Chenonceau sits 214 km from Paris and Chambord about 2 hours by car, with no direct bus between them. A Loire Valley castles tour buys the driving and the order of the day: a 12-13 hour day from Paris, an 8-guest van from Tours or Amboise, or a price with the castle tickets in.
A Loire Valley castles tour costs from $101 for a 13-hour coach day from Paris, and the pick is City Wonders at $115 with skip-the-line entry to Chambord and Chenonceau. Vans of 8 at most also leave from Tours and Amboise, cutting the hours on the road. On your own, the TGV reaches Tours from Paris Montparnasse in just over an hour, then a 25-minute TER to Chenonceaux puts you 400 m from the chateau ticket office.
Key takeaways
Prices below are per person and 'from' means the lowest adult rate on the listing. The private Parismatic day is a private vehicle that the platform prices per person at $874, so check the total for your party at checkout. Most listings include the chateau tickets, but the guided visit at Chambord does not: its price covers only the guide and headphones. The platforms handle payment, and every listing here offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
A 12.5-13 hour coach day from Paris with skip-the-line entry to Chambord and Chenonceau, a lunch stop in Blois and a wine tasting in the Chenonceau cellar. It is the most reviewed Loire tour from Paris on this page.
A 12-hour day from Paris in a van of 8 at most, with entry to Chambord, Chenonceau and Amboise and a wine tasting. Amboise adds the quarters of Francois I and the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci.
A 13-hour coach day from Paris to Chenonceau, Cheverny and Chambord with entrance tickets included. It is the lowest-priced Paris departure here, but the guide and audio guide depend on the option you pick.
A small-group day from Paris in a minivan for 8 at most, with a sit-down lunch in Amboise and visits to Chambord, Amboise and Chenonceau. The listing does not say whether castle entry is included.
A 13-hour Paris day with entrance tickets and gardens included at Chenonceau, Cheverny and Chambord, visited at your own pace. Cheverny is the castle that inspired Moulinsart in Tintin.
A private 13-hour Loire day from Paris with hotel pickup, a luxury vehicle and an art historian guide, covering Chambord, Chenonceau and Amboise. Lunch is not included.
A 9-hour small-group day from Tours or Amboise with guided entry to Chenonceau and Chambord and 2.5 hours in Amboise for lunch. The vehicle is an 8-passenger minivan.
A small-group day from Tours with tickets and guided visits at both Chenonceau and Chambord. The listing warns that the Francois I wing of Chambord is closed for restoration.
An 8.5-hour small-group day from Amboise with entrance fees to Chenonceau and Chambord and lunch at a family-owned chateau. It is the highest-rated Loire tour on this page with more than 100 reviews.
A 4-hour morning from Tours to the gardens of Villandry and Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau, with entrance fees included, in a group of 8 at most. Tours is about an hour from Paris by TGV.
A 1.5-hour interactive guided visit of Chateau de Chambord in a group of 10 at most, with headphones included. The castle ticket is not included and you buy it yourself.
A sunrise or sunset hot-air balloon flight over the Loire Valley from Amboise, Chenonceau or Chaumont-sur-Loire, with hotel pickup and a toast on landing. The flight depends on weather and a minimum number of passengers.
A 1.5-2 hour visit to the 15th-century Caves Ambacia in Amboise, with a sensorial tour, a vintage collection and a sommelier tasting paired with cheese and charcuterie. It is a short wine stop that fits around a castle visit.
A 3.5-hour morning in Vouvray from Tours with a vineyard visit, two cellars and two tastings of at least ten wines, paired with local cheeses, in a minivan of 8 at most. It rates 5.0 from 187 reviews.
An 8-hour day from Tours to two wineries in Chinon and Bourgueil, with tastings, a 2-hour stop in Chinon for lunch and a group of 8 at most. It rates 4.9 from 45 reviews.
