Fit For a Queen: Loire Valley & Paris

Trip Overview

Fit for a Queen: The Loire Valley and Paris is a seven-day small-group trip for up to 10 women, following Joan of Arc, Agnès Sorel, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Anne of Brittany through the places where their stories unfolded. Running September 12 to 18, 2027, it begins with four nights in the Loire Valley and ends with two nights in Paris, pairing private guided touring with a free morning in the Loire and a free day in Paris to wander at your own pace.

Highlights include a stop in Orléans for Joan of Arc and Sainte Croix Cathedral on the drive from Paris, a private visit with the owner of Château de Troussay followed by a private boat trip on a traditional Loire toue with a light dinner of regional food and wine, and a day in Loches and Montrésor in the footsteps of Agnès Sorel. You will visit the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, led by abbesses for seven centuries and home to the tomb of Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Chinon Fortress, where Joan of Arc met the future Charles VII in 1429. You will step into Chenonceau, the Ladies’ Castle, on a private visit before it opens to the public, share a tasting and home-cooked lunch at a small Vouvray wine estate run by an American writer turned winemaker and his French wife, and explore Amboise and its royal castle, home to Anne of Brittany. The week ends with a private evening cruise on the Seine aboard an electric yacht. Guests stay four nights at Les Hauts de Loire, a five-star 19th-century hunting lodge turned château hotel on a 70-hectare estate, and two nights at the five-star Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal, beside the Palais Royal gardens and a short walk from the Louver.

Location: The Loire Valley and Paris, France

Duration: 7 days / 6 nights, September 12 to 18, 2027.

Activity Type: Luxury small-group women’s history touring for up to 10 women, centered on Joan of Arc, Agnès Sorel, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Anne of Brittany, with Loire Valley châteaux, wine, regional cuisine, and Paris. Includes a private before-hours visit to Chenonceau, a private visit with the owner of Château de Troussay, a private boat trip on the Loire, and a private evening cruise on the Seine, with private guides and drivers on touring days. Walking at castles, an abbey, and medieval towns, with a free morning in the Loire and a free day in Paris built in.

Accommodation: Les Hauts de Loire, Onzain (4 nights), and Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal, Paris (2 nights).

Day 1: Arrival in the Loire Valley

Arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, where you will be met and taken by private group transfer to the Loire Valley, with a two-hour stop in Orléans along the way. Joan of Arc helped free this city in 1429, and you will see Sainte-Croix Cathedral and Place du Martroi before a two-course lunch together. Check in to Les Hauts de Loire, a five-star 19th-century hunting lodge-turned-château hotel, then enjoy a glass of sparkling Vouvray and a three-course welcome dinner at the hotel bistro. Overnight in the Loire Valley.

Day 2: Château de Troussay and the Loire

Spend the morning at your own pace at the hotel. In the afternoon, your private driver takes you to Château de Troussay, where the owner welcomes you for a private visit and an aperitif at the château. The day ends with a two-hour private boat trip on a traditional Loire toue, with a light dinner of regional food and wine on board. Overnight in the Loire Valley.

Day 3: Loches and Montrésor

With your private guide and driver, visit the castle and medieval town of Loches, where Agnès Sorel, the official mistress of Charles VII, kept a lavish court and changed the fashion of her day. After lunch on your own in Loches, continue to Montrésor, one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France. In the evening, private drivers take you to dinner at La Charbonnette, five minutes from the hotel. Overnight in the Loire Valley.

Day 4: Fontevraud and Chinon

Begin at the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, where abbesses led the order for seven centuries and where you will see the tomb of Eleanor of Aquitaine. After lunch on your own in Chinon, visit Chinon Fortress, where Joan of Arc met the future Charles VII in 1429. Return to the hotel for a four-course dinner with wine pairing at its gastronomic restaurant. Overnight in the Loire Valley.

Day 5: Chenonceau, Vouvray, and Amboise

An early start brings you to Chenonceau for a private visit before it opens to the public. Known as the Ladies’ Castle, it was shaped by a succession of women from the Renaissance through World War II. Next, visit a small Vouvray wine estate run by an American writer turned winemaker and his French wife for a tasting and a home-cooked lunch paired with their wines. Then explore Amboise and its royal castle, home to Anne of Brittany, who became Queen of France at 14. Continue by private transfer to Paris and the Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal for a welcome glass of Champagne at the hotel bar. Dinner is at leisure. Overnight in Paris.

Day 6: A Day in Paris

The day is yours to explore Paris at your own pace, with the Louvre and the Tuileries Garden a short walk from the hotel. In the evening, your private driver takes you to the Seine for a private cruise aboard an electric yacht. Overnight in Paris.

Day 7: Departure Day

A private transfer to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, with meet-and-greet assistance at departure.

• Six nights' accommodation
• Daily breakfast, 2 lunches, and 5 dinners, including a four-course dinner with wine pairing
• Private airport meet-and-greet and transfers to and from Paris CDG
• Private guides and drivers on touring days
• Admission to all scheduled attractions
• Personal hosting and support
• Pre-trip group call and book club pairing
• All taxes and service fees

• Airfare
• Meals during free time
• Additional tours, transportation, or expenditures during any free time
• Travel insurance
• Gratuities