Your Loire Valley Private (only you and your friends) wine tours and chateaux tours from Paris
2024
Experience the Loire Valley vineyards and most famous castles
Taste the wines, meet the Loire Valley winemakers, visit the most famous castles during your private tour. Your own group up to 6 persons.
All – inclusive tours, no bad surprises
Round TGV train ticket from Paris included in your tour price
Please contact us by email for booking and additional information
lucbonhomme@gmail.com
From Paris, the Loire valley is only 42 minutes away by high speed train. The Loire river is the longest wild river in France. The Loire Valley is also the home of some of the most beautiful castles in France. The kings of France selected this area for its beauty, weather, and quality of life. We call it the “garden of France”. What we are proposing is a real human and sensorial experience. You will meet face to face with small independant winemakers of the Loire Valley. We will explore the lesser known villages and taste some great food. Because our very small groups: minimum of 2 maximum of 6, we are able to create the perfect environnent for you to relax, and feel part of the family. You can start your Wine tour/Castles tour leaving from Paris. We know well the Loire Valley and will share with you all our secrets. Come and join us for a day or more in the Loire Valley. Luc Bonhomme, the owner of the company will be your private guide and host during the tour. Luc Bonhomme is a French man educated in the US with a long experience of the Loire Valley.
Reviews December 2023
BETTY RAY USA
If you desire an extraordinary private tour of the Loire Valley in France, Luc Bonhomme and his tour company, Loire Valley USA is for you. Besides being a kind and knowledgeable guide with a keen sense of humor, he researches the best restaurants for meals and croissants/coffee to eat along the way. In addition to three chateaux he took us to visit, he researched and found fascinating people for us to meet. He introduced us to the President of a nonprofit museum that celebrates the Martinerie NATO base in Chateauroux, where thousands of Americans served from 1951-1967. He also arranged a tour of another museum dedicated to the American Military during that period. Luc’s amazing research discovered another lady who had worked at the base for ten years with the Americans. Luc gave us tours of the two museums, the old La Martinerie Army base, the Chateauroux-Deols Airport, the hospital where my sister was born, and the old American apartment complex where we lived for three years of my childhood. In addition, we met the son of the first American hamburger joint in France – Mike, son of Mike from Maine in downtown Chateauroux, who we discovered was in my second grade class in the American School in 1958. My husband and I would highly recommend Luc to anyone wishing to tour the Loire Valley in France. He went to college in the US and lived there for many years, so he speaks fluent French and English. Our trip was so much fun and informative – We will never forget it.
GROUP FROM ARGENTINA Dec 2023
“Luc was very attentive, accommodating and helpful to tailor the tour me and my group wanted to have in the Loire Valley, to suit our likes. The tour ran smoothly, although on a group of 9 women! The places we saw where as if taken out from a fairytale, food great, amazing wines and of course great company.”
Review July 2023:
HOLLY BALL (USA)
Luc was an amazing guide from start to finish who picked us up on time and was very attentive for the two days that we were in the beautiful Loire Valley. His car was super nice and worked well. When he first picked us up he surprised us with a cool stop to see some rocks that have been used in the Neolithic times. Unexpected and a great photo op. Then we went to see the most beautiful castle named Chambord. Luc had pre-purchased tickets which also included the walking tour with earbuds for us. A nice plus. Everything was well organized and super fun from there. He took us to a lunch that was one of the best I’ve ever had. Three courses of amazing French cooking The first course looked like a work of art but it was actually some kind of Ceviche. The main course of veal was some of the best I’ve ever had. The meal came complete with all sorts of delicious champagne and wine, and Luc introduced us to the chef and the owner, which was an added plus!! Next we went to see the castle where Leonardo da Vinci lived, with all of the beautiful gardens and brilliant inventions he created. The gardens contained many of his sketches brought to life. Just a really cool experience. As if the day could get any better, Luc drove us to the best winery. Not expensive so I paid a lot of money for shipping (but not the wine) to have 18 bottles shipped home. I’ve already had a bottle and it was delicious. To my delight, the bottles were there waiting on my front step when I arrived back from France.
From there Luc took us to Château de Beaulieu, our hotel, which was an amazing historical manor set in a lovely valley that seemed steeped with history and ghosts (in a good way). The food there was also absolutely amazing and it was also three courses, so we definitely were not underfed that day. Delicious!! All of this was all part of his one charge.
The next day was just as good as the first day, and Luc was on time, although we were not. Somehow I slept in because the manor was so cozy and comfortable. We then were whisked away to Château Chenonceau renowned for being owned and operated mainly by women. What a beautiful place!! Don’t look down when you get to the top because you might faint! The balcony is so high! Also of note was a black room with a very interesting history tucked away on the top floor. Last we visited Chaumont sur Loire perched at the top of the hill. The castle was lovely but the most amazing thing were the beautiful gardens arranged by various countries for an international garden festival. We liked the French ones the best (of course). The American garden wasn’t too shabby either. The theme was resilience, and we saw the most creative gardens based upon this theme.
The experience was five star in every way —first class and extremely luxurious. Luc is the ultimate in guides and introduced us to many of his friends, which was also added to our amazing experience. One of the cool people we met was a woman who owned one of the restaurants where we went to lunch. She was able to read my daughter’s coffee grinds, and gave her a free fortune telling that was quite accurate. Cheers to Luc for another amazing lunch!! I honestly don’t know how he puts all this together for the price. It really was a deal. The icing on the cake was our fast train back to Paris- Luc put us in first class. Bravo Luc! Hope to return soon!!
