Top Tours Private and Luxury

The sweeping vineyards, lush forests and fairy-tale castles of the Loire Valley are even more impressive from above and this 3-hour hot-air balloon experience is the ideal way to enjoy an aerial view. Float over the UNESCO-listed landscapes of the Loire, Indre or Cher Valleys; spot landmarks like the Chateau of Chenonceau or the gardens of Villandry; then toast your safe landing with a glass of Champagne or sparkling grape juice.

Follow in the footsteps of French royals and aristocrats on a day trip from Paris to the Loire Valley, home to more than 100 châteaux and many of the finest in France. Most are impossible to visit without a car, so relax as a personal chauffeur takes you to a trio of the most impressive estates—Amboise, Chenonceaux, and Chambord. An art historian guide accompanies you inside for a detailed look at these time capsules of French history.

Savor views of the beautiful Loire Valley from an unbeatable vantage point – on a hot air balloon ride! Soar over the fairy-tale châteaux, sweeping vineyards and winding waterways of the UNESCO-listed Loire Valley on a thrilling 1-hour flight. Spot iconic landmarks like the Château de Chenonceau and Amboise castle from above, then toast your safe landing with a glass of Champagne.

The riverside villages, vineyards, and magnificent chateau of the Loire Valley are about a 1.5-hour train ride from Paris. With this tour, make your own way to the Loire Valley from Paris using your included round-trip train tickets, and meet your guide and small group on arrival. During your full-day tour, visit four of the most popular Loire Valley chateau—Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise, and Cheverny—and enjoy guided tours at each castle.

This is the must see chateau of the Loire Valley. You will learn about womens history, mysterious graffiti, technological and scientific changes, peoples beliefs, dietary changes, garden history and what drove the economy when the chateau was built. Some powerful female characters have occupied this place - some of them you will have heard of, some will be new names for you. but all are fascinating. I'll cover a bit of modern history too - what happened here during the two World Wars. I'm very happy to tailor the presentation to clients interests. If there is interest I can cover medicine, heritage engineering, textile manufacturing, transport and more, all of which can be demonstrated by elements of this magnificent site. But the lives and loves of the women who lived here will not be forgotten in all of this. Nor will the beautiful objects inside. My background is not art history, but collections care and the behind the scenes management of historic sites.

Develop your photography skills while capturing the magic of one of the most beautiful regions of France. With expert guidance and local knowledge this walking photography tour of Amboise with tuition by Mark Playle will ensure you get the best possible images from your visit. Your guide, tutor and local resident, Mark Playle is a prize winning photographer who has shot London Fashion Week, Le Mans 24hr and photographed Daphne Selfe, one of the world’s top Supermodels. His work has been exhibited at The Photography Show in the UK, FESPA Hamburg, FESPA Amsterdam and across Europe. Join us for a bespoke one to one or small group masterclass for the beginner or a photography tour for the seasoned photographer. Customised tours are available. Contact us for details.

Develop your photography skills while capturing the magic of Château Chenonceau once home of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici. Our expert guidance and local knowledge ensure you will get the best possible images from your visit. Capture the details many miss. Suitable for all camera types from DSLR, Mirrorless, Point & Shoot to Mobile Phone and Tablet. Your guide, tutor and local resident, Mark Playle is a prize winning photographer who has shot London Fashion Week, Le Mans 24hr and photographed Daphne Selfe, one of the world’s top Supermodels. His work has been exhibited at The Photography Show in the UK, FESPA Hamburg, FESPA Amsterdam and across Europe. Customised tours are available. Contact us for details.

Develop your photography skills while capturing the magic of Christmas in one of the most beautiful regions of France. Starting at 3.00pm This tour covers both day and night photography of the town.With expert guidance and local knowledge this walking photography tour of Amboise with tuition will ensure you get the best possible images from your visit. Your guide, tutor and local resident, Mark Playle is a prize winning photographer who has shot London Fashion Week, Le Mans 24hr and photographed Daphne Selfe, one of the world’s top Supermodels. His work has been exhibited at The Photography Show in the UK, FESPA Hamburg, FESPA Amsterdam and across Europe. Join us for a bespoke one to one or small group masterclass for the beginner or a photography tour for the seasoned photographer. Customised tours are available. Contact us for details.

Let yourself be carried away by a beautiful starry night, from Place Plumereau to rue Colbert, passing by the Basilique Saint-Martin and you will find that the gentle Touraine is not usurped.

Develop your photography skills while capturing the magic of Château du Clos Lucé, once home to Leonardo da Vinci. Our expert guidance and local knowledge ensure you will get the best possible images from your visit. Capture the details many miss. Suitable for all camera types from DSLR, Mirrorless, Point & Shoot to Mobile Phone and Tablet. Your guide, tutor and local resident, Mark Playle is a prize winning photographer who has shot London Fashion Week, Le Mans 24hr and photographed Daphne Selfe, one of the world’s top Supermodels. His work has been exhibited at The Photography Show in the UK, FESPA Hamburg, FESPA Amsterdam and across Europe. Customised tours are available. Contact us for details.

Develop your photography skills while capturing the magic of Château Villandry, known worldwide for it's beautiful gardens. Our expert guidance and local knowledge ensure you will get the best possible images from your visit. Capture the details many miss. Suitable for all camera types from DSLR, Mirrorless, Point & Shoot to Mobile Phone and Tablet. Your guide, tutor and local resident, Mark Playle is a prize winning photographer who has shot London Fashion Week, Le Mans 24hr and photographed Daphne Selfe, one of the world’s top Supermodels. His work has been exhibited at The Photography Show in the UK, FESPA Hamburg, FESPA Amsterdam and across Europe. Customised tours are available. Contact us for details.

Develop your photography skills while capturing the magic of Château Amboise, resting place of Leonardo da Vinci and once home to several Kings of France. Our expert guidance and local knowledge ensure you will get the best possible images from your visit. Capture the details many miss. Suitable for all camera types from DSLR, Mirrorless, Point & Shoot to Mobile Phone and Tablet. Your guide, tutor and local resident, Mark Playle is a prize winning photographer who has shot London Fashion Week, Le Mans 24hr and photographed Daphne Selfe, one of the world’s top Supermodels. His work has been exhibited at The Photography Show in the UK, FESPA Hamburg, FESPA Amsterdam and across Europe. Customised tours are available. Contact us for details.

Develop your photography skills while capturing the magic of Château Gaillard, home to the first Italian garden and Orangerie in France. Our expert guidance and local knowledge ensure you will get the best possible images from your visit. Capture the details many miss. Suitable for all camera types from DSLR, Mirrorless, Point & Shoot to Mobile Phone and Tablet. Your guide, tutor and local resident, Mark Playle is a prize winning photographer who has shot London Fashion Week, Le Mans 24hr and photographed Daphne Selfe, one of the world’s top Supermodels. His work has been exhibited at The Photography Show in the UK, FESPA Hamburg, FESPA Amsterdam and across Europe. Customised tours are available. Contact us for details.