Visit the Château de Chambord. The Guide will tell you the history of the Castle and its construction. The Château de Chambord is one of the most popular castles because of its French Renaissance architecture. The building was constructed (1519–1547) by Francis I and is nowadays the biggest castle with its 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces and 84 staircases. The castle is also known because of its open double-spiral staircase. The two spirals ascend the three floors without ever meeting. Leonardo da Vinci may have designed the staircase.
Known as the lullaby of Kings and the final resting place of the greatest Renaissance master, Leonardo Da Vinci, Amboise is the grand royal residence of the French kings in the 15th-century and an example of the transition from Gothic to Renaissance architecture. The Histopad will explain you the castle's history and help you to travel in time!
Lunch Time! In the Amboise city you will find many restaurants and cafes. We can recommend some or make a reservation at a good restaurant.
Wine Tasting of minimum 7 wines at the local family winery existing since 1508. You will learn how the famous Loire Valley wines have been made over the centuries and have the wine tasting of the local wines with explanations. A visit to the wine cave is possible on request.
Chateau de Chenonceau is the most visited and photographed chateau of the Valley. It's often described as ‘the ladies castle’ as throughout its history it's them who have most influenced its design and destiny.
Discover the Loire Valley, visit its castles Chambord, Amboise, Chenoneau and learn about the intimate little secrets of the French Kings who once lived there. We bring you to a local historical wine producer for tasting at least 7 different wines.
Excellent trip but be prepared for a very long day!! Nataly was an amazing font of knowledge and could never not answer a question about history and/or architecture in an entertaining way to keep us on our toes the whole day. Our driver was also very friendly and thoughtful. If you’re limited for time to get to the Loire valley, this is the trip for you. Yes it’s expensive but worth it
The Tour-Up in Europe private guided tour from Paris was exceptional! The tour was just my wife and I. Our guide Maria was phenomenal! Maria shared Loire Valley, Chateaux and French history along with her personal insight from her art history and artist's background. She expertly guided us through each chateaux explaining all the details and answering any questions we had. Our driver "M" (Mohamed?) was exceptional too...front door pickup, chateaux entry point drop off & pickup, accommodating time management due to an evening dinner reservation back in Paris and of course great driving skills!
I really liked the experience. The guide was very knowledgeable. Can’t wait to see more castles in the Loire Valley!
This was an excellent tour, and much of that is thanks to Nataly. She is a highly knowledgeable and professional guide who presents information clearly and thoughtfully. Her engaging style made the experience both informative and enjoyable. The tour was well-paced, well-organized, and very worthwhile overall. I would definitely recommend it to others!
Excellent day tour! … Our tour was absolutely wonderful! We visited Châteaux de Chambord and Chenonceau with a delicious lunch stop in Amboise and Nathalie , our guide, did tell us some interesting stories.
Nataly was a joy and knowledgeable and vehicle very comfortable. It was a full day and would recommend without reservation.
This was a very full and slightly long day but we saw so much! It was really wonderful. Our guide, Daniel, and driver, Alex, were excellent.
First, the tour company had great communication through Viator messages several days out and the day before our trip - makes everything easier. Second, this trip was FANTASTIC! It is a long day excursion, but well worth it (plan for 12 hours). Marie (our wonderful guide) and Alex (our intrepid driver) picked us up from our hotel in the 15th near Trocadero at 7:30 a.m. in a roomy and new E Class Mercedes sedan. We were then quickly headed out of Paris with Marie previewing our trip and providing details on the first chateau, Chambord. Once we arrived, Marie coordinated entry and gave a thorough but swift tour, with as much time as we could afford to keep the itinerary. She took pictures of us in great spots and suggested where those would be along the way while educating us on the castle. (She was very accommodating with taking pics everywhere during our trip). Then she and Alex took us to Amboise where we had lunch reservations ready for us in an excellent bistro. She and Alex joined us for a quick lunch at our invitation and were great company throughout the trip. Afterwards, Marie gave us a full tour of Chateau Amboise, which was like Chambord, also a palace of the French Kings. The history at Amboise was deep and Marie knew everything about the castle and it many residents over the years. We needed the tour of Amboise by visiting the gardens and chapel, with Leonardo DaVinci’s tomb. We then were off to Chenonceau, which was spectacular. Weather was just cool enough to allow for being able to walk the large grounds and have a full tour of the castle without getting warm, so we were really able to enjoy everything about the estate. Finally, we headed off to a Loire Valley winery where we were afforded ample tastings and picked up some wonderful whites and roses, along with a little time to refresh before the drive back to Paris. Those who want to have more time to explore each chateau or wander the Valley area may want to ask the tour company for only a two castle tour, but for us, we would not have wanted to miss any of them. Just means we have more to explore when we return. Marie and Alex were among the best guides and drivers we had in Paris! We enjoyed our time with them, and they also allowed us time to talk quietly in the back and nap along the trips out and back to Paris. Really, great tour and company - will only use them again for our excursions in France.
