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Loire Valley tour
7 Days
From £1,169
In association with TS Tours
Check availability
Call now and book 02039934304 Quote ref: RIVLOIREMONET
Check availability
Call now and book 02039934304
Quote ref: RIVLOIREMONET
Email us
Sample fine wines, dine on delicious food, visit several historic chateaux and explore the peaceful gardens which inspired Claude Monet on this no-fly tour

This delightful tour showcases the best of the Loire Valley region, introducing you to opulent château, magnificent cathedrals, colourful gardens and of course some exceptional French cuisine.

You'll stay in a series of stylish hotels as you visit charming French towns including Chinon, where Joan of Arc first met the Dauphin, Amboise, with its royal château on the banks of the Loire, and Tours, the mediaeval capital of France.

A real highlight will be a visit to Monet's house and garden at Giverny, where you'll see the beautiful Japanese water garden that inspired some of the impressionist's most famous paintings, including Les Nymphéas - the Water Lilies.

You'll also see the best of France's wonderful châteaux - Chenonceau, Villandry, Chinon and Amboise - the house where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years, and the magnificent Fontevraud Abbey, probably the single greatest monastic establishment in the whole of France.

Another standout on the itinerary is the spectacularly ornate Château de Fontainebleau. You'll wander the halls of this fairytale castle, marvelling at its luxurious decor of intricate frescoes and exquisite furniture.

As well as these captivating cultural sights you will have the chance to immerse yourself in one of this country's most idyllic rural regions, widely known as the 'Garden of France'. Discover gentle landscapes rich with the scent of ripening fruit, sleepy towns where provincial life continues unchanged, and wonderfully rich cuisine.

These vineyard-dotted landscapes are also renowned for their award-winning Saumur wines, which you'll get a chance to sample on a guided wine cellar tour.

To read more about this trip:
PDF
Download the brochure here

Reasons to book

Fontevraud Abbey

Located in a green valley near the Loire River, Fontevraud Abbey was founded over a thousand years ago by an eccentric monk

Monet’s garden

Visit the famous impressionist’s home at Giverny and be transported into some of his most famous paintings

Chartres Cathedral

Marvel at the 13th-century stained glass windows in one of France’s most magnificent cathedrals

Château Fontainebleau

Marvel at this quintessential French château, with its classic mix of style, opulence and outrageous glamour

Ackerman wine cellars

Sample delicious award-winning Saumur wines on a tour of the French wine cellar at Maison Ackerman

Leonardo Da Vinci’s house

Explore the Château of Clos Lucé, famous as the last home of Leonardo Da Vinci
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Tour brochure
PDF
Download a PDF tour brochure

Price includes

  • Return standard class on Eurostar
  • All coach transfers and transport
  • Six nights' accommodation
  • Daily breakfast and two dinners at hotels as mentioned
  • All local accommodation taxes
  • The services of a tour manager
  • Entrance to Monet's home and garden
  • Explore château Chenonceau, Villandry and Leonardo da Vinci's House
  • Guided tour of Fontevraud Abbey
  • Visit to Ackerman wine cellars
  • Guided walking tour of Tours
  • Visit to Saumur with wine cellar tasting
  • Visit to Château de Villandry
  • Visit to Chinon
  • Visit Amboise and Le Clos Luce
  • Visit the Palace of Fontainebleau

Availability

From
Thu, Thu, Apr 24, 2025
To
Thu, Thu, Oct 9, 2025
Duration
7 days
Price per person
£1,169*

* From price is per person, based on two people sharing in a twin room, subject to availability and based on 7 August 2025 departure date. Various departure dates are available; please call for details. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement on request. Deposit required. Not suitable for those with mobility issues. Local charges such as tourist tax may apply. Offers are not valid in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd and Riviera Tours Limited.

Call now to book 02039934304
Quote ref: RIVLOIREMONET
Got any questions about this trip? Send us an enquiry

Itinerary

  1. Day
    1
    Arrival in Vernon
    Vernon, France

    Today you'll board the Eurostar at London St Pancras International and travel to Paris Gard du Nord. In Paris, a coach will meet you and take you to Vernon, where you'll check in at the three-star Hotel Normandy, where dinner will be served this evening.

  2. Day
    2
    Monet’s House
    Giverny, France

    Today you'll visit Claude Monet's house and garden in Giverny. You'll have seen these beautiful gardens in several of Monet's most famous paintings, and to be here in person, among the riotous colours of the flowerbeds and climbing roses is simply an unforgettable experience.

    Wander through the Japanese-inspired water garden, shaded by a great willow tree and surrounded by bamboo trees, rhododendrons and azaleas, to find the famous lily pond, where Monet painted Les Nymphéas.

    After visiting the garden, you'll continue your journey to Chartres, where you'll visit the cathedral - considered one of the most magnificent in France - with its intricate 13th-century-stained glass, before arriving in the picturesque city of Tours, where you'll stay for four nights on the edge of the Old Town.

  3. Day
    3
    Tours & Chenonceau
    Tours, France

    After breakfast, you'll head out on a guided tour of the carefully preserved historic centre of Tours. The city's rich and varied history stretches back as far as the Gallo-Roman period, and it later became the medieval capital of France and the seat of the French monarchy.

