Loire Valley châteaux: Chambord, Chenonceau and Villandry (7 days)

Day 1: Journey to Touraine via Chartres

• Morning departure from the pick-up point of your choice.
• Regular breaks: our drivers drive for 3 hours at most, then take a 30-minute break.
• Stop in Chartres and free visit of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame and its stained glass.
• Arrival in the Tours area, check-in at the hotel for 6 nights, dinner.

Day 2: Chambord and Blois

• Drive to Chambord, the largest of the Loire châteaux, with its famous double-helix staircase.
• Guided visit of the Château de Chambord (on request).
• Lunch booked in a restaurant in the area (on request).
• In the afternoon, discovery of Blois and its royal château with the François I staircase.
• Return to the hotel for dinner.

Day 3: Chenonceau and Amboise

• In the morning, the Château de Chenonceau, the “Ladies’ Château” spanning the Cher.
• Guided tour of the Château de Chenonceau and its gardens (on request).
• Free lunch in Amboise, at the foot of the royal château.
• Visit of the Clos Lucé, Leonardo da Vinci’s last home (on request).
• Vouvray wine tasting in a cave cellar (on request).
• Return to the hotel.

Day 4: Free day in Tours

• Free day in Tours (driver’s rest day).
• Stroll through Old Tours, its half-timbered houses and Place Plumereau.
• City tour by little tourist train (on request).
• Visit of St Gatien’s Cathedral and the banks of the Loire.
• Dinner at the hotel.

Day 5: Villandry and Azay-le-Rideau

• Morning in the gardens of Villandry and their famous ornamental kitchen garden.
• Lunch booked in a restaurant in the valley (on request).
• In the afternoon, the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, reflected in the waters of the Indre.
• Return to the hotel for dinner.

Day 6: Fontevraud and Saumur

• Visit of the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud and the tomb effigies of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart.
• Free lunch in Saumur, between the Loire and the château.
• Tasting of Saumur sparkling wine in a cellar (on request).
• Return to the hotel for the farewell dinner.

Day 7: Return to Belgium

• Breakfast and departure from the hotel.
• Regular breaks: our drivers drive for 3 hours at most, then take a 30-minute break.
• Free lunch stop on the way.
• Return in the evening to your region.