Arrive in Blois at the time of your choice (40 minutes by train from Tours or 2 hours from Paris). The earlier you arrive, the more time you’ll have to enjoy this charming Renaissance town. A half-timbered main street connects the riverfront to a towering royal castle.

After breakfast, you'll meet with our local rep, then set out through the forest on a ride to the magnificent Château de Chambord, a hunting lodge with a mere 440 rooms! Another quiet ride brings you to Cheverny, a small but beautifully maintained estate. Fans of the Tintin comics might recognize it as the inspiration behind the fictional “Chateau de Moulinsart”.

From Cheverny, choose one of two paths featuring two starkly contrasting castles. Ride to the luxurious Renaissance-era Château de Beauregard, home to a gallery of 327 portraits of famous European leaders. Or, follow a route through vineyards straight to the medieval drawbridge of the Château Fougères-sur-Bièvre stronghold. On either path, the Loire will eventually lead you to the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, a dazzling, picture-perfect castle renowned for its gardens. Finish the day with a ride to the village of Mosnes.

Set out early to Amboise to make the most of your time in this quintessential Loire town. Visit the hilltop châteaux, wander past the troglodytes, or cave dwellings, and stop in at Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last years of his life. The museum at Château Clos Lucé allows you to glimpse into his alluring world of ideas and contraptions (models of which are on display).

Although today’s loop is optional, you simply cannot miss the Château de Chenonceau, a 15th-century castle whose dramatic façade bridges the River Cher. Return to Amboise and depart at your leisure.