Loire Valley Castles TourLoire Castles Tour With Lunch At A Chateau
This Loire castles tour with lunch at a chateau runs from Amboise in a minivan of 8 passengers at most. It costs $268 per person, lasts 8.5 hours and carries a 4.9 rating from 145 reviews on GetYourGuide. The price covers entrance fees to Chateau de Chenonceau and Chateau de Chambord, the guide, transport, and lunch with local wine at the Chateau de Villesavin, a family-owned castle that is still occupied. If you are based in Amboise and want the two headline castles without driving or queueing for tickets, it fits. Compare it with the rest of the Loire Valley castle tours before you book.
About This Tour
A La Francaise Tourisme runs this 8.5-hour day from the Amboise tourist office in a minivan for up to 8 guests. The guide is live and in English. You visit Chenonceau for 2 hours, stop 1.5 hours for lunch at the Chateau de Villesavin with local dishes and local wine, then spend 2 hours at Chambord before the drive back past Chaumont, Amboise and Blois. The route home means the day ends in the evening at the same office.
Entrance fees to both chateaux are included, which is worth checking when you compare prices, because some cheaper listings leave tickets out. The listing says hotel pickup or drop-off is included, while the stated start is the Amboise tourist office, so confirm with the operator before booking. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later.
$268 per person on GetYourGuide. Every passenger needs a ticket to board the van, including children and infants.
8.5 hours. Starting times are shown when you check availability. The tour ends in the evening at the return point.
Office de Tourisme Amboise Val de Loire, Quai du General de Gaulle, 37400 Amboise. Hotel pickup or drop-off is listed as included.
Up to 8 participants. Live tour guide in English.
Chateau de Chenonceau, Chateau de Villesavin for lunch, and Chateau de Chambord. Entrance fees to the chateaux are included, plus the guide and transport by minivan.
Not included: snacks and tips. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
Check Dates and Availability
Starting times depend on the date, and the listing warns the tour is likely to sell out. Check the calendar for your day and cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before if plans change.
Quick answer Price, length and what you get
This Loire castles tour with lunch at a chateau costs $268 per person, lasts 8.5 hours from Amboise and takes up to 8 guests to Chenonceau and Chambord with entrance fees included.
Key takeaways
- Lunch with local wine is at the Chateau de Villesavin, a family-owned castle, and lasts 1.5 hours. See what the price covers.
- Not suitable for children under 4 or wheelchair users, and every passenger needs a paid ticket. Check who this rules out.
- Starting in Tours instead? The Chenonceau and Chambord tour from Tours costs $240 and runs 8 hours.
- Browse the full comparison of Loire Valley castle tours before deciding.
What the Price Actually Covers
The $268 covers more than most cheap listings, but not everything. Here is the split, taken from the operator's own listing.
Included and Not Included
Entrance fees to both chateaux are part of the price, as are the minivan, the English-speaking guide and lunch at the Chateau de Villesavin with local wine. Hotel pickup or drop-off is listed as included, while the stated start and return point is the Amboise tourist office, so confirm which applies. Snacks and tips are not included, so bring cash or card for drinks outside lunch and a little extra for the guide if you want to tip.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance fees, Chenonceau and Chambord | Yes | Skip the ticket line with the group |
| Transport by minivan | Yes | Up to 8 passengers |
| Live guide, English | Yes | Guided tour at both chateaux |
| Lunch at Chateau de Villesavin | Yes | Local dishes and local wine, 1.5 hours |
| Hotel pickup or drop-off | Yes | Listed as included by the operator |
| Snacks | No | Buy your own |
| Tips | No | At your discretion |
What the Price Means for a Family
Every passenger needs a ticket to board the van, including children and infants, so a family pays $268 for each person. The operator also states that an undeclared child, infant or pet cannot be added on the day of the tour. Declare everyone at booking.
If that pushes the budget too far, the Loire Valley Castles Tour from Tours and Amboise visits the same two castles for $231, though lunch is on you in Amboise town.
