| Day 1 | ARRIVE IN PARIS, FRANCE |
| | Welcome to Paris! At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink. |
| Day 2 | PARIS |
| | Life is a Cabaret! PARIS Enjoy free time this morning followed by guided sightseeing that features the Arc de Triomphe, les Champs-Elysées, and a visit to the Courtyard of Les Invalides. This evening, enjoy [LF] dinner and cabaret one of Paris lively venues. (B,D)LOCAL FAVORITEGLITTERING CHAMPAGNEDelectable food, champagne lights, and thousands of glittering costumes. The cabaret in Paris is like a treasure trove: be enchanted! A true tribute to the city of lights but also a great show. Be carried away by the beauty of the dancers expressed on stage. Your eyes will twinkle like stars in the sky! |
| Day 3 | PARIS–CAEN. EXCURSION TO NORMANDY BEACHES |
| | Heroes & Hope for Peace CAEN Visit the Memorial Museum for Peace.NORMANDY BEACHES See the Mulberry Harbor remains at Arromanches, then visit Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery and Memorial with the Monument to the Brave. (B,D) 236 mi / 380 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT ICONIC FOOTSTEPS Walk in the footsteps of heroes on the beaches of Normandy, where Allied Forces stormed the beach with courage and heroism in World War II. Visit the final resting place of American soldiers who gave their lives for liberty. |
| Day 4 | CAEN–MONT ST. MICHEL–SAINT-MALO |
| | Castle in the Sand MONT ST. MICHEL Guided visit at the abbey.SAINT-MALO Take an orientation ride on the Little Train. Free time late afternoon and evening. (B) 124 mi / 200 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTART & ARCHITECTURE A real-life castle in the sand, magical Mont St. Michel Abbey sits on top of a tidal island on the coast of Normandy. Learn how this strategic position has protected it from being invaded but also has made it the ideal location for a place of confinement. Napoleon closed the abbey and converted it into a prison for his opponents. |
| Day 5 | SAINT-MALO–ESSÉ–ANGERS–LOIRE VALLEY |
| | Mysterious Stones ESSÉ [LF] Visit the ruins of La Roche-aux-Fées.ANGERS Take an orientation tour. Enjoy free time to browse before continuing to the Loire Valley. (B) 267 mi / 430 kmLOCAL FAVORITE LEGENDS & LORE La Maison de La Roche-aux-Fées is a marvel of mystery. This dolmen tomb, or covered alley, is the largest in the world, constructed with 30 upright stones designed to catch the sun at winter solstice. Believed to be built as a funerary nearly 5,000 years ago, these Neolithic megaliths weigh up to 40 metric tons each and likely been transported from a quarry over 5 km away! Theories of La Mason de La Roche’s purpose range from a temple, to a burial site of a Roman general, to a house built by fairies! |
| Day 6 | LOIRE VALLEY–CHENONCEAU CASTLE–BORDEAUX |
| | A Woman’s Touch CHENONCEAU Visit the castle of Catherine de Medici.BORDEAUX Take a walking tour. Enjoy dinner at the Brasserie Bordelaise restaurant. (B,D) 280 mi / 450 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTCULTURAL GEM A stunning jewel of French history, Château de Chenonceau owes its pristine preservation to succession of historic women, including Catherine de Médici, who played critical roles in building, restoring, and preserving its beauty. This earned the castle its second name: The ladies Castle. Walk the regal halls, featuring bedrooms and lounges, and a magnificent museum preserving the history of this Renaissance masterpiece. |
| Day 7 | BORDEAUX |
| | Vines & Vintages BORDEAUX [LF] Enjoy a wine tasting in the countryside, followed by free time this afternoon. (B,D)LOCAL FAVORITE LOCAL TASTES Experience the beauty of the Bordeaux region to taste the wonderful wines found only in this bountiful land of vineyards and wine cellars. |
| Day 8 | BORDEAUX–ARCACHON–DUNE DU PILAT–BIARRITZ |