Each Loire Valley castles tour side by side, with the price as published on the listing, the listed duration, the departure point and the castles visited.
| Tour | Price | Hours | Leaves from | Castles | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Wonders day trip | $115 | 12.5-13 hours | Paris | Chambord, Chenonceau | Check Availability Details |
| Blue Fox small group | $280 | 12 hours | Paris | Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise | Check Availability Details |
| Extime coach day | $101 | 13 hours | Paris | Chenonceau, Cheverny, Chambord | Check Availability Details |
| Paris TRIP with lunch | $376 | 12 hours | Paris | Chambord, Amboise, Chenonceau | Check Availability Details |
| ALENTOURS three castles | $237 | 13 hours | Paris | Chenonceau, Cheverny, Chambord | Check Availability Details |
| Parismatic private day | $874 | 13 hours | Paris, hotel | Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise | Check Availability Details |
| France Intense day | $231 | 9 hours | Tours | Chenonceau, Chambord | Check Availability Details |
| Ophorus from Tours | $240 | 8 hours | Tours | Chenonceau, Chambord | Check Availability Details |
| A La Francaise with lunch | $268 | 8.5 hours | Amboise | Chenonceau, Chambord | Check Availability Details |
| Villandry half day | $131 | 4 hours | Tours | Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau | Check Availability Details |
| Guided Chambord visit | $50 | 1.5 hours | At Chambord | Chambord | Check Availability Details |
| Balloon flight | $291 | 3-4 hours | Amboise | Balloon flight | Check Availability Details |
| Caves Ambacia tasting | $36 | 1.5-2 hours | Amboise | Wine cellar, no castle | Check Availability Details |
| Vouvray wine morning | $143 | 3.5 hours | Tours | Vouvray vineyards | Check Availability Details |
| Wineries day trip | $174 | 8 hours | Tours | Chinon, Bourgueil wineries | Check Availability Details |
Cancellation terms are on each card. Figures current in Q4 2026.
The pick leaves from the Catacombs of Paris for a 12.5-13 hour day with skip-the-line entry to Chambord and Chenonceau. Pick a date to see the price and the free-cancellation terms.
Looking at one of the others? 8 guests max, three castles, wine tasting · Chenonceau, Cheverny and Chambord by coach · 8 guests max, sit-down lunch, three castles · Entry tickets to three castles, coach or minivan · Private luxury vehicle, art historian guide, hotel pickup · 8 guests max, guided Chenonceau and Chambord, Amboise lunch · Small group from Tours, guided in both castles · 8 guests max, lunch in a family-owned chateau · Half-day small group, two castles with entry · 1.5-hour guided visit, 10 guests max · Sunrise or sunset balloon flight, hotel pickup · Troglodyte caves, tasting with food pairing · 8 guests max, two cellars, ten wines or more · 8 guests max, Chinon and Bourgueil wineries
Three coach days, two 8-guest minivan days and one private vehicle with hotel pickup leave from Paris.
The table pulls the group size, the castles and the ticket situation from each listing so you can see what the price covers before you click through. Coach days sit cheapest, the 8-guest vans sit highest, and the private day is priced per person for the vehicle.
| Tour | Price | Group | Castles | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loire Valley Castles Day Trip with Wine Tasting | $115 | Not stated | Chambord, Chenonceau, Blois free time | Skip-the-line, both castles |
| Full-Day Loire Valley Chateaux Tour | $101 | Not stated | Chenonceau, Cheverny, Chambord | Included |
| Paris Loire Valley 3 Castles Tour | $237 | Not stated | Chenonceau, Cheverny, Chambord | All three and gardens |
| Small-Group Loire Valley Castles Tour | $280 | Up to 8 | Chenonceau, Chambord, Amboise | Included |
| Small-Group Loire Castles Tour with Lunch | $376 | Up to 8 | Chambord, Amboise, Chenonceau | Not named, check with operator |
| Private Loire Valley Castles Tour | $874 | Private | Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise | Fees and taxes listed as included |
Base yourself in the valley and the day shrinks to 4 to 9 hours. Every departure here runs in a vehicle of 8 guests at most. The departures from Tours are set side by side on Loire Valley tours from Tours.
The table compares the departures from Tours and Amboise as listed. Prices are per person from the listing, and each lists the chateau entries in the price.
| Tour | Price | Hours | Leaves from | Castles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loire Valley Castles Tour from Tours and Amboise | $231 | 9 hours | Tours | Chenonceau, Chambord |
| Chenonceau and Chambord Tour from Tours | $240 | 8 hours | Tours | Chenonceau, Chambord |
| Loire Castles Tour with Lunch at a Chateau | $268 | 8.5 hours | Amboise | Chenonceau, Chambord |
| Villandry and Azay-le-Rideau Half-Day Tour | $131 | 4 hours | Tours | Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau |
The TGV from Paris Montparnasse reaches Tours in just over an hour, and the France Intense day leaves Tours at 9:00 AM or Amboise at 9:30 AM. The 8-guest cap means one guide and one van, and the days run 8 to 9 hours instead of 13. The France Intense day from Tours or Amboise costs $231 for 9 hours with entry and guided visits at Chenonceau and Chambord plus 2.5 hours of free time in Amboise for lunch.
