Seven Days in the Loire Valley

Arrive at Château des Arpentis, a beautifully restored 17th-century château. Walk on the grounds and enjoy a glass of Loire Valley wine by the outdoor pool or in the salon. For dinner, enjoy a farm-to-table dinner at Chez Bruno in Amboise, just 10 minutes away.

Drive to the Château de Chambord and tour the Loire’s largest château. Francis I built it as a hunting lodge, and it was not actually used as a royal residence. The chateau has over 400 rooms, 365 fireplaces, and 80 staircases. Explore its iconic double-helix staircase and rooftop terraces. Walk through the surrounding forest trails or rent a bike to explore the expansive grounds and canals. Return to Amboise for dinner at Les Arpents.

Visit the historic town of Blois (45 minutes away) and its royal château, once home to several French kings. King Henry III ordered the assassination of the Duke of Guise here in 1588, during the French Wars of Religion. In the afternoon, stop at Les Sources de Cheverny, a nearby wellness resort, for a half-day spa and wellness package. Enjoy a hammam, forest bathing, or a vinotherapy treatment. Dine at La Table du Château in Cheverny before returning back to the Château des Arpentis.

Spend the morning exploring Château Royal d’Amboise, a Renaissance chateau overlooking the Loire River. Walk to nearby Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years. Explore his inventions and the beautiful gardens. Stroll the streets of Amboise before heading to dinner at L’Écluse. Cap the night off with a sunset balloon ride over the Loire Valley.

Drive to Château de Chenonceau (25 minutes away), known as the “Ladies’ Château” for its legacy of powerful women, most notably, Catherine de’ Medici. Don’t miss the gardens and the gallery bridge. Take a canoe trip on the Cher River under the arches of Chenonceau for a unique view. Enjoy dinner at Auberge du Bon Laboureur in the nearby town of Chenonceaux.

Head west into the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Nature Park for hiking, birdwatching, or a scenic e-bike ride. Take a guided wine tour and tasting in Chinon or Bourgueil, known for elegant Cabernet Franc and crisp whites. Pair your wine experience with a cellar dinner in a local troglodyte cave restaurant, such as Les Caves de Marson.

Drive to Villandry (about 40 minutes) and take a walk through Château de Villandry’s famous Renaissance gardens, one of the Loire’s most exquisite floral displays. Stop in Tours on the way back and visit the Museum of Fine Arts, where you can see works of Monet and Rembrandt. Have an early dinner at Les Bartavelles before heading to see the opera at the Opéra de Tours.