DISCOVER FRANCE
DISCOVER FRANCE
DISCOVER FRANCE
DISCOVER PARIS & SOUTHWEST OF FRANCE
PARIS-BORDEAUX-PARIS
6 DAYS /5 NIGHTS
TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:
Price per person $1,340
INCLUDED FEATURES
- Hotel accommodation for 5 nights
- Daily buffet breakfast
- “Great Cabernets of the Medoc” full day tour, including wine tasting
- “Merlot wines of St. Emilion” full day tour, including wine tasting
- Transportation Paris to Bordeaux by First class rsail
- Transportation Bordeaux to Paris by First class rail
- 10% discount coupon at Galeries Lafayette
- Document holder and luggage tags
(B) Breakfast – (L) Lunch – (D) Dinner
- Hotel taxes and service charges
TOUR ITINERARY
DAY 1 PARIS
Arrival in Paris. After check-in at your hotel, the balance of the day is at leisure to explore Paris, the magnificent capital of France. Packed with monuments, museums, art, nightlife, eateries and shops, Paris remains – in spite of all the clichés – one other most inspiring cities in the world.
DAY 2 PARIS I BORDEAUX
After breakfast, take the train from Paris to Bordeaux, the city that bears the same name as the region and the famous wine that’s been produced there for over 1,200 years.
Check-in at your hotel and the rest of the afternoon is at leisure.
This evening enjoy dinner at a lively Bordeaux restaurant. (B,D)
DAY 3 BORDEAUX
During today’s full day excursion you’ll learn about the wines of this region. Enjoy a wine tasting session before returning to your hotel. (B)
DAY 4 BORDEAUX
Full day at leisure to relax or to keep exploring the area. (B)
DAY 5 BORDEAUX – PARIS
After breakfast, take the train back to Paris.
The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the warmth and charm of a traditional French bistro or to shop. (B)
DAY 6 PARIS TO USA (OR EXTEND YOUR STAY)
Say “au revoir”º to
France or extend your stay. (B)
9 Day Affordable France
9 Day Affordable France
Paris- Bayeux- Mont St. Michel- Loire Valley
9 DAYS /8 NIGHTS
TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:
Price per person $1,449.00
9 Day Affordable France
Escorted Package Includes
Round trip Flights New York-Paris, Paris-New York
Other departure cities available.
Airline taxes & fuel surcharges
7 nights’ accommodations
3 nights Paris
1 night Bayeux
1 night Mont St. Michel
2 nights Tours, Loire Valley
Hotel taxes, fees & service charges
Hotel porterage
All transfers included only with airfare purchase on package arrival & departure dates†
10 meals: 7 breakfasts, 3 dinners with wine
Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach
Services of English-speaking tour manager throughout
Services of local guides in Paris & Amboise
Comfortable wireless earphones for enhanced touring
Special Features
Drive along the Champs Elysees and view the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris
Visit the site of the heroic D-Day invasion and American Cemetery in Normandy
Cross the causeway to the magnificent Mont St. Michel, built on an isolated island
Explore the fairy-tale Chateau de Chenonceau, stretching across the river Cher
Visit the village of Amboise and tour the Royal Chateau of Amboise
View the Cathedral in Chartres, the finest architectural example of High Gothic style
†Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates
Is This Trip Right for You?
This moderately active trip covers a fair amount of ground each day. Expect from three to four hours walking every touring day. The pace is moderate, however you will encounter some uneven surfaces, stairs, steps and significant slopes. Airfare options for this program may not include checked luggage nor advance seat assignments, in which case checked luggage fees will apply and seat assignments will only be available at check-in. Adjacent seats may not be available. Higher airfares including checked luggage and/or advanced
TOUR ITINERARY
DAY 1, Sunday – Depart for France
Depart for France
DAY 2, Monday – Arrive in Paris
Arrive in Paris, the “City of Lights” and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to rest, relax and enjoy the endless delights of Paris. Your tour begins at 5:00 PM when you join Tour Tour Manager for a Welcome Drink and orientation meeting on the wonderful journey that awaits you in France. We recommend that you select flights which arrive at Paris no later than 3:00 PM on Day 2 of the itinerary, or earlier if possible
Overnight: Paris
DAY 3, Tuesday – Paris City Tour
Drive along the famous Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe, Concorde Square, and the iconic Eiffel Tower, symbol of Paris. On to the celebrated “Rive Gauche”, the vivacious Left Bank where artists, philosophers and writers in a long gone era flourished in the artistic community at Montparnasse. View the Latin Quarter, home to many of France’s higher education establishments, among them the Sorbonne. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure or join the optional tour to the magnificent Palace of Versailles. Tonight, enjoy exhilarating views from the top of the village-like art colony at Montmartre, on the optional tour that is highlighted by a drive around the illuminated monuments of Paris*
*The Palace of Versailles tour ends before the Montmartre & Illuminations begins. Both tours can be done on the same day.
