Itinerary
- Day 1
Loire Valley
You'll head out toward the Loire Valley, starting in Blois where the castle there gives you a sense of the region's royal history. Then it's on to Tours, where you can grab lunch along the Loire River banks. After that, the afternoon takes you to Château de Villandry to walk through its famous gardens. By evening, you'll reach Amboise for dinner and your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Amboise)
Included Activities
- Visit Blois and its castle
- Stroll through Tours on the Loire River
- Explore Château de Villandry gardens
- Explore medieval quarter of Amboise
Landmarks Blois Castle Tours Château de Villandry Amboise 
- Day 2
Loire Valley
This morning involves a walk around Amboise to see Château du Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years. You'll then head to Château de Chenonceau, which is built right over the river like a bridge. After that comes Chambord, the largest castle in the Loire Valley. Later you'll travel to Limoges, known for its porcelain production, and check out the historic center including Saint Etienne Cathedral.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Campanile Limoges Centre)
Included Activities
- Morning stroll through Amboise
- Visit Château de Chenonceau
- Visit Chambord park
- Explore Limoges historic center
- Visit Saint Etienne Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Visit Château du Clos Lucé
- Visit Limoges porcelain shops or museums
Landmarks Château du Clos Lucé Château de Chenonceau Chambord Castle Limoges Saint Etienne Cathedral 
- Day 3
Dordogne
You're traveling into the Dordogne region to see its charming villages and landscapes. Lascaux comes first, where you'll see the museum and cave replicas with their prehistoric art. From there, Sarlat offers a UNESCO-protected Renaissance center to explore. Beynac castle sits next on your route, overlooking the river, and you'll finish the day in Rocamadour with its sanctuary built into the clifftside, then have dinner there.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Du Chateau)
Included Activities
- Visit Lascaux museum and cave replica
- Explore Sarlat UNESCO World Heritage town
- Visit Beynac medieval castle
- Explore Rocamadour medieval village and sanctuary
Optional Activities
- Walk the Via Crucis in Rocamadour
- Take the lift in Rocamadour
Landmarks Lascaux Caves Sarlat Beynac Castle Rocamadour 
- Day 4
Dordogne to Bordeaux
Starting with Padirac Chasm, you'll take a boat ride 75 meters underground on the river there. Next comes Collonges-la-Rouge, a red stone village along the Way of St. James. After lunch, you'll head toward Saint-Emilion in the Bordeaux wine region with time to walk around. By evening, you arrive in Bordeaux itself.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Burdeos Meriadeck), Hotel (Hilton Garden Inn Bordeaux Centre), Hotel (Mercure Bordeaux Centre)
Included Activities
- Boat ride at Padirac Chasm
- Explore Collonges-la-Rouge
- Stroll through Saint-Emilion
Landmarks Padirac Chasm Collonges-la-Rouge Saint-Emilion 
- Day 5
Bordeaux to Lourdes
Bordeaux's World Heritage center is your focus this morning, starting with the Water Mirror and moving through the old town's pedestrian streets. You'll see the 11th-century cathedral and stroll along the Garonne River where restaurants line the banks. In the late afternoon, you head toward the Pyrenees, arriving in Lourdes mid-afternoon with time to visit the sanctuary before dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Le Mediterranee), Hotel (Hotel Alba), Hotel (Padoue)
Included Activities
- Explore Bordeaux Water Mirror
- Visit Bordeaux historic old town
- Visit 11th-century cathedral in Bordeaux
- Stroll along Garonne River banks
- Visit Lourdes sanctuary
Optional Activities
- Visit Cité du Vin interactive wine museum in Bordeaux
- Attend candlelit procession in Lourdes
Landmarks Water Mirror Bordeaux Cathedral Garonne River Lourdes Sanctuary 
- Day 6
Lourdes to Marseille
