Dreaming about taking a Loire Valley balloon ride in France?
You’ve come to the right place! I took a hot air balloon ride in the Loire Valley on my first trip to France, and it was the highlight of our trip.
(And that’s saying a lot, given how much I loved everything about that vacation in France!)
Hot air balloon flights are an incredible way to see the stunning countryside and gorgeous châteaux of the Loire Valley.
I’m here to share my experience so you know what you expect on a hot air balloon ride in the Loire. (And more great things to do and see in the Loire Valley while you’re here.)
Lace up your shoes and let’s go!
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LOVE IT!!
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Loire Valley Hot Air Balloon Ride
✔️ Stunning châteaux
✔️Gorgeous French countryside
✔️Champagne
Taking a Loire Valley hot air balloon ride
The absolute highlight of our trip to the Loire Valley was our splurge item: Taking a hot air balloon flight over châteaux!
France Fun Fact: Hot air balloons were invented in France! The word montgolfière means hot air balloon in French. (They’re named after their inventors, the Montgolfier brothers).
We took our early morning drive to the takeoff site, watched the big red montgolfière get filled with hot air, and then our small group climbed aboard.
I must say, the Loire Valley is a fantastic location for France balloon rides. This was our first flight, and it will be really hard to beat.
A magical hot air balloon flight
You’ll notice how quiet it is during your balloon flight — with the silence punctuated by intermittent ‘whoosh’ sounds of hot air being added to the balloon.
The landscape features the lush greens of farmland and forest, with picturesque villages dotting the French countryside. The scenery unfolding beneath you is breathtaking, and we even glimpsed some deer bounding across a clearing in the forest.
And then, the pièce de resistance: the Château de Chenonceau. The view changes with every passing moment as you approach the castle, eliciting ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’.
This château is absolutely stunning in person, but even more so from the air. My pictures don’t do it justice — it is something you will have to see and experience for yourself!
You view the amazing landscaped gardens flanking the château, and the impressive architecture of the château itself. This château’s gallery extends across the River Cher, and its arches are reflected in the smooth surface of the river.
On our flight, wind conditions weren’t favorable to be over to ride over another château. But if we could only see one, the Château de Chenonceau was the one to see! C’est magnifique!
Once you’ve safely landed, enjoy a celebratory Champagne toast!
If you’d rather not rent a car, then it’s easy to book a hot air balloon tour. And the tour company will pick you up directly from your hotel, easy peasy!
See fabulous the châteaux of the Loire Valley from a birds-eye view on this amazing hot air balloon Loire Valley tour! See the incredible architecture of the Château de Chenonceau or the magnificent gardens of the Château de Villandry. You can even choose between a sunrise or sunset balloon flight!
Best Loire Valley châteaux
The Loire Valley is most famous for its fabulous châteaux.
There are literally hundreds of châteaux in the Loire Valley.
A subset of these have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Face it, you’re not going to be able to see them all in one visit. C’est impossible!
It’s important to focus on a few châteaux that have the features you’ll most enjoy.
Limit yourself to seeing one or two a day, so that you can really explore them rather than just checking lots of châteaux off your list but not being able to tell one from the other.
Here are some ways to enjoy the most beautiful and most famous châteaux of the Loire Valley:
Château de Chenonceau
After viewing it via balloon flight, our next stop was to visit the Château de Chenonceau in person. Even the walk from the parking lot makes you feel like you are stepping back into an earlier time:
The Château de Chenonceau is one of the most well known and most beautiful châteaux in the Loire Valley. Its gallery majestically spans the River Cher, and its reflections in the river make for stunning images.
The Château de Chenonceau is known as the Ladies’ Castle for its series of well-known female owners. It was given by King Henry II to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers.
After his death, the queen, Catherine de’ Medici, forced Diane de Poitiers to move to a different château, and installed herself at Chenonceau.
Both of these famous ladies made their mark on the Château de Chenonceau with their extensive gardens. The gardens are star features of this château, and you’ll want to give yourself time to explore them.
If you don’t want to worry about the stress of driving, take a day tour of Loire Valley châteaux!
Visit two of my favorite châteaux in this unforgettable full-day tour to Chenonceau and Chambord. Plus, enjoy a traditional French lunch at a private, family-owned château.
Château de Chambord
The Château de Chambord is another highly recognizable and famous châteaux in the Loire Valley, renowned for its French Renaissance architectural style.
