The Food, Culture, and Châteaux of the Loire Valley
The Best of France - May 4 to 11, 2027
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Learn about the valley of the French Kings
May 4 to 11, 2027
France? Food. The Loire Valley? Lots of chateaux and great wines.
This is what we’ll find on this new trip to the Loire Valley with our talented French guide, Simon Renault.
On our food & culture trips we look at the connection between a region’s cuisine and heritage and how they shape and influence each other. On this trip we add another element: The grand châteaux that line the Loire River.
We will stay in the lovely town of Amboise. It sits directly on the river and features the Château Royal d'Amboise that was first built out in Renaissance style by the French King Charles VIII beginning in 1492.
Leonardo da Vinci had a château in Amboise where he lived before his death. We will visit his castle, and da Vinci’s workshop and gardens.
One can spend weeks touring the local châteaux, but there is so much more to do. And naturally we’ll visit local food producers, a vineyard, and eat quite well. There is a great weekly market. Amboise is a lovely place and an excellent home base for our focus on the food and culture of this special part of France.
Our hotel sits beside the Loire River only a half block from Amboise’s towering château and the town’s café-line central square.
What we’ll do in the Loire Valley
Our activities during this tour will be drawn from among the following:
Visit to the Amboise public market
Wine tasting and vineyard tour at Domaine La Grange Tiphaine
Visit to Le Clos Lucé - Leonardo Da Vinci’s château and gardens
Tour of underground quarry and mushroom farm at La Cave des Roches
Visit the Charcuterie Cottereau to meet the 4th generation butchers and learn about traditional charcuterie of the region
Tour of the Château de Chenonceau
Visit the gardens and contemporary art installation at the Château de Chaumont and tour the château
Tour a traditional candy maker
The food and wine of the Loire Valley
The Loire Valley is often called the Garden of France, and its food culture reflects this rich agricultural land. Thanks to its mild climate and fertile soil along France's longest river, the region grows an abundance of fresh produce, including sweet strawberries, crisp asparagus, and juicy pears. Meals in the Loire Valley focus on using these local, seasonal ingredients, resulting in dishes that are fresh, flavorful, and deeply connected to the surrounding countryside.
River fish and local meats play a central role in classic dishes from the region. Freshwater fish such as pike, zander, and perch are caught right from the Loire River and often served with a rich, buttery sauce made with white wine and shallots called beurre blanc. Land delicacies are just as popular, especially slow-cooked pork spread known as rillettes and tender game meats paired with wild mushrooms gathered from nearby forests.
To match its diverse food, the region produces a wide range of wines. Crisp, refreshing whites such as Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre and Chenin Blanc are local favorites that pair wonderfully with cheese and river fish. The valley also crafts smooth, fruity red wines made from Cabernet Franc grapes, as well as light sparkling wines.
Dates: May 4 to 11, 2027
Location: Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Cost: $4450 (see below for details)
Maximum group size: 14
More:
See below for full trip details and costs
See below for more details about this trip.
Questions about payments, costs, our cancelation policy and more? Consult our Frequently Asked Questions.
Trip Details
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May 4 to 11, 2027 (7 nights - 8 days)
Total cost of the tour: $4450
Supplement for single occupancy: $625
Deposit required to reserve a place on the tour: $600
(Places in the tour are limited to 14 and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend that you reserve your place early!)Payment schedule
$600 deposit is due when you make your reservation.The remainder of the cost will be due in 4 installments on:
September 15, 2026
November 15, 2026
January 15, 2027
March 15, 2027
Each installment payment will be $963. The cost of a single room is additional and will be due November 15, 2026. You can pay in fewer installments if more convenient for you.
Cancellation Policy:
If you cancel up to 90 days prior to the trip’s start, any payments you’ve already made will be held for you so that it can be applied to a future trip. If you are within 90 days of the trip’s start, we’ll have already incurred substantial costs related to your reservation and so we won’t be able to offer you a credit. Instead, you will need to file a claim through your travel insurance. More information is found in our FAQ.If we need to cancel a trip for another reason, such as a natural disaster at the trip’s destination, the trip will be rescheduled. You will also have the option to apply the payments you’ve made to another trip.
** Receive a $350 credit on your next trip when you bring or refer a friend. Read More.
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Excursions and special activities throughout the week
Pick-up and drop-off at designated airport at designated times
7 nights lodging
7 dinners with appropriate amounts of alcohol and breakfasts
Local transportation by minibus and driver
2 lunches
What’s not included:
Airfare & Travel Insurance
5 Lunches
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During our time in Amboise, we will stay in the Hotel Bellevue at the foot of the Royal Château Amboise and beside the Loire River.
The hotel is designed for comfort and it enjoys perhaps the best location in Amboise due to its proximity to the river and the château, not to mention the walking path along the river and the café-filled plaza beside the château.
Each room is private, either a single or a double, and has its own private bathroom. The 31-room hotel, which was constructed by merging four houses, has an elevator.
