Top Loire Valley Half-day Tours

Live an unforgettable experience in the Loire Valley: in the morning, set off to discover two unmissable castles in the region, Azay-le-Rideau and Villandry. The first, which is considered one of the "jewels of the Loire Valley", will immerse you in the French art of living of the 16h and 19th century and the second will introduce you to the fashion of elegant formal gardens. Wander through the kitchen garden and classical water garden, then attempt to find your way through the maze. Accompanied by your guide, discover the interiors and exteriors of these two chateaux through historical facts and anecdotes. Get your cameras ready!

Enjoy an intimate, grape-to-wine tour of the ins and outs of wine production in the stunning Loire Valley. Go behind the scenes in a family-run Vouvray vineyard, and enjoy a guided walk through the vines, winery, and rock-hewn cellar. Get an exclusive taste of different wine varieties, accompanied by fresh local amuse-bouches. Tours are capped at 12 people for personalized attention.

The sweeping vineyards, lush forests and fairy-tale castles of the Loire Valley are even more impressive from above and this 3-hour hot-air balloon experience is the ideal way to enjoy an aerial view. Float over the UNESCO-listed landscapes of the Loire, Indre or Cher Valleys; spot landmarks like the Chateau of Chenonceau or the gardens of Villandry; then toast your safe landing with a glass of Champagne or sparkling grape juice.

No visit to the Loire Valley region is complete without a winery visit, and this experience makes it easy with guided tours and tastings at two local wine estates. With a regional wine expert as your host, you'll learn all about the 'terroir' as you walk through the vineyards, and discover the local food, too, with samples of cheese and other delicacies.

Discover the wines of the Vouvray appellation, part of the Loire Valley, on this wine-tasting adventure from Tours. Visit two estates to enjoy picturesque vineyard views and learn the proper wine-tasting techniques for comparing different flavors and fragrances. You’ll have the chance to meet a local winemaker and hear about the terrior of the Loire Valley, one of the most renowned in France.

Visit two of the most renowned castles in the Loire Valley—aka French château country—on a day trip from Tours. Château de Chenonceau and Château de Chambord are known for their Renaissance architecture and picturesque riverside settings. With a knowledgeable guide, enjoy views from little-known panoramic spots, and hear historical details and amusing anecdotes about the French kings and other nobles who have lived here. As a bonus, enjoy a relaxing lunch away from the crowds at a private, family-owned château.

Discover the UNESCO-listed landscapes of the Loire Valley, sample regional wines, and visit two magnificent châteaux on this full-day tour. Traveling in a small group ensures a more personalized experience as you visit Chambord and Chenonceau Castles, sample regional wines and cheeses at a local winery.

The Loire Valley is famous for its magnificent châteaux and historic wineries, and this tour from Chinon combines both into an unforgettable lunch date. Enjoy a tour and wine tasting at the Château du Petit Thouars, then select your favorite wine to accompany your romantic picnic lunch, overlooking the idyllic Loire Valley vineyards.

Combine visits to 2 major Loire Valley chateaux on this small-group excursion from Tours, France. With an intimate group of 8 people or fewer, visit le Clos Lucé, the Amboise Royal Castle, and Chenoceau for wine tastings. Skip-the-line entrance to the wineries is included.

Immerse yourself in the idyllic scenery and fine wines of the Loire Valley on this full-day small-group tour from Tours, France. Explore three of the Loire Valley’s fairytale castles – admire the architectural wonders of Blois, see Leonardo da Vinci’s stairwell at Chambord and discover the legacy of Tin Tin at Cheverny. Along the way, stop to sample fine Cheverny wines.

The UNESCO-listed landscapes of the Loire Valley are home to some of France’s most magnificent chateaux and this full-day tour from the cities of Tours or Amboise visits two of them in one day. The fairy-tale Chateau de Chenonceau with its famous stories and the marvel at the Renaissance architecture and beautiful gardens of the Chateau de Chambord.

The Loire Valley is one of the most beautiful regions of France, there are so many places to visit, so let yourself be guided through it! During this enriching guided tour from Amboise, you will discover places that you will not soon forget: two of the most legendary castles of the Loire Valley await you, Azay-le-Rideau and Villandry. In the morning, a more historical guided tour with anecdotes and elements to help you understand the history of these architectural gems, and in the afternoon, a visit to two wine estates in the Vouvray region. Taste the white and sparkling wines of this region of Touraine which extends over nearly 5000 acres and is one of the best-known in France.