Castles were interesting. The guide wasn't very knowledgeable. We nice person but wasn't really providing any useful information (basically reading off google). The wine tasting was standing at the bar of a small winery and not at all what was expected for the cost of the trip. I would look at other tour companies for the price of this trip.
Maria did a great job escorting us to 3 Chateaus and a Winery. She was very knowledgeable and educated us on French Royal history and the history of the Chateaus. Additionally, she was very attentive to an elderly member of our party and moved us efficiently in and out of the Chateaus. Her picture taking expertise was very beneficial too. Thank you, Maria, for a wonderful day!
Beautiful chateaux and Loire Valley. Maria our supposedly English speaking guide had poor English and history knowkedge, she was googling as we approached. Her commentary conflicted with signs posted in chateaux. She cared more about her 1 hour lunch break than our needs. Great tour but don't ever go with Maria!
My best trip ever , our guide was so professional and knowledgeable, driver was also nice. Our favorite castles became Chateau de Chenonceau 👍🏻
Wow that was spectacular. I couldn’t believe a beauty like this exist in the world. When we reached chambord my heart started pumping, when we ended in checoncao I started crying literally. Thanks to our guide Katherine for accommodating all of our wishes. And our driver ibrag was a professional driving us through Paris and everything was on time. The support before the tour - wonderful. Thank you guys.
It was not my first time in France. But it was definitely the best. Thanks to this company that organised a private 3 days tour for my friends and me. We visited so many castles I feel like we need to have a detox rn. But I am not complaining! It was wonderful. We stayed for 2 nights in the real castle. We had private transportation and our driver Sultan was kind enough to provide some extra services for us 🤣🤣 The guide was very clever and even though we were not so much into the history of all the kings and their dramas she kept telling us some interesting facts and we enjoyed it. All the 6 of us totally recommend this tour and this company! You will not regret it. A small advice: don’t be afraid to ask Tour Up to personolize-customize it for you. They will make sure to do it.
We cannot thank Valerie enough in helping book a trip to the Loire Valley for 9 family members. She was accommodating as the number of people kept getting bigger and smaller up until the day of the trip. Our guide Nataly made the beautiful historical sites come alive with her knowledge. She was sweet, friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable. She made the trip fun. Even thought the day was long, it didn’t seem like it at all. Because of her, the trip was light and met our family’s needs. The three fairy tale castles were absolutely gorgeous and worth the trip. They are punctual and you won’t feel rushed. The ride was clean, luxurious and comfortable. I highly recommend this company.
This was an exceptional trip and I would not hesitate to do it again especially if I could have the same wonderful tour guide. Her name was Elena. She was very knowledgeable and very pleasant to talk to. She also adjusted the tour slightly to accommodate our wishes. As For the Loire Valley It is a must see for anyone visiting France and I would recommend it highly.
Recommend this tour as the most romantic one in France. I appreciate all the help of the company with the preparations for this very special minute on our lives. The guide was excellent not only telling us all the history but also taking mesmerising pics!
Despite a very rainy day, I had a wonderful excursion to the Loire Valley. Elena, my guide, was exceptional. Her English was excellent and she was very knowledgeable providing helpful insight into the history of the three castles and the French monarchy. I would highly recommend this tour.
We were delighted to learn that this company could organize a customised experience for us. As wine lovers, we wanted to highlight this aspect of the trip. We visited 2 Loire Valley wineries, explored the vineyards, and even managed to visit 2 castles: Leonardo da Vinci's and Chenonso. We loved this tour, thank you!
This was the most enjoyable tour that we took while on our trip to France. Valerie, our tour guide was exceptional in her knowledge and ability to communicate perfectly with us. She is a true historian and it was an incredible bonus to us to have her explain the many facts concerning each castle. Her energy, enthusiasm and lovely personality made our trip perfect! Roman was our driver and he was a safe and considerate driver. He too, made the experience even more enjoyable with his friendly personality. If you want the best possible tour, coupled with beauty of the region and knowledge of the history of the region..book with Valerie ,Tour up in Europe! Five stars!
Very nice experience. The castles were beautiful. Valerie explained all the details about the tour and was able to accommodate all our needs and personalize our tour.
We had a lovely time on our tour with Valerie. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of France & gave us insight way beyond our expectations. She was also very sweet & personable. We hope to take another private tour with her in the future & highly recommend her service.
We were picked up at our hotel by our driver, Roman. He's very nice and helpful! Valerie, our tour guide, gave us a wonderful history lesson of the Chateaux we were to visit. Since it was me and my partner, we were able to switch it up a bit by visiting Clos de Luce as opposed to Chateau Amboise. I really appreciated the flexibility! We had a lovely day and very much enjoyed Valerie and Roman.
