The Loire Valley is within a two-hour drive from Paris. The main thing that attracts thousands of visitors a year to the area is the vast number of beautiful French Castles.
Whether you’re in Paris for a week or only a day or two, I highly recommend taking a trip to the countryside.
Booking a guided tour is one of the best ways to explore the Loire Valley if you are short one time.
On our first trip to Paris, I only had three days to fit in all my must-see locations.
We ended up booking a guided tour for the day, and it was one of the best decisions we made. We opted for the Loire Castles, Wine Tasting, and Lunch Tour.
It includes transportation for the day, admission to two of the most popular castles in the area, and lunch with wine tasting at a quaint family-run vineyard.
This guide takes you through our day trip from Paris to the Loire Valley. If you are interested in alternative tours, scroll down to the end of the post for additional options.
Getting to the Loire Valley
The tour conveniently picks you up outside the Paris Catacombs in the morning. We were joined by about 15 other people from around the world.
From there, you will make your first stop to Chambord. The two tour guides were amazing. They made the long drive to the countryside fly by with their insightful stories about the Kings and Queens who inhabited the area.
Stop #1: Château de Chambord
Your first stop is the Château de Chambord. Chambord was commissioned by François I, but construction was not completed until the reign of Louis XVI, who used it primarily as a hunting lodge.
It is known for its extravagant double helix staircase inspired by the work of Leonardo da Vinci. The castle is massive with over 400 rooms, 282 staircases, and almost 80 staircases sitting on 13,000 acres of the french countryside.
The nice thing about being part of a tour group is an immediate entry. Chambord is one of the most popular Loire Valley castles and is therefore busier. However, it was pretty quiet when we arrived.
Once inside, you can walk around freely and enjoy the castle. Your tour guides are readily available to throw in snippets of information or answer questions you may have.
READ MORE: Visitor’s Guide to Château de Chambord
The one downside of joining the tour is you will not have enough time to explore the grounds and stables.
If you can spend half a day there, I recommend getting the Chambord Passport. It includes admission to both the grounds and castle, a horse and birds show, and discounts on equipment.
For even more information, visit Chambord.org.
Stop #2: Lunch at Château de Nitray
Next, you will stop at a family-run vineyard known as Château de Nitray for lunch and wine-tasting. You will be welcomed with glasses of wine and brought to this cozy room where the family serves you lunch. This is by far the best part of the day!
The homemade meal is served family style in a large room. Lunch was chicken with potatoes and vegetables, accompanied by cheeses from the local area.
As you eat, the family introduces their variety of wines that they pair with your meal. Unlike other tastings I have been to, they were not at all stingy about their wine. The owner supplied us with an infinite amount and even joined us for the meal.
After that, you take a tour around the property ending with some purchases. The hospitality of the owners and the quality and price of the wine made it a highlight of the day.
Whether you decide to join a tour group or travel the Loire alone, I highly recommend stopping by this local vineyard for a tasting, they will make you feel right at home!
Stop #3: Château de Chenonceau
Your last stop is the fairy tale Château de Chenonceau. Although much smaller than Chambord, it was my favorite of the two. It is well worth a trip to the Loire Valley to see.
Chenonceau is nicknamed “The Ladies Château” as it has been influenced and preserved by many famous women since its construction. It is most known for being the home of Diane de Poitiers and eventually Catherine de Medici.
On the ride over, your guides tell you the captivating story of Henri II, his wife Catherine de Medici, and the well-loved Diane de Poitiers.
There are many things to do when visiting Chenonceau. Make sure to explore the beautiful gardens around the castle and the flower garden and maze.
There are also a couple of different restaurants on the estate that offer a variety of food. The Orangerie is a beautiful fine-dining restaurant located in the Green Garden.
If you are spending the day there, make sure to pack a picnic, there are many areas where you can sit down and enjoy a meal.
READ MORE: Visitor’s Guide to Château de Chenonceau
After visiting the chateau and gardens, head over to the Caves des Dômes for a private wine tasting in their cellars. From there, you’ll jumped on the bus and head back to Paris.
If you are visiting the Loire Valley on your own, you will have more time to explore. Check out my post, Trip to the Loire Valley: Castles, Vineyards, Tours, and More for additional things to do.
Other Day Tours from Paris
City Wonders is just one of the tour groups that offer tours in the Loire Valley. Get Your Guide is another popular tour group with lots of great reviews. Here are some other popular options:
Full-Day Castle Tour – Discover three magical castles, Chenonceau, Chambord, and Amboise. This small-group tour picks you up and drops you back off from Paris. It also includes free admission to the castles and audio guides if requested. This is a good option if you want to explore more castles instead of an afternoon wine tasting.
Wine Tours France – This company offers tours for all different regions of France. Their packages combine wine tastings and visits to several castles. They also provide private and custom tours with a variety of locations to visit.
Chambord Wine Tasting & Lunch – This tour picks you up from Paris, and is very similar to the one I experienced. However, you visit one castle and two vineyards. This tour includes entrance and audioguide to Château de Chambord and wine tastings at two local vineyards. Enjoy lunch during one of the tastings.
Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting – This is a very intimate tour with a total of 12 people per group. You will visit a family-owned Vouvray Vineyard (my favorite white wine!) in the Loire Valley. The experience includes a tour of the vines, cellar, and winery. They will teach you all about the winemaking process. Best of all, they offer finger foods during your tasting.
Conclusion
I had a wonderful experience exploring the countryside and would recommend this tour to anyone.
The guides were both friendly and entertaining and made the journey experience that much more enjoyable.
If you have the time or want the flexibility, you can easily explore the Loire Valley on your own by car. Either way, it is one of the best day trips from Paris and an experience you will always remember.
Enjoyed this post? Here are some other French destinations!
South Of France
- Top 10 Most Beautiful Villages in Provence, France
- How to Spend 3 Days in Provence, France
- 10 Best Towns in Provence, France
Paris
- The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Trip to Paris
- Ultimate 5 Days in Paris Itinerary & Day Trip Ideas
- Top 20 Best Things to Do in Paris
- Visiting the Palace of Versailles: First Timer’s Guide
- The Most Charming Cities Near Paris
- 20 of the Prettiest Streets in Paris
Loire Valley
Travel Planning Resources
BOOK YOUR FLIGHT
Skyscanner is one of the top search engines for finding and booking flights. They price check over 1,200 travel sites to help you find the best prices.
BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION
Booking.com is one of the best sites to book hotels and vacation rentals. They offer some of the cheapest rates and different payment options.
SCHEDULE YOUR TOURS
Get Your Guide is one of the top sites for tours, excursions, and activities. Viator is another terrific website for all types of experiences.
GET YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE
World Nomads is one of the top travel insurance companies. It will cover you if you must cancel your trip or if something unexpected happens.
Check out the resource page for additional travel planning resources.
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