Château de Chambord at dawn, Loire Valley
Private tours & guided journeys · Loire Valley

The Loire Valley, told and orchestrated.

Private guided tours in English, French and Spanish. A licensed guide, a private chauffeur, a carefully planned route — and nothing else to think about.

Design my tour +33 6 84 87 66 54
Licensed guide Groups of 1 to 10 EN · FR · ES Orléans · Paris · Tours
Loire Valley · UNESCO World Heritage Chambord · Chenonceau · Amboise Tailor-made · personal quote
The art of the visit

A castle can be visited.
It can also be told.

The Loire Valley is not a backdrop: it is a chain of stories about power, love and architecture. Behind every façade there is a favourite, a king, a visionary gardener. We have built an experience that brings together the three talents needed to understand it: a licensed guide, a private chauffeur and flawless organisation.

You choose the pace. We orchestrate the distances, timings, tickets, lunches and the unexpected. All you have to do is look, listen and take your time.

— The Diligence team, Orléans

280 km of UNESCO-listed river, from Sully to Chalonnes
3 guide languages: English, French, Spanish
1–10 travellers, privately looked after
48–72 h to receive your itinerary and detailed quote
What makes the difference

Four crafts, one single experience.

We do not sell a coach ticket. We compose a day that you will still be talking about years later.

01

The licensed guide

A professional holding the French guide licence, often an art historian. The narrative adapts to your group: families, connoisseurs or corporate guests.

02

The private chauffeur

Mercedes V-Class, E-Class, S-Class or Volvo S90. A chauffeur who knows the entrances, car parks and opening times, and stays at your disposal all day.

03

Invisible logistics

Skip-the-line tickets, reserved tables, group audio systems, a wet-weather plan and accessible routes. Everything is arranged before you arrive.

04

Absolute tailoring

Half a day, a full day, two or three days. Departure from your hotel, station, airport or Paris. The programme bends to your wishes, never the other way round.

The estates

The castles we open for you.

Six major estates, all within two hours of Orléans. We can combine two or three in a single day, or build a multi-day itinerary.

Château de Chambord and its park from above
Loir-et-Cher≈ 1 h from Orléans

Chambord

François I’s dream: 426 rooms, 282 fireplaces, the double-helix staircase inspired by Leonardo da Vinci and a park of more than 5,000 hectares.

Unmissable
Château de Chenonceau and its gallery over the River Cher
Touraine≈ 1 h 30 from Orléans

Chenonceau

The “Château of the Ladies”, built across the River Cher. Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de’ Medici, a 60-metre gallery and gardens suspended above the water.

Renaissance icon
Château royal d'Amboise overlooking the Loire
Loire Valley≈ 1 h 15 from Orléans

Amboise & Clos Lucé

A royal residence dominating the Loire. The Chapel of Saint-Hubert is believed to hold Leonardo da Vinci’s remains; his last home, Clos Lucé, is 500 metres away.

Leonardo da Vinci
François I wing of the royal Château de Blois
Loir-et-Cher≈ 50 min from Orléans

Blois

Four centuries of architecture around a single courtyard. The François I wing, the Renaissance staircase and Catherine de’ Medici’s apartments.

History of France
Facade of the Château de Cheverny
Sologne≈ 1 h 10 from Orléans

Cheverny

17th-century classicism, a home still lived in by the Marquises de Vibraye, a pack of hunting hounds and the memory of Moulinsart, so dear to Hergé.

Art of living
Gardens of the Château de Villandry
Touraine≈ 1 h 30 from Orléans

Villandry & Azay-le-Rideau

Six hectares of Renaissance gardens on four terraces, a unique ornamental kitchen garden, then the finely carved elegance of Azay-le-Rideau on the River Indre.

Remarkable gardens
Signature itineraries

Four ways to experience the Loire Valley.

Proven programmes, all fully modular. We adjust them to your pace, the season and the age of your travellers.

I Half-day · 5 h

The Royal Escape

Chambord at dawn, before the crowds. The park, the terraces and the double-helix staircase, brought to life by your guide.

  • Early departure from Orléans or your hotel
  • Guided visit of Chambord (2 h)
  • Coffee or light lunch at the estate
  • Return in the early afternoon
Request this itinerary
II Full day · 9 h

The Grand Century

Chambord in the morning, Cheverny or Blois in the afternoon. A full day, never rushed, with lunch reserved along the way.

  • Two major castles in one day
  • Lunch in a Loire Valley house
  • Skip-the-line tickets and audio systems
  • Chauffeur at your disposal until return
Request this itinerary
III Full day · 9–10 h

Renaissance & Gardens

Chenonceau and its gallery over the Cher, then Amboise and Clos Lucé. For those who prefer Touraine to the wide plains of Sologne.

  • Chenonceau reflected in the river
  • Amboise and the Chapel of Saint-Hubert
  • Optional Villandry and its gardens
  • Lunch on the banks of the Loire
Request this itinerary
IV 2 to 3 days

The Loire Valley in Depth

An itinerary with an overnight stay in Amboise, Blois or Tours. Four to six castles, a wine tasting, a dinner and time to return to the places you loved.

