Located 213 km from Paris, the Loire Valley is a popular getaway destination in France’s picturesque countryside. On a full-day tour, you can choose to visit three castles of your choice or opt for a guided tour of the grand Chambord Castle and the elegant Chenonceau Castle, with an optional traditional lunch at a privately-owned castle or experience traditional wine-making and tasting at a local winery.
For independent travelers comfortable navigating transfers, public transport offers a flexible, cost-effective way to reach major Loire Valley castles. You’ll need to choose your destination carefully—most castles are near towns served by regional trains and buses, though last-mile access often requires a taxi or bike.
For a seamless way to visit the Loire Valley from Paris, a guided day tour is your best bet. With logistics sorted—from transport to castle tickets—you can focus on the castles themselves. These tours are ideal if you want to see top sights like Chambord and Chenonceau in one day without renting a car or figuring out train connections.
If you’re arriving early or staying longer, the Loire à Vélo cycling route is a scenic way to explore the valley. Some stretches near Amboise and Blois are ideal for casual riders. Bike rentals are available at most town centers or train stations, and the route is well-marked and mostly flat.
Near towns like Saumur or Rochecorbon, you’ll find homes and wineries built into soft limestone cliffs. These troglodyte dwellings give you a glimpse into how people once lived—and some are still inhabited today. A guided visit to a cave winery or mushroom farm is a fun, offbeat experience.
If your trip falls on a market day (like in Blois or Amboise), swing by for fresh produce, cheese, and Loire wines. Some markets even offer tastings. For something more structured, wine cellars in Amboise or Montlouis-sur-Loire offer short tastings perfect for day-trippers.
Some towns like Tours and Amboise offer short river cruises, ideal in warmer months. They give you a different perspective of the castles and the surrounding countryside, especially around sunset. Book ahead if traveling during peak season or weekends.
If you're visiting between April and November, don’t miss the International Garden Festival at Chaumont. Even outside the festival, the estate features permanent garden spaces, contemporary art exhibitions, and river views—all within walking distance from the castle.
Known for its iconic double helix staircase and stunning French Renaissance architecture, it is the largest castle in the Loire Valley.
Most tours leave Paris around 7—8am and return by 7—8:30pm. It’s a full-day trip, so be prepared for an early start.
Yes, but there’s a fair amount of walking and some stairs at the castles. Comfortable shoes and pacing breaks are helpful for both kids and seniors.
It depends on the tour. Typically, you’ll get 1 to 1.5 hours at each castle—enough to explore the highlights at your own pace, unless it is guided.
Some castles have partial accessibility, but not all areas are wheelchair-friendly due to historic architecture. It’s best to check with the tour operator in advance.
Some tours include lunch, others give you time to eat at a local restaurant. Always check the tour inclusions beforehand to know what’s covered.
Yes, you can take a train from Paris to Tours or Blois and rent a car or use local transport from there. It’s doable, but it requires more planning.
Most major castles are open throughout the year, though some may have shorter hours or close parts of the site in winter.
If you're going on a tour, tickets are usually included. If you're visiting on your own, it's a good idea to book in advance (at least 2—4 weeks, depending on the popularity of the castle), especially during busy months.
Small bags or backpacks are usually fine. For larger luggage, it depends on the tour—some don’t have space to store suitcases, so it’s best to ask ahead.
Yes, expect to do a lot of walking—castle interiors, gardens, and grounds can be quite spread out. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
Everything very organized, a very good experience.
It was so convenient to just book one excursion and get to see three castles, as well as have transportation covered. It made planning a lot less stressful. The guide was extremely nice, and our driver was amazing. Definitely recommend!
The castles are very beautiful, the guide Leonor was great, we had a setback with the bus but they solved it, otherwise a good experience.
Skip lines and enjoy a self-guided day trip to three royal Loire Valley castles with round-trip AC transfers.
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it was great, the day went very well, impeccable pick-up and drop-off, our guide Sophie was adorable, available and attentive. Thank you, Sophie!