This castle should definitely be on your Loire Valley itinerary!
The Château de Chambord is an immense building containing over 400 rooms and over 80 staircases. With my dismal sense of direction, I’d be lost forever! It also features an elegant double helix staircase inspired by Leonardo da Vinci.
Château de Cheverny
The Château de Cheverny is known for its hunting hounds and still maintains its kennels. If you time your visit right, you can view a feeding of the Cheverny hounds.
For fans of the Tintin comics, the Château de Cheverny would be recognized as the inspiration for the comics’ Marlinspike Hall. The Château houses a permanent Tintin exhibition, making it a family-friendly option.
This Château definitely exudes old-world grace with its perfect symmetry, and it hasn’t changed much over the centuries. In your mind’s eye you can picture guests at a weekend house party strolling across the lawn arm in arm.
Château de Villandry
If you are a fan of gardens, the Château de Villandry needs to be at the top of your list. The Château boasts six gardens in the formal French style. One of the most famous is the Renaissance vegetable garden.
I like the ornamental gardens where hedges are clipped into regimented maze-like shapes. It seems safe to say that a lot of gardeners are being kept busy here!
See these when you hot air balloon Loire Valley France!
Experience the best of both worlds with this châteaux tour and a wine tour! See the magnificent gardens of Château de Villandry, savor an aperitif at the Château del’Islette, and enjoy wine tastings at two local wine caves in this Loire Valley day tour.
If those half-dozen Châteaux just whet your appetite — Watch this to see several more stunning Châteaux!
Best things to do in Amboise France
I recommend Amboise as your home base in the Loire Valley. The hot air balloon tour will pick you up from Amboise if you don’t want to drive!
Amboise is a charming small town. It is definitely worth spending at least a day exploring!
Château Royal d’Amboise
The Château Royal d’Amboise looms grandly over the town of Amboise. Typically, you will find château in more isolated locations in the countryside – but the town of Amboise nestles at the feet of this Château.
The Château Royal d’Amboise wasn’t originally royal. The French monarchy seized the Château in the 15th century when its previous owner was convicted of plotting against the king. From that point, it became a residence of the monarchy for several centuries.
Leonardo da Vinci lived in Amboise for several years by the invitation of King Francis, and you can visit his tomb at the Château Royal d’Amboise.
Photo by Daniel FOREST on Unsplash
Château du Clos Lucé
The Château du Clos Lucé is located a half a kilometer from the Château Royal d’Amboise, and the two are actually connected via an underground tunnel. In 1516, Leonardo da Vinci was given residence of the Château du Clos Lucé by King Francis.
Da Vinci continued his artistic and engineering pursuits from his home and workshop here, until his death in 1519.
The gardens of the Château du Clos Lucé feature many of da Vinci’s engineering inventions and ideas in the form of interactive exhibits and activities.
Spend an afternoon taking a tour of the Château du Clos Lucé. You’ll have fun experimenting with da Vinci’s inventions scattered through the gardens!
Markets and more
Almost every town in France has market days, and Amboise is no exception to this rule. The big market day is held on Sundays, with a smaller market occurring on Fridays. You’ll want to get there early to get the best selection (and a parking spot).
Be sure to carry some French currency — small vendors at a local market may not accept credit cards.
When on vacation, don’t fill every moment with an activity. Give yourself some free time! Enjoy a stroll along the banks of the River Loire. Find a park or other scenic spot and have an ad-hoc picnic lunch.
Looking for a fun way to explore the town? How about taking a segway tour of Amboise? Be entertained with stories about the history of Amboise while you see all the highlights!
Loire Valley travel tips
Where to stay in Amboise
We stayed at the Hôtel Bellevue in Amboise. This hotel’s location checks all the boxes: it sits on the banks of the Loire River, is close to many restaurants, and is only a stone’s throw from the Château Royal d’Amboise. So, what’s not to like?
Additionally, the Hôtel Bellevue was very reasonably priced. Staying in smaller towns really stretches your budget when traveling in France. In Amboise, our river-view room with a king-sized bed cost about half of what we had spent for a much smaller room in Paris.
If you’re looking an upscale luxury hotel experience, I recommend the Hôtel Le Manoir Les Minimes. Built on the grounds of a former medieval monastery, it’s now the first five-star hotel in Amboise. Ooh la la!