| | Scenic Sea & Sand ARCACHON Free time to explore the lovely seaside town.DUNE DU PILAT See the tallest sand dune in Europe.BIARRITZ Enjoy free time this afternoon. (B,D) 174 mi / 280 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT NATURAL WONDER Explore the highest dune in Europe at Dune Du Pilat and discover a sweeping landscape overlooking the ocean, forest, and Arcachon Bay. This living ecosystem is protected for its rare beauty and natural wonder. |
| Day 9 | BIARRITZ–LOURDES–CARCASSONNE |
| | History & Mystery LOURDES Visit St. Bernadette’s grotto en route to Carcassonne. (B,D)267 mi / 430 km TOUR HIGHLIGHT LEGENDARY LIVES Since the winter night in 1858 when a young Marie Bernada Soubirous reported a vision of the Virgin Mary, Lourdes has been a global pilgrimage site for its promise of healing waters. Hear how the Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette 18 times and the underground spring revealed to her, was declared to have miraculous qualities. |
| Day 10 | CARCASSONNE–AIX-EN-PROVENCE |
| | Battle Sites & Boulevard Sights CARCASSONNE Take a walking tour by the ancient battlements.AIX-EN-PROVENCE Join an orientation walk along Cours Mirabeau, one of Europe's great boulevards. Enjoy free time to explore. (B) 186 mi / 300 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTHISTORIC SPOT Visit the ancient city of Carcassonne and see its pre-Roman settlement complete with medieval castle and dramatic defensive walls, called the finest remains of medieval fortifications in Europe by the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Stunning! |
| Day 11 | AIX-EN-PROVENCE–GRASSE–FRENCH RIVIERA |
| | Fragrances & A Feast for the Eyes GRASSE [LF] Visit the perfume factory at Fragonard Usine Historique. Take a scenic drive along the Mediterranean coast.NICE Take in the sights with a drive along the Promenade des Anglais. (B) 130 mi / 210 kmLOCAL FAVORITE CULTURE & TRADITIONS French perfume is as famous as the country’s food and wine. The historic factory at Fragonard Parfumeur still crafts parfum and soaps as they have since 1926 where lavender fields span the Grasse area. Visit the museum to discover the tradition of perfumeries from Antiquity to the present day, with artifacts like Egyptian cosmetics spoons, medieval pomanders, paintings, and antique Provencal furniture. |
| Day 12 | FRENCH RIVIERA |
| | The Good Life on the Côte d'Azur FRENCH RIVIERA Relax with a free day on the beautiful Côte d'Azur. (B)FREE TIME TIPS EXPLORE MORE Enjoy a leisurely day in the glamorous French Riviera with a free day at the seashore or a stroll through Nice’s vibrant Vieille Ville. Wander the maze of narrow lanes in the Old Town and linger in the cafes, galleries, shops, and museums. |
| Day 13 | FRENCH RIVIERA–ORANGE–LYON |
| | Historic Performances ORANGE Visit the Roman Theatre en route to Lyon. (B) 298 mi / 480 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTMUSIC & MASTERPIECES Admire the ancient Roman amphitheatre in Orange, built in the era of Emperor Augustus, in the 1st century AD. Explore this giant outdoor auditorium – one of the best preserved in the western world. Its massive stage and circular seating still deliver superior sound and sensational performances to this day. |
| Day 14 | LYON–DIJON |
| | LYON Guided walking tour includes sights of the Murales, examples of trompe l'œil, started by a group of students in the '70s and of the Roman ruins.DIJON Take an orientation walk with free time to explore. (B) 124 mi / 200 km |
| Day 15 | DIJON–PARIS |
| | Paris Part Deux DIJON Board a high-speed TGV train ride to Paris.PARIS Enjoy free time this afternoon and evening. (B) 199 mi / 320 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTCITY SIGHTS As the song goes, we love Paris in the springtime; we love Paris in the fall - but no matter the season, we fall in love anytime we visit the most romantic city in the world. Board the high-speed train to the City of Light and enjoy a free evening to experience your idea of the perfect Parisian pastime. |
| Day 16 | PARIS |
| | Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B) |