Monet's Garden, The Loire Valley and Fontainebleau

If you are planning to visit one of the most beautiful regions of France, our tour of the Loire Valley is ideal – the name alone evokes wonderful imagery of beautiful gardens and enchanting buildings straight out of fairy tales.

The châteaux are magnificent, and you have the opportunity to sample the best of them: Chenonceau, Villandry, Chinon, and Amboise. The scenery is stunning too; in fact, the valley is also known as The Garden of France, and you can see why. Visiting the Loire Valley is like stepping back in time; the sleepy towns are a delight to explore, and the local people seem to have time on their hands, stopping to chat with each other or drinking endless coffees in the nearby bars and cafés.

Marvel at the Château of Fontainebleau, set in a vast forest just outside Paris, arguably the greatest monastic establishment left standing in France. You'll also visit the house, and most importantly the garden of the Impressionist artist Claude Monet. For a unique combination of culture, wine, superb and interesting monuments, châteaux, beautiful scenery, and French provincial life at its best, this tour has it all.