Loire Valley Castles TourLoire Valley Castles Tour with Entry Tickets
This Loire Valley castles tour with entry tickets runs a full 13-hour day from Paris to Chenonceau, Cheverny and Chambord, and the entrance tickets to all three castles and their gardens are part of the price. ALENTOURS sells it on GetYourGuide at $237 per person, with a 4.7 rating from 107 verified reviews. You travel by air-conditioned coach or small-group minivan depending on the option you pick, with a trilingual driver-guide. The day starts at 7:15 AM at the Metro Louvre-Rivoli meeting point, and free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure. This page breaks down what the price covers, what the day feels like, and which travellers should book a different Loire Valley castle tours listing instead.
About This Tour
ALENTOURS runs this day trip from Paris into the Loire Valley, a region inscribed by UNESCO since 2000 and stretching 280 km along the river with more than 300 chateaux. The itinerary covers three of the most visited: Chenonceau built across the River Cher, Cheverny with its preserved interiors, and Chambord. Entry to all three, gardens included, is handled for you, and you explore each interior at your own pace rather than in a single file behind a guide.
The format is flexible. You can take the coach option or a small-group minivan, and hotel pickup is listed among the inclusions depending on the option selected. Lunch is not included, but the guide points you to places to eat during the day.
$237 per person, booked on GetYourGuide. Reserve now and pay later is available.
13 hours, door to door from Paris, with about 3.5 hours of road time each way per the itinerary.
In front of the France Tourisme agency at 7:15 AM, Metro Louvre-Rivoli (line 1). Hotel pickup is listed in the inclusions depending on the option, and the start point depends on the option selected.
Private or small-group formats. Group size is not stated. The trilingual driver-guide speaks English, French and Spanish.
Chateau de Chenonceau (2-hour guided tour), Chateau de Cheverny (1 hour) and Chateau de Chambord (1 hour). Entrance tickets to all three castles and their gardens are included.
Lunch is not included. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
Check Dates and Availability
The listing warns it is likely to sell out, and starting times and pickup options only show once you select a date.
Quick answer Price, tickets and day shape
This Loire Valley castles tour with entry tickets costs $237 per person, lasts 13 hours, and includes entrance tickets to Chenonceau, Cheverny and Chambord with their gardens.
Key takeaways
- You get round-trip transport, the trilingual guide and all three castle entries, but lunch is on you. See what the price covers.
- The same three castles are covered by Chambord, Chenonceau and Cheverny Tour from Paris at $101, a coach day with a 4.5 rating.
- The day is long: 7:15 AM start and about 3.5 hours each way on the road. Check who this rules out.
- Compare it with every other listing in the Loire castles tours before you book.
What the Price Actually Covers
The listing is clear about what sits inside the $237 and what does not. Here is the line by line, followed by the costs you may still meet on the day.
Included in the $237
Round-trip transport from Paris is in, and so are entrance tickets to all three castles and their gardens, visited at your own pace. The trilingual guide in English, Spanish and French is part of the package, and depending on the option you select the vehicle is an air-conditioned coach or a small-group minivan. Hotel pickup and drop-off are listed in the inclusions, though the exact pickup arrangement depends on the option booked, so check before you pay.
Not Included
Lunch is the one stated exclusion. The guide will recommend places to eat, and a reviewer notes the Chenonceau cafe has a good food selection at reasonable prices. Drinks, tips and any personal spending are not mentioned in the inclusions, so treat them as your own cost.
No optional extras are listed as mandatory.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Round-trip transport from Paris | Yes | Air-conditioned coach or small-group minivan depending on the option |
| Entrance tickets, 3 castles and gardens | Yes | Chenonceau, Cheverny and Chambord, visited at your own pace |
| Trilingual driver-guide | Yes | English, French and Spanish |
| Hotel pickup and drop-off | Yes, per option | Listed in the inclusions, pickup options shown at booking |
| Lunch | No | Guide recommends places to eat |
| Drinks and tips | No | Not stated in the inclusions |
How the Price Compares
At $237 this sits in the middle of the Paris departures. The cheapest way to the same three castles is Chambord, Chenonceau and Cheverny Tour from Paris at $101, though its licensed guide and audio guide depend on the option. At the top end, the Private Loire Valley Castles Tour costs $874 per person with an art historian guide.
A wine-tasting coach day covering Chambord and Chenonceau sells at $115. Prices here come from each GetYourGuide or Viator listing.