The A La Francaise day from Amboise costs $268 and stops for lunch at the Chateau de Villesavin, a family-owned castle, with local wine. One warning from the Chenonceau and Chambord Tour from Tours listing: the Francois I wing of Chambord has been closed for restoration since July 2025, with no reopening date confirmed and the route modified.
Two listings start at the castles themselves rather than in a city: a walking guided visit inside Chambord and a sunrise or sunset balloon flight from the Amboise area.
The Guided Visit of Chambord Castle costs $50 for 1.5 hours in a group of 10 at most, ending on the terraces. The price covers the guide and headphone equipment only, so the castle ticket is not included: book the Chambord entry ticket separately, from $24, with under 18s free. Visitor parking is not right outside the gates, so allow 5 to 10 minutes on foot, and one reviewer says about 15.
Chambord itself repays the time: the estate says to allow at least 1.5 hours for the essentials and about 4 hours for the chateau plus the gardens.
The Loire Valley Hot Air Balloon Ride costs $291 for a 3 to 4 hour outing in a basket of up to 26, taking off at sunrise or 2 to 3 hours before sunset from Chateau Amboise, Chenonceau or Chaumont-sur-Loire. Hotel pickup and drop-off within 15 km (9.3 miles) of Amboise is included, and the price covers the flight, a glass of Champagne or sparkling grape juice on landing and a wine tasting at Caves Plou et Fils. The flight can be cancelled after confirmation for unsuitable weather or too few passengers, with a full refund offered.
Bring a valid passport and the voucher on the day, and contact the operator the day before for instructions.
Some listings in the catalog skip the castles for the wine of the same valley, and two castle days from Paris pour a glass on the way.
The table sets the wine listings side by side with the price, length and start point from each listing. Two of them leave from the Tours tourist office in vans of 8, and the third is a cellar visit on foot in Amboise.
| Tour | Price | Hours | Leaves from | What is poured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caves Ambacia Wine Tasting in Amboise | $36 | 1.5-2 hours | Amboise | A sommelier tasting with cheese and charcuterie |
| Vouvray Morning Wine Tour from Tours | $143 | 3.5 hours | Tours, 9 AM | 2 cellars, 10+ wines, cheese and charcuterie |
| Loire Valley Wineries Day Trip from Tours | $174 | 8 hours | Tours | Chinon and Bourgueil wineries |
The Loire Valley Castles Day Trip with Wine Tasting ends at Chenonceau with a tasting in the vaulted cellar, included automatically until 31 December 2026 and an option after that. The Small-Group Loire Valley Castles Tour adds a wine tasting to Chenonceau, Chambord and Amboise for $280. The Caves Ambacia listing gives 6 wines in its highlights and 3 in its includes list, so confirm the size of the tasting before you plan a lunch around it.
The UNESCO stretch of the Loire holds more than 300 chateaux across 280 km, and the nine below are the ones most visitors plan around. Ticket prices are each chateau's own and change by season. Each chateau has its own guide, from Chambord and Chenonceau to Villandry, and all of them sit on the Loire Valley castles map.
Ticket from $24 · allow 1.5-4 hours Begun in 1519 under François I, with a double-helix staircase attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. It opens 9:00 to 17:00 in low season and 9:00 to 18:00 in high season, closed 1 January and 25 December. The estate advises at least 1.5 hours for the essentials and about 4 hours with the gardens. Several Loire Valley castle tours stop here, or you can take the guided visit of Chambord Castle once inside. Book the entry ticket ahead.
Ticket from $21 · open every day The chateau built 1513 to 1517 whose gallery spans the River Cher, owned by the Menier chocolate family since 1913. It is open every day of the year, 9:00 to 19:00 in July and August. It sits 214 km from Paris, and the TER from Tours takes 25 minutes to a station 400 m from the ticket office. It is on most Loire Valley castle tours from Paris. Book the entry ticket ahead.
