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Key Info for Visitors
- Currency: EUR
- Languages: French
- Climate: Oceanic
- Timezone: Europe/Paris
- Population: Approximately 2.1 million people live in the Loire Valley region.
- Best Time to Visit: best time to visit is late spring through early autumn for pleasant weather and open attractions.
- Visa Requirements Visitors from the EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia, and many other countries can enter France visa-free for short stays up to 90 days. Others may require a Schengen visa. Visa on arrival is generally not available. E-visa options are limited; travelers should apply for a Schengen visa in advance if required. Passport validity of at least six months and proof of onward travel are typically required.
About Loire Valley
The Loire Valley, often called the "Garden of France," is a stunning region renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, historic chateaux, and rich cultural heritage. Stretching along the Loire River, it offers a unique blend of natural beauty and architectural grandeur, with over 300 castles dotting the countryside. This UNESCO World Heritage site is famed for its vineyards, charming villages, and vibrant markets. Visitors are drawn to the Loire Valley for its romantic ambiance, outdoor activities like cycling and boating, and the opportunity to explore Renaissance and medieval history firsthand. The region’s mild oceanic climate makes it an ideal destination year-round, with spring and summer showcasing colorful gardens and lively festivals. Food lovers will appreciate the local gastronomy, including fresh produce, fine wines, and traditional French dishes. Whether exploring grand castles, tasting world-class wines, or enjoying peaceful river cruises, the Loire Valley offers a memorable and diverse travel experience.
Top Attractions
1. Château de Chambord – The largest and most iconic Renaissance castle in the Loire Valley, known for its distinctive French defensive architecture and double-helix staircase. 2. Château de Chenonceau – Famous for its elegant arches spanning the River Cher, this castle is rich in history and beautifully maintained gardens. 3. Château d’Amboise – A royal residence with panoramic views of the Loire River, also the final resting place of Leonardo da Vinci. 4. Villandry Gardens – Renowned for its exquisite Renaissance gardens, including ornamental flower beds, vegetable gardens, and water features. 5. The Loire River – Offers scenic boat cruises and opportunities for kayaking, providing a unique perspective on the valley’s natural and architectural beauty.
Popular Activities
Visitors can enjoy cycling along the Loire à Vélo bike routes, exploring the extensive network of trails that pass through vineyards and villages. Wine tasting tours are popular, showcasing the region’s renowned white wines like Sancerre and Vouvray. Cultural experiences include guided tours of historic castles, local artisan markets, and traditional festivals such as the Chinon Wine Festival. Outdoor activities also include river cruises, hiking, and horseback riding. Photography enthusiasts will find endless opportunities to capture the picturesque landscapes and historic architecture.
Loire Valley Tours & Experiences
- Top Attractions: Highlights of France
- Duration Range: Custom Durations
- Group Size: Intimate Groups
- Difficulty Level: Mixed Difficulty
- Recommended For: The best time to visit is late spring through early autumn for pleasant weather and open attractions. Pack comfortable walking shoes, a light rain jacket, and sun protection. Respect local customs such as greeting shopkeepers with “Bonjour” and dining etiquette. The region is generally safe, but keep an eye on personal belongings in crowded areas. Credit cards are widely accepted, but carrying some euros in cash is advisable for small purchases. Learning basic French phrases enhances the experience.
Average Tour Price: $65
Lowest Price Tour: $55
Highest Price Tour: $220
190 Available Tour Excursions in Loire Valley
There are many places where you may fly by a hot air balloon, but a flight in the Loire valley, France is one of the top 10 things to do in this beautiful country...
Price: $274.03
Duration: 3 hours
Discover the whole wine-making process, from grape to wine, with Myriam, the granddaughter and wife of winegrowers from the Vouvray vineyard in the Loire Valley. 3-hour tour including a guided walk in the vines, a tour of the winery and rock-hewn cellar, and a tasting of 6 Loire wines with local finger food. Discover the Vouvray wines and deepen your knowledge of Loire vineyard while enjoying a personalized attention from your local guide on this small-group tour limited to 12 people.
Price: $64.62
Duration: 3 hours
Let us take you to some of the best vineyards in the area - Chinon, Saumur, Bourgueil - and discover the amazing wines - whites, rosés, reds, and sparkling. Walk the vineyards, tour the caves, and taste wines (10+ wines) with the winemakers. Full-day tours include 3 wineries and a homemade picnic lunch served at a vineyard. The lunch or snacks can be added to a half-day tour (for an additional fee) to make a truly French experience. You'll have the opportunity to buy wines at each vineyard and we can arrange shipping services for the wine to be delivered to your home! NOTE: Pickup originating from a 10km radius of Chinon. If it's a one-person, private tour, there is a 60 euro surcharge. For pickup locations in Saumur, an additional fee will be added.
Price: $275.23
Duration: 3-7 hours
I live in Chartres and I am a certified guide to Chartres cathedral who can give you a profound vision of this gothic wonder.
