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Loire Valley French Language School Trips & Tours

This diverse region of France is an ideal destination for a French language study tour. Known as ‘the Garden of France’, the Loire Valley is home to many cultural and educational visits for language groups. 

A school trip to this popular destination offers groups outstanding immersion in the French language whilst enjoying the charm of French country life. Popular visits in the Loire Valley include a trip to one of the many historic sites here, including Chambord, Orléans, and the medieval city of Chartres with its world famous cathedral. During your trip to the region, NST can tailor your itinerary to include Futuroscope theme park – a popular and fun visit that your pupils will love!  

Prices start from £499pp

Resources

Resources

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Price includes

  • 3 nights’ full board accommodation
  • Executive coach transport from and to your school and throughout your stay
  • Free Go Explore journal for every pupil
  • Extensive group travel insurance
  • 1 in 8 free place ratio

Price shown is based on 40 paying passengers from selected departure points and is subject to availability.

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Top visits

Châteaux of the Loire Valley

There are a wide number of châteaux along the Loire Valley each providing an insight into French history and tradition, whilst also providing spectacular scenery and architecture. The most popular ones are: Château de Chenonceau, Château de Blois, Château Montrichard and Château d’Amboise.

Loches

Situated on the banks of the Indre, this small town is a gem of historical and architectural interest. Dominated by the medieval city enclosed within impressive ramparts it is also home to a number of visits where students can practise their language skills, including: Vignemont Cave Dwellers Quarry, Château Loche and Confiserie Hallard Sweet Factory.

Amboise

Groups can spend a day exploring this fascinating town. The Château du Clos Lucé is a must-see; it was Leonardo da Vinci’s last home and is now a museum dedicated to him. Le Petit Train is an ideal way to see the town and the Aquarium du Val de Loire and Bigot Patisserie Chocolaterie are other highlights.

Saumur

This small town has a number of exciting attractions for groups, many of them based around the town’s wine and food industries. Highlights include: Musée du Champignon, Gratien & Meyer Sparkling Wine Caves and the National Riding School.

Patisserie Chocolaterie Bigot

Tour of the chocolaterie including hot chocolate tasting.

Futuroscope

Futuroscope is a thrilling experience for students on school trips to Loire Valley. It’s a theme park designed with fun and education in mind - and it’s one of France’s most visited attractions. Packed with content, the park offers a wealth of ideas so you can develop your educational projects around your visit. Attractions include: 

Mission Hubble
Join the latest rescue mission to keep the Hubble telescope observing deep space in this 3D IMAX film. 

Virus Attack
Take part in a fantastic race inside the human body in this flight simulation-style attraction. 

Dance with Robots
Representing a great technology with ten 7 metre high robots fully articulated taken from the automotive industry. 

Cosmic Collisions
See an asteroid smash into our planet, watch as two galaxies crash into each other, witness the massive cosmic collisions in the depths of space that formed the universe, shape it today and set the blueprint for its future. 

The Future is Wild
Darwin’s theory of evolution throws light on how species evolved in the past, and is the inspiration for Futuroscope’s imaginative look into the future. It takes students on a life-sized augmented reality experience.

The Extraordinary Journey
Fly like a bird! Take to the skies aboard an incredible machine for a round-the-world journey where reality meets make-believe. Feel lighter than air with your legs dangling free in this all-new, thrill-filled experience.

Sebastien Loeb Racing Xperience
Settle into your dynamic bucket seat in the car of 9-time World Rally Driver’s Champion Sébastien Loeb and put on your virtual reality helmet for some hard and fast racing action! The world’s first 5D VR attraction.

Through Thomas Pesquet’s Eyes
Ride the immersive power of 4K IMAX LASER technology and 3D audio on a journey into space with the European Space Agency’s (ESA) youngest astronaut, Thomas Pesquet, and enjoy the highlights of his 6-month space mission 400 km above the Earth.

Aquarium du Val de Loire

Study the diversity of the Loire’s aquatic life and touch the fish in the 15-metre tactile pool! Your students can dive into the world of aquatic sea creatures and become immersed in the 60 tanks of tropical fish and the shark tunnel. This makes for a superb learning experience, which is why school trips to Loire Valley are so great!

Puy du Fou Theme Park

Puy du Fou offers a multitude of great shows and adventures to entertain and excite students. The park doesn't have rides, however, offers spectacular history extravaganza shows where actors and animals recreate high drama, from Roman gladiators to King Arthur, with mind-blowing special effects. In 50 hectares of forest and gardens, there are reconstructed historic villages, including a medieval settlement and an 18th-century farm, where you can go into houses and watch artisans at work.

 

Try our itinerary planning tool

Whether you already know what you’re looking for or need a spark of inspiration, our smart itinerary planning tool makes planning a school trip effortless. Just share your details, choose the visits that matter most, and our experts will shape the perfect trip for you.

Let’s make your trip planning experience even swifter.

 

Need something bespoke?

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FAQs

Why is the Loire Valley an ideal destination for a French language school trip?

Known as the ‘Garden of France’, the Loire Valley offers students outstanding opportunities to practise French while experiencing authentic French culture and everyday life. Its mix of historic towns, cultural attractions and welcoming communities helps bring language learning beyond the classroom.

How can a Loire Valley trip help improve students’ French language skills?

Students are immersed in French throughout their visit, whether visiting local attractions, exploring towns or interacting with native speakers. These real-life situations help develop confidence in speaking and listening while reinforcing classroom learning.

What cultural experiences can students enjoy in the Loire Valley?

The region is renowned for its historic towns, architecture and rich cultural heritage. Students can explore destinations such as Orléans, Chartres and Chambord, gaining a deeper appreciation of French history, culture and traditions.

What educational visits can be included in a Loire Valley itinerary?

NST can tailor your itinerary to include a range of visits, from historic landmarks and medieval towns to the popular Futuroscope theme park. This combination of cultural and interactive experiences helps keep students engaged while supporting learning objectives.

How does NST support teachers planning a French language trip to the Loire Valley?

NST works closely with teachers to create bespoke, curriculum-linked itineraries designed around their group's needs. With dedicated tour co-ordination, expert destination knowledge and practical planning support, we help ensure a smooth and rewarding experience for both teachers and students.

What is included in a typical NST Loire Valley French language trip package?

A typical package includes three nights' full-board accommodation, executive coach transport from and to school and throughout your stay, a free Go Explore journal for every student, comprehensive group travel insurance and a free place ratio of 1 in 8. Every itinerary can be tailored to maximise language immersion and educational value.

Giving you full support throughout

Before your tour

  • Dedicated NST expert from day one
  • Responsive, flexible communication - Teams, phone, or email
  • Same-day quotes
  • Trips tailored to your budget, with transparent pricing
  • Straightforward planning - we handle the details
  • Step-by-step risk assessment guidance
  • Free accommodation for group leader preview visits
  • Curriculum-driven, enriching experiences across 100s of locations
  • Unrivalled local knowledge & expertise

Whilst you're away

  • Our travel app keeps all your info in one place
  • On-tour support from our reps on the ground
  • Support & assistance from our specialists
  • 24/7 helpline and support
  • Extensive group travel insurance
  • Group-friendly accommodation
  • Free educational resources

On your return

  • Priority rebooking services
  • Loyalty reward scheme for valued customers
  • You say, we act - we're committed to continuously improving our tours

 

Speak to one of our school travel experts

Our team of school travel experts have unrivalled destination knowledge and experience so they can help to bring your tour ideas to life and might even suggest options you hadn’t already thought of too!

So get in touch today and we'll help to create a bespoke, budget-friendly tour itinerary to meet your specific learning requirements.

 

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