We had an amazing day exploring the Loire Valley! Valerie was full of knowledge and made learning about the history even more enjoyable with fun anectdotes. You can tell how passionate she is, which made the whole experience even better! Our favorite sites were the Chambord castle and Chenonceau castle. I’d highly recommend this tour!
Astonishing building structure, stunning views. “Histopad” is very informative telling the story of places … perfect for tourist
Valerie was a fantastic guide and we learned a lot! She clearly has a passion for her job and she did her best to make our experience wonderful!
Valerie, the guide, was amazing and provided the backstory for each castle. The views and sights exceeded all expectations.
Wonderful Tour!! My husband and I are on our 20th anniversary trip and we were in Paris for a few days. This tour was a great way to spend the day! We saw 3 amazing places and had a lovely wine tasting. Valerie was our tour guide and Roman was our driver. They were excellent! Valerie explained the history of each estate as well as a bit of French history. She was a wealth of information! She was professional and polite. Roman kept us on time and on schedule. I would highly recommend! Thanks Valerie for a great day!!
Valerie was a great tour guide! We was able to see a lot in one day! Very thankful for her showing us the way! Definitely will use her in the future!!
My best experience for a tour since many years. I am used to visit Europe, but this tour was extremely well organised. I was fascinated by the history and the arts, and our guide Valeria, was extremely knowledgeable in these matters and conveyed an incredible enthousiam to all of us. She understood well our wishes and took care of us. I will try to come again and I am looking for other tours in the same spirit, always with the Lama.
Valerie was great, knowledgeable, affable and well organized. She engaged quite well with the whole group including the teens who were somewhat distant at first. Would recommend her !
Amazing tour and experience. Valerie is so knowledgeable and made the history come to life. It was so fun that we booked another trip that same week to Normandy with her. The castles are beautiful, travel in the van was very comfortable and one of my favorite tour experiences ever.
That was a perfect trip, everything went just perfect. I literally felt the places we visit, the level of preparation and comfort delivered to the customers was the top of the top.
Wonderful day at the castles of the Loire! We were picked up directly at the hotel, with a Mercedes minivan, by Roman, our driver, who guided us during the tour in a discreet and impeccable way. With us, together with a very nice couple of Californians who shared the trip with us, was our guide Valerie. Valerie, pleasant, always available and affable, informed us, in the sections between one castle and another, in an impeccable and exhaustive way on the history of the castles, of who built them and who lived in them, inserting everything in a broader historical context, for a better understanding. Arrived at the castles, she showed us the best ways to follow and left us free to enjoy the visit of the same.
The trip was just Amazing! Valerie is an amazing guide. This is must experience for any tourist coming to France ! Just do it !
The tour was excellent, Emily has great knowledge and willingness is very friendly knows a lot makes it very interesting and made the tour an unforgettable experience. Ibrahim our driver was also very friendly and with very good attitude.
I'm castles are beautiful! My girls just hallucinated, it's literally like being in a fairy tale! They really are magic! If you have children and if not this tour is recommended in both cases. THANK YOU FOR THE TOUR!
“We would like to express our sincerest thanks to our Guide Emily Villegas for making this Loire Valley Castles tour an unforgettable experience. His deep knowledge, passion for history and attention to detail made each visit fascinating and enriching. We certainly recommend your work to anyone who wishes to discover the beauty and legacy of this magical region of France. Thank you for guiding us through a journey full of wonders and memorable moments!"
Emily, our guide, was incredibly knowledgeable and attentive as she took us around the region's stunning castles and vineyards. We had hoped to see more places, but Emily tailored our itinerary perfectly to our preferences and the time available. The wine tasting was a highlight experience, and we learned a lot about the local wines and the history behind each castle. We were delighted with every moment of this experience and can't wait to return and explore more. Thanks to Tour Up in Europe for an unforgettable adventure in the Loire Valley!
Excelente Tour Guía idioma español (Emily) y chofer (Denis) excelentes Hermosa visita a los castillos de Chambord Amboise y Chenonceau y una bodega Del Valle del Loira con cata de vinos muy buenos. Puntualidad profesionalismo excelente auto (Mercedes Benz) Excursión muy recomendable Excelente conocimiento historíco y cultural de Emily de todos los lugares visitados
Excellent tour, Valeria and Sultan were super attentive, they made the experience very pleasant and entertaining, it was a very good day
Many thanks to our guide Valeria and our driver Roman for a wonderful trip and tour. It was fun and interesting. Stunningly beautiful castles, magnificent nature and good company made our day unforgettable.
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
Reach us by phone
Reach us by email