Ticket from $19.38 · closes midday in winter The royal chateau whose Saint-Hubert chapel holds a marble stone marking Leonardo da Vinci's presumed resting place. Hours run from 9:00 to 19:00 in July and August. Amboise is 1.5 hours from Paris by train. The small-group tour from Paris includes entry, and Amboise is also a lunch stop on the tour from Tours and Amboise. Book the entry ticket ahead.
Ticket from $22 · daily, 2-3 hours Leonardo da Vinci's last home, where he died on 2 May 1519, 500 m from the royal chateau of Amboise, with 40 models of his machines. The site asks for 2 to 3 hours. It is open daily except 25 December and 1 January. The private Loire Valley castles tour lists Leonardo's home in Amboise, or pair it with the royal chateau on your own. Book the entry ticket ahead.
Ticket from $9.52 · gardens all year Villandry is known above all for its water, ornamental and kitchen gardens laid out in boxwood patterns, created by Joachim Carvallo after 1906. The site suggests about an hour for the chateau and 1.5 hours for the gardens. The gardens are open every day except 25 December. The half-day tour from Tours covers Villandry and Azay-le-Rideau in a morning. Book the entry ticket ahead.
Ticket from $15 · last entry 1 hour before close Built 1518 to 1527 on an island in the Indre, with the oldest straight-flight grand staircase in France. Hours run 9:30 to 19:00 in July and August. Last entry is one hour before closing. It is visited on the half-day tour from Tours with entry included. Book the entry ticket ahead.
€15.50 · open 365 days Cheverny inspired Hergé's Marlinspike Hall in Tintin, has belonged to the same family for over six centuries and keeps hunting hounds. Chateau and gardens costs €15.50, tickets are sold on site only without reservation, and it is open 365 days a year. The chateau suggests 1.5 to 1.75 hours for chateau and gardens. The tour from Paris visits Chenonceau, Cheverny and Chambord in one day.
Ticket from $17.93 · 1-1.5 hours The royal chateau of Blois runs a 45-minute sound and light show from April to September, at €13 for adults. It is open 9:00 to 18:30 from April to September, and a self-guided visit takes 1 to 1.5 hours. Blois-Chambord station is about 500 m away and 1 hour 30 from Paris by train. The day trip with wine tasting stops here for 2 hours of free time. Book the entry ticket ahead.
Ticket from $23.53 · festival 22 Apr to 1 Nov A 32-hectare domain between Blois and Amboise, home to the International Garden Festival with about 25 ephemeral gardens, running 22 April to 1 November. The domain advises 3 or more hours for a full visit. Onzain station is about 2 km away, 1h40 from Paris Austerlitz. The hot-air balloon flight can take off over the domain, and otherwise you visit on your own. Book the entry ticket ahead.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Chambord by Michal Osmenda from Brussels, Belgium, CC BY 2.0, Chenonceau by Adriano Russo, CC BY-SA 4.0, Amboise by Gaetan.lafon, CC BY-SA 4.0, Clos Lucé by Johan Allard, CC BY-SA 4.0, Villandry by David Tre, CC BY-SA 4.0, Azay-le-Rideau by Felouch Kotek, CC BY-SA 4.0, Cheverny by Rolf Kranz, CC BY-SA 4.0, Blois by Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0, Chaumont-sur-Loire by Gus.mlb, CC BY-SA 3.0
You can reach most of the big chateaux by public transport, but each one sits on a different line. The figures below come from the train operators, the bus networks and the chateaux themselves. Station by station details are on the Loire by train from Paris.
Chenonceau over the Cher. Photo: Adriano Russo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The TGV from Paris Montparnasse reaches Tours in just over an hour, and Blois is 1 hour 30 from Paris by train. From those two hubs, buses and regional trains fill the gaps. The one direct chateau bus is Rémi line 2 from Blois station to Chambord, running year-round since 30 March 2024.
