The Loire Valley · 7 Nights · 8 Days
La LoireLoire Valley Wine Tour · 7 Days
A week in the Loire Valley led by a chef who grew up there. Private château access, his brothers' cellars, five chef-prepared dinners and one Michelin dinner. Six couples maximum.
Le Voyage · 7 nights · 8 days
The shape of the week.
The days are planned. The pace is not rushed. Time to taste, walk, and linger at each place.
Next departure
September 2026
Duration
7 nights / 8 days
Group size
6 couples maximum
Price
$5,700 / person, double occupancy
Single supplement
+ $700
Where you'll stay
Centrally located, carefully selected hotels in the heart of each town.
Hôtel Oceania (Tours) · Hôtel St-Pierre (Saumur)
Activity level
Moderate. Expect walking, stairs, and time spent exploring villages, markets, and château gardens. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Moderate
What's different · the chef is from here
The chef hosts personally.
01
Antonin cooks five dinners
Most Loire tours bring you to restaurants. This one lets you eat the way the people who live there eat. Five of the trip's dinners are cooked by Antonin himself, at a winemaker's table, in the Saumur kitchen, at a private cellar, at the family vineyard.
02
His brothers' cellars
The Colas family makes wine in the Loire. The cellar visits include domaines tour operators can't get into, because the door is opened by family, not a booking agent.
03
One Michelin dinner
One night at Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud's restaurant. The contrast with the cellar dinners is the point, French food at both ends of the spectrum.
04
Small group
Six couples, twelve people, one chef. The kind of tour where by day three everyone knows everyone's name.
L'Itinéraire · day by day
Day by day.
Tours and Saumur as base camps. Days spent in the vineyards, the cellars, the châteaux, the markets, and the kitchen. Evenings spent at the table.
Day 0
Arrival in Tours
Settle in
Rooms are available from the afternoon, giving you time to settle in, explore a bit, or simply unwind after your travels.
Day 1
Azay-le-Rideau & Chinon
Châteaux and the first winery
We begin with a visit to the elegant Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, set along the Indre River. Afterward, enjoy lunch in the village before heading to Chinon for a private winery visit. Later, return to Tours for some free time before gathering for dinner together in the evening.
Day 2
Chenonceau & Vouvray
The Ladies' Castle and a chenin afternoon
The morning is dedicated to one of the Loire Valley's most iconic sites, Château de Chenonceau, known as the "Ladies' Castle," gracefully spanning the Cher River. You'll explore its gardens before a relaxed brunch at L'Orangerie. In the afternoon, we visit a winery in Vouvray. The evening is yours to enjoy at your own pace, whether that's exploring, shopping, or simply resting.
Day 3
Villandry to Saumur
Gardens, Bourgueil, and a new base
After checking out of our hotel in Tours, we visit Château de Villandry, celebrated for its beautifully designed Renaissance gardens. Following lunch nearby, we continue toward Saumur, stopping for a winery visit in Bourgueil along the way. Once in Saumur, enjoy time to explore before dinner together in the evening.
Day 4
Brissac & Savennières
Market morning and a Michelin dinner
The day begins at the local Brissac market, followed by a visit to Château de Brissac, the tallest château in France. After lunch, we continue to Savennières for a winery visit. In the evening, we gather for a special dining experience at a Michelin-starred restaurant at the Abbaye de Fontevraud.
Day 5
Cooking & troglodyte caves
Hands-on with Antonin
Start the day with a hands-on cooking experience, followed by lunch. In the afternoon, we visit a renowned winery in Serrant, then continue to Le Mystère des Faluns, an immersive experience set within the region's troglodyte caves. Dinner this evening is open for you to choose and enjoy at your own pace.
Day 6
Saumur & Fontevraud
Mushrooms in the caves, abbey at dusk
We begin with a winery visit in Saumur, followed by a stop at a traditional mushroom farm, nestled within the region's historic limestone caves. After lunch in town, we visit the remarkable Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, one of the Loire Valley's most significant historical sites. The afternoon is yours for final exploring or shopping before a closing dinner together.
Day 7
Departure
À bientôt
Enjoy breakfast in Saumur before preparing for departure.
What's in the price
What's included
- · 7 nights of accommodations in carefully selected properties
- · Daily breakfast, 6 curated dinners, select lunches throughout the week
- · A signature dining experience, including a Michelin-starred restaurant
- · Private wine tastings and vineyard visits across the region
- · Guided visits through Saumur, Tours, and Angers
- · Market tours and hands-on culinary experiences
- · Transportation for all scheduled activities
- · Ongoing guidance and local access throughout your stay
- Not included: international airfare to Paris-CDG, travel insurance, wine purchased to ship home, two free dinners on the itinerary (deliberate breathing room), gratuities at end of trip.
Deposit schedule · holding your spot
Holding your spot
- · $1,000 deposit at booking (non-refundable after 30 days)
- · 50% due 120 days prior to departure
- · Balance due 60 days prior
- · Cancellation: 100% refund less deposit if >120 days · 50% if 60–120 · 0% if <60
Before you reserve · frequently asked
Before you reserve.
When does the trip run?
September 2026. Seven nights, eight days. Antonin runs one departure a year.
How many people are on each trip?
Six couples maximum: twelve guests, one chef. Small enough that every cellar door opens for the group, not a tour bus.
What's included in the $5,700 price?
Seven nights of lodging (Tours and Saumur), all ground transport in France, private cellar access at his brothers' and partner vineyards, five chef-prepared dinners by Antonin, one Michelin dinner, all tastings, and Antonin as your host the entire week.
What's not included?
International airfare to and from France, travel insurance, two daily lunches that you'll want to take freely in market towns, personal wine purchases, and gratuities.
Do I need to speak French?
No. Antonin translates in real time at every cellar, market, and dinner. Most guests have not spoken French in years; the trip works as well in English as it does in French.
How are deposits and refunds handled?
$1,500 deposit per person holds your seat. Balance is due 90 days before departure. Refunds: full minus deposit up to 120 days, 50% from 120–60 days, none inside 60 days. Travel insurance strongly recommended.
September 2026.
Six couples. Twelve people. One chef. Bookings open now, they will close when the trip is full, and the trip has only twelve seats.
À bientôt.