The Loire Valley, located in central France, is a region renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Nestled along the banks of the majestic Loire River, a visit to this valley encompasses exquisite châteaux, picturesque vineyards, and charming villages. It’s no wonder the Loire Valley is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Organised Loire Valley tours from Paris are one way to visit this region that will create unforgettable travel memories.
I am often asked, “Can you do a day trip to the Loire Valley from Paris?” If you don’t have a car, organised Loire Valley tours from Paris are the perfect day trip. They promise a seamless way to experience the magnificent châteaux, Loire Valley wineries, and a glimpse into the fascinating world of French history. Relax on the 2-hour trip to the Loire Valley and let your guide lead the way to some of the most exquisite Renaissance castles in France
Why You’ll Love These Best Loire Valley Castle Tours From Paris
- these tours give you the opportunity to visit the Loire Valley from Paris without renting a car
- sit back and relax during the day as the guide leads the way
- tour guides are often full of anecdotes and stories that will enhance your one-day Loire Valley tour from Paris
- all guided tours enter the châteaux with skip-the-line entrance tickets
- if you’ve never been to the Loire Valley, the UNESCO World Heritage site is full of history and amazing architecture
- wine lovers will enjoy the Loire Valley tours from Paris that include a visit to a Loire Valley winery
Considerations For Picking Your Loire Valley Tours From Paris
- Which Loire Valley châteaux are you dying to visit?
- How many Loire Valley châteaux would you like to visit?
- How much time is allocated at each castle?
- Is an audio guide included?
- Is there time to see the gardens?
- Do you want to be on a small group tour?
- Do you want a tour that includes a Loire Valley winery?
- Do you want a tour that includes lunch?
Pro Travel Tips For Your Loire Valley Castles Tour From Paris
- all of these tours include the magnificent Château de Chambord and the elegant Château de Chenonceau
- some of these Loire Valley Tours from Paris also include either the Château d’Amboise or the Château de Cheverny
- several of these Loire Valley Tours from Paris include visits to wineries and/or wine-tasting
Read More | 10 Enchanting Loire Valley Castles
For more details on these Loire Valley castles:
- the Château de Chambord – the largest and most visited castle with its double helix staircase and a splendid rooftop forest of chimneys, lanterns, and turrets
- the Château de Chenonceau – the magical and graceful castle with its arches spanning the River Cher that has been owned by women throughout history
- the Château d’Amboise – perched overlooking the Loire River, it is the final resting place of Leonardo da Vinci
5 Best Loire Valley Tours From Paris
1. Loire Valley Castles Day Trip with Wine Tasting
This Loire Valley Day Tour From Paris Rating: 4.5 /5 stars (559 reviews)
Loire Valley Castles Day Trip with Wine Tasting
On this day trip to the Loire Valley from Paris, the group will discover the stunning Renaissance castle of Chambord, have lunch and free time in the little town of Blois and then continue on to the “Ladies” castle of Chenonceau. There is time to visit the elegant Château de Chenonceau and then partake in the wine tasting at Chenonceau.
This Tour Includes:
- 2 Castles: the Château de Chambord and the Château de Chenonceau, a visit to the town of Blois, and wine-tasting
- Full-day tour (13 hours)
- A live tour guide who you will meet at the Catacombs of Paris
- An air-conditioned coach for the 2-hour journey to the Loire Valley
- Skip-the-line access to the Château of Chambord and Chenonceau
- Self-guided tours inside the castles
- Exclusive wine tasting at the Château de Chenonceau
- Free time in the town of Blois
Please note: The wine tasting is not available on Sundays
5-Star Review:
This has been the best tour I have been on. The difference between this tour and other tours was that we had 2 guides, Saeed and Raymond, who were both highly intelligent, and funny. They brought history to life and created a fun environment. At the end of the tour they went from group to group to ask if they had any questions and helped people with the next step in their journey. A Traveller from the U.S.A.
