You'll be met in central Paris or at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport by your chauffeur. Leaving by 10 a.m., you'll head for your four star Loire valley chateau hotel, Domaine des Hauts de Loire, arriving in time for lunch. Chef Remy Girard will present a five course gourmet lunch at the Gastronomic Restaurant. After relaxing, or strolling through the Domaine's 110 acre park, you'll depart late afternoon for your first hot air balloon flight complete with champagne toast. Dinner will follow your landing at the site of the ancient Abbey of Pontlevoy, including a hot French buffet with the finest wines, cheese and patisseries.
After a tasty breakfast, you'll travel mid morning to the town of Blois where Chef Damien Garanger of Le Medicis restaurant will welcome you into his kitchen for a cooking lesson. After training in top Michelin rated restaurants in the Loire valley, Paris and Burgundy, and traveling the world for several years, Chef Garanger is now back in his region of origin. After your lesson, of course, you'll enjoy the fruits of your labors at a sumptuous lunch, followed by an exclusive tour of the historic Chateau of Chambord that is closed to the general public. Then it's off to a tasting of the award winning Cours Cheverny wines at Domaine Desouches. A late afternoon hot air balloon liftoff follows, replete with champagne toast. Then another dinner will be served at the Abbey of Pontlevoy, and you'll travel back to Domaine des Hauts de Loire to retire for the night.
You'll check out of your hotel after breakfast for a visit to the royal Chateau of Amboise, a historic castle of Gothic and Renaissance style. You'll see the recently restored tomb of Leonardo da Vinci and visit his last residence at Clos Luce. In the manor and its gardens you'll discover many of his most fantastic inventions, and enjoy a Renaissance lunch. After relaxing, you'll be off to the romantic Chateau of Chenonceau and its superb furniture collection and French gardens. Then you'll travel to your four star accommodation, L'Chateau de Marcay, nestled among the vineyards. You'll prepare for a late afternoon balloon flight over the beautiful French countryside, touching down in time for a light dinner and evening's relaxation at the Chateau.
After breakfast, you'll depart for an early balloon liftoff providing morning views of dappled rivers, sleepy villages and spectacular panoramas. After landing, lunch will be served in an authentic limestone cave in a Bourgueil winery, where you'll also enjoy a tasting of the family's prize red wines. Then you'll head to the fanciful French gardens of Villandry, followed by a stop for a tasting at an award winning Chinon winery, Chateau de Ligre, before arrival back at your own Chateau for a gourmet dinner to complete the day.
You'll check out of your hotel and travel to the Champagne region and Epernay, taking lunch at your leisure along the way. You'll stop at the Moet & Chandon caves for a champagne tasting, followed by a trip to the Henriot family winery normally open only to importers and wine professionals. Another champagne tasting will send you off to your final accommodation, the four star Chateau d'Etoges hotel. You'll delight in a fabulous French gourmet dinner to complete your travels, then relax and review trip highlights before retiring for the night.
After a last, elegant French breakfast, you'll check out of your hotel and be driven to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.
July 4 to 10, 2009
$1,950 per person per day
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