Sources: Château de Chambord, Château de Chenonceau, Blois-Chambord tourist office
What the Day Is Really Like
The listing gives stop durations but no clock times, since starting times vary by date. Here is the shape of the day.
Meet in Amboise
The tour starts at the Office de Tourisme Amboise Val de Loire on the Quai du General de Gaulle, and this is also the return point. The listing also mentions hotel pickup or drop-off, so ask the operator whether it applies to your booking. The operator reminds visitors that a ticket is strictly required to access the vans at the start, including for children.
Chenonceau, About 2 Hours
The first stop is the castle built across the River Cher. The listing allows 2 hours covering a photo stop, a guided visit, free time and sightseeing. Your guide picks out the emblematic rooms, and you can stroll the gardens named after Catherine de Medicis and Diane de Poitiers, the two women who shaped the house.
Lunch at Chateau de Villesavin, About 1.5 Hours
The drive to Villesavin passes villages and countryside. Lunch at this family-owned castle lasts 1.5 hours and includes coffee, wine, dessert and regional food, with free time to look around the property.
Chambord, About 2 Hours
The afternoon belongs to Chambord, with 2 hours on site. The guide shows the apartments of Francis the First and the double helix staircase, an emblem of the castle attributed to Leonardo da Vinci by the estate. You also get views of the castle from Chambord Park.
Back to Amboise in the Evening
The tour ends in the evening at the tourist office in Amboise. The route home passes Chaumont, Amboise and Blois, which you see from the van rather than visit. Total road time is part of the 8.5 hours, so expect a long day.
Who This Tour Rules Out
The listing states several hard limits. Read them before you book rather than at the van.
Young Children and Accessibility
The tour is not suitable for children under 4, for security and legal reasons, and not suitable for wheelchair users. Pets, oversize luggage and food and drinks in the vehicle are not allowed. If you travel with children aged 4 and up and want a shorter day, look at the Villandry and Azay-le-Rideau Half-Day Tour from Tours, which is a 4-hour morning instead of 8.5 hours, though its listing also says it is not suitable for children under 4.
Budget and Base
At $268 this is one of the pricier valley days, and every passenger pays, infants included. The 8.5 hours also carry real road time between stops. If you start in Tours, the Chenonceau and Chambord Tour from Tours is $240 for 8 hours with tickets and guided visits included.
On a tight budget, the Loire Valley Castles Tour from Tours and Amboise is $231 and swaps the chateau lunch for free time in Amboise.
Stairs and Walking
The listing asks for comfortable shoes and clothes. Chenonceau and Chambord both involve walking inside, and Chambord's double helix staircase means climbing, though the listing states no fitness requirement. If you want a shorter day or a wheelchair-accessible option, this listing does not offer one, so use the Loire Valley castle tours to find a better fit.
Getting There and What to Add
The tour starts in Amboise, so most travellers reach the valley the day before. The listing names no Paris metro stop, because the departure is the Amboise tourist office.
Reaching the Meeting Point
Amboise lies 1.5 hours from Paris by train according to the Amboise tourist office, and its regional station serves Paris Austerlitz, Tours and Orleans. From Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, the TGV hub near Tours, Amboise is about 20 km away. The Amboise tourist office says a municipal bus links the station to the old centre, and the historic centre around Quai du General de Gaulle is walkable.
Drivers have four large free car parks in Amboise, and the town sits near three motorway exits on the A10, A28 and A85.
Add Chaumont-sur-Loire on Another Day
The drive home passes Chaumont, but this tour does not enter it. Published winter hours differ between sources, so check the domain's own page before you go. It sits between Blois and Amboise on the Loire, easy by car from your base.
Read the full guide to Chaumont-sur-Loire before you go.
Add Amboise's Own Castles
Since you sleep in Amboise, the royal Chateau d'Amboise and the Clos Lucé are walkable extras. The Clos Lucé is 500 metres from the royal chateau. Friday and Sunday mornings bring the Amboise market, and the Sunday market was voted France's favourite market in 2015.
For the wider valley, the guide to the Loire Valley castles ranks what deserves a day, and the Paris to Loire Valley by train page covers the rail options.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
The listing states stop durations but no clock times, since departure times vary by date.
