Loire Valley Castles Chenonceau Amboise & Da Vinci Small Group
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.2/5
Based on 17 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Loire Valley Castles Chenonceau Amboise & Da Vinci Small Group worth booking?
Loire Valley Castles Chenonceau Amboise & Da Vinci Small Group is a 13.5-hour experience in Paris, France, from $185 per person. It scores 60 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.2/5 rating across 17 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 60 / 100
- Rating
- 4.2/5 (17)
- Duration
- 13.5 hours
- From
- $185 per person
Discover the highlights of the Loire Valley Castles on a small group day tour from Paris, limited to just 7 guests. Travel by Mercedes minivan with hotel pick up, all entrance tickets and a wine tasting included. Visit
What you get
About this experience
Discover the highlights of the Loire Valley Castles on a small group day tour from Paris, limited to just 7 guests. Travel by Mercedes minivan with hotel pick up, all entrance tickets and a wine tasting included. Visit three of the region’s most iconic sites: the elegant Château de Chenonceau, famously spanning the River Cher; the Royal Château of Amboise, once home to French kings and Leonardo da Vinci’s tomb; and Clos Lucé, the final residence of Leonardo da Vinci, where he spent the last three years of his life. Enjoy the insights of a live English-speaking guide throughout the day. The experience also includes a guided Loire Valley wine tasting at a local winery and free time for lunch in the charming town of Amboise. All entrance tickets are included, making this an easy, stress-free day trip from Paris—perfect for history lovers, first-time visitors, couples, and families seeking a truly small group experience.
What's included
Included
- Professional Driver and Guide or Guide-Driver
- Bottled water
- Wine Tasting
- All Fees and Taxes
- Mercedes minivan max. 7 Persons, air-conditioned with adjustable seats
- Entrance tickets to Three Castles by TICKETS INCLUDED Option
Not included
- Gratuities and Souvenirs, Meals and Drinks
- Tickets for 3 Castles EUR 50 per Adult by NO TICKETS INCLUDED OPTION
What you'll see and do
Paris
07:30 Pick-up from Your hotel. There are 3 hours drive (240 km) on highway by our comfortable air conditioned Mercedes minivan to our first Castle Château de Chenonceau. One stop at a rest area will be made. The Guide will give You general Information about the French history connected to the Loire Valley Castles.
Pass by without stopping
Chateau de Chenonceau
11:00 - 12:30 Chateau de Chenonceau and its Gardens visit with Guide explaining the history of the Castle and its construction. You will get as well the brochure with explanations of each room. Chenonceau nicknamed the "ladies’ castle" is remarkable for its feminine history of famous women of France such as Catherine de Medici as well as for its stunning architecture as well as unique aches over the River Cher. The Renaissance-style Gardens of Chenonceau with their more than 130,000 flowerings plants will impress You as well. 12:30 Departure to Amboise city. It takes about 20 minutes.
90 minutes here · Admission included
Amboise
13:00 -14:00 Lunch break in Amboise city where You'll find many restaurants and cafes. We can as well recommend You or make a table reservation at a good restaurant.
60 minutes here
Chateau Royal d'Amboise
14:00 - 15:30 Chateau Royal d’Amboise visit with Guide. Histopad (Interactive Videoguide) will be provided explaining the history of this Castle and of each room. Amboise is the grand 15th-century residence of King Charles VIII and an example of the transition of Gothic to Renaissance architecture. Learn the history of the castle Amboise which is known as birth place of princes, the reign of Kings. You will visit as well the grave of Leonardo Da Vinci who is buried in the Saint Hubert Chapel of the castle.
90 minutes here · Admission included
Plou Et Fils
15:40 - 16:20 Wine Tasting of 7 wines at a local family vinery existing since many centuries. You will learn how wines have been making for centuries and have afterwords the wine tasting of local wines with explanations.
40 minutes here · Admission included
Le Chateau du Clos Luce - Parc Leonardo da Vinci
16:30 - 18:00 Chateau of Leonardo da Vinci Clos Luce visit with Guide. The Château du Clos Lucé is a castle located close to Château Royal d'Amboise to which it is connected by an underground passageway. Built by Hugues d'Amboise in 1471, the palace belonged once to the French king Charles VIII and afterwards to Leonardo da Vinci who lived there at the invitation of Francis I from 1516 until his death on 2 May 1519. Today it is a museum about Leonardo da Vinci's life, work and memory. Clos Luce is one of top 100 extraordinary destinations to explore 2021 by Time magazine. 18:00 Departure to Paris. It takes about 3 hours (230 km)
90 minutes here · Admission included
Paris
21:00 Coming back to Paris full of impressions of a full Day Trip to Loire Valley and its Castles. Drop Off at Your hotel.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers.
