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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted River Cruise

Gardens of the Loire Valley & Seine Cruise

Loire Valley châteaux and Seine river cruise from London via Paris

Illustration of Gardens of the Loire Valley & Seine Cruise

Great Rail Journeys operates this 11-day escorted holiday combining the châteaux gardens of France's Loire Valley with a leisurely cruise down the Seine. You depart London St Pancras aboard Eurostar, change to TGV rail in Paris, and settle into a four-star hotel in Tours for three nights. Days there focus on Château de Chenonceau spanning the River Cher, Leonardo da Vinci's Clos Lucé estate in Amboise, and Château de Chaumont's 15th-century towers and ornamental gardens. On Day 4 you board the MS Amadeus Diamond for a seven-night river cruise that sails to Normandy and Paris. The cruise itinerary includes stops at Auvers-sur-Oise (home to Van Gogh and the Impressionists), Rouen Cathedral (Monet's subject), the charming port of Honfleur, and a visit to Monet's Garden in Giverny with its famous water lilies. Day 8 offers an optional full-day excursion to Normandy's D-Day beaches and Arromanches, led by military historian Piers Storie-Pugh. The trip suits couples, history enthusiasts, and photographers drawn to Impressionist sites and river scenery, with guidance and dining included throughout.

What to know before you look closer

  • Day 10 offers a choice of two optional guided excursions (Paris or Versailles); neither is included in the base package, so confirm the cost before booking.
  • Day 8 includes a full-day optional D-Day Normandy excursion; staying onboard is free, but the coach trip has a separate charge.
  • The single supplement is GBP 1,500 (approximately USD 2,000), which is 37.5 percent of the from-price.
  • Luggage is transported by the operator from home to ship and back for one case per cabin; additional baggage incurs fees.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Tours

    To medieval Tours, 'gateway to the Loire Valley'

    Meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras before boarding the Eurostar to Paris. Change for the rail service to Tours, known as the 'Gateway to the Loire Valley'. Tours' medieval centre features half-timbered houses and the Place Plumereau in the heart of the Old Town. Visit the jaw-dropping St Gatien Cathedral with its two ornate towers, superb stained-glass windows and tombs of French royals. Check in to the hotel for the next three nights and enjoy a welcome dinner together.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: Tours

    Château de Chenonceau and Leonardo da Vinci's Clos Lucé

    Excursion to the iconic Château de Chenonceau, spanning the River Cher, a fine example of Gothic and Renaissance architecture and the second-most visited château in France. After exploring the château and its picturesque fountain gardens, travel by coach to Amboise, once the home of Leonardo da Vinci. Visit the artist's former manor house, Clos Lucé, filled with his fascinating inventions. Return to the hotel in the early evening with the rest of the day at leisure.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3overnight: Tours

    History and beauty at Château de Chaumont

    Travel by coach from Tours to Château de Chaumont. First constructed in 1000 AD, the original castle was razed by Louis XI and rebuilt in the 15th century with fairytale turrets and gateways. Set on the banks of the Loire River, the grounds were transformed into an ornamental garden in the late 1800s. Enjoy a guided tour of the gardens followed by free time to explore halls adorned with stunning artwork, vibrant flower beds, manicured lawns and ornate sculptures. Return to the hotel in the early evening and dine independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4railovernight: MS Amadeus Diamond (Conflans St Honorine)

    Boarding our ship in Paris

    Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before checking out of the hotel in Tours and transferring to the station for the rail journey to Paris. In the early afternoon, board the MS Amadeus Diamond where a welcome drink awaits. Relax on the sundeck before sailing along the Seine. Enjoy a five-course dinner paired with complimentary drinks as the ship begins cruising down the Seine toward Conflans St Honorine.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: MS Amadeus Diamond (sailing)

    Discovering van Gogh's inspiration in Auvers-sur-Oise

    Wake up in Conflans St Honorine at the confluence of the rivers Oise and Seine. After breakfast, travel to Auvers-sur-Oise, renowned for its scenic charm and artistic heritage. Discover timeless cottages, rustic windmills and verdant fields that inspired Impressionist artists including Van Gogh, Daubigny, Cézanne and Pissarro. Van Gogh's final resting place is here. Return onboard in the afternoon for a gentle overnight sail with dinner and drinks.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: MS Amadeus Diamond (sailing)

    Exploring Rouen, the jewel of Normandy

    Dock in Rouen, the former capital of Normandy, for a guided tour following the Impressionists' footsteps. Visit the Museum of Fine Arts and its vast collection of Impressionist work. See Rouen Cathedral, depicted in over 30 oil paintings by Claude Monet. Also visit the Church of Joan of Arc, situated in the square where Joan of Arc was martyred, featuring magnificent 16th-century stained-glass windows. Continue the cruise along the picturesque Seine valley in the afternoon.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  7. Day 7overnight: MS Amadeus Diamond (Le Havre/Honfleur)

