Custom itinerary

Custom Loire Valley Wine Itinerary

$500.00

Sale Sold out

Itinerary design fee, per couple. Credited in full against the trip when you book it with us.

The Loire is a river of châteaux with vineyards in between, and the right trip depends on whether you came for the castles, the Chenin or the Cabernet Franc. We'll weight it, then book the château you sleep in as carefully as the ones you visit.

What we'd build it around

Stay. Fleur de Loire in Blois for Christophe Hay's two stars downstairs; Château de Minière in Bourgueil to sleep among the vines; Château de la Barre for a family château with a pool; Amboise or Saumur as a base for the western Loire.
Sip. Domaine des Huards in Cour-Cheverny for Romorantin, Minière's Bourgueil reds, Saumur and Saumur-Champigny, Vouvray and Montlouis Chenin, Sancerre if you want to push east.
Eat. Christophe Hay at Fleur de Loire, L'Orangerie, L'Escargot in Saumur for the snails, a château picnic on the Cher.
Days. Chambord, Cheverny and Chenonceau, Clos Lucé and Amboise, a driver between them, a boat on the Loire.

Already like the look of the set trip? Loire Valley, 4 nights from $4,300 per couple is the version we'd take ourselves. The custom one starts from the same book and goes wherever your answers take it.

What the design fee covers

A day-by-day itinerary written for you: the hotel, the tastings, the tables, the timings and the driver days, with a line on why each stop made the cut.
Every reservation made and held in your name once you book: winery appointments, restaurants, the hotel and the driver.
Two rounds of revisions, then a final version you can carry on your phone.
A quote for the whole trip, priced per couple like our set trips, with the $500 taken off the balance.
A direct line to us while you travel.

How it works

Answer the questions above and add the design fee to your cart. Two minutes.
Within two business days we send a first draft and a quote for the trip.
We revise together, up to two rounds, until it reads like your trip.
A deposit confirms the dates and we make every booking. The balance is due 45 days before you travel, with the $500 credited against it.

The fine print

One design fee covers a party of up to six travelling together; for larger groups, write to us before you buy. The fee is credited in full against a trip booked with Cellar Mouse within twelve months of the first draft. It is not refundable once the first draft has been sent. Flights are never included. Deposits, balances and cancellations for the trip itself follow the same terms as our set trips.

How our trips work

Tell us about the trip

Two minutes. We use this to write the first draft and price it. Anything you're not sure about, leave blank and we'll ask.

Travel dates required How fixed are the dates? Travellers required Nights required Budget per couple, not counting flights required

What should the wine days be built around? Tick everything that applies.

Chenin Blanc: Vouvray, Montlouis, SaumurCabernet Franc: Bourgueil, Chinon, Saumur-ChampignySancerre and Pouilly-FuméCrémant de LoireRare grapes (Romorantin at Cour-Cheverny)Sleeping in a château or vineyard estateChâteau visits: Chambord, Chenonceau, ChevernyTwo-star dinner (Christophe Hay)

Must-visit wineries, restaurants or hotels (or ones to skip) Dining Where you'd like to sleep Pace Who's coming, and is there an occasion? Anything else we should know? Phone (optional)

Your email comes through with the order. We reply within two business days with a first draft of the Loire Valley itinerary and a quote for the trip.