In this itinerary, you will experience the "sweet life" in Touraine and Burgundy, stopping over in little villages to savor local cheeses or taste amazing wines. Take the time to relax in rose gardens, or to enjoy the traditional cuisine in many small restaurants frequented by the locals.
France Just For You planned the trip of a lifetime for my husband and me. We traveled to Normandy, St. Saint Michele, the Loire Valley and Provence. We are typically not road trip …
France Just For You planned the trip of a lifetime for my husband and me. We traveled to Normandy, St. Saint Michele, the Loire Valley and Provence. We are typically not road trip travelers, but this adventure brought us closer to the wonderful people of France than any group tour or "drop and plop" vacation could ever do. The bed and breakfasts were charming, and the time we spend talking with our interesting hosts lent so much warmth to the trip. The guides Emilie provided were knowledgeable and personable. One of the best experiences of our lives was hiking in St. Saint Michel Bay at night, in the water, with our guide Roman. Each day was outlined with many suggestions and background information to allow you to make choices based on our interests and energy level. She set up experiences, such a wine tastings or cooking classes based on our feedback to her questions before we went. The book Emilie provided and the maps couldn't have been more detailed or better organized for easy use. I will say that it's important to read EVERYTHING before you go, as there's so much great information that you need time to become familiar with the guide before you go. Also, take Emilie's advice about the gps. She suggested you download maps either on your own device or your phone before you go. We used an internet app on our phone, which worked great, until your internet service dropped. (not often) The gps in the rental car was not in English in one of the cars, but it was in the other. Also, she gives you great tips about how to use the toll road systems, and even how to learn where to stand to get the TGV spot to wait for your car. One more tip: "drop a pin" on the maps app on your phone whenever you leave your car. We "misplaced" our car twice...makes a great story but is not very fun in the moment! We had a simply wonderful trip. Even though we never met Emilie, we felt like she was a friend because of all of the quick and thorough communication. We definitely recommend France Just For You, and we hope to have the opportunity to return to see the rest of France very soon!
The Loire Heritage & Burgundy Cuisine
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Your accommodations
Pictures of the specially selected accommodations
#1 - A winery in the heart of Beaune, BurgundyStay at a lovely couple who are also winemakers
#1 - A winery in the heart of Beaune, BurgundyEnjoy walking everywhere in Beaune (300 yards to the Hospices)
#1 - A winery in the heart of Beaune, BurgundyHave a nice rest in a very comfortable room
#1 - A winery in the heart of Beaune, BurgundyTaste your hosts wine with them...
#1 - A winery in the heart of Beaune, Burgundy...and why not having a bottle in the park ?
#2 - A comfortable B&B in the Kings' countryYour BB in the Loire Valley
#2 - A comfortable B&B in the Kings' countryEnjoy a very cozy room, with a nice view over the park
#2 - A comfortable B&B in the Kings' countryRelax at the swimming pool, playing billiards or in a nice living room
#2 - A comfortable B&B in the Kings' countryand meet with a lovely family
#3 - A Very Unique Site in Southern LoireStay in the former royal stables...
#3 - A Very Unique Site in Southern Loire...of a magnificent medieval castle
#3 - A Very Unique Site in Southern LoireFeel like Queen & King
#3 - A Very Unique Site in Southern Loireunwind in the garden
#3 - A Very Unique Site in Southern LoireWhat a view!
#3 - A Very Unique Site in Southern Loirestroll the grounds...which are just for you once the day visitors have left
Step by step
Burgundy: Wine, Gastronomy & Heritage
FromParis downtown or CDG Airport, get your rental car and drive about 3 hours to Burgundy. We will recommend you a very nice stop on the way, so you will enjoy this day traveling to the first B&B.
In Beaune, you will reside for 3 nights, 3 minutes on foot from the famous Hospices, right next to Beaune's ramparts,at a lovely couple who also owns a wine estate. Monsieur will be happy to organize a wine tasting for you to discover the different wines they produce. Situated in the heart of Burgundy, this is the perfect place to learn about the local wines.
We will provide you with all detailed itineraries to discover the authentic and charming Burgundy. This region is much more than the vineyards: winding roads leading to tiny timeless villages - some of them "Most Beautiful Villages of France" - will give you a real feel for this region. Dijon has kept a lot of ancient monuments and houses, yet it is a modern city very lively.
To discover the Burgundy vineyard trails, we plan for you to spend an afternoon on a bike to discover Burgundy wines. You will make several stops on the way to taste wine at smaller wineries.
The Loire Valley beauties
Your trip continues with 4 nights in a very pleasant family house which is located half-way between Blois and Amboise, in the heart of the "castle country." Also, a Michelin-star restaurant is only 1.5 miles away . . . a great opportunity to plan for an extraordinary dinner !