  • Hand-picked 4- or 5-star hotel
  • Private itinerary and dedicated guide
  • Loire Valley wine tasting
  • Programme adaptable for families
Build my stay
Groups & corporate

A group is not
a sum of people.

Corporate committees, associations, extended families, inbound agencies: we handle the complete coordination, from the first enquiry to the last drop-off.

One single contact, a group coordinator, suitable vehicles and a minute-by-minute programme. Your team only has to enjoy the day.

10travellers max. per guide
1single point of contact
8seats per premium vehicle
24/7on-the-day assistance
01

The brief

Your wishes, constraints, ages, language and budget.

02

The itinerary

A detailed programme and a clear quote within 48 to 72 hours.

03

The bookings

Skip-the-line tickets, guide, lunch, audio systems and vehicles confirmed.

04

The day itself

Chauffeur, guide and coordinator on site. Timings kept, breaks respected.

05

Afterwards

A clear invoice, a feedback call and photos shared with the group.

Your guides

“A guide is not an audio guide. It is a voice that makes you look again.”

Qualified professionals

Licensed guides holding the professional card issued by the French Ministry of Culture.

Three languages, one standard

Tours in English, French and Spanish. Portuguese and Italian on request, with a native speaker.

A tailored narrative

Content adapts: a family version with children, an art-history version, a corporate version.

Discretion & elegance

Impeccable presentation, punctuality, a sense of service. The guide accompanies without ever intruding.

The art of living

The castle is only the beginning.

A lunch by the water, a glass of Vouvray, a walk along the Loire: the finest memories are often made between two visits.

01

At the table

Tables reserved in Loire Valley houses, village inns or gastronomic restaurants. Menus adapted to children and special diets.

02

The vineyards

A private tasting with a winegrower in Vouvray, Chinon or Bourgueil. A 90-minute stop, never imposed.

03

On the water

A ride on a traditional wooden boat on the Loire or the Cher at sunset. Another way to understand the river.

Packages & pricing

A clear quote, confirmed before departure.

Every itinerary is unique. We prepare a precise quote based on distance, duration, group size, guide language and the services you choose.

Package 01

Chauffeur only

On request

  • Premium vehicle and private chauffeur
  • Flexible itinerary through the Loire Valley
  • Half-day or full-day hire
  • Tickets and restaurants optional
Request a quote
Package 02 · Recommended

Signature

On request

  • Private chauffeur + licensed guide
  • Up to 7 travellers per vehicle
  • Skip-the-line tickets and reserved lunch
  • Personalised, confirmed programme
  • 24/7 assistance on the day
Design my day
Package 03

Groups & corporate

On request

  • Minibus for 8 to 10 passengers
  • Guide + group coordinator
  • Audio systems and complete logistics
  • Corporate invoicing and purchase orders
  • From 8 to 10 travellers
Plan my group

Prices in EUR, excluding VAT. Payment by card, bank transfer or corporate invoice. Entrance fees, meals and optional experiences are itemised in the quote. No hidden extras.

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know before you go.

Do I need a guide to visit the Loire Valley castles?+

It is not compulsory, but a licensed guide transforms the visit: court intrigues, architecture, hidden details and a pace adapted to your group. We offer tours with or without a guide.

How many castles can we visit in one day?+

Two, sometimes three, depending on distances and your pace. A comfortable day pairs Chambord in the morning with Cheverny or Blois in the afternoon. We always favour quality over rushing.

Which languages are available?+

Our licensed guides work in English, French and Spanish. Portuguese and Italian are available on request, with a native speaker.

Are the tours private?+

Yes. Your group has its own guide, chauffeur and vehicle. We never add other travellers to your itinerary.

How many people can you accommodate?+

From 1 to 10 travellers. We use premium cars and Mercedes V-Class up to 7 passengers, and minibuses for 8 to 10, with a dedicated guide and coordinator.

Are tickets and meals included?+

They can be. We book skip-the-line tickets, restaurants and experiences such as wine tastings or a traditional boat ride, and include them in your quote. You have no queue and no reservation to manage.

Can we start from Paris or Tours?+

Yes. We collect you in Orléans, Paris, Tours, Blois, at your hotel, station or airport. From Paris, allow about two hours by road to the first castles, or take a high-speed train to Orléans where we meet you.

How do I get a price?+

Send us your dates, group size, preferred language and wishes. We reply within 48 to 72 hours with an itinerary and a detailed quote: +33 6 84 87 66 54 or contact@diligence.club.

Your project

Let’s talk about your day.

A few lines are enough. We will come back to you within 48 to 72 hours with an itinerary, a guide proposal and a detailed quote.

Phone+33 6 84 87 66 54 Emailcontact@diligence.club WhatsAppMessage the team

Hours24/7

From today · up to 24 months ahead

Reply within 48–72 h · Detailed quote before departure · +33 6 84 87 66 54

The Loire Valley is waiting. We take care of the rest.

A guide, a chauffeur, an itinerary. Three languages. And the certainty that every detail has been thought through for you.

Design my tour +33 6 84 87 66 54
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