-
Start
Meet at the Amboise tourist office
Meet at the Office de Tourisme Amboise Val de Loire, Quai du General de Gaulle, or ask the operator about the hotel pickup or drop-off the listing mentions. Every passenger, including children, needs a ticket to board the van.
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Visit, 2 hours
Chateau de Chenonceau
Photo stop, guided tour and free time across 2 hours. Admire the castle built on a bridge across the Cher and the gardens of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medicis.
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Lunch, 1.5 hours
Lunch at Chateau de Villesavin
Drive through villages and countryside to the family-owned castle. Coffee, wine, dessert and a traditional lunch with local products, over 1.5 hours with free time to explore.
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Visit, 2 hours
Chateau de Chambord
2 hours on site. Visit the apartments of Francis the First, see the double helix staircase and take in the views of the castle from Chambord Park.
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Return
Return to Amboise
The tour ends in the evening at the tourist office in Amboise, passing Chaumont, Amboise and Blois on the way.
Pros and Cons
An honest read of this listing against the alternatives.
What we genuinely like
- Entrance fees to both Chenonceau and Chambord are included, so no ticket queues on the day
- Lunch with local wine inside a family-owned chateau
- Group capped at 8 with a live English guide
- 4.9 rating from 145 GetYourGuide bookings, and 91 percent of English-speaking travellers gave it a perfect score
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, and reserve now pay later
The honest downsides
- At $268 per person, with infants paying too, every passenger pays $268, infants included
- 8.5 hours is a long day, and the return leg in the evening adds real road time
- Not suitable for children under 4 or wheelchair users
- Chaumont, Amboise and Blois are only driven past on the way home
- An undeclared child, infant or pet cannot be added on the day
Who it's NOT for: Not for travellers with under-4s, wheelchair users, or anyone on a budget, who should look at the cheaper days from Tours instead.
Questions About This Tour
Does the price include lunch?
Yes. Lunch at the Chateau de Villesavin, a family-owned castle, is included with local dishes and local wine, and it lasts 1.5 hours. Snacks and tips are not included. See the full breakdown in what the price covers.
Are entrance tickets to Chenonceau and Chambord included?
Yes, entrance fees to both chateaux are part of the $268, along with the guide and minivan transport. Some cheaper listings leave tickets out, which is why comparing on Loire Valley castle tours matters.
Can I bring a baby or a child?
Children from 4 up can join, but every passenger needs a paid ticket to board the van, including infants, and an undeclared child cannot be added on the day. The tour is not suitable for children under 4. Families with children aged 4 and up who want a shorter day may prefer the Villandry and Azay-le-Rideau Half-Day Tour.
Where does the tour start and end?
It starts and ends at the Office de Tourisme Amboise Val de Loire on the Quai du General de Gaulle in Amboise, and hotel pickup or drop-off is listed as included. Amboise is 1.5 hours from Paris by train per the tourist office. The guide to Amboise France covers the town.
How does this compare with tours from Tours?
The Chenonceau and Chambord Tour from Tours costs $240 for 8 hours with tickets and guided visits at both castles, but no chateau lunch. This Amboise day costs more and buys you the lunch stop at Villesavin.
What if I need to cancel?
Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. That flexibility is standard across the listings on Loire Valley castle tours.
Can I visit Chaumont on this tour?
No. The route passes Chaumont, Amboise and Blois on the way back but does not stop. Plan a separate visit using the guide to Chaumont-sur-Loire.
What Travelers Said
Really nice tour of the two main Chateaus in the Loire Valley. Dimitri was a great guide, very knowledgeable and entertaining. The lunch at a private chateau was delicious. I would highly recommend this tour.
Agut our tour leader was great. She led us efficiently, was very knowledgeable about the chateaus and had very funny anecdotes as well. The lunch was great and we enjoyed the free time we were given at each place.
Great experience all round - approachable and knowledgeable guide , small group , well paced .. a perfect way to spend a day in the Loire Valley
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