Hidden Loire tour

This carefully designed itinerary will give give you the opportunity to see some of the most famous châteaux and fabulous towns in the area such as Saumur, Amboise and Chinon. As there is not much driving between overnight stops there is plenty of time for sightseeing and to discover places off the usual tourist trail.

One of the most memorable things you will see during this tour are the magnificent châteaux that stretch along the Loire Valley. Among them are Chambord, Amboise, Chenonceau and Chinon which are all witnesses to the grandeur of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Less famous but still fascinating is Cheverny with its exceptionally well-preserved interior. It inspired the Belgian comic book creator Hergé to design the Château de Moulinsard which appeared in The Adventures of Tintin.

Saumur is surrounded by vineyards and has a majestic château overlooking the river which is a sight to behold. Whilst here it's a must to visit one of the sparkling wine cellars which are open for guided visits. If you have a spirit of adventure along with a love of history 11km south of Saumur is the fascinating Château de Brézé. Above ground is the Renaissance residence lived in by the aristocracy of the time and underneath is an underground fortress with 28km of tunnels and troglodyte cave dwellings.

Cities worth visiting on this route are Tours with its charming old quarter and Angers which is renowned for its wealth of art and culture.

You can combine any of our car and motorcycle tours, or you can even plan your very own itinerary from scratch using any of our hotels in France. Perhaps you just want to add a few nights to one of these routes? Anything is possible - just ask!

• 1 night in Champtoceaux

• 1 night in Vernantes

• 1 nights in Chinon

• 1 night in Chitenay

Tours can start on any day from any town on the itinerary but must follow the route in either direction. Approximate tour distances are calculated from the first to the last location. Should any location be unavailable we'll advise alternatives.

Route planning

For route planning you may wish to visit Google Maps, viamichelin.com or theaa.com.

Hotel directions

With your travel documents you will find an information sheet for each hotel which has been booked for you giving directions together with some further details.

Arrival

Unless stated, you will be expected to arrive at each of the hotels pre-booked for you by 6pm each day. This should allow you time to have a fairly leisurely drive between hotel stops but if you find you will be arriving later than this please ring and advise the hotelier so that your room is held for you.

Extra charges

Details of which meals are included at your hotels are shown on your travel documentation and on these pages. All additional meals, drinks, phone calls etc must be paid for prior to departure from the hotel.