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Châteaux of the Loire: Orléans to Saumur: 8-Day Plan You Can Actually Drive
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The 8-day version for May: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight. Prefer more or fewer days? 8-day plan · best time to go.
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8
days
320 km
distance
6.3 h
driving
10
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- ~14.8 hours of daylight in May — the plan keeps days inside a realistic window.
- The preferred operating window combines long-enough days with the main château season. Timed entry, special closures, heat and live access still control each visit.
- Light days: day 1, day 3, day 4, day 7, day 8 have one stop and time left over. Local tours and day trips are the way to fill them — each day links to what is bookable in its own town.
Day 1 Orléans
- Transit
- none
- Finish
- ~11:30
- Temperature
- 8.6°C–19.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 14.9h
08:30
Orléans cathedral and historic-centre walk cathedrale-orleans.fr map ↗
Orient on foot around Sainte-Croix Cathedral and the historic centre before the short drive toward Blois.
180 min · Orléans · Confirm current dated admission on the official site
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
Day 2 Blois
- Transit
- 1h53
- Finish
- ~15:25
- Temperature
- 8.8°C–19.3°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 14.9h
09:55
Chambord estate from Blois chambord.org map ↗
Give Chambord and its grounds the day, then return to Blois for an unhurried public-centre walk.
300 min · Blois · Confirm current dated admission on the official site
Overnight here
e.g. Val de Blois campsite · Etap Hotel
Day 3 Amboise
- Transit
- 0h42
- Finish
- ~12:15
- Temperature
- 8.8°C–19.3°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 14.9h
09:15
Royal Château of Amboise visit chateau-amboise.com map ↗
Give the royal château, chapel and open grounds a measured visit without pairing them with another paid interior.
180 min · Amboise · Confirm current dated admission on the official site
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
Day 4 Around Amboise
- Transit
- none
- Finish
- ~12:30
- Temperature
- 8.8°C–19.3°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 14.9h
08:30
Clos Lucé and Leonardo park visit vinci-closluce.com map ↗
Spend a separate Amboise day at Leonardo da Vinci’s final home and the open visitor park.
240 min · Amboise · Confirm current dated admission on the official site
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
Day 5 Around Amboise
- Transit
- 0h50
- Finish
- ~14:20
- Temperature
- 8.8°C–19.3°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 14.9h
08:55
Chenonceau château and gardens chenonceau.com map ↗
Reserve a separate day for Chenonceau so its château and gardens are not squeezed between other interiors.
300 min · Amboise · Confirm current dated admission on the official site
Overnight here
e.g. Manoir de la Maison Blanche · Le Pavillon des Lys
Day 6 Tours
- Transit
- 1h23
- Finish
- ~14:55
- Temperature
- 8.7°C–19.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 14.9h
09:30
Villandry château and gardens circuit chateauvillandry.fr map ↗
Use Villandry as the day’s main visit, with a measured return to Tours rather than another château stop.
240 min · Tours · Confirm current dated admission on the official site
13:55
Overnight here
Day 7 Chinon
- Transit
- 0h51
- Finish
- ~13:25
- Temperature
- 8.8°C–19.4°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 14.9h
09:25
Chinon fortress and old-town circuit forteressechinon.fr map ↗
Explore the royal fortress and the old town below it as one coherent Chinon day.
240 min · Chinon · Confirm current dated admission on the official site
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
Day 8 Saumur
- Transit
- 0h40
- Finish
- ~14:10
- Temperature
- 8.7°C–19.4°C
- Rainy days
- ~9
- Daylight
- 14.9h
09:10
Saumur château and historic-centre circuit chateau-saumur.fr map ↗
Finish with the château-museum and a measured walk through Saumur’s historic centre.
240 min · Saumur · Confirm current dated admission on the official site
13:10
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
🔍 Check before you book
Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.