Kayak France 2012

Kayak the Loire Valley

In France

With 2k Adventure Gear

Join us next summer for a dream vacation in the beautiful French Loire Valley.  The Loire is a genuine wonderland and its banks are an inexhaustible treasure trove: an infinite number of bijou Châteaux, exceptional landscapes and renowned vineyards, white “tuffeau” stone, cool wine cellars and cave dwellings, and immense river shores.  You will experience it all on the water and in the air.

After your morning arrival at Charles De Gaulle Airport you will travel first class by train to Orleans – the historical city of Joan of Arc. After a visit to the famous cathedral and a gourmet lunch we will head to Sainte Dye-sur-Loire, a typical peaceful country village. The hotel will prepare a special dinner of regional dishes to welcome you.

Day two will start at the largest and most beautiful castle in France, Chambord. This castle is a vast Renaissance extravagance built by Francois I in the early 16^th century as a hunting lodge (seriously) and contains over 400 rooms and 84 staircases. Then it is south on to Montrichard on the Cher River.  We will stay at a castle for two nights and kayak down the Cher to Chenonceaux where you will find the most famous castle in France.  The Sologne region offers magnificent hiking and cycling.

On to Blois for a tour of the city and a fabulous paddle down the Loire to Amboise – the home of Leonardo di Vinci.  We will take a champagne balloon ride for an aerial view of the beautiful Loire. The next day we paddle to Montlouis, one of the main grape growing areas in the Touraine region. Winetasting and a gourmet dinner will round out the day.

The next morning we continue our paddle to Tours, a beautiful medieval city.  We will visit a troglodyte – residences carved into the rocky cliffs bordering the Loire. Our stay in castle that night will allow you to walk through the gardens and enjoy the tranquility of the region.

Our last day of paddling takes us to Villandry, a castle with the most beautiful gardens in France.  That afternoon we will explore the petrified caverns nearby.  A special Farewell to the Loire dinner has been planned at your luxury hotel that evening.

The accommodations in the Loire are all first class and meals have been planned to give your taste buds a phenomenal French cuisine experience.

You will travel from Tours to Paris on the TGV (high speed train) in first class and will have two nights at a hotel near the Louvre and the Champs Elysees.  Breakfast is included but lunch and dinner are on your own.

A detailed packet will be sent to you prior to the trip.  It will included a detailed itinerary and suggested activities for your free time.  Details about Paris transportation, museums, restaurants, etc. will also be included.  A guide on the trip will be able to answer all of your questions and help you make additional plans.

Join is for a vacation to remember and an opportunity to paddle one of the most famous, and certainly most beautiful, rivers in the world.  There are so many places to visit and things to do in the Loire Valley that once you have sampled its charm you'll want to return time and time again. It's the perfect place for your holiday in France.

Cost:  $3,200.  Non paddling companions $2,800.  Single supplement $400.

Save on this price by booking early.  No paddling companions                                                              

Visit our website at www.2kadventuregear.com