2. Small-Group Loire Valley Castles Full-Day Tour
This Loire Valley Day Tour From Paris Rating: 4.9/5 stars (81 reviews)
Small-Group Loire Valley Castles Full Day Tour
This organized tour from Paris to the Loire Valley includes three castles. Meet your guide in Paris near the Arc de Triomphe and embark on a trip to the historical and beautiful Loire Valley. You’ll love exploring the Château de Chenonceau with its arches spanning the Cher River. From there you will visit the Château de Chambord, the largest and most magnificent Renaissance castle. And finally, this one-day Loire Valley Tour will stop at the Château d’Amboise where you will visit the castle and see the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci.
This Tour Includes:
- 3 castles: the Château de Chenonceau, the Château de Chambord, and the Château d’Amboise,
- Full-day tour (12 hours)
- Small group (maximum 8 participants)
- Skip-the-line access to all three châteaux
- Live tour guide outside of each castle
- About 90 minutes to explore each castle on your own
5-Star Review:
Gabe was an amazing guide – he was hospitable, knowledgeable and very enthusiastic about what he did. Loved the whole structure of the day and what we learned about French history as much as the amazing sights we saw. If you want a more personal touch, this tour is the way to go.
A Traveller from the USA
3. From Paris: Full-Day Loire Valley Chateaux Tour
This Loire Valley Day Tour From Paris Rating: 4.2 /5 stars (437 reviews)
From Paris: Full-Day Loire Valley Chateaux Tour
This organized tour from Paris to the Loire Valley includes three castles. Hop into your coach in Paris and set out to enjoy some French history, some stunning châteaux, and gorgeous manicured gardens all in the splendid Loire Valley.
This Tour Includes:
- 3 castles: the Château de Chenonceau, the Château de Chambord, and the Château de Cheverny
- Full-day tour (12 – 12.5 hours)
- Travel in an air-conditioned coach
- Skip-the-line access to all three castles
- Live tour guide
- Self-guided time in the castles
Please Note: On Mondays and Saturdays in the summer season this Loire Valley tour from Paris will go to the Chateau d’Amboise instead of the Château de Chambord
5-Star Review:
This is our first visit in France/Paris and so we weren’t sure whether to take a day out of our week in Paris to see something different. We LOVED it! The Loire castles are so beautiful and have such a different vibe from the Paris sites. The tour was very well put together and the 3 castles well chosen. We thought the time allocated to Chambord was just fine but would have liked at least 30 min more at Cheverny (shorten the time at Chenoncean). The gardens there are beyond belief with so many colorful tulips in spring! Oh and if you can spare some time for the wine tasting and shop at this last castle!
A Traveller
4. From Paris: Loire Valley Chambord Castle, Wine Tasting & Lunch
This Loire Valley Day Tour From Paris Rating: 4.6/5 stars (51 reviews)
From Paris: Loire Valley Chambord Castle, Wine Tasting & Lunch
Start your one-day tour of the Loire Valley with a hotel pickup. The castle of the day is the spectacular Château de Chambord, a Renaissance masterpiece! Explore the Château de Chambord with its splendid rooftop forest of chimneys, lanterns, and turrets. Next, visit a Loire Valley winery and enjoy a lunchtime meal with wine pairings!
This Tour Includes:
- Full-day tour (11 hours)
- Live tour guide
- Round-trip transportation in a van
- Skip-the-line ticket to the Château de Chambord
- Audio guide to explore the castle
- Wine tastings
- Lunch with wine pairings
Please Note: Hotel drop-off is not included.
5-Star Review:
The tour was very fun and informative. The castle was a treat to explore, especially with the audio guide with an iPad. The architecture was gorgeous. Our guide, Bastien, was knowledgeable about wines and full of energy. We enjoyed the tour of the winery with the limestone cave storage. That was neat. We even had some wine shipped home.
A Traveller from the U.S.A
5. Paris: Top Loire Castles with Lunch and Wine
This Loire Valley Day Tour From Paris Rating: 5/5 stars (4 reviews)
Top Loire Castles with Lunch and Wine
This organized tour from Paris to the Loire Valley includes two castles and starts off with the ultimate in convenience, a hotel pick-up! From there you will head through the beautiful Loire Valley to the Château de Chenonceau. After visiting this iconic Loire Valley castle, you will have a guided tour of a Loire Valley winery. After lunch, the afternoon will be spent at the second castle either the Château de Chambord or the Château d’Amboise.