Optional: Palace of Versailles (PM)*
Optional: Montmartre & Illuminations (PM)*
Overnight: Paris
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4, Wednesday – Normandy Beaches
Depart Paris this morning to Normandy. This is a stirring and emotional day as you explore the D-Day beaches. Stop at the Ranger Memorial at Pointe du Hoc and the historic St. Mere Eglise on the Contentin Peninsula, where the Allied invasion began on June 6, 1944. Here you visit the Airborne Museum, telling the story of 82nd and 101st airborne divisions and their heroic deeds on D-Day. Then, on to the unforgettable American Cemetery on Omaha Beach*, final resting place of thousands of U.S. Troops. Offer your respects and salute their bravery. Afterwards, travel to the nearby town of Bayeux for dinner at the hotel and overnight
*The visit to Omaha Beach’s landing site is subject to local conditions.
Overnight: Bayeux
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 5, Thursday – Bayeux Tapestry, Mont St. Michel
In delightful Bayeux, begin the day at the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry. This 230 foot long embroidered cloth depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England in 1066. Its survival (almost intact over nine centuries) is miraculous, along with its exquisite colors and workmanship. Travelling through Normandy, you have your first sight in the distance of magnificent Mont St. Michel, rising from the sea on a mighty rock in the Gulf of Saint-Malo. This structure is one of France’s most recognizable sights and designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Reached by a shuttle across the causeway, the lower towers and medieval sea wall protect a small village, capped by the commanding 10th Century Abbey. Prior to the causeway, Mont St. Michel was on an isolated island that pilgrims approached on foot, mindful of tides that could seep in at any time. Tour this amazing structure with its many levels, culminated by a walk, if you wish, to the hilltop Abbey. Tonight, dinner together at the hotel
Overnight: Mont St. Michel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6, Friday – Loire Valley, Chateau of the Plantagenets, Wine Tasting
Drive south today to the lively river side city of Angers, gateway to the Loire Valley and home of the Plantagenet royalty. This medieval centre is dominated by the massive 13th century open-air Chateau of the Plantagenets. The distinctive striped stonework is eye catching. This French city is also known for the production of Cointreau, the orange flavored liquor created by Édouard Cointreau, born in Angers. Continue this afternoon past historic Saumur, surrounded by gorgeous rolling hills and miles of vineyards. Stop for a wine tasting at a winery before reaching your hotel in Tours. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant
Overnight: Tours
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7, Saturday – Loire Valley, Chateau de Chenonceau, Royal Chateau d’Amboise
Spend the full day in the Loire Valley exploring the nearby sights. First, travel to the magnificent Chateau de Chenonceau. Stretching across the river Cher, the chateau boasts a 197 foot gallery, built over a series of arches. Take some time to explore the extravagantly furnished rooms and formal gardens, added by Diane de Poitiers, mistress of Henry II. Next stop is at the village of Amboise, crowned by the Royal Chateau d’Amboise. The castle is most closely associated with King Francois I who introduced the Renaissance to France and brought Leonardo da Vinci to his court. Enjoy a guided tour of the castle, including the castle’s chapel of Saint-Hubert, where the great Italian Renaissance master was laid to rest. Continue to view the Chateau de Chambord, the largest residence in the Loire Valley. Chambord was built for Francois I in the 16th century by 1,800 men and master masons. After a photo stop to admire the setting, return via Blois to Tours for an evening at leisure or, join the optional candlelit dinner in an authentic Troglodyte Cave enjoying regional specialties and wine
Optional: Troglodyte Cave Dinner (PM)
Overnight: Tours
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 8, Sunday – Chartres to Paris
Drive north to Chartres, a medieval city in the center of France, home to the greatest cathedral in the country. The well preserved Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Chartres is one of the finest architectural examples of High Gothic style in France, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally built in 1020, the cathedral contains the sacred Veil of the Virgin relic and a world-renowned collection of stained glass windows. After the drive through Chartres, on to Paris for the rest of the day on your own. This evening, bid au revoir to France and to your Tour Manager, during the Farewell Reception
Overnight: Paris
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 9, Monday – Depart France
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast