France Driving Holiday to the Loire Valley

At a glance

Trip Summary

After checking into your Vineyard View room at Hotel Panoramic on the first day, and enjoying a welcome bottle of Sancerre in your room, the remainder of the afternoon and evening will be free to settle in and enjoy your pleasant surroundings.

After breakfast on day two, you will be met at the hotel by an English-speaking specialist driver/guide, who will accompany you throughout the day on a private basis.

During the course of the day, you will visit various vineyards, where your guide will explain in detail the specifics of the unique terroir which allows the appellation to produce its world-famous Sauvignon Blanc, and the work which takes place throughout the year. In the morning, you will visit a highly-regarded producer of Sancerre wines for a private tour of the wine-making process from press to bottle and tastings of five wines. You will also taste the local Crottin de Chavignol goat’s cheese with a reputed cheese affineur. There will be free time for lunch and your guide will be more than happy to suggest a suitable restaurant depending on how hungry you are feeling on the day. Before being taken back to the hotel at the end of the afternoon, you will be taken to visit a winery across the river in Pouilly-Fumé for a private tour and tastings of five wines in a different style to those tasted earlier in the day.

After a leisurely breakfast and check out on day three, drive to the Touraine region. The driving time will be just over two hours and en route, stop at the breath-taking Château de Chenonceau, one of the finest examples of the Loire Valley’s majestic historic Châteaux. Here, you will have plenty of time to explore with an audio-guided tour. You may wish to have lunch at the Château itself or alternatively, the pretty riverside town of Amboise is just a short drive away.

You will then continue your journey to the magnificent 4* Domaine de la Tortinière, a family-owned Château located in a 15-hectare wooded park with views across the Indre Valley. After checking in, the remainder of the day will be yours to relax and truly luxuriate in your picture-perfect surroundings. We would be very pleased to reserve you a table for dinner in the bistro-style or gastronomic restaurant this evening.

After breakfast on day four, you will be met by another English-speaking specialist driver/guide who will accompany you throughout the day on a private basis. The morning will be spent sampling the best wines from Vouvray appellation. You will be taken on a private tour of the estate and cellars of a highly-regarded producer, and your visit will conclude with tastings of a selection of the estate’s wines alongside local delicacies such as cheese and rillettes. Your journey of discovery will continue and take you to a 15^th Century wine-making Château in the Chinon appellation, where you will be welcomed by the Count and Countess of the estate. Following a private visit to the Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc vineyards and a tour of the cellars, a tasting session will take place in the Château’s historic tasting room. A picnic lunch with a bottle of wine will then be served in the stunning grounds of the Château. Your day will conclude with a private tour at a second winery in the Chinon appellation.

After breakfast and check out on day five, drive an hour to the town of Saumur, and check into the charming 18th Century Hotel Anne d’Anjou, a hotel rich in history, including the façade which is a listed historic monument. After settling in, take a short walk into the town and visit a local winery. This family run winery is the last of the great independent Saumur family houses and boast cellars carved out of tuffeau stone. Here you will enjoy a private tour and tastings of the region’s famous Crémants. In the evening we will reserve you a table for dinner at a nearby restaurant. You will be able to order à la carte and make payment locally on the evening.

On day six, check out of the hotel and drive an hour to the beautiful Château de Noirieux, located in a rural setting close to the city of Angers. After checking in, you will be met by another English-speaking specialist driver/guide who will accompany you throughout the day on a private basis. Today, you will learn all about Muscadet wines and during the course of the day, you will be taken to three local estates. A delicious lunch will be served in a local restaurant.

On the penultimate day of your trip, your guide will return and accompany you on another day of tours, this time to discover the Anjou and Savennières vineyards. You will be taken to three different wineries where you will have the opportunity to tour the estates as well as the wine-making facilities. Each private visit will be followed by a tasting session of the estate’s wines. Your guide will take you to a traditional restaurant for lunch and you will be able to taste authentic French cuisine. You will be taken back to Château de Noirieux at the end of the day

On your final morning check out and make your way back to Calais for your return Eurotunnel crossing. The driving time will be approximately five hours and we would be very pleased to arrange an overnight stay en route if you would like to break up the journey.

Region Map

Outline Itinerary

Day Three

• After breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive to the Touraine region.
• En route, stop at the magnificent Château de Chenonceau for an audio-guided tour.
• In the Touraine countryside, check into the beautiful 4* Domaine de la Tortinière.
• The afternoon and evening will be free to relax and enjoy your picture-perfect surroundings. We would be very pleased to reserve you a table at either of the Château’s restaurants for dinner this evening.

Day Four

• After breakfast, you will be met at the hotel by an English-speaking specialist/driver guide, who will accompany you throughout the day on a private basis. Your tour day will comprise of:
• A private tour and tasting at one of the best producers of Vouvray wines, with local delicacies served to accompany your wines.
• A private tour and tasting at a 15^th Century wine-making Château located just outside of Chinon, with a picnic served in the picturesque grounds.
• Your day will conclude with a private tour and tasting at another Chinon winery .
• Again, we would be very pleased to reserve you a table at either of the Château’s restaurants for dinner this evening.

Day Five

• After breakfast and check out, drive to Saumur.
• Here, check into the charming Hotel Anne d’Anjou, a boutique hotel located on the banks of the river.
• After settling in, take a short walk for a private tour and tasting of the local Crémant sparkling wines at a local winery.
• This evening, we will reserve you a table for dinner at a reputed restaurant in the town.

Day Six

• After an early breakfast check out, drive to the stunning Château de Noirieux.
• Here, check into your “Charming” room located in the Manor House itself.
• You will then be met by an English-speaking specialist driver/guide, who will accompany you throughout the day on a private basis. Your tour day will comprise of:
• Private tours and tastings at three premium Muscadet wineries.
• Lunch in an authentic French restaurant.
• You will be taken back to the Château at the end of the day.
• We would be very pleased to reserve you a table at either of the Château’s restaurants for dinner this evening.

Day Seven

• After breakfast, your guide will return and accompany you on a second day of tours. Your tour day will comprise of:
• A private tour and tastings at a premium Savennières winery.
• Lunch in a traditional restaurant.
• A private tour and tastings at a second Savennières winery.
• A private tour and tastings at an Anjou winery.
• You will be taken back to the Château at the end of the tour.
• Again, we would be very pleased to reserve you a table at either of the Château’s restaurants for dinner this evening.

Final Day

• After a leisurely breakfast, check out of the Château and make your way back to the UK, taking the Eurotunnel from Calais to Folkestone.

(ii) The outline itinerary is indicative and is subject to minor changes depending on supplier availability. Availability cannot be guaranteed until we have received a confirmed booking, together with the deposit payment (or payment in full where the dates of travel are in less than 60 days). If the named accommodation / visits are not available, we will endeavour to find suitable alternatives of a similar grade; this may be subject to a supplement or a rebate depending on the price available.

Package Prices

• These prices are per person and based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin or double room.
• These are realistic guide prices, based on travel in standard season (usually April to the end of October). Discounts often apply for travel out of season (usually November to the end of March) or if there are more than two of you travelling together. Please let us know your preferred travel dates for a definitive price.
• Although we propose specific hotels as part of our standard packages, we enjoy excellent relationships and preferential rates at the majority of the hotels in each of our featured destinations. Therefore if you would prefer to stay in a different hotel, this can be arranged. Please contact us for the relevant supplements/discounts.
• Other room grades are available at most of the hotels that we work with. Just let us know which hotel you prefer and we will send you the relevant supplements for the various room grades.
• Single supplements and extra night prices are available upon request.

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