This Tour Includes:
- 2 castles: the Château de Chenonceau, and either the Château de Chambord or the Château d’Amboise
- Winery tour with tastings
- Lunch
- Full-day tour (11 hours)
- Small group (maximum 8 participants)
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- Round-trip in air-conditioned transportation
- Skip-the-line ticket to the two châteaux
- Audio Guides for the châteaux
5-Star Review:
The trip was excellent, Benoit was the guide, he had good information, he was a very safe driver and he made the experience better. The lunch quality was excellent The sightseeing and the chateau’s were very special.
A Traveller from Australia
Love Guided Tours From Paris?
Sit back and visit the Château de Versailles with one of these 7 Best Guided Tours to Versailles from Paris.
Which of these Loire Valley day tours from Paris will you take as an introduction to the splendour and magic of the Loire Valley?
Until next time,
FAQs About The Loire Valley In France
Is the Loire Valley worth visiting?
When planning a vacation to France, it is hard to choose where to go. Normandy, Brittany and Provence are all filled with terrific sights. And the Loire Valley is too! The Loire Valley offers a truly unique experience for those travellers seeking to immerse themselves in French history and culture!
How much time do you need in the Loire Valley?
The Loire Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and filled with French history that oozes from the walls of the magnificent châteaux. The Loire Valley also offers breathtaking landscapes, quaint villages, vineyards and wineries, and hundreds of kilometres of bike trails. Spending a day in the Loire Valley will give you the perfect introduction to this interesting region of France. There would be plenty to do and see if you spent a week exploring the Loire Valley.
Can I access the Loire Valley from Paris by train?
Independent travellers can take the train to the Loire Valley and plan their castle visits. Trains run from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Amboise (via Tours), to Chenonceaux (via St-Pierre-des-Corps) and to Tours. From Paris Gare d’Austerlitz, trains run to Blois (via Orléans). Book my train ticket
If planning a day trip to the Loire Valley from Paris by train, spend time carefully figuring out the train and shuttle bus times.
Where should I be based in the Loire Valley to visit the châteaux?
If you choose to stay in the Loire Valley, Blois, Amboise, and Chenonceaux make good bases for exploring. It is easiest to have a car in the Loire Valley but there are shuttle buses that run from Blois and Amboise making it possible to visit different châteaux. For example, there is a 25-minute shuttle that runs from the Blois train station to the Château de Chambord in peak season.
Are there day trips of the Loire Valley from Tours?
There are plenty of organised day tours of the Loire Valley from Tours such as this half-day tour to Azay-le-Rideau and Villandry and this popular full-day tour.
More Travel Info
Planning Your Trip to Paris?
Book your airline tickets with my favourite platform, Skyscanner.
Book a transfer from Charles de Gaulle or Orly airport with Welcome Pick Ups.
Reserve a car (not for Paris) but for a road trip in France
Reserve train tickets for further travels in Europe with Trainline (my go-to)
Where To Stay In Paris:
Check out these 13 Affordable Hotels in Paris and these Hotels with Eiffel Tower Views.
Near Ile de la Cité: The Hotel Bourg Tibourg in the Marais. Find other Boutique hotels in the Marais.
Near the Arc de Triomphe: The stylish 4-star Hotel Keppler
With an Eiffel Tower View: This 3-star Hotel with excellent reviews
Near the Louvre: The charming 4-star Relais du Louvre
Be sure to book in advance for the most popular things to do. Book your ticket to the Eiffel Tower, a one-hour Seine cruise, a timed-entry ticket to the Louvre, and a skip-the-line ticket to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. And don’t forget a skip-the-line ticket to Disneyland!
If the French monarchy interests you, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Château de Fontainebleau or head to the Basilica of St. Denis to see where the kings are laid to rest.
Read More | 20 Best Day Trips from Paris. Which ones will you choose?