Sources: Château de Chambord, Château de Chenonceau, Blois-Chambord tourist office
What the Day Is Really Like
The listing gives the stops, the road time and the time at each castle. Here is the shape of the 13 hours.
Meeting and the Road Out
You meet in front of the France Tourisme agency at 7:15 AM, at Metro Louvre-Rivoli on line 1, unless your option includes hotel pickup. The vehicle then covers about 3.5 hours of road each way to the valley, so bring something to read or sleep on. Chenonceau lies 214 km from Paris by road, which gives you a sense of the distance.
Chenonceau, Guided 2 Hours
The first stop is Chateau de Chenonceau, the so-called Chateau des Dames. Its gallery and arches span the River Cher, and the chateau's history is described by the estate as an almost uninterrupted succession of women. The listing gives this a 2-hour guided tour, and your entry also covers the gardens.
The collection inside includes works by Rubens, Tintoretto, Poussin and Van Dyck.
Cheverny, Visit 1 Hour
Next is Chateau de Cheverny, known for its preserved interiors and classic French elegance. Cheverny inspired Herge's Marlinspike Hall in Tintin. The listing allows 1 hour for the visit.
Comfortable shoes help here, as the listing warns there is walking inside the castles and gardens.
Chambord, Visit 1 Hour
The last castle is Chambord, begun in 1519 under Francois I as a hunting lodge. Its double-helix central staircase lets two people pass without meeting and is attributed to Leonardo da Vinci by the estate. The listing allows 1 hour, and the estate itself says to allow at least an hour and a half for the essentials, so an hour here is a fast pass rather than a deep visit.
The Road Back
Another 3.5 hours in the van brings you to Paris, with two drop-off locations, one at 6 Rue de l'Amiral de Coligny. No return time is stated in the listing.
Who This Tour Rules Out
No single listing suits everyone. These are the honest limits of this one, each with a better-matched alternative.
If a 13-hour Day Is Too Much
A 7:15 AM start and about 3.5 hours of road each way is a heavy day. If you are already staying in the valley, the Loire Valley Castles Tour from Tours and Amboise lasts 9 hours, starts at 9:00 or 9:30 AM, and reaches Chenonceau and Chambord from much closer.
If You Want a Guide Inside Every Castle
Only Chenonceau gets a guided 2-hour tour here. Cheverny and Chambord are visits at your own pace with your ticket. If you want tickets plus guided visits at both Chenonceau and Chambord, the Chenonceau and Chambord Tour from Tours builds guided entry into both stops.
If Lunch Matters
Lunch is not included, and on a schedule this tight your food stop competes with castle time. The Small-Group Loire Castles Tour with Lunch includes a sit-down lunch in Amboise in a van of 8 at most, at $376.
If the Coach Worries You
The vehicle is a coach or a minivan depending on the option, and on a coach option you may be one of a large group moving through Cheverny and Chambord in a single hour each. Group size is not stated, so ask the operator before booking if this matters. The Small-Group Loire Valley Castles Tour caps the van at 8 and rates 4.8 from 682 reviews.
Getting There and What to Add
How to reach the 7:15 AM meeting point in Paris, and what to visit on your own if you stay longer in the valley.
Reaching the Meeting Point
The meeting point is in front of the France Tourisme agency by Metro Louvre-Rivoli on line 1, an easy ride from most of central Paris. If your option includes pickup, the pickup window shows once you check availability. Driving yourself is possible too: the Tours tourist office counts 2 hours 40 minutes from Paris to Tours via the A10, and Chambord quotes 2 hours from Paris by car.
For the full picture of trains and roads, see the guide to the Paris to Loire Valley journey.
Going by Train Instead
If you would rather skip the coach, the TGV runs from Paris Montparnasse to Tours with 25 connections a day in about 1 hour, and Paris Austerlitz reaches Blois in about 1h30 to 1h40 depending on the source. From Blois station, the Remi line 2 bus runs to Chambord in about 35 minutes, with departures at 9:20 and 12:20 and returns from Chambord at 13:10 and 17:00. The single fare is quoted at €3.30 to €3.40 and the return at €6.60 to €6.80, depending on the source.
The Paris to Loire Valley by train guide has the detail.
Add Chaumont-sur-Loire on Your Own
This tour does not enter Chaumont-sur-Loire, a riverside domain east of Blois. Published winter hours differ between sources, so check the domain's own page before you go.
Doing the Three Castles Yourself
If you have several days, you can cover Chambord, Cheverny and Chenonceau independently. The Blois area has a T07 pass covering all three, valid throughout 2026, and the Blois tourist office sells more than 20 Pass'Chateaux packages of 3, 4 or 5 castles delivered by email. Note the passes exclude guided tours and audioguides.