Two castles, countryside, and quirky tales—cycle the Loire with an expert guide in a small group of 8.
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It was a unique experience. The dinner was delicious in a nice atmosphere with live music with violin and piano. I will definitely book it again. I got in quickly with no lines thanks to the headout entrance!!!!
Sam and Gironde were amazing-professional and always there to help or answer any questions. Thank you both for the great experience.
Chambord and Chenanceau are beautiful fairy tales castles, just like from Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella. The Chateaus and the accompanying countryside make a very relaxing escape from Paris. Our guides on the bus tour, Saeed and Emma, were amazing with their knowledge of the region including both Chateaus and the Medeival town of Blois. Actually, I enjoyed their stories and presentation of the material very much and felt it really made for an enjoyable experience.
Well organised and delivered exactly as promised. Our guides for the day were professional, knowledgeable and helpful. Really good day out
The Chateaux de la loire are beautiful and the 2 palaces - Chambord and Chenonceau each have a unique character. Our guides were very friendly, knowledgeable and knew how to convey the pertinent information with a pinch of humor that most certainly enhanced the liesurely atmosphere. I'd like to pay special compliments to Amit who entertained us a wide range of information and went out of his way in giving us good advice. The tour started on time so I suggest that all future participants get to the meeting place 15 min. ahead of time ( as recommended) and have the time for a heartwarming cup of cafe creme and a fresh butter croissant that will make your day. Dr. Aviv Yaary
Great learning and delightful experience. Very engaged and thoughtful guide. Wish we had more time to spend in each of the chateaus.
We truly enjoyed this tour. Our guide was kind, so knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommend this outing. Thank you.
Aunque el tour fue algo apresurado, algo que siempre ocurre en todos los tours, fue bastante ilustrativo. El recorrido super agradable, salimos y regresamos puntuales. El guía muy informado y atento a todas nuestras preguntas. Una gran experiencia. Lo recomiendo ampliamente.
Paul was such a fantastic guide. Paul's passion was infectious and he was so attentive on making sure we had the best day. I loved the way Paul retold history in a fun and easy to understand way. We had the best day visiting the castles and tasting wine. Our only suggestion would be to stop walking whilst talking, especially on the rocky paths, as we couldn't hear him.
Even the the group tour had only 25 people, the crowd was a bit too loud to hear and discuss things with the professional tour guide. I would have a preffered a smaller group
totally worth the spend. with a Lunch and wine at a local restaurant, we did Wine tasting at Nitray and a wine tasting at Chenonceau
My daughter couldnt get enough of this place. the castle has been inspired by the Disney classic, ‘Beauty and the Beast’.
The organization was great, the information provided by the guide was educational and interesting.
Super lindo el viaje y los guías excelentes!!! Todo muy puntual y bien organizando
Thank you very much. You are awesome. I tried many companies before you and find out that you are the best so far
Easy quick and great communication
Must-visit place! Definitely recommend Headout for booking
Very clear communication from the point of purchase to the pick-up.
Excellent service. Keep the Good work
Its reliable
Great price and deals. Helpful folks on chat!
The ease of booking process and its reliability is very good. Will use again!
Two Loire castles, expert storytelling, wine tasting, and round-trip travel—no planning required.
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Expert English-speaking tour guide
Entrance ticket and reservation fee for all sites visited
Round-trip transfers in an air-conditioned coach
Group of 25 or less
Wine tasting
Free time in Blois
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Entrance to Blois Castle
Hotel pick up/drop off
With castles 35–50 km apart, this small-group tour handles all the logistics, so you can soak up Loire’s royal history, riverside beauty, and timeless wine culture.
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Chambord & Chenonceau Castle day tour
Transport by AC minivan from Tours/Amboise (as per optional selected)
Small group tour of up to 8 people
English-speaking driver-guide
Traditional lunch (as per optional selected)
Chambord Castle
Chenonceau Castle
You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
Three storybook castles by morning, vineyard-hopping by noon—all on a small-group guided day trip.
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