Hiking in the Loire Valley

You travel on your own to Amboise, a charming town known for its royal castle Château Royal d'Amboise and Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years. Amboise is a pleasant and lively small town with a very central location in the Loire Valley, making it a perfect base for excursions to nearby places like Blois, Chenonceau and Tours.

We highly recommend adding an extra night here to explore the surroundings at your leisure, for example the magnificent Château de Chambord near Blois or Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire, known for its international garden festival. Alternatively, you can arrive early, leave your luggage at the hotel and take a half-day excursion to Château de Chenonceau by taxi or public transport. The castle visit itself usually takes between two and four hours.

Today's hike begins in Amboise and initially follows the banks of the Loire River, with beautiful views of the royal castle and the town's historic houses. The trail then gently ascends along the slopes above the river and offers extensive panoramas over the Loire, its wild islands and bright sandbanks.

You continue hiking through the famous vineyards of Montlouis, where neat vine rows alternate with small villages and traditional troglodytic wine cellars carved into the rock. The stage ends in Montlouis-sur-Loire, in the heart of an AOC-classified wine region known for its dry and sweet white wines. Here there are good opportunities to visit a vineyard or enjoy a tasting before reaching your accommodation. A very harmonious day that combines cultural heritage, nature and the peaceful pace of life in the Loire Valley.

You leave Montlouis-sur-Loire by crossing the Loire River and soon reach Vouvray, a charming wine village known for its sparkling and sweet white wines. It's well worth taking a break here to stroll through the narrow streets, visit a wine cellar or simply enjoy the view over the river and wine landscape.

After Vouvray, you follow the GR3 trail that leads down to the Loire again and through well-preserved natural areas, where the hike alternates between riverbanks and older urban districts. The trail then continues along the river towards the outskirts of Tours, with a beautiful approach to the city where the bridges and the silhouette of Saint-Gatien Cathedral tower up on the horizon.

Tours is often called "the garden of France" and offers plenty of experiences: the impressive cathedral and basilica, the lively Place Plumereau, the Olivier Debré art center, the botanical garden and the flavorful markets.

After city life in Tours, a quieter day awaits that leads you to Villandry, world-famous for its castle and formal gardens. You begin by making your way through Tours and down to the banks of the Cher River. Soon you reach Savonnières, a picturesque village perfect for a short break, a stroll through the village and a moment by the water.

Further ahead, Château de Villandry appears, surrounded by its spectacular gardens – one of the finest examples of French garden art. Today's hike is varied and easy, with river environments, protected nature and architectural highlights culminating in an unforgettable visit to the day's destination.

After breakfast, a taxi transfer to Chinon awaits, about 30 minutes. Here you set out on a circular hike in the vineyard-clad slopes around the town. The trail is moderate, with gentle ascents that reward you with magnificent views over the Vienne Valley and the medieval town of Chinon.

The path winds through vineyards and forest areas and occasionally passes troglodytic wine cellars and small, typical villages. From the heights you have a clear view of the Vienne River, Chinon's castle and – in clear weather – the surrounding landscape. A perfect day to combine nature, history and wine, with plenty of opportunities to stop, take in the views or visit a local wine producer for something good.

Today's hike connects Chinon with Fontevraud-l'Abbaye and goes through a varied landscape in the Loire Valley and its surrounding agricultural lands. The trail is pleasant but contains some longer, steady ascents that provide fine viewpoints over the Vienne Valley and the vineyards around Chinon.

During the day you enjoy views over the river, sloping vineyards and the characteristic cultural landscape. The arrival at Fontevraud-l'Abbaye is particularly atmospheric. The royal abbey complex is one of France's most impressive and forms a perfect conclusion to the day's hike. Here there is time to explore the abbey, stroll in the village and take in the atmosphere of this historically charged place.

You leave Fontevraud and hike towards Candes-Saint-Martin, one of France's most beautiful villages, located where the Vienne and Loire rivers meet. The cobblestone streets and the Romanesque church are well worth a stop.

The journey continues towards Montsoreau along the river, with views of Château de Montsoreau and the surrounding vineyards. The hike over the hills displays the classic Loire landscape with vineyards, fruit orchards and forest areas. At Turquant and Souzay you encounter a unique cultural heritage in the form of troglodytic dwellings, wine cellars and craft workshops carved into the light tufa stone.

From the heights you get outstanding views over the Loire and its winding course. The day ends in Saumur, where the town's castle rises high above the river and the medieval streets – a memorable final hiking day along the Loire.

The trip ends after breakfast. We warmly recommend that you extend your stay in Saumur to have time to discover the town's rich history, the castle, the wine traditions and the lively city life at your leisure.