Have you ever thought you'd like to take a leisurely tour in France? Why not join our popular Chateau Tour, staying in small charming French chateaux and discovering their rich history.

In 2012 Touring France is offering a weeks' journey from Paris, along the Loire Valley and on to Limoges, staying in small chateaux, and then spending 10 days in a luxury villa in the Perigord Noir area of Dordogne.

We depart from Paris on August 25 (Sorry, this tour is booked out).

Our second tour is a reverse itinerary to the first.  We start in Dordogne on September 12 and finish near Paris on September 28.

We've also introduced a new tour for 2012.  Spend one week in a villa in Provence and then a week travelling through the Alps, Burgundy and Champagne to Paris. This tour starts on August 11 and finishes on August 25. Bookings for this tour need to be confirmed by March 31.

Early booking is essential, as Touring France tours are limited to a maximum of 6 people, travelling in a brand new van and escorted and guided by Sue and David Sweet, New Zealanders and owners of the company, who have a great love and knowledge of France and wish to share their experiences with others.

Our point of difference is that in our 17 day tour we travel for one week only, usually stopping for two nights at a time, then spend 10 days in a luxury villa in the countryside. While at the Villa, the catering is done by your hosts, Sue & David (who run a successful farmstay and fishing retreat in NZ), or we eat at farm inns or small family-run restaurants, discovering the regional dishes of France and drinking the local wines - of course!

Our emphasis is on relaxation (usually no breakfasts before 8.30 a.m.!), enjoyment of food and wine, and discovering the out-of-the-way places that epitomise what rural France is really about. While at the Villa, we have many meals at the barbecue beside the pool, and if you decide you need a day's rest, you are welcome to relax by the pool while the others explore.

All ages welcome (one tour included guests from 16 years to 82 years!), singles, couples, groups of friends ... all we ask is that you have a reasonable level of walking fitness.

All our tours are fully pre-paid, (no hidden costs), no need to pay for even a coffee, so you can save your money for your personal shopping - plenty of opportunities at the local markets! We have not increased the prices for next year’s tours, so the cost remains very reasonable.

We, Sue and David, have been taking tours to France since 2000. Sue is fluent in French and also a practised chef, and delights in presenting a mixture of French regional food combined with some Pacific flair! David is an excellent driver, having driven 100,000 kilometres in Europe, and is an enthusiastic wine buff!

Our guests enjoy the informality of small group travel, some have travelled more than once with us, and many have progressed from being guests to friends.

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