FULL DAY LOIRE VALLEY PRIVATE WINE TASTING TOUR
CUSTOM LOIRE VALLEY TOUR FROM PARIS
OTHER REVIEWS:
Superb
Loire Valley 2 Days private tour all inclusive from Paris with train ticket. In general, the tour was extraordinary; the Loire valley beautiful, the castles, towns and history really interesting and the restaurants and wineries excellent. The guide, Luc was an important part of the success of the tour: experienced, with knowledge in history, wine, restaurants…. On the personal side, he is amenable and always giving the best service and help.
Grand!
Loire Valley 2 Days private tour all inclusive from Paris with train tickets
The Loire Valley tour was outstanding. We got to visit many Chateau’s at a desirable pace
and the food and wine tasting was amazing. Luc our tour guide was exceptional and
informative.
Review March 2023:
Jim & Susanne (USA)
I found Luc’s website when I was searching for a day wine trip in the Loire Valley to impress my wife while on a trip to Paris. We decided to stay in Amboise and after some emails Luc arranged to pick us up at our hotel for a full day trip to visit the Chambord and Chemonceau chateaus with a couple wine stops in between. There was no way I could have expected what this day would bring. He drove us through the countryside to the chateaus with stops for wine all along the way including lunch in a small town, a tasting in a wine cave and a visit to a local Amboise winery where he was obviously one of the family. We thought this was the end of the tour until he brought us to a small family winery along the Loire River just outside Amboise and we were given the most exclusive tour of a vineyard and wine cave operation by a most gracious couple. Gabriela offered a tasting of at least a dozen wines with a variety of homemade appetizers. We couldn’t believe the experience.
Luc was extremely knowledgeable about wine and the Loire Valley. He took time to explain the history and demographics of Loire Valley wine. He even pulled out a full length map of the valley at lunch and gave us a lesson how to identify the regions and the labels. He spoke perfect English as he explained how he lived in the US for many years. We will never forget this experience.
Review December 2022:
Sherri P (USA)
Two jaw-dropping days with a wonderful guide
Loire Valley 2 Days private tour all inclusive from Paris with train tickets Seeing the chateaux’s as well as Davinci’s last home was spectacular. But the unexpected pleasant surprise was having Luc Bonhomme as our host for two days. He goes the extra mile to make sure you have the experience of a lifetime. Highly recommend this tour and Luc!
Review September 2022:
If you’re looking for a first class personalised custom tour of the Loire Valley, this is for you.
“I was a bit unsure booking this trip due to the lack of other reviews. But I am really glad we did! My husband and I were touring Normandy for a week and had a couple of extra days in Paris. Rather than brave the crowds at Versailles, we opted for a two day overnight trip to the Loire valley with Luc Bonhomme. I gave Luc a list of a few things on my list that we really wanted to see, including a special request for tickets to the grand gala horse show at the Cadre Noir in Saumur. He put together a fantastic tour that included chateau visits, Leonardo da Vinci’s home, wine tasting, a night at Fontevraud Abbey, a special luncheon at a private chateau, and the horse show. Exceeded my expectations!! If you want a first class tour of Loire Valley customized to your interests, I highly recommend this tour.”
Review August 2022:
“My wife and I went on a 6-day bike tour of the Loire Valley with Backroads, but wanted to spend some time after the bike tour learning about and tasting the Loire Valley wines. In two days, Luc did a great job educating us on the region and it’s wines. We knew the region for its Sancerre, but Luc picked wonderful wineries where we tasted Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Gamay as well as Sauvignon Blanc. You pass dozens of wineries, but the ones Luc picked were a perfect cross section of the region, and also had very interesting histories and wine making practices. And having Luc participate in the tours was extremely helpful do to his vast knowledge of the region and its wines. We shipped wine to the US from 2 of the wineries, and Luc was very helpful in arranging the shipments, and stayed involved afterwards with some shipping problems. In addition to the wine tours, we had a wonderful lunch in Amboise that was spectacular, and had two dinners in charming outdoor restaurants in small towns where we were definitely the only Americans. My wife and I highly recommend a wine tour with Luc.“
LOIRE VALLEY WINE MAP
Originating in the rugged central Ardèche region of France and emptying into the Atlantic near the shipbuilding port of Saint Nazaire, the 1,000km-long Loire river is as French as the Mississippi is American. This is the river the French love best: for the soft green beauty of the regions it waters and because it has so profoundly shaped their culture and identity. The constellation of magnificent chateaux found in the Loire valley has stoked the world’s romantic imagination, making the area between Orléans and Angers one of the most storied and visited destinations in France
Come and celebrate with us Leonard da Vinci 500 year anniversary in the Loire Valley
Your round trip train ticket from Paris is included.
Our Loire Valley wine tours
You can be there in 42 minutes from Paris, we book your round trip train ticket for you.
Here are some additional options you may be interested in, please get in touch with us for pricing:
Sleep in a troglodyte option
Experience sleeping in a troglodyte during your wine tour of the Loire Valley
Hot Air balloon ride option
Enjoy a hot air balloon ride during your wine tour of the Loire Valley.
Helicopter ride option
Enjoy a helicopter flight over the castles during your wine tour of the Loire Valley.
French gastronomy option
Enjoy some of the best tables during your wine tour of the Loire Valley
One good reason to join us:
“A great experience in the Loire Valley”
Because we operate small groups of up to 4 persons, I feel personnaly responsible for your well being. I make sure that each one of you gets all the attention he or she deserves.
Luc Bonhomme
Owner and your private guide
For questions, please send us an email at:
lucbonhomme@gmail.com
Need more of the Loire Valley
Check our sister site:http://www.loirevalleystay.com
Loire valley troglodyte