    Honfleur's artistry and a guest talk on the Normandy landings

    Sail to Le Havre while renowned British military history expert Piers Storie-Pugh delivers a fascinating talk on the Allied D-Day landings. After lunch on the ship, visit the charming port town of Honfleur on the southern bank of the Seine Estuary, with its stunning old harbour lined with narrow colourful buildings, cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, boutiques and art galleries. Return to the ship in the evening for a five-course dinner and performances of French ballads from local chanson singers.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: MS Amadeus Diamond (sailing)

    Normandy's legacy and beauty

    Sail to Caudebec-en-Caux. Optional full-day excursion by coach (with picnic lunch) to explore historic landmarks including the nearby harbour that played a pivotal role in the liberation of western Europe after D-Day, and the city of Arromanches with its remnants of World War Two Mulberry harbours. Alternatively, stay onboard and enjoy the ship's facilities or views from the sundeck or panoramic bar. Continue the gentle cruise overnight after dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  9. Day 9overnight: MS Amadeus Diamond (sailing to Paris)

    Château Gaillard and Monet's Garden

    Dock in Les Andelys. Optional excursion to the ruins of Château Gaillard, the medieval fortress built by Richard the Lionheart in the 12th century, before rejoining the ship in Vernon. Visit the renowned beauty of Monet's Garden in Vernon/Giverny, with delicate hues bursting from flower beds and the artist's Japanese arched-bridge framing ponds of water lilies. After lunch onboard, spend the rest of the day sailing into scenic river landscapes en route to Paris.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  10. Day 10overnight: MS Amadeus Diamond (Paris)

    Enchanting Paris or stately Versailles

    Wake up in Paris. Choose between two optional excursions: a guided tour of Paris visiting the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées and the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur on Montmartre; or a visit to the opulent Palace of Versailles with its Hall of Mirrors and meticulously landscaped gardens. The afternoon is at leisure to immerse in Parisian culture before the final night onboard, marked with a farewell dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  11. Day 11rail

    Homeward bound

    After a final breakfast, disembark from the ship in Paris. Board the Eurostar for the journey back to London, arriving at St Pancras in the afternoon.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Coach excursion to Château de Chenonceau spanning the River Cher, the second-most visited château in France, followed by Leonardo da Vinci's Clos Lucé manor house in Amboise.
  • Day 4Boarding the MS Amadeus Diamond in Paris, welcomed with a drink and five-course dinner while the ship sails toward Conflans St Honorine on the Seine.
  • Day 5Coach trip to Auvers-sur-Oise to discover the cottages, windmills and fields that inspired Van Gogh, Cézanne, Daubigny and Pissarro, including Van Gogh's final resting place.
  • Day 6Guided tour of Rouen Cathedral, depicted in over 30 of Claude Monet's oil paintings, and the Church of Joan of Arc with 16th-century stained-glass windows.
  • Day 9Optional excursion to Monet's Garden in Vernon/Giverny with its Japanese arched bridge, water lily ponds, and flower beds, followed by an afternoon sailing to Paris.

Included

  • Escorted throughout by experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
  • 3 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • 7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Diamond
  • Excellent service onboard
  • Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
  • Eurostar Standard Class travel
  • Standard Class rail travel throughout
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Breakfast each day
  • 6 lunches
  • 8 dinners including a spectacular gala dinner
  • Drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise
  • Complimentary luggage service from home to the ship and back (one case per cabin)
  • Superb excursions included

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance
  • Tips/gratuities (left to guest discretion)

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Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes Eurostar Standard Class from London St Pancras to Paris and TGV rail from Paris to Tours, plus return Eurostar.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
It is fully escorted. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager on the Loire Valley portion and a Cruise Director team onboard the ship.
What meals are included?
Breakfast daily, six lunches, eight dinners (including a gala dinner and farewell dinner), and complimentary drinks with dinner every night of the seven-night cruise.
What accommodation is provided?
Three nights in a 4-star hotel in Tours, then seven nights aboard the MS Amadeus Diamond river cruise ship.
When does the tour run?
Great Rail Journeys offers four departures in 2027: April, May, June and September.
What is not included?
Cancellation and travel insurance are not included. Optional excursions such as the Paris or Versailles guided tour on Day 10 and the D-Day Normandy coach trip on Day 8 have separate charges. Tips and gratuities are at your discretion.

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