Group Tour Operator for holidays to Chantilly, France
Chaumont International Garden Festival & Châteaux of the Loire Valley
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Château d'Azay le Rideau
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Chateau de Chenoneau ©Chateau de Chenoneau, Marc Jauneaud
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Château de Villandry
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Chaumont International Garden Festival - The Zapping Garden ©Ophélie Le Coze
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Chaumont International Garden Festival - Between Dream and Reality ©Ophélie Le Coze
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Chaumont International Garden Festival - The Cannes Festival ©Ophélie Le Coze
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Chaumont International Garden Festival - Truman's Garden ©Ophélie Le Coze
Considered to have once been the favourite region of French Kings, the Loire Valley boasts a rich and regal history. The area is full of treasures that are waiting to be discovered as it is brimming with vineyards, historic towns and architecture. The majestic châteaux that are dotted throughout are one of the main draws of the area. Each of the châteaux has its own unique character, but all of them are equally wonderful. From geometric gardens to reflective lakes that are the stuff of fairytales, there is something for everyone. This stunning region features on the UNESCO World Heritage list and is renowned for its wine production.
Chaumont International Garden Festival is an annual event where landscape architects, artists, and designers create experimental gardens that combine plants, sculpture, architecture, lighting, sound, and technology. Following a different theme each year, many of the installations explore biodiversity, climate change, water conservation, recycled materials, and sustainable planting. The gardens are part of the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, alongside a historic château, parkland, and views over the Loire Valley. The gardens are highly photogenic, with unusual perspectives, seasonal changes, and striking combinations of colour and texture.
Boasting more than 20 châteaux, you don’t have to travel far through this province before you find one. Based in Tours, this tour allows you to visit the very best of the Loire châteaux. You can also enjoy the glorious gardens that surround the castles. Lose yourself in the spectacular Renaissance gardens at the Château de Villandry. Furthermore, in the nearby Caves des Producteurs de Vouvray allows you to sample wine, one of the region’s specialities. Tours and Blois are both picturesque locations, full of historical sites.
Dates
Selected dates in 2027 & 2028
Suggested itinerary by coach
Day 1
Depart the UK
Travel to Dover and take the short sea ferry crossing to France. Continue through France, stopping for an overnight in the Rouen area. Check-in, relax and enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.
Day 2
Travel to Tours via Château de Chenonceau and Wine Tasting
En-route to Tours, which will be our base for the next 4 nights, a visit will be made of the Château de Chenonceau, arguably the most impressive and memorable of all the châteaux in the Loire Valley. As soon as you start to walk down the long tree lined avenue towards the castle you will be impressed by the castle and its setting Visit both the castle and the extensive surrounding gardens, including the gardens of Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poitiers. (Entrance included/guided tours optional)
From here continue to Vouvray for a wine tasting at the Cave des Producteurs before arriving at the hotel. Enjoy dinner in the hotel and an evening at leisure.
Day 3
Tours at Leisure (driver’s rest day)
Tours is a university town but was once a Gallic-Roman settlement and is a traditional gateway for exploring the Château of the Loire Valley.
Major landmarks in the town include the cathedral Saint-Gatien which a flamboyant Gothic facade. Wander around the historic centre with its half-timbered houses and the bustling Place Plumerau.
Enjoy dinner in the hotel this evening.
(Optional guided walking tours available)
Day 4
Two Châteaux – One Day!
A full day exploring two of the more popular Châteaux in the Loire Valley.
After breakfast, make a visit to Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, an excellent example of French Renaissance which is built on a small island in the Indre. The château’s most prominent feature is the grand central staircase which rises in straight flights rather than in a spiral, and is the oldest surviving staircase of this kind in France. The English style landscaped gardens were designed in the 19th century.
Last but not least, Château de Villandry, a grand country house renowned for its magnificent gardens. With its unique furnishings, décor and atmosphere, the château is a living testimony of French heritage. There are 7 gardens – the Kitchen Garden and Orchard; ornamental garden and water garden; the Ornamental Kitchen Garden; the Love Garden and the Garden of the Crosses; the Music Room; the Herb Garden; the Maze, the Sun Garden and the Water Garden.
Do not forget your cameras!
Return to the hotel for dinner and a relaxing evening.
Day 5
Blois & Chaumont International Garden Festival
This morning we travel to Blois, a historic city in the Loire Valley with wonderful views over the river. It is best known for its royal château and atmospheric old town. The château, a striking combination of Gothic, Renaissance, and Classical architecture, was home to several French kings and is closely associated with figures such as Louis XII, Francis I, and Catherine de’ Medici. The old town is characterised by lanes lined with half-timbered houses, stone stairways. A hilltop cathedral overlooks the river, near the formal gardens of the former bishop’s palace.
After lunch we continue to the Domaine de Chaumont to visit the International Garden Festival, a prestigious landscape event, where the festival transforms the grounds of the historic Château de Chaumont into a laboratory of contemporary landscape design each year. Since its inception in 1992, the festival has served as a global stage for landscape architects, designers, artists, and students to experiment with new concepts. It is renowned for its commitment to creativity, environmental awareness, and the fusion of art and nature.
Return to the hotel for a final dinner and evening in the Loire Valley.
Day 6
Depart Loire Valley and travel to Rouen
Sadly, it’s time to leave the châteaux behind and start the homeward bound journey, once again stopping overnight in Rouen. On arrival, there may be some free time to explore the city, also known as the ‘City of a Hundred Spires’, and maybe see the flamboyant Gothic Cathedral and other iconic attractions before dinner at the hotel.
Day 7
Return to the UK
Depart after breakfast for the ferry port and take the short sea ferry crossing to the UK.
Greatdays can offer a selection of good 3* and 4* hotels in Tours/Loire Valley
Although entrances are included to the châteaux in the itinerary, we can also provide professional and experienced guides – please ask for further details.
| Departure date | 7 days / 6 nights | Single Supplement |
|---|---|---|
| April – October 2027 & 2028 | From £995.00 per person | From £359.00 per person |
