We'd like to take a day trip from Paris to the Loire Valley. Would it be best to take a train (how long would that take) and explore on our own? Maybe there is a tourism office there that could tell us where to book a tour? Or would it be best to book with a tour company that takes you there on a minibus/van? Any suggestions for a tour company?
Thanks!
Veronica
As a day trip from Paris, you'll want to arrange with one of the big tour companies (I don't know which ones because I don't do the Loire as a day trip) to do this in a long day from Paris. The problem with taking a train from Paris on your own, as a day trip, is that the chateaus you want to see are in the country, not near the train stations, so the challenge of getting to them from the train station eats up all your time. Rick gives detailed guidance on how to do this as a day trip from Paris, using bus or minivan tours, at pages 269-273 of France 2008 (too much detail to write out here).
Thanks, Kent. Have you used any tour operators that you prefer?
I haven't done it that way thus have no recommendations. Let's see if someone else has done a one day day-trip tour of Loire Chateaus from Paris by bus or minivan and can recommend a tour operator based on their experience.
My gut feeling here is that you'll have time to see one or two chateaux, max. I agree with Kent, its not possible via public transportation in one day (and difficult even with several days). Try googling bus tours from Paris, if any exist, this would probably be your best option. There are several tour companies that operate from the Loire, but you may have trouble linking up with one coming from Paris.
I you decide to do the day trip option, I would use Tours as a hub. If you decide to spend a night or a few days, consider Amboise, which has better atmosphere, but not as easy for a transport link.
Yes Veronica, you can do a bus trip from Paris to Loire Valley as a daytrip.
I have.
There are two very well known and long established companies that both do big bus tours and mini van tours. They are expensive,about 150 for the big bus tour and more for the mini van tour, but that includes transport and admissions.
I used Cityrama, but Parisvisions does exact same tours too and cost is similar( I think they were a few euros more so I just chose cheapest) .
You can also use a company called Acco Dispo , but they do not leave from Paris, they leave from Amboise and you are responsible for getting train there yourself.
I have done the Loire Valley twice. Once with my father and we rented a car and visited about 6 or 7 places in three days, very nice.
On the second visit it was just my 14 yr old son and I and I did not want to rent or drive a car, so we took the bus tour. We saw three chateau. It is a long day, but we enjoyed it. The guides were good, I liked the way they got us in with no lining up, gave short tour and speech ( usaully about 45 minutes) and then gave us another hour or so on our own, and then had us meet them at the bus.
The worst part is you leave Paris so early in the morning there was no where to have breakfast , but I did buy some juice and cookies for the morning bus ride .
Thanks, everbody, for the info! Pat, I think we will go with Paris Visions. They have a tour that includes a wine tasting at a cellar there. Yes, they leave at 6:45 a.m., I think! Yikes!
Have fun Veronica,, remember you can sleep on the bus since you don't have to drive( or worse, navigate and read maps) .