    Later this afternoon, you'll visit Chenonceau, home of Mary Queen of Scots and probably the most stately of the Loire châteaux, majestically hovering on the waters of the River Cher. Later you'll return to the hotel.

  4. Day
    4
    Fontevraud Abbey
    Fontevraud-l'Abbaye, France

    After breakfast at the hotel this morning you'll visit the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fontevraud Abbey for a guided tour. This is arguably the greatest monastic establishment left standing in France, and the Abbey was once one of the richest and most powerful royal retreats in the world.

    Your next stop is Saumur, described as the 'pearl of Anjou'. This town is a delightful spot to pause for lunch and wander along its streets marvelling at its magnificent architectural heritage. No visit here would be complete without sampling some of the town's most famous produce, so this afternoon you'll head to the Ackerman wine cellars for a tasting of some of their award-winning Saumur wines.

  5. Day
    5
    Chinon and Château Villandry
    Chinon, France

    This morning you'll visit the charming medieval town of Chinon, and see the imposing castle where Joan of Arc first met the Dauphin. You'll then have some free time to explore more of this lovely town.

    In the afternoon, we make our way down the beautiful Loire Valley to the Château Villandry, famous for its unique gardens, consisting largely of colourful vegetables.

  6. Day
    6
    Amboise and Château of Clos Lucé
    Amboise, France

    This morning we visit Amboise, a delightful little town nestling on the banks of the River Loire. where a royal château sits. Nearby is the Château of Clos Lucé, famous as the final abode of Leonardo da Vinci. Today it houses the Leonardo da Vinci Museum, dedicated to his work and the region's prestigious history. On display are models of his various innovations as well as a copy of the Mona Lisa.

    Afterwards we continue to our final hotel, where we stay at the four-star Hotel Mercure Orléans Portes de Sologne, where we also dine.

  7. Day
    7
    Fontainebleau
    Fontainebleau, France

    This morning we visit the beautiful Château of Fontainebleau, just south of Paris, where Napoleon departed to his exile on the island of Elba. It is decorated in fantastic style, with intricate frescoes and parquet floors inlaid with exotic woods.

    Most impressive is the vast display of exquisite furniture and the formally designed, extensive grounds. Fontainebleau encompasses everything you imagine about a French château: style, opulence, grandeur - even outrageousness.

    Later you transfer to Paris to take the Eurostar service (exact time will be indicated on travel documents) to London St Pancras International.

Accommodation

Hotel Normandy

3
Vernon, France

A charming family run hotel close to Monet's house at Giverny

The Hotel Normandy is located in the heart of Vernon, a short distance from Claude Monet's famous house and gardens at Giverny. With comfortable, spacious rooms and an excellent breakfast served each morning, this is an ideal base for exploring the local area. Guests can also dine in the excellent restaurant or relax on the lovely open air terrace, while the attentive staff are on hand throughout your stay.

Novotel Tours Centre Gare

4
Tours, France

A contemporary hotel in the heart of historic Tours

This comfortable and stylish contemporary hotel is the ideal base from which to explore the surrounding Loire region. Situated in downtown Tours, close to the Place Plumereau and the historic old town, the Novotel Tours Centre Gare offers spacious rooms, air conditioning and WiFi access, room service and daily breakfast. The chic bar and restaurant are also open to guests, serving excellent food and drinks.

Hotel Mercure Orléans Portes de Sologne

0
Ardon, France

The newly renovated four-star Hotel Mercure Orléans Portes de Sologne has a bar, a restaurant where you’ll enjoy dinner, and a terrace with fine views over the greens. The rooms are comfortable, and air-conditioned and come with a minibar, hairdryer, Wi-Fi and facilities for making tea and coffee.

Brought to you by

TS Tours as agent for Riviera Travel
This tour is operated solely by TS Tours
TS Tours is acting as agent for Riviera Travel. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel.

Established 35 years ago, Riviera Travel offers exceptional experiences at outstanding value for money. They were the highest-rated cruise operator in a 2017 survey by Which? magazine. Riviera is ABTA and ATOL-bonded.

TS Tours Ltd specialises in creating bespoke tours, cruises and rail journeys in the company of experts. Its exclusive trips combine unique experiences as well as access to inspirational people. All trips are ATOL-protected and financially bonded.

For information about TS Tours, click here.
For Riviera Travel's terms and conditions, see here.

To view TS Tours as agent for Riviera Travel’s supplier’s terms and conditions click here.

This tour is protected by the following:

Availability

From
Thu, Thu, Apr 24, 2025
To
Thu, Thu, Oct 9, 2025
Duration
7 days
Price per person
£1,169*

* From price is per person, based on two people sharing in a twin room, subject to availability and based on 7 August 2025 departure date. Various departure dates are available; please call for details. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement on request. Deposit required. Not suitable for those with mobility issues. Local charges such as tourist tax may apply. Offers are not valid in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd and Riviera Tours Limited.

Call now to book 02039934304
Quote ref: RIVLOIREMONET
Email us