Savor views of the beautiful Loire Valley from an unbeatable vantage point – on a hot air balloon ride! Soar over the fairy-tale châteaux, sweeping vineyards and winding waterways of the UNESCO-listed Loire Valley on a thrilling 1-hour flight. Spot iconic landmarks like the Château de Chenonceau and Amboise castle from above, then toast your safe landing with a glass of Champagne.

The region of Chinon is dotted with vineyards, yet it can be hard for tourists to visit them if they don't know the language or wine tasting etiquettes. This vineyard experience makes it easy with a tour created by wine-loving English expatriates who showcase the wine made by Chinon's independent producers. You'll cycle to a selection of winemakers, sample the wine, and enjoy a picnic lunch, too.

Visit the famous Chambord Castle with an English speaking local guide, expert in Loire Valley Castles. This half-day tour includes pick up and drop off in front of Tours tourism office, entrance tickets and guided visit of the Château.

Explore the grounds of the Chateau de Chenonceau on a guided walking tour. Learn about women’s history, people’s beliefs, mysterious graffiti, and much more about the chateau. Check out the interior and grounds as you listen to the fascinating stories the guide tells based on your preference.

Enjoy a small group half-day trip from Tours to the beautiful Château de Chenonceau in the heart of the Loire Valley. Experience a guided visit of the interior of one of the most elegant Chateaus of the Loire.

Embark on an unusual ride aboard a comfortable vintage sidecar. Your gentleman sider will make you discover the unmissable places of Tours and Amboise by traversing magnificent vineyards.

In these times when our society seeks to go ever faster, we are in search of serenity and seek to relive the present moment and to take advantage of it. By strolling in these emblematic cars of our ancestors, by furrowing the Nantes vineyard aboard our 2 Citroën CVs, by breathing the smell of these popular cars, we will be able to travel to the time of our ancestors, this time when we took time to enjoy. We will find the old stones and tread on the clay to taste a selection of muscadets around a wooden barrel, in a castle lost in the middle of the greenery and vineyards. These few hours will allow us to relive these emotions of the past that we have forgotten today.

Develop your photography skills while capturing the magic of Christmas in one of the most beautiful regions of France. Starting at 3.00pm This tour covers both day and night photography of the town.With expert guidance and local knowledge this walking photography tour of Amboise with tuition will ensure you get the best possible images from your visit. Your guide, tutor and local resident, Mark Playle is a prize winning photographer who has shot London Fashion Week, Le Mans 24hr and photographed Daphne Selfe, one of the world’s top Supermodels. His work has been exhibited at The Photography Show in the UK, FESPA Hamburg, FESPA Amsterdam and across Europe. Join us for a bespoke one to one or small group masterclass for the beginner or a photography tour for the seasoned photographer. Customised tours are available. Contact us for details.

Embark on an unusual ride aboard a comfortable vintage sidecar. Your gentleman sider will make you discover the unmissable places of Amboise and Tours by traversing magnificent vineyards.

Nantes is truly a unique city to visit. You will have a chance to visit the Cathedral of Nantes, amazing views and green gardens, and of course a view of the Castle of Duques of Bretagne. You will be able to enjoy much more during this private tour. The tour will be a 3 hour private walking tour. Your private tour guide will show you around the best parts of Nantes. Here is an example of some of the sites that you will enjoy in Nantes: Marc Elder Square Statue Anne of Brittany Castle of Dukes of Brittany Nantes Cathedral Cours Cambronne - Bouffay square Passage Pommeraye Graslin theatre area Fountain de la Place Royale The exact order will depend on the exact starting time. We will arrange the exact itinerary depending on that. The exact time spent in all the locations will also depend on how much time is spent at each.

Develop your photography skills while capturing the magic of one of the most beautiful regions of France. With expert guidance and local knowledge this walking photography tour of Amboise with tuition by Mark Playle will ensure you get the best possible images from your visit. Your guide, tutor and local resident, Mark Playle is a prize winning photographer who has shot London Fashion Week, Le Mans 24hr and photographed Daphne Selfe, one of the world’s top Supermodels. His work has been exhibited at The Photography Show in the UK, FESPA Hamburg, FESPA Amsterdam and across Europe. Join us for a bespoke one to one or small group masterclass for the beginner or a photography tour for the seasoned photographer. Customised tours are available. Contact us for details.

This is a site with many stories: I'll talk about a wide range of subjects including the stories of the women associated with this site, medieval personal hygiene, social status of mistresses, a very famous prisoner, historic graffiti and medieval weapons. My background is not art history, but collections care and the behind the scenes management of historic sites.