Packages and Options

Rates Note:

Take train from Paris to Blois. Please let Hidden Trails know your arrival time into Blois- the transfer will pick you up whenever you arrive and take you to your first night's accommodation. There are excellent train connections from Paris to Blois. From Paris Austerlitz train station there are departures to Blois almost every hour. Travel time from Austerlitz to Blois is approx. 1 1/2 to 2 hrs.

Day 1: Arrival in Blois, a city full of history, and overnight in a local hotel.
Day 2: The horses are boarded at the National Harass - stud farm of Blois, known for its beauty, elegance and charm. The tour starts with a ride through the municipal forest of Blois along the river Loire to the Château de Chaumont Sur. Picnic near the chateaux and then you have the opportunity to visit the castle itself. A short ride in the after noon will take us to the Castle of La Haute Borde where we will spend the night in order to get used to old castle life style and charm.
Day 3: We will then discover the marvelous machines invented by Leonard de Vinci. To do so, we will spend half a day riding in order to reach « le Clot Lucé » at Amboise, where the inventions are exhibited. In the after noon, we will leave the Loire valley and we will follow an affluent river, the « Cher ». To do so, we will ride across the Amboise forest where the kings loved to hunt. We will ride down this River in order to reach the « Château de l’Isle » where we will spend the night.
Château de l’Isle: 18th-century Touraine residence in a park bordered by the river Cher. The quality of the service and the warm atmosphere make this a "home from home". Extraordinary cuisine. Meals by the fire or on the terrace. Pleasant and comfortable rooms, with views. Authentic and charming location near Chenonceau.
Day 4: Ride through a wooded area to the Château de Chenonceau, your next stop for a sightseeing tour with a picnic at a forest lake on the way. Afterwards you ride along the river Cher to the Château de Chissay, where you have dinner and spend the night.
Château de Chissay: Old fortified castle, this genuine royale residence has been lived in by Charles VII and Louis XI. The Donjon dates back to the 13th century. Three towers overhang the inner Court with an Italian style portico dating back to the Renaissance. Inside you find beautiful rooms and apartments. The formal gardens are embellished by a wonderful blue swimming-pool.
Day 5: Between the Loire and the Cher Rivers, you have a wild region covered by trees, lakes and sandy fields full of vegetables. This region is called La Sologne. To reach the Loire we must ride across this region. We will pause once during this long journey and visit a typical hotel of the region known for its outstanding regional cuisine - L’Auberge du centre.
Day 6: Along the Beuvrons you ride to the Château de Cheverny, where you have another sightseeing tour. Through the forest of Boulogne along the river Loire you reach Manoir du Bel Air, which is situated on the Loire riverbank. There you have dinner and spend the night.
Manoir de Bel Air: The manor house Bel Air overlooks the “royal river” with its wide spread terraces. Excellent cuisine and wine cellar.
Day 7: This day is devoted to the largest and most majestic Loire castle: Chambord with its magnificent park. Thanks to a special permit we have the privilege to live an unforgettable moment: we gallop across the fields of the estate and along the channel leading right to the base of the castle where our lunch awaits us. In the afternoon enjoy your last ride back through the Cosson valley and along the shore of the Loire. Overnight as the day before at Manoir de Bel Air.
Day 8: After breakfast, departure.
subject to change

The mild climate in the Loire region (created by mild breezes blowing in from the Atlantic) has produced an equal mildness and moderation on the part of the people. The Loire is often the line of demarcation in France's weather, between the Northern climate and the Southern. 
You can expect frequent showers in the spring months, whereas the summer brings forth sultry, humid heat. The balmy Autumn season produces brilliant red and gold foliage, and lively festivals take place in many towns and villages to celebrate the grape harvest. A damp chill settles over The Loire Valley in winter, and many of the chateaux close.

March Temperature 35ºF to 55ºF
Daily Hours Sunshine 8 Monthly Rainfall 2"

July Temperature 58ºF to 76ºF
Daily Hours Sunshine 11 Monthly Rainfall 1.5"

October Temperature 48ºF to 64ºF
Daily Hours Sunshine 7
Monthly Rainfall 2.8"

January Temperature 33ºF to 50ºF