Options you can book
3 CASTLES NO TICKETS INCLUDED
Tickets available EUR 50: per person extra charge for 3 Castles Pickup included
3 CASTLES TICKETS INCLUDED
Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 7 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Clewel Travel
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This tour only accommodates a maximum of 2 children and 2 youth.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 17 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Food and drink
3 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Small groups
2 mentionsThe group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.
Traveler reviews
17 verified traveler reviews for Loire Valley Castles Chenonceau Amboise & Da Vinci Small Group. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Relaxing day at Loire Calley
What a relaxing day trip from Paris to Loire Valley!! We had an amazing tour guide David who provided us with excellent history and information of the castles, timed the entries and other activities perfectly. Our driver, Alex kept the van in excellent and super comfortable conditions. We highly recommend this small group tour.
via Tripadvisor
Great time
Our tour guide David was very kind and knowledgeable and made the experience even better. And our driver Alex was also very nice. It was a very scenic tour and well planned.
via Tripadvisor
A great excursion - great guides and driver!!!
This was a great experience! We were very fortunate to have had a private tour as it was SO hot and busy!! Our guides and driver were absolutely amazing and supportive!!! I HIGHLY recommend this tour- especially if you are a small group!! Thank you for such a wonderful day!!
via Viator
Too Rushed-Reconsider
The Good- we appreciated the pick up/drop off service. Our Guide also provided a lot of insight into French customs. The Bad- When we arrived at the Chateaus our driver would spend 20-30 minutes explaining the history of the place...and then say- "ok you have 20 minutes to explore...get to the van...we have another reservation! The Ugly- at one stop other tour members were in line at a Starbucks- and the driver pulled them out of line to get to the next place. The rushing and urgency was very disappointing. We had to rush our lunch to meet him which was rather unpleasant because we were in a lovely little Town.
Response from the operator: Very strange review containing false and contradicting informations. You had Guide and Driver. So You stopped at the Castles and the Guide who "also provided a lot of insight into French customs" was for some undescribed reasons silent about half an hour watching the driver talking to You within "20-30 minutes explaining the history of the place...and then say- "ok you have 20 minutes to explore...get to the van...we have another reservation! " Are You sure that any Guide would have allowed it ? About Which another reservation could the driver have been taking ? We serve only one group from Paris to Paris. Nobody joins us on the way or leaves the Minivan. What happened to our Guide meanwhile as all these strange things were happening ? Maybe the Guide was driving a bus or checking up the engine ?:) Who are You ? What is Your name ? What was the Guide's name ? Very strange review containing false and contradicting informations.
via Viator
Lovely day in the French countryside
What a perfect day! Our group of 6 adults had a fantastic time with Olga on our tour. We stayed in Paris and wanted to see more of France during our visit. This tour was exactly what we wanted. The sites we visited were amazing and Olga was the perfect guide! She is so knowledgeable about each site and France in general. She gave us a great overview of each site on the way and then pointed out unique details on the visits. The stop at a local winery was perfect as well. We loved this tour and would highly recommend it to anyone!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 13.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $185 to $275
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 6
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 60
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Loire Valley Castles Chenonceau Amboise & Da Vinci Small Group: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Paris.
How much does Loire Valley Castles Chenonceau Amboise & Da Vinci Small Group cost?
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Prices start at $185 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Paris usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Loire Valley Castles Chenonceau Amboise & Da Vinci Small Group take?
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Plan for about 13.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Paris is not rushed.
Is Loire Valley Castles Chenonceau Amboise & Da Vinci Small Group worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 60 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.2/5 across 17 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Paris, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Loire Valley Castles Chenonceau Amboise & Da Vinci Small Group?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Loire Valley Castles Chenonceau Amboise & Da Vinci Small Group suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 13.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Loire Valley Castles Chenonceau Amboise & Da Vinci Small Group?
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Around 6 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Paris can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Paris and add a light layer if any part of the 13.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Loire Valley Castles Chenonceau Amboise & Da Vinci Small Group start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Paris within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Paris?
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Paris rewards travelers who book ahead. The headline museums sell timed entry weeks out, the best food walks cap at eight people, and the Seine cruises that are worth doing are the ones that leave after sunset. Everything below is scored by the Outty Ranking so you can tell a genuine local favorite from a coach-tour filler in a single glance. On Outty we rank every Paris experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Louvre Museum Essential Guided Tour Semi Private 6 GUESTS MAX, Louvre Museum Premium Guided Tour 6 GUESTS MAX Entry Included, Paris City Center Free Walking Tour (Tip-Based). The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Paris?
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April to June and September to October, when queues thin out and terraces stay open late. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Paris?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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