Let Us Drive!

Driving a different car for the first time can be stressful and confusing. Driving in a foreign country can be disorienting and frightening. That's where we come in. Let us drive and you can sit back and enjoy the view. Plus you get the fun of travelling in a classic French car. You will be the envy of all the locals.

To book a tour of the Loire Valley with driver and guide contact us by email or use our contact form. If you want some tour ideas, look on on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

Big Yellow Headlights

Both of our cars have the traditional (for France) yellow headlights. But why yellow??

In 1936 the French government were becoming increasingly concerned about Germany - in March 1936 German forces reoccupied the Rhineland in contravention of the Treaty of Versailles in which it was agreed that the Rhineland would remain a de-militarised zone.

In response a slew of new laws were introduced, one of which was concerned car headlights. In future they were to be yellow so that even if they couldn't do anything about German incursions into France, at least they could tell (by headlight colour) when they were happening. This law lasted until 1992, when an amendment allowed headlights to be either yellow or white.

To tour the Loire Valley in a classic French 1950s car contact us by email or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

Away from the Chateaux

The chateaux of the Loire Valley are the reason most people visit, but they are not the only old and interesting things to be seen. There are many lesser known historic sites to see and we are always delighted to add one or two into a customised itinerary. Some of these places are spectacular, some are mysterious, several are rare or unique examples of their genre, all are places you probably would not find on your own.

If you want to book a tour to discover the hidden corners of the Loire Valley contact us by email or use our contact form.

Explore chateaux that most tours don't visit

We are a small and flexible business catering to small groups of travellers who like to see the highlights but often appreciate getting off the beaten track. In our classic cars we can do just that, and because we live locally we know all the best hidden places. Some of the chateaux you've never heard of are the most fairytale in appearance or have the most extraordinary history.

If you would like to get off the well trodden tourist trail contact us by email or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

Looking Forward to Spring

Spring time is glorious in the Loire Valley. Gardens are full of blossoming trees and flowering bulbs. Gardeners and photographers will be especially charmed.

To book a tour to see the Loire Valley in its spring glory contact us by email or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

Why hire a private guide?

When you book a tour with us it gives you flexibility and a tour tailored for your interests and capabilities. Often we end the day feeling we have made new friends while introducing our visitors to the places we know and love. As private guides we understand that you want to develop your passion for a place, because we share that passion.

Our aim as private guides is to make travelling efficient and fun, giving you the best possible local experience. With us in the car there are no arguments with your spouse over their map reading abilities (we've had several couples admit frankly that this is a big reason they use private guides!).

Best of all, we know the best places to eat, love seeing something new, and learning about the local culture so we can show you places you would never have found on your own.

If you would like to see what's unique and special in the Loire Valley contact us by email or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

How We Choose Restaurants

All of our standard car tours are all-inclusive. That means we take you to lunch. We have carefully chosen restaurant partners who are popular with local people, and often completely unknown to tourists. We personally know the chefs and waiters and use restaurants who care about their diners because they see most of them regularly. The food they serve is traditional, generous and made from locally sourced fresh ingredients.

If you would like lunch surrounded by locals in a typical French restaurant email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

Last Year's Most Popular Tour

For the second year in a row the most popular itinerary we have offered has been the tour which visits Loches and Chenonceau. We often managed to schedule this tour for a Wednesday or Saturday, which means that we also visit the market in Loches. Loches market is one of the best in the Loire Valley, and is full of fresh locally grown produce

Susan uses the market regularly so we can stop and chat to the traders, and with luck can also sample their wares. Many of our visitors also buy a "souvenir" - often a fresh goat's cheese, or a punnet of garden fresh strawberries for a light supper.

After lunch in a typical worker's restaurant we travel to the most famous of the Loire Valley Chateau, Chenonceau, and finish in a 1000 year old cave for a wine tasting

If you would like to market shop with us contact us by email or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

It's a New Year.

That means it's time to start thinking about how to make this year extra special. We can't think of many better ways than being nice to people, welcoming strangers... and exploring 50,000 years of history in an iconic French car. We love to do the first two, and exploring the Loire Valley in a classic car is what we do best of all.

If you want to make your year special this way, contact us by email or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.