You're traveling through southern France, first stopping in Carcassonne to walk the medieval walls. After lunch, you continue to Narbonne to see this historic Occitan city and its old town. Later in the afternoon, you arrive in Marseille, France's second-largest city, and check out the Vieux-Port with its bustling restaurants and harbor life.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis Marseille Centre Euromed), Hotel (Novotel Suites Marseille Euromed)
Included Activities
- Explore Carcassonne medieval walls
- Discover Narbonne historic old town
- Stroll through Marseille Vieux-Port
Landmarks Carcassonne Narbonne Vieux-Port 
- Day 7
Provence to Lyon
Provence's best sites are on today's agenda. You'll start in Arles, a UNESCO city with Roman history, medieval architecture, and Van Gogh connections to explore. Then comes Les Baux where you can see the Carrières de Lumières underground show with art and light. After lunch, you have time in Avignon to walk around and see the Palais des Papes. From there, you head to Lyon to explore its World Heritage old town and ride the cable car up to Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica for views over the city.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Appartcity Lyon Cite Internationale), Hotel (Campanile Centre Lyon Berges Du Rhone)
Included Activities
- Explore Arles Roman and medieval sites
- Visit Carrières de Lumières show
- Stroll through Les Baux medieval village
- Visit Palais des Papes in Avignon
- Explore Lyon World Heritage old town
- Cable car ride to Notre-Dame de Fourvière
Landmarks Arles Les Baux Carrières de Lumières Palais des Papes Notre-Dame de Fourvière 
- Day 8
Burgundy
Leaving Lyon, you're heading into Burgundy starting with Tournus, a quiet town with a stone gate and large abbey. Beaune comes next, the wine capital of the region, where you'll have lunch and time to walk around. Savigny Castle is on your route, a 15th-century structure housing museums with motorbikes, cars, planes, and helicopters. You'll finish in Dijon, Burgundy's capital, exploring its streets and seeing the medieval and Renaissance buildings plus the Palace of the Dukes.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Dijon), Hotel (Mama Shelter Dijon)
Included Activities
- Explore Tournus
- Visit Beaune, wine capital of Burgundy
- Visit Savigny Medieval Castle museums
- Explore Dijon and Palace of the Dukes
Optional Activities
- Visit wine museum in Beaune
- Visit historic hospice in Beaune
Landmarks Tournus Beaune Savigny Castle Dijon Palace of the Dukes 
- Day 9
Alsace
You start in Besançon, a Roman-era city with a nice historic center and 17th-century citadel overlooking it all. Then you move into Alsace, a region with its own German dialect and Germanic architecture. Colmar shows off colorful half-timbered houses and canals. Riquewihr, a medieval town with cobblestone streets, comes next, and you'll visit an old winery for local wine tasting with a sweet treat. By evening, you arrive in Strasbourg.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Appartcity Confort Strasbourg Centre)
Included Activities
- Explore Besançon historic center and citadel
- Explore Colmar half-timbered houses and canals
- Visit Riquewihr medieval town
- Visit old winery and taste local wine
Landmarks Besançon Colmar Riquewihr 
- Day 10
Champagne Region to Paris
You're spending time in Strasbourg, the Alsace capital and home to the European Parliament. The medieval streets, Gothic cathedral, canals, and flowers make up your morning exploration. You'll take a boat trip through the canals of Petite France, a highlight of the city. Later, you head to the Champagne region for a tour and tasting at a traditional cellar to learn how this sparkling wine is made. After a brief stop in Épernay for a leisurely walk, you continue on to Paris, arriving in the evening.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Est - Bagnolet), Hotel (Mercure Paris Porte De Versailles Expo), Hotel (Mercure Paris La Defense 5)
Included Activities
- Explore Strasbourg historic center
- Visit Strasbourg Gothic cathedral
- Boat trip through Petite France canals
- Visit traditional Champagne cellar with tour and tasting
- Stroll through Épernay
Landmarks Strasbourg Cathedral Petite France Épernay 
- Day 11
End of Tour
After breakfast, your tour comes to an end, leaving you with wonderful memories of the journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
