Be seduced by France Just For You's very special way of discovering the Loire Valley, its must sees and hidden beauties.
In this itinerary, you will experience the "sweet life" in Touraine, stopping over in little villages to savor local goat cheese 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.
There are not enough superlatives, or kind words, to describe the level of service Emilie, with France Just for You, provided us from the moment we contacted her, throughout our …
There are not enough superlatives, or kind words, to describe the level of service Emilie, with France Just for You, provided us from the moment we contacted her, throughout our trip, and even her thoughtful emails upon our return. We contacted Emilie with a list of all the places we wished to go, the things we hoped to do, and our budget. We exchanged several emails (Emilie’s response time was always immediate) and, within a couple of days, Emilie created an amazing itinerary for our 2 week stay in France that allowed us to do everything we hoped for and several things we would not have thought about on our own. Emilie is an incredible listener which was very evident when we received our itinerary. She had arranged for everything including a French Smartphone with Google Maps, a rental car, skip-the-line tickets, a stay in a castle, wine tastings, etc. All of our accommodations were superb with hosts that spoke fluent English, were very knowledgeable about their area, and had great suggestions from restaurants to local “must do’s” and everything in-between. When Emilie says she has visited all of the accommodations in person, she means it. Each host talked very highly of Emilie and reminisced about her visits. From the moment we stepped off the plane in Paris, we knew we were in for a great experience. Emilie’s detailed notes (all in a spiral bound, 400+ page book with our itinerary, addresses, suggestions,etc.) on where to pick up our French Smart Phone (an absolute must and one of our best friends during our visit - loaded with our tailored book and several other great programs) and then our rental car, made the start to our journey very easy - relatively important to us since neither one of us spoke more than 10 words of French. We had the privilege of meeting up with Emilie in her hometown and she was just as delightful in person as we experienced with our email exchanges over the last few months. While the trains were sporadically on strike, depending on the day, Emilie was there to follow the schedule and be ready to make an alternative plan for us if needed. When we hit a small snag turning in our rental car, Emilie was right there to figure things out and get us on our way. We’ve traveled quite a bit, yet we both thought this to be our Best Trip Ever. Thank you Emilie and France Just for You!
The Loire Valley's Heritage & Gastronomy
tour
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Your accommodations
Pictures of the specially selected accommodations
#1 - A gorgeous private castle near Le MansEnjoy a luxury stay in a gorgeous mansion near Le Mans
#1 - A gorgeous private castle near Le MansRelax in a family-owned boutique-hotel
#1 - A gorgeous private castle near Le MansExperience "la vie de chateaux" !
#1 - A gorgeous private castle near Le MansHave you already tried a candle-light dinner in France ?
#1 - A gorgeous private castle near Le MansYour hosts and their staff will take a great care of you
#2 - A restored historic home in the center of a lively townA historic home, in the center of a lively wine town
#2 - A restored historic home in the center of a lively townrelax in a large room
#2 - A restored historic home in the center of a lively town...in the courtyard or the guests living room
#2 - A restored historic home in the center of a lively townShare breakfasts with other fellow travelers
#3 - An antique townhouse in Eastern Loire ValleyThe B&B house is built against Loches' medieval walls...
#3 - An antique townhouse in Eastern Loire Valleywith welcoming rooms...
#3 - An antique townhouse in Eastern Loire Valley... decorated with antiques
#4 - A comfortable B&B in the Kings' countryYour BB in the Loire Valley
#4 - A comfortable B&B in the Kings' countryEnjoy a very cozy room, with a nice view over the park
#4 - A comfortable B&B in the Kings' countryRelax at the swimming pool, playing billiards or in a nice living room
#4 - A comfortable B&B in the Kings' countryand meet with a lovely family
#5 - A charming Boutique-Hotel in the center of OrléansEnjoy walking everywhere from this very central accommodation
#5 - A charming Boutique-Hotel in the center of OrléansThe place is owned by a family which has kept the unique ambiance
#5 - A charming Boutique-Hotel in the center of Orléans...toile de Jouy on the walls
#5 - A charming Boutique-Hotel in the center of Orléans...and great breakfasts
Step by step
Overnight in Le Perche near Le Mans
Pick up the rental car in Paris downtown or at CDG airport (or another location) and drive about 2hr30 to 3 hours to the Perche region, which is just North of the Loire Valley.
Recover from jetlag in a luxury family-owned Boutique-Hotel...and enjoy a fantastic candle-light dinner "at home". La vraie vie de château !
From this area of France, a lot of people emigrated in the 17th century to the New World. Maybe you have some roots there?
Western Loire Valley
You will spend the following 4 nights of your journey comfortably settled in a beautiful historic home nestled in a lively town, by the river. Your host will be happy to make many recommendations about wineries, wine bars or restaurants to experience the Touraine sweet life.
Located on the banks of the Vienne River, you will jump back to the Medieval times and learn about Joan of Arc history with a private guide. At night, one of the best restaurants in the area is less than a 1-minute-walk.
You will also wander off the beaten path into tiny villages dotted along the Vienne and Loire rivers and get a taste of French gastronomy in restaurants and local markets that we have tested for you. Stroll Langeais medieval town or Villandry gardens enjoying the quietness of the wilder Loire.
Eastern Loire Valley
Your next stop will be in the heart of the medieval city of Loches. Spend 2 nights in a very comfortable house - built against the old city walls - that used to be a post house. From here, explore Montrésor, one of the "most beautiful villages of France" and many other places away from the crowds.
