Chateaux of the Loire Walk

8 Days Excluding Flights From

8 Days from

£ 1419

£ 1519

Walking & Trekking

Activity Level

Easy

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Walking & Trekking

Ages :

12+

Trip Code :

W07LO

This easy paced walking holiday combines pleasant walking along the peaceful Cher and Loire rivers while taking in some of France’s most impressive chateaux.

The Loire is famous for its chateaux with over 300 in total to discover. This easy paced, gentle walking holiday balances peaceful, off-the-beaten-track discoveries, with the splendour and opulence of some of the finest Renaissance chateaux in France. There’s no tough climbing but you’re still rewarded with beautifully unspoilt landscapes and enchanting views at every turn.

You follow a linear route from Blois, passing quiet hamlets and wine villages, before continuing alongside the River Cher through Montrichard, Chenonceaux and Montlouis. Then, you’ll enjoy wonderful walks through open fields and sprawling vineyards – with opportunities for wine-tasting – and on to Leonardo da Vinci’s bustling town of Amboise. Along the way you’ll take in some of France’s most impressive chateaux: Chenonceau mesmerises with its iconic arches over the River Cher (be sure to taste the chateau’s wine and enjoy a scenic riverside walk); the majestic Chateau d’Amboise is a former royal residence and also houses the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci; while Chateau de Chambord is set in a majestic nature reserve.

The places you’ll stay in have been hand-picked for their superb locations, atmospheric charm, excellent cuisine and warm, friendly owners. As well as chateaux, the Loire prides itself on its delicious local cuisine and wine and we’ve included 2 evening meals – given the fantastic variety of restaurants on your doorstep, we thought you’d appreciate us leaving the choice to you.

Highlights

Gentle, off-the-beaten-track walking on relaxing flat routes through sunflowers fields, forest, vineyards and along the Loire and Cher rivers
France's finest chateaux including Blois, Chambord, Amboise and Chenonceau
Sleepy wine villages; regal Amboise with its boutique-lined streets and esplanades enjoying excellent views over the Loire River.

Key Information

7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of 3 and 4 star hotels
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Route directions and maps

Countries visited: France

What's Included

All breakfasts and 2 eveing meals
All accommodation
Transfers for Flight inclusive
Luggage transfers between hotels
Walking transfers

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Visas and vaccinations
Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement)
Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
Transfers for Land only (available on request at additional cost)
Opportunities to visit local Chateaux's and wine tasting venues (payable locally)

3 Days of Walking & Trekking

Terrain:

Walks on this holiday are off-the-beaten-track, gentle and flat routes. There are no tough climbs on this route.

Day 2

19 km / 11.8 miles

Day 4

15 km / 9.3 miles

Day 6

18 km / 11.2 miles

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

TRIP

W07LO - Chateaux of the Loire Walk

Departure Date

Number Of Passengers*

Message*

To enquire about an existing booking click here

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Keep me up to date with news and offers from Exodus by email.

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Find out more about how we use your data

Request a Brochure

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

For flights call us on 0203 733 5948 or enquire when booking online

Regional flights available

Competitive flight prices

Specialist Flight Support

ATOL protected

Itinerary

Blois Amboise

Explore the cobbled streets, arcaded squares and impressive chateau of this pretty riverside town before dinner.
You stay at Hotel Le Monarque

Transfer to Chambord, the largest Chateau of the Loire Valley. Then walk through the estate’s forest before heading across open countryside via sleepy wine villages. Transfer in the afternoon to your hotel in Chitenay. Dinner is included for the next 2 nights.
You stay at Auberge du Centre (Breakfast and evening meal included)

Distance covered: 12mi (19km)

Activity hours: 4.5

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

The sleepy wine village of Chitenay is ideally placed to visit many of the Loire’s finest chateaux. We particularly recommend picture-postcard Cheverny which has one of the region’s largest art collections including a permanent ‘Secrets of Moulinsart’ exhibition, and also, just 3km further on, lovely little Chateau de Troussay with its rich furnishings collection, elaborately decorated ceilings and attractive landscaped gardens. Enjoy to relax by the pool at the hotel.
You stay at Auberge du Centre

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Today a 20-minute transfer takes you to Bourre, where you’ll begin your walk alongside the River Cher. You have the chance to visit the Caves des Roches – or ‘mushroom caves’ – on the way, a vast network of underground caves and tunnels which were formerly limestone mines. You’ll also pass La Magnanerie de Bourre, the site of traditional cave dwellings and a silk-worm farm. Continue your walk alongside the River Cher to Montrichard, a traditional French town with its own riverside beach and a number of good restaurants to choose from for lunch, before heading along the GR41 to Chenonceaux.
You stay at Hotel de la Roseraie

Distance covered: 9mi (15km)

Activity hours: 3

Meals included: Breakfast

Today you can marvel at the impressive Chateau de Chenonceau, one of the best-known of the Loire chateaux with its iconic arches over the river. This fairytale chateau has seen some famous figures from history, notably Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de’Medici – rivals for Henry II’s affections – and Mary, Queen of Scots. The university city of Tours is an easy train ride away, home to a plethora of bars, cafes and restaurants, along with popular shopping centres and quirky independent shops in the old quarter.
You stat Hotel de la Roseraie

Meals included: Breakfast

We take you from Chenonceaux to Montlouis and from there follow the back roads of the GR3 which run parallel to the River Loire. From Montlouis you’ll walk through the Loire’s sprawling vineyards, with the chance to stop and taste delicious wines on the way. Continue your walk alongside the Loire and you’ll arrive in the bustling market town of Amboise.
You stay at Hotel Clos d’Amboise

Distance covered: 11mi (18km)

Activity hours: 4

Meals included: Breakfast

Amboise has a charming mediaeval feel, with historical links to the French Royal Family and also connections to Leonardo da Vinci who spent his last few years at Clos Luce, now a museum which houses displays of some of the artist’s original work. Da Vinci’s tomb is housed in the majestic Chateau d’Amboise which also hosts the impressive Son et Lumiere display. Amboise offers plenty of restaurants and cafes in which to relax and sample the local wines and produce.
You stay at Hotel Clos d’Amboise

Meals included: Breakfast

Depart Amboise after breakfast

Meals included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Is this trip for you?