Price: $311.12
Duration: 1 hours
Let us take you to some of the best vineyards in the area - Amboise, Vouvray, Touraine - and discover the amazing wines - whites, rosés, reds, and sparkling. Walk the vineyards, tour the caves, and taste wines (10+ wines) with the winemakers. Full-day tours include 3 wineries and a homemade picnic lunch served at a vineyard. The lunch or snacks can be added to a half-day tour (for an additional fee) to make a truly French experience. You'll have the opportunity to buy wines at each vineyard and we can arrange shipping services for the wine to be delivered to your home! NOTE: Pickup originating from a 5km radius of Amboise or Tours. If it's a one-person, private tour, there is a 60 euro surcharge.
Price: $329.07
Duration: 3-7 hours
In a fun and educational way, travel this part of the Loire Valley, which could well be the cradle of Sauvignon in France... Why has this grape earned its reputation through the ages and why is it so different in taste from those found in the rest of the world? Your local guide will share his 14 years of experience and knowledge in Sancerrois by visiting villages, castles, plots and cellars and introducing you to wine and its production techniques. A real tasting trip around wine and goat cheese (another local specialty)! MINIMUM ATTENTION OF 2 PEOPLE TO BOOK AND POSSIBILITY TO COME FROM PARIS BY TRAIN (consult us)
Price: $203.43
Duration: 8 hours
I'm formerly of Devon in the United Kingdom but now live in Chinon. I've always cycled and loved my bike, and for the best part of my adult life, always loved wine... this is me! With my family, I now find ourselves living amongst vineyards, with wine producers creating something very special on our doorstep. Chinon wine is recognised as being very special across France, yet throughout the rest of the world it's lesser known and we're keen to spread the word about the local wine through vineyard tours! We spent years and years holidaying in France before moving here, never quite summoning up the courage to head in through the big barn doors of a wine producer, but now we've started we can't stop! This type of visit is so important to many independent producers, and we're now keen to share this experience with you. First and foremost our vineyard tours by bike are designed to be a fun experience, for you, family and friends to make the most of your time in the Chinon area.
Price: $155.56
Duration: 5-6 hours
Discover the largest vineyard of French white wines, the vineyard of Nantes and its multiple appellations and rare grape varieties. Your guide is a passionate character living in the heart of the vineyard and more particularly in the appellation Muscadet Sèvre et Maine. It will make you discover unusual places along the river or in the hills overlooking the Loire. You will participate in a tasting in the vineyards and you will end your excursion in a winery with the winemaker for a visit and tastings.
Price: $95.73
Duration: 4 hours
Our vast domain brings together different activities in one place. We offer a 10-minute Towed Buoy session on a large dedicated body of water. Towed by a powerful water ski boat, you will experience a moment full of sensations. Depending on the package chosen, alone or with 4 other people, enjoy one or more towed buoy sessions to experience unique sensations. It's the ideal activity for a group of friends or family!
Price: $28.72
Duration: 1 hours
Experience a full-day wine tour in the famous Loire Valley, accompanied by a local and expert guide. Your day will include two visits of local wineries followed by tastings of local white & red wines (fees included). At lunch time, stop in Chinon, a picturesque town dominated by its castle. There, you will have time to visit the town, and your guide will indicate the best places to try some local specialties (at your own expense). The full-day trip will also include the transportation from and to Tours city center.
Price: $185.48
Duration: 8 hours
Get carried by the wind in an unforgettable adventure in the heart of the Loir-et-Cher Book your balloon flight now and discover the Loire Valley from a unique angle. Every time you take off, you’re close to an iconic castle in the area, offering spectacular views from the very first few minutes. During about an hour of flight, you will fly over incredible landscapes, forests, fields, vineyards and rivers, while enjoying the calm and serenity of the altitude. A magical experience, perfect for lovers of nature, history and adventure.
Price: $274.03
Duration: 3-4 hours
The best of Tours in an hour. Your gentleman sider will make you discover the unmissable places of the city as well as unusual places, comfortably installed in a beautiful vintage sidecar.
Price: $119.66
Duration: 1 hours
Go on an adventure on our vast domain behind the wheel of our 4x4 equipped crossing! The 4x4 business was launched in 2005 and has grown steadily since. The 4x4 fleet is made up of 12 vehicles to date, which allows us to accommodate large groups. Alone or in pairs, you will experience moments rich in emotions at the wheel of our 4x4 crossing: Ascent downhill, slopes and quagmires are on the program. Beginner or experienced our domain and its vast area dedicated to 4x4 will ensure you a moment full of emotion. You will receive a full briefing and then you will be supervised from a distance, throughout the hike by an instructor.
