Client Testimonials

This is where our journey begins. Get to know our business and what we do, and how we're committed to quality and great service.

Join us as we grow and succeed together. We're glad you're here to be a part of our story.

"We wanted to do a self-drive trip through western France, but coming from New Zealand, we were concerned we might make poor choices and miss the very special places.

We contacted Raphael of France Authentic Tours, who prepared a detailed itinerary for us. He is passionate about his part of France and he created a tour that included magic places that we would never have found on our own.

He is a passionate foodie and he emphasized the special local food and wines. We loved the Brittany Galettes and the ciders!

He arranged a five day cycle tour in the beautiful Loire Valley. It far exceeded our expectations.

Raphael speaks excellent English and is prompt and easy to deal with. We immediately felt confident we were in safe hands.

Having lived in New Zealand for many years, Raphael understands how Kiwis and Aussies think and what they are looking for."

Beverley and Ben (from New Zealand)

"Raphael has organised our trips to the Loire Valley for two consecutive years, and each experience has been exceptional.

The accommodation he selected for us was charming, comfortable, and full of character. We particularly enjoyed meeting the owners of several of the gîtes, which added a personal touch to our stay.

One of the highlights of our visits was cycling through the beautiful Loire Valley. Raphael arranged bicycles and panniers for us, making it easy to explore the region at our own pace. He also introduced us to excellent local cuisine and shared his remarkable knowledge of the area's wines—he even knew more than the guide at one of the vineyards we visited!

Raphael also took us to some truly unique places, including an underground cellar where a variety of mushrooms, such as yellow, pink, and grey oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus), are cultivated. It was a fascinating and unexpected discovery.

We loved exploring picturesque villages, vibrant local markets, and magnificent châteaux, including the Château de Villandry and the Château de Chambord. Another memorable stop was a historic church along the Loire, where we were fortunate enough to see an impressive bird that made the visit even more special."

Liz and Michael (from New Zealand)

"We attended a family wedding in the UK (travelling from NZ) at the end of July 2025 and had decided that while we were on that side of the world, we would also travel to France to take in the Western side of the country.

Our knowledge of the French language is sadly, extremely limited, and we had concerns that this potentially could make things difficult for us.

We contacted Raphael of France Authentic Tours to see if he could assist us in any way – He seriously could not have been more helpful!!

Raphael and his family have lived and worked in New Zealand for many years before eventually returning to France – he speaks excellent English and interacts brilliantly with people from our side of the world – He even supports the All Blacks if they’re not playing Les Bleus!!

Raphael picked us up from Nantes Airport and delivered us to our accommodation. In advance of our arrival, he had prepared a full itinerary of things to see & places to visit – many of which involved interactions with local people and opportunities to stretch our limited French by doing things like “a native” as well as being “a tourist”.

...

These is so much to see & experience in this part of the world, and it would be very easy to miss out on some of these attractions without the benefit of an experienced tour guide with superior local knowledge – even if that means knowing where to stop for the best food & wine (Raphael is indeed an expert in this field!).

Raphael – We both look forward to our return journey to your part of the world & catching up with you again! "