The Hôtel Le Manoir Les Minimes is also located on the banks of the Loire and enjoys stunning views of the Château Royal d’Amboise. An onsite Epicerie-Bistrot boutique offers a curated selection of local delicacies and wines.
Amboise makes a great home base for your visit to the Loire Valley! Book your stay at the Hôtel Bellevue, or splurge and stay at the Hôtel Le Manoir Les Minimes. Or check out other great hotels in Amboise:
Traveling by train to the Loire Valley
France has an excellent rail network, so I like to do the majority of my travels in France by train.
From the Paris Montparnasse station, you can take the TGV (high speed train) and be in the town of Tours in under an hour and a half.
Just sit back, relax, and watch the beautiful French countryside unfold as you speed along towards your next adventure!
Pro Tip: You will need seat reservations for the TGV, so it’s best to buy your tickets in advance so that a full train doesn’t ruin your travel plans. Purchase your train tickets here!
Getting around by car in the Loire Valley
When renting a car in France, note that the majority of cars have manual transmissions, so renting an automatic may be a challenge. Be sure that someone in your party is comfortable driving a stick shift!
Not all rental car companies operate in the smaller towns in France. Check rental car rates and availability for your visit to the Loire Valley.
Be sure to download your Google maps in advance to be able to use offline, as internet service may be spotty in the countryside.
One thing you’ll notice when driving in France is the road speed signage – or lack thereof. Typically, you’ll see signs indicating speed restrictions upon entering a town, and then the removal of that restriction upon leaving.
However, there generally aren’t signs indicating the speed limit outside of towns. If you’re going to be driving in France, be sure to check current speed limits for different road types. Note that the default limits are lower in poor weather conditions (if it’s raining).
Loire Valley Hot Air Balloon FAQ
The Loire Valley is the best place to take a hot air balloon ride in France. The countryside is beautiful with rivers and forests, and you pass over stunning French castles. It’s an unforgettable experience!
Yes, there are definitely hot air balloons in France! In fact, hot air balloons were invented in France. The Loire Valley is the perfect place to experience a France hot air balloon ride!
In France, a hot air balloon is called a montgolfière. The name comes from the French inventors of the hot air balloon, the Montgolfier brothers.
The three main places in France to see hot air balloons are in the Loire Valley, the Burgundy region, and Fontainebleau (near Paris).
Final Thoughts…
A hot air balloon ride is an incredible way to experience the beauty of the Loire Valley. I can’t recommend it enough!
The Loire Valley is the perfect weekend trip from Paris (you really want to stay overnight since balloon flights are either at sunrise or sunset).
Bon Voyage!
Ready to explore more of France? Here are some of my favorite places to visit:
- Best Paris Tourist Attractions
- Top Night Tours in Paris
- See the Jardin du Luxembourg
- How to Spend a Weekend in Lyon
- Best Things to Do in Arles and Avignon
- Top Things to Do in Nice and Monaco
- Best Paris Day Trips by Train
- Top Things to Do in Nîmes
Are you ready to book your trip to the Loire Valley?
Looking for the top picks for your trip to the Loire Valley in France? Here are some of the best tours and hotels to help you plan the perfect vacation!
Top Tours and Experiences in the Loire Valley
- Hot-air ballooning over châteaux (I did this, and it was amazing!)
- Full day tour to Chenonceau and Chambord (Plus lunch at a family-owned château!)
- Château de Villandry + wine tour (Fabulous gardens + tastings at two local wine caves)
- Loire Valley Wine Tour (Top rated wine tour: taste local varietals!)
Top Places to Stay in the Loire Valley (Amboise)
- Hôtel Bellevue (I stayed here! Budget-friendly and great location)
- Hôtel Le Manoir Les Minimes (The only 5-star hotel in Amboise!)
Planning a trip to France’s Loire Valley? You won’t want to miss out on hot-air ballooning over stunning châteaux! Pin this for later!
Lisa Garrett
Lisa Garrett is the founder of Waves and Cobblestones. She has taken 35 cruises ranging from a multi-generational Caribbean cruise to solo Alaska cruises to fabulous Mediterranean cruises.
She lived in Ireland for 4 months and has taken over a dozen multi-city vacations in Europe (France, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, and more!). Lisa helps people plan amazing vacations to Europe and popular cruise destinations.
Learn more about Lisa!
