The Loire Valley has seen many of France's kings pass through its regions, the "valley" is known as the Kings Valley. It is probably most famous for the King Francois Ier who was under the crown during the building of some of the most extravagent castles during the renaissance. However, many of the castles in the Loire date from the Medieval period and some even before. Listed as a Unesco World Heritage site, the valley offers so many chateaux, mansions, churches, and abbeys that a visitor can't possibly see it all! On this tour from Blois you will travel toward Amboise and on to Azay le Rideau, passing and visiting numerous chateaux and historical sites. The hiking is mostly over flat terrain and encompasses some vineyards, low river lands, and forests. You can see medieval and renaissance styles including the most famous Chambord.		"We chose the Loire Valley tour which is beautiful scenery and the Castles are unbelievable. This was our first trip abroad and Discover France made it so easy and stress-free: I would highly recommend them and use them again for another Cycling Vacation." - D. Lingle, Loire

Day 1:

Day 2: Loop tour to Chambord. A taxi will transfer you in the morning to
Chambord, where you can visit the stunning château. Then you will have a quiet
walk back to your hotel through the Parc de Chambord forest. Dinner included. (B,D) 11 km hiking.

Chateau de Chambord: it is one of the most recognizable châteaux in the world because of its very distinct French Renaissance architecture that blends traditional medieval forms with classical Italian structures. One of the architectural highlights is the spectacular double-helix open staircase that is the centerpiece of the castle. The two helices ascend the three floors without ever meeting, illuminated from above by a sort of light house at the highest point of the castle. There are suggestions that Leonardo da Vinci may have designed the staircase, but this has not been confirmed.

Day 3: Montlivault to Cheverny. Your destination today is XVIth century castle
and the «Tintin» Château of Moulinsart at Cheverny, famous for its kennels and
trophy room. A taxi will transfer you directly to the château. Take some time to
visit the château before heading to your next hotel via the Etang de la Rousseliere. You stay tonight in a beautiful château in Cheverny. Dinner on your own (B) 11km

Day 4: Cheverny to Amboise: A taxi will transfer you from the château du Breuil
to Amboise, your next destination. Amboise has a rich heritage and there is a lot
to visit today! Your itinerary will take you outside of Amboise to the Pagode de
Chanteloup, a 44 metre tall Chinese Pagoda built in 1775 by the Duke of
Choiseul. The Pagoda is seven levels high, with each level slightly smaller than
the last one. Return to Amboise and overnight in a charming 4* hotel. Dinner on
your own tonight. (B) 12 km

Day 5:Amboise to Chenonceau. A morning taxi transfer will take you to the Cher river valley and the Château de Chenonceau, erected by Henry II in the XVIth century over the Cher river and improved by Catherine de Medici. The castle hides several pieces of historical interest, furniture and tapestries. From the château, you will enjoy a scenic hike along the Cher river, before returning to your hotel. As you overnight in Chenonceau you may be able to enjoy a Sound and Light (Son et Lumière) Show, subject to seasonality. Gastronomic dinner included tonight. (B,D) 10km

Day 6: Chenonceau to Azay le Rideau. A taxi will meet you at your hotel in the
morning and transfer you to the scenic small town of Azay-le-Rideau. There, you
can visit the Musée Maurice Dufresne, with its private collection «Yesterday’s
toys, Today’s dreams» and the amazing collection of restored vehicles. The
Château of Azay-le-Rideau is one of the most elegant creations of the early
Renaissance. Today's walking itinerary will take you along the Indre river. The
charming Cher and Indre Valleys guarantee nice quiet routes through colourful
landscapes. The Son et Lumière Performance «The imaginary world of Azay-le-
Rideau» guarantees a nice evening walk. (B) 12 km.

Day 7: Departure after breakfast.You can take your time with breakfast. Additional nights can be arranged. Transfer back to Saint Pierre des Corps, Tours' TGV station, is
included. (B) Note: this tour can be extended to 8 nights, with a supplement of 210 euros/person.

Price: 1184 euros per person, double occupancy.
Single supplement: 385 euros; single traveler TBD euros.

The trip includes: Take the Virtual Hotel Tour! Included in this package are 6 nights accomodation, all breakfasts, 3 dinners, luggage transfers, taxi transfers as mentionned in the itinerary, arrival and departure transfers, orientation upon arrival, local emergency support, roadbook with detailed itineraries, GPS included. We also include travel planning to add Paris hotels, car rentals, France hotels, trains, airport transfers, and more. Note: Son et Lumiere shows are both seasonal and on certain days of the week. Depending on your dates, you may not be able to catch this each time it is mentioned.

Additional Night: please inquire.

Optional Services:
Travel insurance, Paris museum & metro passes, Paris day tours, Lido shows, and other services. Cell phone rental and luggage storage services.

Note: prices subject to change based upon currency fluctuations. See Booking Terms and Conditions.