Walking Conditions
Classification: Self–Guided
Activity Level: 1 (Leisurely)
Average daily distance: 18km
No. of days walking: 3
Terrain and route: Walks on this holiday are off-the-beaten-track, gentle and flat routes. There are no tough climbs on this route.
Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to walk independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodation, provide you with route directions so that you can walk at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next.

It is important that you are happy following route directions, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The routes directions contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local agent is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Joining Instructions

Flight inclusive prices include our standard flights, onward rail.

British Airways Heathrow to Paris CDG 07:20/09:35 then rail Paris Montparnasse to Blois-Chambord via St Pierre des Corps 12:29/15:15 (Mon-Fri), Paris Austerlitz to Blois-Chambord 12:37/14:06 (Sat) & Paris Austerlitz-Blois-Chambord via Orleans 13:22/15:20 (Sun) and taxi to hotel payable locally 5 mins.
Return: Taxi to station payable locally 5 mins then rail Blois-Chambord to Paris Montparnasse via St Pierre des Corps 11:30/13:33 (Mon-Fri) & Blois-Chambord to Paris Austerlitz 12:03/13:39 (Sat & Sun) then British Airways Paris CDG to Heathrow 17:40/17:55 (Tues), 18:05/18:20 Sun, Mon & Weds) & 18:50/19:05 (Fri, Sat & Thurs).

Alternative transfers
If you require alternative transfers (because you will be arriving at a different time to our standard flights), then we can usually arrange these for you (there may be an additional charge).

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: Blois
Location end: Amboise

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.

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

Food & Drink

All breakfasts and 2 evening meals are included

The Loire prides itself on it’s cuisine. It is refined country cooking, not heavy but rich in flavours and textures, drawing on the great garden of the Loire valley. Fruit and vegetables abound. Asparagus, artichokes, button mushrooms, cherries and strawberries from the Loire are transported to kitchens throughout France, which demonstrates the quality of the produce. These all provide delicious accompaniments to the duck, venison and wild boar dishes (all hunted locally) and served in sauces using wines from the local vineyards. Fish also features in abundance. With three wide, gently flowing rivers passing through the region, freshwater fish appear on most menus. ‘Sandre’ (pikeperch) and breme (bream) are especially popular and are usually served in a beurre blanc sauce – made with shallots, butter, dry white wine and vinegar. The majority of the cheese found in the region is goat’s cheese. We suggest trying Selles-sur-Cher from the neighbouring Blesois region. Desserts are often based on the fruit from the local orchards. They include ‘tarte tatin’, a yummy caramelised upside-down apple pie – the invention of two absent-minded sisters in their attempt to salvage a dessert they had dropped on the floor.

The Loire is undoubtedly one of Europe’s finest wine producing regions with many of the separate wine areas producing red, white, rose and sparkling wines. Distinctive whites include Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume, Vouvray and Muscadet; for reds, try Chinin, Bourgueil and Saumur. Anjou is by far the most popular rose.

Weather

The Loire valley is blessed with fantastic weather for walking. The spring and autumn seasons experience mild climates with temperatures averaging 16-20 degrees Celsius. The summers are generally warmer with temperatures reaching the high 20s. There is always the chance of rain so it is best to be prepared for this with a waterproof layer, it is also good to have a warmer layer for the early mornings and evenings.

Weather Charts

TRIP

W07LO - Chateaux of the Loire Walk

Departure Date

Number Of Passengers*

Message*

To enquire about an existing booking click here

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Keep me up to date with news and offers from Exodus by email.

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Find out more about how we use your data

Request a Brochure

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Hotels

HOTEL LE MONARQUE, BLOIS
One of our bestsellers in Blois! Located in Blois, 400 m from Blois Castle, Hôtel Restaurant LE MONARQUE boasts a restaurant, bar and free WiFi throughout the property. Private parking is available on site, subject to availability. Every room is fitted with a flat-screen TV. Each room is equipped with a private bathroom with a hairdryer. You will find room service at the property. A buffet breakfast including cold meats, eggs and hot drinks is served every morning.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.

AUBERGE DU CENTRE, CHITENAY
Tucked away in the elegant little village of Chitenay is the lovely ivy-clad Auberge du Centre, run by the charming Martinet family. Dinner is served either in the pretty dining room, or on the terrace.
The hotel has a pleasant terrace overlooking its pretty gardens and swimming pool (pool towels are provided; ask at reception), which are a real treat on a summer’s day, as well as an attractive sitting area inside, complete with wooden beams and comfy chairs.
Access to the Spa area is payable locally at 15€ per person per day. Access is free to those staying in a ‘Balneo’ room.

HOTEL LA ROSERAIE, CHENONCEAUX
Ideally situated in the centre of Chenonceaux and just a 400m from the chateau, the Hotel La Roseraie, built in the 18th century offers comfortable rooms and a wonderful place to relax after a day walking or sightseeing with its garden and pool.

HOTEL LE CLOS D, AMBOISE
Located near the pedestrian area of Amboise, the Hotel Le Clos d’Amboise was built in the 17th century and was once a doctor’s mansion. Renovated over the years it has still retained a number of original features.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.