The Rémi line 2 bus leaves Blois at 9:20 and 12:20 and returns from Chambord at 13:10 and 17:00, taking about 35 minutes. The TER from Tours to Chenonceaux takes 25 minutes, and the station is about 400 m from the chateau ticket office. Amboise is 1.5 hours from Paris by train, via Paris Austerlitz or a TGV to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps. Villandry is served by Tours bus line 32.
| Route | Train or bus | Time | Then |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Montparnasse to Tours | TGV | Just over an hour | Tours tourist office is the start of the half-day Villandry and Azay-le-Rideau tour |
| Paris to Blois | Train | 1 hour 30 | Blois chateau about 500 m from Blois-Chambord station, the day trip stop with 2 hours free time |
| Blois-Chambord station to Chambord | Rémi line 2 bus | About 35 minutes | Out 9:20 and 12:20, back 13:10 and 17:00 |
| Tours to Chenonceaux | TER train | 25 minutes | Station about 400 m from the chateau ticket office |
| Paris to Amboise | Train | 1.5 hours | Clos Lucé is about 300 m from the centre of Amboise |
| Tours to Villandry | Bus line 32 | Not stated | Villandry sits 500 m from the Loire à Vélo route |
The Rémi single fare to Chambord is quoted differently by the two official sources: €3.40 single and €6.80 return on the Rémi site, and €3.30 single and €6.60 return on Chambord's own page. A Rémi bus ticket also gives a discount on Chambord entry. If you want to bike, all Rémi trains carry bicycles, and the Rémi buses take up to 8 bikes by reservation, booked by 17:00 the day before on 0 806 70 33 33.
The Loire à Vélo route runs 900 km from Nevers to the Atlantic in 37 stages, and Chambord is certified for it with more than 25 km of bike paths and free bike parking. The Blois tourist office says the castles around Blois are 15 to 20 km apart for cyclists. Driving changes the picture: Chambord is about 2 hours from Paris by car, with car parks P0 and P3 at €8 a day, and Chenonceau is about 2 hours from Paris via the A10.
Sources: Rémi Centre-Val de Loire, Blois-Chambord tourist office, Chenonceau, Amboise tourist office, Chambord estate, Rémi Centre-Val de Loire, France Vélo Tourisme, Blois-Chambord tourist office
Chateau tickets are all priced separately, and the totals climb fast. Here is the lowest booking price for each chateau's entry ticket, next to the visit time each one asks for. Route plans are on the Loire Valley itinerary page.
The table gives each chateau's entry ticket at the lowest adult rate on the booking page, or the chateau's own price where no ticket is sold online here, next to the visit time each chateau asks for. Several of these chateaux appear on the Loire Valley castle tours compared in the catalog above.
| Chateau | Ticket | Allow |
|---|---|---|
| Chambord | From $24 | At least 1.5 hours, about 4 with gardens |
| Chenonceau | From $21 | Not stated |
| Amboise | From $19.38 | Not stated |
| Clos Lucé | From $22 | 2 to 3 hours |
| Villandry | From $9.52 | 1 hour chateau, 1.5 hours gardens |
| Cheverny | €15.50, sold on site | 1.5 to 1.75 hours |
| Blois | From $17.93 | 1 to 1.5 hours |
| Chaumont-sur-Loire | From $23.53 | 3 or more hours |
The Blois tourist office advises visiting no more than two castles a day. That is the honest ceiling for an independent day, and it explains what the tours sell: the Paris coach days fit two or three chateaux into 12 to 13 hours because they carry you between them.
Three passes cut the ticket cost. The Essentials pass covers Chambord, Chenonceau and Amboise from €53, is activated at the first visit and valid for 10 consecutive days, with no skip-the-line and audioguides extra. The Blois-Chambord-Cheverny pass costs €47.50 per adult, and the Chambord-Cheverny-Chenonceau pass €51.50, both valid throughout 2026. The Blois tourist office does not recommend the passes for children, students, seniors or anyone with a discount, who pay less buying individual tickets.
Chambord runs high season hours, 9:00 to 18:00, from 28 March to 25 October, and its horse show runs 4 April to 27 September and 17 October to 1 November, 45 minutes long, €18 for adults. The Chambord evening festival brings eight concerts from 4 to 11 July, doors at 19:30 and concerts at 20:30. Mid-September to mid-October is stag rutting season in the forest, when the bellowing can be heard from the paths.
At Chaumont-sur-Loire, the International Garden Festival runs 22 April to 1 November under the theme The Garden Goes to the Movies. Chenonceau is the easiest of all for timing: it is open every day of the year, chateau and gardens, 9:00 to 19:00 in July and August.
