France self-drive holiday to Bordeaux and the Loire Valley

At a glance

Trip Summary

After checking into your Superior room at Château de Beaulieu, located around 15 minutes from Tours city centre, the remainder of the afternoon and evening will be free to settle in and enjoy your pleasant surroundings. This evening, we would be very pleased to reserve you a table for dinner in the hotel’s gourmet restaurant.

After breakfast on day two, you will be met at the Château by an 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 three, make your way to the Bordeaux region. The driving time will be around 3 ¾ hours, and we would be pleased to recommend a suitable place to stop en-route for lunch. Upon arrival, check into a Superior room with its own private terrace at the 5* Château Cordeillan-Bages, located in the Médoc countryside. The afternoon and evening will be free for you to relax and enjoy your beautiful home for the next few days. The Château boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant as well as a more informal brasserie. We would be very pleased to reserve you a table at either of these for dinner this evening.

On day four, e-bikes will be provided for the day (if you would prefer a private driver instead, just let us know and we will provide you with the relevant supplement). Take a scenic 10km ride along the pretty riverside to the famous village of Saint-Estèphe. Here, you will be welcomed at a Grand Cru Classé Château where following a tour of the estate, a grand three course lunch will be served in the opulent surroundings of the Château’s dining room. Your meal will be served alongside a selection of the Château’s vintages. After lunch, cycle back to the hotel and en route, stop at a second Château for a private tour and tastings.

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

Outline Itinerary

Day Three

• After breakfast and check out, drive to the Bordeaux region.
• Here, check into a Superior room with its own private terrace at the beautiful Château Cordeillan-Bages, located in the famous village of Pauillac in the heart of the Médoc vineyards.
• The afternoon and evening will be free for you to relax and enjoy your pleasant surroundings.
• The Château boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant as well as a more informal brasserie. We would be very pleased to reserve you a table at either of these for dinner this evening.

Day Four

• After breakfast, e-bikes will be provided for the day. Your tour day will comprise of:
• A tour and tasting with a three course lunch as the guests of a Grand Cru Classé Château in the village of Saint-Estèphe.
• A private tour and tastings at a second Château.

Final Day

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

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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Further Information