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Dinners will be taken at local restaurants throughout the trip. Breakfasts are included and will be at our hotel. Appropriate amounts of beer or wine are included with dinners. On some days, we may have our main course of the day at lunch, rather than at dinner.
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To extend your trip, and take some time to catch up on your sleep before the tour begins, you may wish to arrive early in France or elsewhere in Europe.
You can also extend your trip with a longer visit to Europe.
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Yes, you may cancel your trip if you need. Up to 90 days prior to the trip’s start, any payments you’ve already made will be held for you so that it can be applied to a future trip. If you are within 90 days of the trip’s start, we’ll have already incurred substantial costs related to your reservation and so we won’t be able to offer you a credit. Instead, you can file a claim through your travel insurance.
Contact Us as soon as you know you must cancel and going forward, let us know what future trip you’d like to join and we’ll set it up for you.
You will not be responsible for any payments that have not yet been made.
Any credit you have with Travel Fever Tours may be applied to a different person’s account, if you like. Credits are valid for a period of three years.
You will be contacted once the trip reaches minimum enrollment so that you can proceed with purchase of your flights and make other travel arrangements.
Note: This trip will involve a reasonable amount of walking. Within the towns and elsewhere, there may be cobblestones and other uneven surfaces. You should be able to walk distances, as city dwellers do, over uncertain surfaces to participate in this trip. Our hotel does not have an elevator.
Our home base in Amboise
The history of Amboise stretches back well over two thousand years, shaped by its strategic position along the banks of the Loire River in central France. Long before it became a royal town, the high ground above the river served as a natural lookout and fortified settlement for early Gallic tribes and later the Romans, who recognized its value as a crossing point over the water.
During the Middle Ages, Amboise grew into a powerful feudal stronghold. A formidable castle was built on the rocky plateau to control the river trade and protect the local population. In the fifteenth century, the town and its fortress became the property of the French royal family, marking the beginning of Amboise's golden age as a center of national power and culture.
The Château d'Amboise began as a medieval fortress built high above the Loire River. Its strategic position overlooking the water made it an important stronghold as early as the eleventh century. In the 1430s, the French crown seized the castle, and it quickly became a favorite residence for several French kings, including Charles VIII and Francis I.
During the Renaissance, King Charles VIII transformed the castle from a gloomy medieval fortress into a grand royal palace. Influenced by his travels to Italy, he brought Italian artists, builders, and gardeners to Amboise to introduce new styles of art and architecture. This project marked the beginning of the Italian Renaissance influence across the châteaux of the Loire Valley.
King Francis I continued to expand the castle and made it a bustling center of culture and art. In 1516, he invited the famous Italian master Leonardo da Vinci to live near the castle at Clos Lucé. Leonardo spent his final years there, working on projects for the king.
As the centuries passed and the French court shifted its attention to other palaces near Paris, Amboise lost its central political role. The town experienced quiet periods, economic changes, and significant damage during the French Revolution when parts of the old royal castle were torn down, yet it remains a charming location.
Meet Simon Renault, your tour leader
Group Leader Simon Renault
Simon Renault grew up in Brittany, France, coming from a long line of local farmers. Before moving to Vermont to settle down and raise a family, he worked as a historic tour guide in both France and Ireland. In 2008, he followed his agricultural roots and started his own small organic farm.
Today, Simon is the general manager of Scott Farm in Vermont, an orchard famous for growing over 130 varieties of heirloom apples. He enjoys bringing a taste of his French heritage to the orchard by making hard cider and hosting popular Crêpe Nights for visitors.
Outside of work, Simon loves hiking, gardening, cooking, and sharing good food. He firmly believes that the best way to enjoy great conversation and celebrate the joy of life is by gathering with others around a full table.
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Our Lodging
During our time in Amboise, we will stay in the Hotel Bellevue at the foot of the Royal Château Amboise and beside the Loire River.
The hotel is designed for comfort and it enjoys perhaps the best location in Amboise due to its proximity to the river and the château, not to mention the walking path along the river and the café-filled plaza beside the château.
Each room is private, either a single or a double, and has its own private bathroom. The 31-room hotel, which was constructed by merging four houses, has an elevator.
Is this trip for me?
There won’t be a super amount of walking on this trip. However, we will be walking around town, often on coblestones and other other uneven surfaces and we will be on our feet as we visit chateaux, gardens, and other establishments.
You should be able to spend this amount of time on your feet.
There is an elevator in our hotel.
We suggest you bring limited belongings so that you can move your suitcase around airports and into our hotel.
“Another great time with Bob Lawson, trip planner extraordinaire, and the remarkable host-guide Simon Renault! The people, the places, the food, and the accommodations were all wonderful and made this trip extra special.”
“Very relaxing while being educational at the same time! Nicely, comfortably organized, especially for older adults and a great travel group. No grumpy folks. All interesting folks! Thank You. ”
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