Listing photos show Chambord from across the water. These show the visit itself: the chateaux one after another, and a walk through Chambord's rooms and roofs.
A half-hour episode through Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise and the smaller chateaux, with the history behind them.
Video: Rick Steves' EuropeA chateau-by-chateau visit, useful for deciding which two or three to put in one day.
Video: denniscallanAn unnarrated walk through Chambord, the double-helix staircase and the roof terraces.
Video: Guillaume LaporteThird-party videos, embedded from YouTube. This site did not shoot them and has no relationship with the creators.
The case for and against, based on what the listings and the chateaux themselves say.
Who it's NOT for: Not for travelers who want a full day inside a single chateau, for under-3s on the coach day that does not take them, or for anyone who cannot manage 12 to 13 hours away from Paris.
If You want the safest overall day trip from Paris with wine tasting included
Take the Loire Valley Castles Day Trip with Wine Tasting, $115, skip-the-line entry to Chambord and Chenonceau.
If You want the lowest price for three chateaux from Paris
Book the Chambord, Chenonceau and Cheverny tour from Paris at $101, and accept that the guide depends on the option.
If You want small groups of 8 with entries included from Paris
Choose the Small-Group Loire Valley Castles Tour at $280, which adds Amboise and a wine tasting.
If You are already in Tours or Amboise and want guided visits
The Loire Valley Castles Tour from Tours and Amboise gives 9 hours with entry and guided visits at Chenonceau and Chambord for $231.
If You have only a morning and want gardens rather than palaces
The Villandry and Azay-le-Rideau Half-Day Tour runs 4 hours from Tours at $131 with entrance fees in.
If You would rather skip the chateaux doors and see the valley from above
Book the Loire Valley Hot Air Balloon Ride from Amboise, $291, with a full refund if weather cancels it.
Our guide, Goran, was fabulous. Explained the history simply & it was really interesting. Highly recommend this day trip! You will get some AMAZING photos! Do it!
This day trip was one of the most enjoyable trips I have been on. The guides were both friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the three chateaus that we visited. Rueben’s extensive knowledge of history was one of the highlights of the day for me. And the scenery along the drive was beautiful too. All in all a great trip.
Nicolas was a great driver. He made the trip interesting and enjoyable. We did not feel rushed and he gave good instructions on where to go and how to meet afterwards. We were given everything we needed to feel relaxed and not stressed out. We definitely recommend this trip from Paris.
Our guide, Geraldine, was wonderful! She stayed in touch beforehand, picked us up on time and was extremely knowledgeable! I would highly recommend this tour.
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.
Sarah was excellent! She was so nice, excellent English, so funny and most of all very knowledgeable about Chambord Castle. I would definitely recommend her for your tour!
Chambord is the one visitors plan around: it has 426 rooms and a double-helix staircase attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, an entry ticket starts from $24, and the estate covers 5,440 hectares. It is on most Loire Valley castle tours from Paris.
Yes. Coach and minivan days from Paris run 12 to 13 hours, starting around $101, and reach Chambord and Chenonceau, which sit 214 km from Paris. See the Paris day trips compared in the catalog.
On the day trip with wine tasting it is 75 minutes at Chambord and 2 hours at Chenonceau including the tasting, with 2 hours of free time in Blois. Chambord itself asks at least 1.5 hours, so a tour is quicker than an independent visit.
High season at Chambord runs 28 March to 25 October with 9:00 to 18:00 hours, the Chaumont garden festival runs 22 April to 1 November, and the stag rutting season is mid-September to mid-October. Chenonceau is open every day of the year, see the seasons.
Yes, one chateau at a time. The TGV reaches Tours in just over an hour and a TER from Tours takes 25 minutes to Chenonceaux, 400 m from the chateau, while Rémi line 2 links Blois to Chambord at 9:20 and 12:20. The full train and bus routes are in the DIY guide.
Mostly yes. Chambord is free for under 18s and Chenonceau is free for under 7s with an audioguide from age 7, but the Amboise tour with chateau lunch needs a ticket for every child, including infants, and the lowest-price coach day is not suitable for children under 3.
Before you book
The chateaux one by one, the towns to base yourself in, and the train, the bike and the roads between them.
Loire Valley Castles Tour
