Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1
Group Pick-Up at St. Pierre des Corps Rail Station, Hotel Check-in, Dinner in a 13th century castle - D

Chateau des Tertres Hotel for Off the Beaten Path loire valley tours "Meet and greet" by your tour guide at 3:30 PM at St. Pierre des Corps TGV Rail Station. We transfer as a group to our historical 2nd Empire Chateau Hotel, Chateau des Tertres, for our cultural and gourmet adventure in the heart of the LOIRE VALLEY. Enjoy a warm welcome from our friends, Chateau hosts Bernard & Christine with a glass of Touraine wine or another refreshing beverage while settling into your room. Borrow a bike and ride about as you wish, enjoy a walk into the local village or simply relax on the garden terrace before dinner.

DINNER: Gourmet dinner this evening at a Michelin star restaurant in a 13th century castle overlooking the Loire River. Our select restaurant has also been rated and recommended by world renowned 3-star Michelin, French Chef Alain Ducasse.

Day 2

Day 2
Discovering Blois: Shop and Explore the Weekly Market, Tour of Blois Castle, Visit Historic Town, Evening and Dinner: Cooking Class with Master Chef Damien Garanger - B, D

Buffet breakfast. Morning: Prior to our visit of the historic town of Blois and it's royal castle, we'll introduce you to the French tradition of shopping at the weekly open market. From local artisan products to French linens, paintings, clothes, food, artwork and locally made jewelry, the market brings an unparalleled livelihood to villages and towns of the region. Take time to explore the market and shop. Afterwards, we visit Blois Castle followed by time to explore the castle and historic town at leisure. We'll share stories about some of the most note worthy events of French history, important accomplishments by the French monarchy, details of the rigors of daily life during the Renaissance and quirky facts about royal marriages and deaths. Lunch independently in Blois.

Early Evening and Dinner: Participate in the first of three recreational cooking classes with Master Chef Damien Garanger. Damien is a Michelin star trained chef with experience that has taken him on culinary adventures around the world. After having traveled extensively to places such as Cyprus and Moscow, he has returned to his native Loire Valley to share his culinary experience and knowledge at his family restaurant; adding a new and tasteful twist to regional recipes using local, seasonal ingredients. We will prepare a full three course gourmet dinner to include an appetizer, main course and dessert. After class, we toast the evening together with a regional cocktail followed by a gourmet feast of recipes prepared in classed.

Day 3

Day 3
Discovering Amboise: Explore and Shop at Amboise Weekly Market, Tour of Amboise Royal Castle, Visit Historic Village, Afternoon: Tour Chenonceau Castle & Gardens, Evening: Culinary Class with Friends, Master Chefs Christophe and Angelique at Their Home - B, D

Buffet breakfast. Morning: Prior to our visit at the royal castle of Amboise, there will be time to explore Amboise's weekly open market. Again, from local artisan products to French linens, paintings, clothes, food, artwork and locally made jewelry, the market brings an unparalleled livelihood to Amboise, and offers a wonderful opportunity to experience local culture at its' busiest time of the week. Afterwards: a guided visit of the Chateau of Amboise followed by time to explore at leisure. Today's visit includes stories of royal accidents, more stories of some of France's most important historical events, an attempted kidnapping, as well as royal love affairs and the death of royal guest, Leonardo da Vinci. Lunch independently in historic Amboise village.


Afternoon: Tour of the Castle of Chenonceau: visit of the Chateau & gardens of Chenonceau - a castle shaped by women, this castle represents the greatest accomplishments of royal women during the Middle Ages and French Renaissance. Enjoy stories of Queens and their courts, royal love affairs, parties and deception and how royal debt nearly led this castle to be confiscated by the French state.



Early Evening and Dinner: Participate in the second of three recreational, hands-on culinary classes. Tonight we cook with two of France's highest rated Master Chefs, a husband and wife team, Christophe and Angelique. Christophe is Director of the Val de Loire Culinary Arts school and Angelique is a Professeur de Cuisine in the Val de Loire region. Both are passionate about the culinary arts and have received top awards from and along with Paul Bocuse, Alain Ducasse and Joel Robuchon. Christophe is currently featured on gourmet television in France, as one of the Loire Valley's most highly recognized and talented Chefs. We will prepare cocktail treats and a full three course gourmet dinner to include an appetizer, main course and dessert. Following cooking class, we'll enjoy cocktails with our Chefs followed by a gourmet dinner of the recipes prepared together during cooking class accompanied by Mesland Organic wines at our Chef's home.

