other diseases. Please take care to protect yourself. You can read more about ticks here.
Local Time
France's time zone: Europe/Paris (UTC +02:00)
Electricity
France's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins, European standard) and E (two round pins) – 230V, 50Hz
Money
France's currency: Euros (EUR)
ATM Availability
We recommend you bring some spending money in cash (for use in smaller shops/newsagents), but a credit or debit card will be useful for larger payments. Cash points are available in Tours.
Extra Expenses & Spending Money
You need spending money for meals not included in the itinerary and all drinks. We suggest budgeting approximately €25-€35 per day to cover dinner excluding drinks. On the days where lunch is not included, we will either stop at a local bakery to have something for a picnic on the walk or go to a restaurant so expect to spend between €10-€25 per day on lunches. A glass of wine is around €7 and a coffee around €2, with a reasonable bottle of wine at dinner starting from €25.
Optional activities:
- Visit to Chateau do Clos Lucé: €19 per person
Tipping
Although optional, a tip for the walking leader at the end of the trip is greatly appreciated. As a guideline, we recommend a contribution starting from €20 per person. It is customary and appreciated to leave a small tip when eating/drinking in cafés and restaurants.
People, Places & Planet
We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.
Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:
People
How this trip helps improve life for local communities.
- Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
- This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
- We partake in conversations with members of the Loire wine brotherhoods, helping them to raise awareness of the cultural importance of wine to the Loire Valley.
- Read more about our other initiatives here
Places
How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.
- By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
- We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
- The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves and archaeological sites generates income used to upkeep and develop these important sites. We visit several gardens where fees paid support biodiversity initiatives. These include the Château de Chenonceau, Château Royal d’Amboise and the gardens of Villandry.
- We rewild 1,075sqft (100sqm) per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
- Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.
Planet
How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.
- Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
- Walking trips like this have very little detrimental impact on the environment and the locals, as it is a quiet, low-impact activity requiring comparatively few resources to support.
- Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
Tips for sustainable travel on this trip
- Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
- Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.
Important Information
Your safe participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
How to Book
- Check availability: Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.
- Secure your place: You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.
- Complete your booking and payment
When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.
After booking
You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Trip Note validity
These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
Licensing
Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.