Feel like Queens & Kings in the Loire Valley "castles country" and discover it's amazing history, typical limestone villages and relax by the Loire river.
We heard about Emilie from a friend who used her travel services twice. They spoke so highly of her we figured we had to visit France just to meet her. We traveled to the Loire …
We heard about Emilie from a friend who used her travel services twice. They spoke so highly of her we figured we had to visit France just to meet her. We traveled to the Loire Valley with another couple and she interviewed us separately to understand what we wanted to see and do and what we didn’t want to do. As a result, she designed a perfect trip with lodging and an itinerary that we all liked. We have been fortunate to have traveled to Europe several times and each time we laboriously researched activities and numerous B&Bs through many websites. Emilie did all that for us and supplied us with a book that detailed everything - we started to call it the bible. She set us up at B&B’s, chateaus and castles – complete with a Count and a Prince. All accommodations were very comfortable, accommodating and friendly. Emilie had clearly vetted and stayed at these places since the owners knew her. We couldn't have asked for a better experience. I don't know how she does it but we realized it wasn't any more expensive than when we did all the work ourselves. Thank you, Emilie.
#1 - A gorgeous private castle near Le MansEnjoy a luxury stay in a gorgeous mansion near Le Mans
#1 - A gorgeous private castle near Le MansRelax in a family-owned boutique-hotel
#1 - A gorgeous private castle near Le MansExperience "la vie de chateaux" !
#1 - A gorgeous private castle near Le MansHave you already tried a candle-light dinner in France ?
#1 - A gorgeous private castle near Le MansYour hosts and their staff will take a great care of you
#2 - A restored historic home in the center of a lively townA historic home, in the center of a lively wine town
#2 - A restored historic home in the center of a lively townrelax in a large room
#2 - A restored historic home in the center of a lively town...in the courtyard or the guests living room
#2 - A restored historic home in the center of a lively townShare breakfasts with other fellow travelers
#3 - A gorgeous private castle in the LoireStay in a fairytale castle in the Loire Valley
#3 - A gorgeous private castle in the Loiresettle in a very spacious room, overlooking the park
#3 - A gorgeous private castle in the LoireRelax in one of the guests' reading rooms
#3 - A gorgeous private castle in the Loireif you are not too scared, take the underground passages to the swimming pool !
Step by step
Overnight in Le Perche near Le Mans
Pick up the rental car in Paris downtown or at CDG airport (or another location) and drive about 2hr30 to 3 hours to the Perche region, which is just North of the Loire Valley.
Recover from jetlag in a luxury family-owned Boutique-Hotel...and enjoy a fantastic candle-light dinner "at home". La vraie vie de château !
From this area of France, a lot of people emigrated in the 17th century to the New World. Maybe you have some roots there?
Western Loire Valley
You will spend the following 3 nights of your journey comfortably settled in a beautiful historic home nestled in a lively town, by the river. Your host will be happy to make many recommendations about wineries, wine bars or restaurants to experience the Touraine sweet life.
Located on the banks of the Vienne River, you will jump back to the Medieval times and learn about Joan of Arc history with a private guide. At night, one of the best restaurants in the area is less than a 1-minute-walk.
You will also wander off the beaten path into tiny villages dotted along the Vienne and Loire rivers and get a taste of French gastronomy in restaurants and local markets that we have tested for you.
We also plan for you to visit a small winery where you will wander around the whole estate and taste several wines with a guide.
Eastern Loire Valley
On your way back to Paris, treat yourself with the last 3 nights in a charming and romantic Renaissance castle, near Amboise lively town.
We will craft your days for you to enjoy a bit of everything the Loire Valley has to offer: famous castles to hidden beauties, lovely towns and farmers markets, quiet strolls in unique gardens...
Included in this itinerary is a guided Segway tour of Amboise historic town. A very fun way to discover its history, architecture and wine ! If you don't feel like doing a segway tour, no problem, we can plan otherwise.
We hope you will have a very romantic week !
Activities included
A Winery Visit & Tasting in Chinon
Visit a Chinon winery run by a charming couple who come from generations of winegrowers.
Enjoy a commented tasting of the wines with some local-product snacks.
Guided Tour of Chinon
Explore Chinon medieval town with a private guide who will take you on Joan of Arc footsteps.
Guided Tour of Amboise on a Segway
Visit the historical town of Amboise a very fun way....on a Segway ! From the castle to the Loire river, from the old town to a nice wine cellar.
My husband and I prefer to travel independently not on tours but I am getting tired of doing all of the planning. Emilie did an excellent job of planning the trip. I gave input on the type of hotels and the places that we wanted to see and she took care of the details. The hotels that she picked were outstanding. All but one day we followed her …
My husband and I prefer to travel independently not on tours but I am getting tired of doing all of the planning. Emilie did an excellent job of planning the trip. I gave input on the type of hotels and the places that we wanted to see and she took care of the details. The hotels that she picked were outstanding. All but one day we followed her itinerary and were pleased. One day my husband wanted more WWII stuff and me were able to change plans at the last minute.
Bobbi
We like to travel independently and Emilie was fantastic in providing us everything we needed to do so. We had wonderful information to read beforehand and received maps and GPS coordinates to get us where we needed to go.This is a great service to use to set up your hotel and car arrangements along with suggested itineraries that can be modified …
We like to travel independently and Emilie was fantastic in providing us everything we needed to do so. We had wonderful information to read beforehand and received maps and GPS coordinates to get us where we needed to go.This is a great service to use to set up your hotel and car arrangements along with suggested itineraries that can be modified. We will use her for another trip to a different part of France.
The C. family
Emilie and Guillaume: I want to send you this special thank you for making this trip truly spectacular! Our time in France was memorable precisely because of the people we've met, and the unique experiences we've had. We owe that all to you. There's no way that we ever would have been able to find the bed and breakfasts that you booked for us. And …
Emilie and Guillaume: I want to send you this special thank you for making this trip truly spectacular! Our time in France was memorable precisely because of the people we've met, and the unique experiences we've had. We owe that all to you. There's no way that we ever would have been able to find the bed and breakfasts that you booked for us. And even if we had, we couldn't have know of their quality. The same is true for the individual guides that you arranged for us. All were top-notch experts in their field.