One day, cruise along the Loire river as a passenger aboard a vintage sidecar : explore the little towns and enjoy the landscapes.
Northern Loire Valley
You will then stay for 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, explore all the marvels of the Loire Valley: the castles of Chambord, Chenonceau or Chaumont-sur-Loire gardens.
Discover the vineyards of the Loire Valley with Vincent who has worked in wine-making for the past 10 years and will take you to his favorite wineries in the area. You will have the opportunity to taste very different wines: red, whites, still or sparkling. You will be able to taste to your heart's delight - Vincent will drive you back to your B&B safely.
Included in this itinerary is an Electric Bike rental for a day. You will explore, at your own pace, several villages and castles. No worries, the road along the Loire river is totally flat!
Overnight in Orléans
On your way back to Paris or CDG Airport, you will spend a night in a family-owned Boutique-Hotel, in Orléans historical city. A great occasion to walk again on Joan or Arc's footsteps and discover this lively, student city.
The next morning you are only a 1hr30 drive to Paris and 2hr to CDG Airport.
We hope you are ready for this great immersion into French culture!
Activities included
Vintage Sidecar Tour
Cruise along the Loire river as a passenger aboard a vintage sidecar : explore the little towns and enjoy the landscapes
Wine Tasting Tour
Spend a half-day wine tasting with a professional. He will take you to several cellars so you can enjoy the diversity of the Loire Valley wines.
Guided Tour of Chinon
Explore Chinon medieval town with a private guide who will take you on Joan of Arc footsteps.
Biking day in the castle's country
Spend a day on an Electric Bike at your own pace and discover many castles nestled in the nature. Enjoy a nice picnic with wine. We have tested several itineraries so you can chose depending on your mood and what you would like to see.
We enjoy drive yourself travel and located Emilie's France Just For You online. How fortunate we were. In September and early October we traveled 17 days in Loire, Bordeaux, Dordogne, Carcassonne and Provence. All the accommodations were in historic B&Bs. Our hosts were invariably gracious and helpful. At every stop Emilie included a home cooked …
We enjoy drive yourself travel and located Emilie's France Just For You online. How fortunate we were. In September and early October we traveled 17 days in Loire, Bordeaux, Dordogne, Carcassonne and Provence. All the accommodations were in historic B&Bs. Our hosts were invariably gracious and helpful. At every stop Emilie included a home cooked meal which were all delicious multi-course events with good wines. A car and French phone were included as were winetours, truffle hunting and a canoe trip. Also included was a 500 page guidebook of the areas we visited with restaurant recommendations and itinerary suggestions including points of interest. Emilie made everything convenient and easy. Emilie was on top of the few minor problems of our own making that we encountered. I have organized self-drive trips myself before and Emilie saved me a lot of work with a result I never could have achieved If you like drive yourself travel you could not possibly find a better was to see France. The cost was reasonable and the trip exceeded our expectations.
Jodi
My husband and I have both been to Europe multiple times in our school/college days but not since we've been married- so over 19 years! We finally got it together to plan a return trip together. Since it had been so long we weren't confident in planning it on our own but didn't want to be hearded around like cattle. Anyway, we found Emilie and she …
My husband and I have both been to Europe multiple times in our school/college days but not since we've been married- so over 19 years! We finally got it together to plan a return trip together. Since it had been so long we weren't confident in planning it on our own but didn't want to be hearded around like cattle. Anyway, we found Emilie and she made our trip more than amazing! Absolutely one on one attention, custom just for us and no detail overlooked. We felt everything was covered from tips on visiting France to suggestions on EVERYTHING!
We spent three weeks and drove a counter-clockwise route around the country with stops in: Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Dordogne, Carcasonne, Provence, Burgundy and Paris. From car and cell phone pick up at the airport to accomodations, drive times, suggestions on where to eat, activities, admission fees...Emilie covered it all.
In addition you get a beautiful travel size book (or two!) with pictures, tips, itinerary, contact info and anything else you might need for a successful trip.
We even contacted her because we were running late for a scheduled activity. She got in touch with the venue and gave us an alternate time to participate.
All accommodations were beautiful with friendly hosts. Car was great with full insurance. Full cell service with texting.
Can't say enough about France Just For You. An absolute gem for foreigners travelling to France.
Mervyn
My wife and I and two friends decided we would like to visit France and by chance I found Emilie's website and initiated an online conversation with her over a year ago. We really did not know what we wanted to do, nor where we wanted to go and so our planning became a moving feast, most ably supported by Emilie. How she ever put up with our …
My wife and I and two friends decided we would like to visit France and by chance I found Emilie's website and initiated an online conversation with her over a year ago. We really did not know what we wanted to do, nor where we wanted to go and so our planning became a moving feast, most ably supported by Emilie. How she ever put up with our changing demands remains beyond me. The speed with which she responded to our requests was nothing short of amazing, she must never sleep !! We together finally put together a truly wonderful programme that met our every expectation. We saw provincial France over 17 days, starting in the Cote D'Azur and culminating in Paris, visiting Provence, Burgundy and the Loire. The accommodation arranged by Emilie was delightful, her suggestions on activities, routes, restaurants, sights to see and visit were outstanding.
Travelling from Australia to France is not for the fainthearted at any time, let alone making an unescorted self drive tour such as we have done over the past month. I doubt we could have done it without Emilie's very professional support.
We would recommend her services to anyone. Thank you Emilie
