Discover some of the finest castles of the Loire Valley on a guided day trip from Paris. Transfer by air-conditioned minibus to the castles of Chenonceau, Chambord, and Amboise. Walk in the flower gardens of the Château de Chenonceau, and gaze at the delicate arches that cross the Cher River. Learn the extraordinary history of the building, which was run by women for much of its time in existence. Continue to Chambord to investigate the largest castle in the Loire Valley. Marvel at the extravagant architecture and double spiraled staircase of the royal Château de Chambord. See the hundreds of columns and spires that adorn its roof. End the day at the former home of King Francois I, and see the tomb of Leonardo Da Vinci at Amboise village and the Château d’Amboise. Confiscated by the monarchy in the 15th century, it was a favorite royal residence and was extensively rebuilt.

From Paris, set off directly for the Royal Castle of Amboise - open every day (except on 1 January and 25 December). When you arrive, take a walk in the town of the Amboise and see the beautiful castle from the outside and stroll around this historic city. This symbolic monument and its landscaped gardens offer wonderful panoramas of the Loire Valley, which rightly deserves the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the castle of Amboise with an audio guide (if the castle is closed, visits to similar castles such as Chambord or Cheverny are available). Get acquainted with French history from different angles in an exceptional location of political and artistic importance within Europe during the Renaissance. Discover what would have been the intimate moments in a sovereign's life, learn about daily life in the court, and get the chance to peek behind the scenes.  Finally, discover local gastronomy at a local restaurant. Savor a 3-course lunch which includes a starter, main, and dessert. This final stop will also give you an opportunity to learn about some emblematic French wines. Visit 2 different wineries in unique locations and explore the caves and taste up to 5 different glasses of wine. Meet the people who produce delicious bottles as you follow them to the caves and hear their stories.

Meet your guide at the tourist office in Tours and drive in a minivan to Vouvray. Discover this beautiful wine area full of passionate winegrowers. Meet a French winemaker in a charming family-run estate. See the vines and visit the traditional vat room and the cellars. During this visit, you will improve your knowledge regarding wine-making and of course wine tasting. Elegant sparkling wines and white wines are produced in this area. After this first visit, explore one of the famous underground caves that were dug during the 10th century in order to extract stones and today used by a famous Loire Valley wine house for producing and storing wines. Throughout the afternoon, your guide will share his knowledge with you, to help you understand the diversity of Loire wines and their specific terroir. You will learn the different steps of wine tasting and train your nose to identify many wine aromas. Benefit from your guide's tips and tricks and learn to taste like a professional. Afterward, you will be driven back to Tours, where your tour will end. 

Get picked up in the morning before driving to the Loire Valley and start your day touring the Château de Chenonceau. The Chateau des Dames bridge built across the Cher is famous for the great heroines who lived there (Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medicis) and for the beauty of its Renaissance gardens. Next, head to a wine tasting with a wine specialist at Caves Ambacia in Amboise. An oenologist will welcome you into the caves, former tuff stone quarries, for a tour. This will be followed by a wine tasting of Vouvray wines.  After this, tour the Royal Castle of Amboise, residence of Charles VIII and the young François d’Angoulème, future Francois I. Discover a perfect example of the transition from Gothic to Renaissance architecture and the Saint Hubert Chapel, which today houses the grave of Leonardo da Vinci. Finally, head to the Manor du Clos Lucé, a few yards away from the Royal Castle. Leonardo da Vinci spent the last 3 years of his life there and died there in 1519. See his bedroom, office, reception room and kitchen, and be awestruck by his invention room, displaying models of his most spectacular inventions. End your day by being dropped off in Amboise at 5:30 PM or in Tours at 6 PM.