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Authentic Europe · Self-guided

Paris, Normandy & the Loire Valley

Self-guided 7-day Paris, Normandy, and Loire Valley train trip

Illustration of Paris, Normandy & the Loire Valley

Authentic Europe runs this 7-day, 6-night self-guided tour from Paris through Normandy and the Loire Valley. After arriving in Paris on day 1, day 2 is a train journey to Bayeux, followed on day 3 by a full-day guided minibus tour of Normandy's major D-Day sites, including the US cemetery and Pointe du Hoc. Day 4 continues by train to Tours in the Loire Valley, where day 5 is a full-day guided visit to Chenonceau and Chambord castles, with a wine tasting. Day 6 returns to Paris for an afternoon at leisure, ahead of departure on day 7. Reserved train seats, 6 nights of hotel accommodation with breakfast, and 24/7 emergency phone support are all included. This suits travelers who want both Normandy's D-Day history and the Loire Valley's castles covered by a guide on the two key excursion days, while handling the rest of the trip, including the Paris stays, at their own pace.

What to know before you look closer

  • Neither listed hotel states a location in the evidence (Best Western Plus L'Artist Hôtel and Hotel Tourisme Avenue), so it isn't clear which city each is used in.
  • Tourist taxes are paid locally and are not included in the price.
  • Day 6 is only an afternoon at leisure in Paris before departure the next day; the morning return trip from Tours isn't detailed in the itinerary.
  • No specific departure dates are listed beyond a 2027 offer category; confirm current availability with the operator.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Paris

    Arrival in Paris, the capital of France

  2. Day 2overnight: Bayeux

    Travel to Bayeux in Normandy

  3. Day 3overnight: Bayeux

    Visit Normandy's major D-day sites & landing beaches

  4. Day 4overnight: Tours

    Travel to Tours in the Loire Valley

  5. Day 5overnight: Tours

    Visit Chenonceau and Chambord Castles & wine tasting

  6. Day 6overnight: Paris

    Afternoon at leisure in Paris

  7. Day 7

    Departure from Paris

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Travel to Bayeux in Normandy.
  • Day 3A full-day guided tour of Normandy's D-Day sites, including the US cemetery and Pointe du Hoc.
  • Day 4Travel to Tours in the Loire Valley.
  • Day 5A full-day guided visit to Chenonceau and Chambord castles, with a wine tasting.

Included

  • 6 nights hotel accommodation in a standard room with private shower/WC, including breakfast
  • Train tickets as per the itinerary, reserved seats onboard
  • Full-day guided Normandy D-day tour by minibus including entrance tickets and guided tours of the US cemetery & Pointe du Hoc
  • Full-day guided Loire Valley castles and wine tour by minibus including entrance tickets, guided tours at Chenonceau & Chambord, and a wine tasting
  • Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel vouchers
  • 24/7 emergency phone service while travelling

Not included

  • Tourist taxes (paid locally)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes, train tickets with reserved seats are included as per the itinerary, covering the Paris to Bayeux and Bayeux to Tours legs and the return to Paris.
Is this trip guided or self-guided?
It's self-guided, with two full-day guided minibus excursions included (Normandy's D-Day sites, and Chenonceau and Chambord castles), plus 24/7 emergency phone support while traveling.
What do the two guided excursions include?
The Normandy tour includes entrance tickets and guided tours of the US cemetery and Pointe du Hoc; the Loire Valley tour includes entrance tickets, guided tours at Chenonceau and Chambord castles, and a wine tasting.
What hotels are used?
Best Western Plus L'Artist Hôtel and Hotel Tourisme Avenue are listed, though the evidence doesn't specify which city each is in. Rooms are standard, with private shower/WC and breakfast.
What is not included?
Tourist taxes, paid locally.

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