Day 4

Day 4
Discovering the Southern Touraine: Tour Langeais Castle and Villandry Castle & Gardens, Early Dinner Independently in Amboise, Evening: Hot Air Ballooning - B

Buffet breakfast. Morning: Winding our way along the Vienne & Loire Rivers, the feudal fortress of Chateau de Langeais reflects a perfect example of military gothic style built by French King Louis XI. Learn about one of the most important royal marriages that would forever change the future of France, and imagine life in the 15th century with the castle's abundant collection of period furniture.



Afternoon: we visit the Chateau de Villandry and its' Renaissance Gardens. Learn about the numerous owners of the castle and how after the castle's gardens were left in ruin for centuries, one man discovered a very important document in order to re-create the original Francis I Renaissance gardens. The unique Renaissance gardens of Villandry are among the most fascinating gardens of France and of the World. Villandry's Ornamental Gardens, Water Garden, Herb Garden and kitchen Garden have an international fame.


Set off into the sunset on a beautiful hot air balloon this evening with our friend, professional pilot, Charles. Following your sunset flight floating above the castles of the Loire Valley, we top off this once in a lifetime experience with Champagne aperitif and awards certificates.

DINNER: Early dinner independently in Amboise village prior to hot air ballooning.

Day 5

Day 5
Morning: Tour Chambord Castle, Afternoon: Tour Cheverny Castle, Evening and Dinner: Culinary Class with Friend, Master Chef Christophe Cosme - B, D

Morning: we visit the Castle of Chambord. An architectural masterpiece, thought to have been the masterpiece of Leonardo da Vinci, yet never proven, you will hear stories about two of France's most influential Kings, Francis I and Louis XIV, their royal lifestyles and personal guests at the castle, as well as stories of Louis XIII's brother, Gaston d'Orleans. Lunch independently at Chambord.



Following our visit at Chambord, we continue on to the Chateau of Cheverny. An original jewel among the most famous castles of the Loire Valley, the Castle of Cheverny was built during the reign of Louis XIII in the classical style. The castle boasts a distinguished symmetrical architecture that began to appear in France in the early 17th century. Its delicate features also stand out through the perfect whiteness of the stones, quarried from Bourre in the Cher Valley. This stone not only comes out white, but also hardens over time. Regarding the owner, time for stories of ownership, fraud to the state, the castle as a gift to royal mistresses and the castle's hunting reputation.


Early Evening and Dinner: Participate in the third of three recreational culinary classes with our friend and Michelin Star, Master Chef, Christophe Cosme. Christophe has had the great pleasure of working with the late Bernard Loiseau and ever talented Christian Willer before venturing out into the culinary world on his own, and opening his gem of a restaurant in the late 1990's. Under Loiseau and Willer, Christophe learned the importance of quality ingredients, which awaken the senses and bring out the unique flavours of the local "terroir". Christophe welcomes us to prepare gourmet Loire Valley recipes with him in his professional kitchen at his restaurant situated along the Loire River. We will prepare a full three course gourmet dinner to include an appetizer, main course and dessert. After class, we toast to another enjoyable culinary experience together with a local cremant.

Dinner: Evening cocktail with our Chef followed by a gourmet feast of the recipes prepared during cooking class.

Day 6

Tour Conclusion - BBuffet breakfast. Trip concludes today with a 10 am arrival to Tours: St. Pierre des Corps Rail Station.

Special Note: Our Loire Valley Tours ONLY include light "leisure walking" at the castles and in villages that is appropriate for ALL travelers.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

--Full-time services of a professional Off the Beaten Path Expert Guide/Tour Leader who is a wine and culinary professional, and serves as guests liaison during this fully escorted Loire Valley tour program.

Exclusions -

Personal expenses incurred during the tour and at the hotel

Extras -

ACTIVITY LEVEL: 10% Moderate, 90% Easy

TOUR BEGINS:
Group pick-up : Your guide meets you and the other Guests of the group on Tour start date at 3:30 PM at the St. Pierre des Corps TGV station, Tours, France. To reach the meeting location for the Tour, travelers take the TGV (high speed train) either directly from the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to the St. Pierre des Corps TGV Rail Station or from the Gare de Montparnasse in downtown Paris to the St. Pierre des Corps TGV Rail Station. TGV Travel time is approximately 1 hours/10 minutes from downtown Paris.

TOUR ENDS:
Group drop-off on Tour end date at 10 AM at St. Pierre des Corps TGV rail station.