From here, you will explore the Loire Valley's most famous sites: Chambord or Chenonceau, Chaumont gardens and if you want to do some shopping, you may enjoy Tours.
Touraine is also famous for its vineyards and we plan for you to relax on a typical boat on the Loire river, while enjoying a commented old-vintages wine tasting.
You will also wander into tiny villages dotted along the Loire river and get a taste of French gastronomy in restaurants and local markets we have tested for you. Feel the real French "good life" strolling around peaceful villages on market days.
We also plan for you to enjoy a delicious cheese and wine apéritif right at a family-run goat farm, for an authentic taste of local life and Loire Valley flavors.
Last night in a Castle
Spend your last night in the former royal stables of a magnificent medieval castle, now an intimate 4-star boutique hotel where historic interiors, contemporary art and views over the grounds create a truly distinctive setting. Once the daytime visitors have left, step into the gardens for a peaceful evening stroll and you can feel like a Queen & a King!
On your last day, you can drive back to Paris (3hrs) ot to CDG airport (3hr30). We will arrange car drop off in the most convenient location based on your next destination. For those who don't want to drive, we can also arrange TGV high speed train.
Charm is definitely the best word to qualify Burgundy and the Loire Valley and you won't miss a piece of it!
Activities included
Burgundy Wine & Bike Tour
Spend an afternoon with a guide who will take you wine tasting in Côte de Beaune famous vineyards...and wineries of course.
Wine & Boat Tour
Relax on a typical boat on the Loire river, while enjoying a commented old-vintages wine tasting.
We also plan for you to enjoy a delicious cheese and wine apéritif right at a family-run goat farm, for an authentic taste of local life and Loire Valley flavors.
Emilie was a joy to work with - we were completely pleased with our experience! Do not hesitate to use her services - she will do everything to make your trip perfect. We don't care for group/bus "one-size-fits-all" type of tours - but I didn't feel confident enough with my grasp of French to go it alone. France Just For You is the perfect solution …
Emilie was a joy to work with - we were completely pleased with our experience! Do not hesitate to use her services - she will do everything to make your trip perfect. We don't care for group/bus "one-size-fits-all" type of tours - but I didn't feel confident enough with my grasp of French to go it alone. France Just For You is the perfect solution, and knowing Emilie was only a phone call/email away was wonderful - not that we needed to contact her. Everything was organized ahead of time, and this gave us the freedom to simply enjoy our visit to France. The accommodations were spectacular and Emilie includes thoughtful little "surprises" along the way. She cleverly found out that we were celebrating our 38th wedding anniversary, and on a private wine tour she'd arranged, she surprised us with having a bottle of wine given to us - bottled in the year we were married. By the way it was WONDERFUL. Such a thoughtful gesture. I look forward to booking with Emilie again someday.
Elizabeth from the US
An amazing trip through Southern France! This is the second trip we have booked with Émilie and her talented team at France Just for You and we couldn’t be happier. Based on our inputs, they designed an excellent trip for my husband, myself, my sister and sister-in-law using the Southern France from West to East as a template. We added several days …
An amazing trip through Southern France!
This is the second trip we have booked with Émilie and her talented team at France Just for You and we couldn’t be happier. Based on our inputs, they designed an excellent trip for my husband, myself, my sister and sister-in-law using the Southern France from West to East as a template. We added several days to the itinerary to explore more of Provence and I am so happy we did. We stayed in an hotel that had been in the same family for several generations, B&Bs and a traditional Provençal mas all hosted by warm, delightful, helpful and friendly hosts. We enjoyed several pre-booked activities such as city tours, a private winery tour with picnic and bottles of wine on the lovely grounds of the estate, a private day tour with a local guide in Carcassonne to ancient fortresses, a truffle hunting adventure, a day riding an e-bike (including a picnic lunch and wine) through several villages in the Luberon in Provence. They also provide a personalized travel packet with maps and a spiral bound travel guide. We have taken several other self driving tours in Europe and none compare to France Just for You.
Merci Émilie, Laura and Clelia for an amazing trip through a beautiful part of France,
Jill & Jerry from the US
The team at FJFY arranged everything for our 3 week trip to southern France. From car rental, train tickets, activities and wonderful accommodations they arranged it all. Stress free traveling! The spiral bound guide book and FJFY app gave us so much information on each area including activities and restaurant recommendations. The B & Bs were all …
The team at FJFY arranged everything for our 3 week trip to southern France. From car rental, train tickets, activities and wonderful accommodations they arranged it all. Stress free traveling! The spiral bound guide book and FJFY app gave us so much information on each area including activities and restaurant recommendations. The B & Bs were all lovely and run by friendly & helpful hosts. So many wonderful memories! This was our second trip using FJFY and if we are lucky enough to return to France we will definitely use them. Highly recommend!