The Chateau de Chenonceau page covers the DIY visit, and Chenonceau is open every day of the year.
Itinerary
Stop by stop, with the durations the listing states. Clock times beyond the 7:15 AM start are not stated, so phases are used instead.
-
7:15 AM
Meet in Paris
Meet in front of the France Tourisme agency at Metro Louvre-Rivoli (line 1), or take the hotel pickup offered with your option. The start point depends on the option selected.
-
Start
Road to the Loire
About 3.5 hours in the air-conditioned coach or minivan, with context from the trilingual guide on the way.
-
Visit, 2 hours
Chateau de Chenonceau
Guided tour of 2 hours across the River Cher, plus the gardens. Entry ticket included, and the guide points you toward lunch options.
-
Visit, 1 hour
Chateau de Cheverny
A 1-hour visit of the interiors that inspired Marlinspike Hall in Tintin.
-
Visit, 1 hour
Chateau de Chambord
A 1-hour visit at your own pace. Climb the double-helix staircase attributed to Leonardo da Vinci and see the rooftop silhouette from the terrace.
-
Van, 3.5 hours
Return to Paris
About 3.5 hours back on the road, dropping off at one of two locations, one at 6 Rue de l'Amiral de Coligny, Paris.
Pros and Cons
An honest read of the listing, based only on what it states and how it compares.
What we genuinely like
- Entry tickets to all three castles and their gardens are included, so there is nothing to buy on site
- Private or small-group formats, plus a choice of coach or minivan depending on the option
- Hotel pickup and drop-off are listed in the inclusions depending on the option
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and reserve now and pay later
- 4.7 rating from 107 verified GetYourGuide bookings, and the guide speaks English, French and Spanish
The honest downsides
- Only Chenonceau gets a guided tour, at 2 hours. Cheverny and Chambord are 1-hour visits at your own pace, short against the hour and a half Chambord itself asks for the essentials
- Lunch is not included on a 13-hour day, so eating is a race against the schedule
- About 3.5 hours of road each way
- The vehicle may be a large coach depending on the option, and group size is not stated
Who it's NOT for: Travellers who want a short day, a guide inside every castle, or lunch arranged for them should look at a valley-based or small-group alternative instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does this Loire Valley castles tour with entry tickets cost?
It costs $237 per person on GetYourGuide, with reserve now and pay later available and free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. For a cheaper coach option to the same three castles, see Chambord, Chenonceau and Cheverny Tour from Paris at $101.
Are castle entrance tickets really included?
Yes. The listing includes entrance tickets to Chenonceau, Cheverny and Chambord and their gardens, visited at your own pace, alongside round-trip transport and the trilingual guide. See the full breakdown in what the price covers.
Where and when does the tour start?
The default start is 7:15 AM in front of the France Tourisme agency at Metro Louvre-Rivoli on line 1, and hotel pickup is listed in the inclusions depending on the option. Check dates and availability for the pickup options on your date.
How long is the day and how much of it is on the road?
The tour lasts 13 hours, and the itinerary gives about 3.5 hours of road each way. If that is too long, the Loire Valley Castles Tour from Tours and Amboise runs 9 hours from inside the valley.
Is lunch included?
No, lunch is not included, though the guide recommends places to eat and a reviewer praises the Chenonceau cafe's food selection at reasonable prices. If a sit-down lunch matters, look at the Small-Group Loire Castles Tour with Lunch.
Will I have a guide inside the castles?
Only at Chenonceau, where the listing gives a 2-hour guided tour. Cheverny and Chambord are 1-hour visits at your own pace with your included ticket. For guided visits at both Chenonceau and Chambord, consider the Chenonceau and Chambord Tour from Tours.
What happens if my plans change?
You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve a spot without paying anything that day. Compare the cancellation terms of every listing in the Loire castles tours.
What Travelers Said
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.
Fantastic! I visited 3 castles with my granddaughters, ages 18 & 11. We loved the experience. They said it was educational, beautiful, & fun. Food at the Chateau Chenonceau cafe has a good selection & reasonable prices. Our driver was friendly & offered us plenty of water on a very hot day in Paris.
Great day, Tim was a great guide & it is a big day. Plenty to see & the mini vans had plenty of room. It really felt like a private tour
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
We may earn a commission if you book through one of our links, at no extra cost to you. Full affiliate disclosure