Price: $58.64
Duration: 2 hours
This tour is private, only your party. The tour includes a round trip TGV train ticket from Paris, do not waste hours in a bus in the middle of the traffic. Sleep one night in a private château when available or troglodyte suite. Visit the famous castles of: Chambord, Amboise, the Clos Lucé, Chenonceau, Chaumont sur Loire with your French American guide and taste the delicate wines of the region. Everything is included: round trip train tickets from Paris, Loire Valley transportation, tour guide, castle entrances, breakfast, lunch, gourmet diner, wine tour & tastings and accommodation. The following day in the evening, you are returned to the train station on your way back to Paris. This is a private tour limited to 6 persons. This tour is run by Luc Bonhomme, owner and former Loire valley wine importer for the USA. By the end of the tour, you will have gain a good knowledge of the Loire valley wines. Read more about this special two-day Loire Valley experience!
Price: $2,393.27
Duration: 48 hours
The vineyard of Anjou is a pleasure for both the eyes and the palate. The charming village of Savennières, famous for its dry white Chenin production. Enjoy a stroll in the vineyards while your guide presents the vineyard of Anjou. Then visit a famous vineyard of Coteaux du Layon or Coteaux de l'Aubance.
Price: $105.30
Duration: 4-8 hours
An unforgettable journey back in time. The castle is still in its state DE 1640, when the last owners Check-out. 1000 years DE history. An exceptional experience not to be missed.
Price: $9.57
Duration: 0 hours
What we have left are memories. It is so important to have memories for all we experienced, saw, did, and most importantly, the memories of our loved ones and WITH our loved ones. I will be so happy to create all this for you. I feel how unique we all are, I respect you, I join you, I guide you and I also let you be you. I see how beautiful people are and I am delighted to show them how I see them. I always create photos and memories I would love to have myself ♥ As an award winning photographer, with clients who come back to work with me from all over the world to my little village in France, I hope to create something beautiful and unique also for you. I also offer photos in gardens of Chenonceau, Chaumont sur Loire and in the vineyards and nature, as well in the gardens and rooms of beautiful chateau hotels my clients are staying at. Just contact me if you want something special!
Price: $358.99
Duration: 1 hours
One of the best ways to see the Loire Valley is on a bike, so will be taking you on a slow cycle ride beside the mighty Loire River, our tour will give you an insight to life and times of this area. Stopping along the way discover a pilgrim church that pre-dates Lourdes and one of the few places that Champagne is made outside of the protected area. There is also a chance to vist a troglodyte village on our way back from our tastings. You will get to learn the significance of Saumur as a city and its place in history. The places we will degust the wine are the pinnacle of this region and stepped in history. Without giving too much away the Chateau we visit has been in the same family since 1655. You will get the opportunity to buy the wine from both places. In between the tastings we will stop for a well earned picnic French style. We have been around the area for 20 years so while meandering along on our bikes we can give you an insight to the rest of the region.
Price: $202.23
Duration: 5-6 hours
1. Choose Your Tour
Browse our curated selection of tours and select your perfect adventure.
2. Check Details
Review tour inclusions, duration, and meeting points carefully.
3. Book Online
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4. Enjoy Your Experience
Join the tour and create unforgettable memories in Loire Valley.
Important Tour Information
- Bring comfortable walking shoes and appropriate clothing
- Check tour cancellation and refund policies
- Arrive at the meeting point at least 15 minutes early
- Carry valid identification and tour booking confirmation
Frequently Asked Questions
Local Food & Cuisine
The Loire Valley’s cuisine is a delightful mix of fresh, local ingredients and traditional French cooking. Signature dishes include rillettes (slow-cooked pork spread), goat cheese from the region, freshwater fish like pike and perch, and game meats. The area is famous for its white wines, particularly Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc varieties. Dining customs emphasize leisurely meals paired with local wines. Noteworthy restaurants include La Table de la Bergerie in Amboise and Les Hauts de Loire near Blois, both offering refined regional dishes in charming settings.
Getting Around
The Loire Valley is accessible by train from Paris (approximately 1.5 to 2 hours) to cities like Tours, Orléans, and Angers. Local buses and taxis serve smaller towns, but public transport can be limited for rural chateaux. Renting a car is recommended for maximum flexibility to explore the countryside and reach remote attractions. Bicycle rentals are also popular for scenic rides along the river. Costs for public transport are moderate, while car rental prices vary depending on the season and vehicle type.
Travel Tips
The best time to visit is late spring through early autumn for pleasant weather and open attractions. Pack comfortable walking shoes, a light rain jacket, and sun protection. Respect local customs such as greeting shopkeepers with “Bonjour” and dining etiquette. The region is generally safe, but keep an eye on personal belongings in crowded areas. Credit cards are widely accepted, but carrying some euros in cash is advisable for small purchases. Learning basic French phrases enhances the experience.
Culture & Customs
The Loire Valley culture is deeply rooted in French traditions, with a strong emphasis on history, gastronomy, and wine. Social customs include polite greetings and formal dining manners. Local festivals celebrate wine harvests, medieval history, and regional crafts. Visitors should be respectful of quiet village life and dress modestly when visiting religious sites. Tipping is customary but modest, usually around 5-10% in restaurants. The region values preservation of its heritage, so sustainable tourism practices are encouraged.
