Chateaux of the Loire Walk

Traveler Reviews

• 

  Deborah

  April 7th, 2026
  This was the worst walking trip I have ever been on. Through an antiquated App that sucks through the battery on...
  This was the worst walking trip I have ever been on. Through an antiquated App that sucks through the battery on your phone, you are guided through fields full of mud, with weeds up to your calves. Sometimes you walk next to railroad tracks , with trains whizzing by, and get to see homeless encampments, rather than walking through a town on the other side of the tracks. Without reason, you walk aimlessly through people’s backyards and fields, with nothing really to see but many kilometers are added. I like to have a purpose for a walk, pass through cute villages, try local wines and cheeses. This walk gave me none of that. The only redeeming quality was that you got to visit some chateaux. Every other thing they recommended was closed. I have walked other walks in Europe, like the West Highlands Way or the Via Podense. This is nothing like that. They shouldn’t even call it a walk since it isn’t an established way or on established paths. It just seems like some dufus worked out an App through open fields and such. Terrible! I wish I never did this. I feel really ripped off. And the Hotel La Roseraie in Chenonceau was terrible. That put me in this dungeon room that was right on the street.Show more
  Traveled in March 2026
  

  Reply from: Exodus Adventure Travels

  Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback following your recent self guided walking holiday with our sister company Headwater: Chateaux of the Loire. We are sorry to read that this trip did not meet your expectation and appreciate you taking the time to outline your concerns. We have previously tried to contact you and responded to the feedback you shared with us directly, as we always prefer to discuss experiences like this in detail where possible to ensure we can acknowledge where we fell short and get it rectified. Your comments regarding the navigation app have been passed on to our local partner, as this app is provided and managed by them rather than by Headwater itself. We are thankful you raised this, as feedback like yours helps identify areas for improvement. Regarding the hotel, this property has been used regularly by our travellers and visited by our team. It is a traditional, historic building, and as such does not offer many modern features or layouts. Many guests value the character and authenticity, though we understand this style may not suit everyone. The hotel team has advised us that you were shown the room on arrival and that alternative rooms could have been offered at the time had any concerns been raised with them. They are sorry you found this room not up to standards and appreciate your feedback. With regard to the walking routes, this itinerary includes a mix of rural tracks, farmland and quieter paths, which is typical of countryside walking in this region. Some sections can be more challenging in wet or early season conditions, and alternatives are provided where possible and necessary. We would also like to apologise that, as your trip took place early in the season, some attractions, villages and services were not yet fully open. We understand this can be disappointing and regret the frustration this may have caused. I have since spoke with my team regarding this and changes have been made moving forward. We are pleased to note that there were aspects of the trip you did enjoy, including the organisation of logistics and the opportunity to visit several châteaux. However, we are genuinely sorry that overall, the holiday did not live up to your expectations. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further with you by phone, should you be available at any point.

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