Hi, can anyone recommend a day tour group/gude for the Loire Valley? The guide that Rick Recommended in his book sounds good, but they visit 4 chateaux a day. It just seems too much.
Posted by
Mentor on the Lake, OH, USA
251 posts
We rented a car last year and toured on our own. 2 chateaux a day was our limit. We stayed in Ambroise and loved it.
Hope you have a great time.
Posted by
Flagstaff, AZ, USA
1 posts
Contact this person...she does tours all over that area PARIS AUTHENTIQUE Sabine www.paris-authentique.com 45, av. du Général Leclerc 78470 ST REMY LES CHEVREUSE work +33 (0)1 30 47 39 36
cell. +33 (0)6 85 91 59 22
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Yes the ideal is to take 2-3 days, rent a car and really enjoy the area at leisure,, and I have been lucky enough to enjoy that.. but, it is not always possible. I have also taken a bus tour there, and it was fine. I did consider it pricey for my son and I ,, but I did not want to rent a car and drive alone with a child,, I personally am not comfortable driving in foreign countries, but would consider doing so in that area IF I had an adult naviagator to help me out. So the bus tour it was . Cityrama and ParisVisions are the two main bus tour companies, both well known and reputable. The tours are not cheap, and they are long days, but you can sleep on the bus. The drives are not too bad,, no more then 2 or 2.5 hours at a stretch, and some much shorter. The group is large (as is the bus) but the groups are divided by language, so on our tour there were only about 20 -25 english speakers in our group,, better then a group of 40-50. You get a brief guided tour|( about 45 minutes) at each chateau,, then are given about 45-60 minutes on your own to wander and meet the bus after. ITs only a taste,, but you do get a good taste,, where you miss out is in time to go through the grounds and gardens( unless you elect to focus on that instead of exploring more inside chateaus).