Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival
You'll be picked up at the airport and taken to your hotel to get settled in. The afternoon is yours to relax and get acclimated. Later, tour information will be available either through a staff member or posted at the hotel reception desk so you know what to expect from here on out.
- Day 2
Paris
Start the day heading to the Palace of Versailles with time to walk through its formal gardens. Then it's on to Montmartre, where the bohemian streets and local cafes give the neighborhood real character. A local guide takes you on a panoramic tour showing off Paris's major avenues and landmarks before heading back to the hotel. If you want, there's an optional variety show in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
Included Activities
- Panoramic city tour of Paris with local guide
- Visit to Montmartre neighborhood
Optional Activities
- Palace of Versailles tour (entrance fee not included)
- Evening variety show
Landmarks/POIs Palace of Versailles Montmartre - Day 3
Paris to Tours
Early on you'll get to the Eiffel Tower with access included to the second floor. After that, take a boat cruise along the Seine for about an hour and fifteen minutes. The rest of the afternoon is open to explore Paris however you like. At 5:30 p.m. you'll head out toward the Loire Valley, arriving in Tours by evening. Take a walk through the old center and grab dinner there.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
Included Activities
- Ascent to second floor of Eiffel Tower (admission included)
- Boat cruise along the Seine (approximately 1 hour 15 minutes)
Landmarks/POIs Eiffel Tower Seine River - Day 4
Tours to Lourdes
Drive south through vineyard country to Bordeaux, a UNESCO site where you'll have time to grab lunch and look around. Stop by the Port of the Moon and the Cathedral of St. Andrew whenever it suits you. Then continue heading toward the Pyrenees, arriving in Lourdes in the late afternoon. You can join the candlelight procession (runs late March through October) or visit the various religious sites.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet), Dinner (Dinner at hotel)
Included Activities
- Dinner at hotel
Optional Activities
- Visit to Port of the Moon, Bordeaux
- Visit to Cathedral of St. Andrew, Bordeaux
- Candlelight procession, Lourdes (late March to end of October)
- Visit to places of worship, Lourdes
Landmarks/POIs Bordeaux Old Town Port of the Moon (Port de la Lune), Bordeaux Cathedral of St. Andrew (Cathédrale Saint-André), Bordeaux Lourdes - Day 5
Lourdes to Marseille
Travel through southern France starting with Carcassonne, where the historic walls are worth walking along and exploring. Break for lunch, then move on to Narbonne to check out its medieval Occitan old town. By late afternoon you'll reach Marseille, France's second-largest city. Wander through the Vieux-Port with its restaurants and waterfront character.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
Optional Activities
- Walking tour and exploration of Carcassonne
- Exploration of Narbonne old town
- Walk through Vieux-Port (Old Port), Marseille
Landmarks/POIs Carcassonne Fortified City Narbonne Old Town Vieux-Port (Old Port), Marseille - Day 6
Marseille to Lyon
Head to Arles first, a UNESCO city with Roman ruins and medieval history that inspired Van Gogh's paintings. Then go to Les Baux, a small medieval village, and tour Carrières de Lumières, an underground art show set in old quarries. After lunch and a walk through Avignon and its Palais des Papes, continue to Lyon. In Lyon, walk through the old town (a UNESCO area) and ride the cable car up to Notre-Dame de Fourviève basilica for views.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
Included Activities
- Visit to Arles (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit to Les Baux medieval village
- Admission to Carrières de Lumières (or Pont du Gard if unavailable)
- Walk through Avignon old town
- Visit to Palais des Papes viewing area
- Walk through Lyon World Heritage old town
- Cable car to Notre-Dame de Fourvière
Landmarks/POIs Arles Old Town Les Baux Medieval Village Carrières de Lumières Pont du Gard Roman Aqueduct Avignon Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes), Avignon Lyon Old Town (Vieux Lyon) Notre-Dame de Fourvière Basilica, Lyon - Day 7
Lyon to Dijon
Leave Lyon and head into Burgundy, stopping first at Tournus to see its stone gate and large abbey. Move on to Beaune, the wine center of Burgundy, where you'll have lunch and time to explore. Visit Savigny Castle from the 15th century, which has museums full of motorcycles, racing cars, planes, and helicopters. End the day in Dijon, the regional capital, with its lively streets and medieval and Renaissance buildings like the Palace of the Dukes.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
Included Activities
- Visit to Tournus
- Visit to Savigny Castle
Optional Activities
- Wine museum or historic hospice visit, Beaune
- Exploration of Beaune
Landmarks/POIs Tournus Beaune Old Town Savigny Castle (Château de Savigny-lès-Beaune) Dijon Old Town Palace of the Dukes (Palais des Ducs de Bourgogne), Dijon - Day 8
Dijon to Paris
Leave Dijon for Fontenay Abbey, a UNESCO Cistercian monastery where admission is covered. Stop in Semur-en-Auxois to see its medieval walls and character. Break for lunch and walk around Vézelay, one of France's loveliest villages, with its massive basilica that served as a starting point for pilgrims heading to Spain. Later, head back toward Paris, arriving by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
Included Activities
- Admission to Fontenay Abbey (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit to Semur-en-Auxois medieval city
- Visit to Vézelay village and basilica
Landmarks/POIs Fontenay Abbey (Abbaye de Fontenay) Semur-en-Auxois Medieval City Vézelay Village and Basilica - Day 9
Departure
After breakfast, your trip wraps up. You'll leave with memories of everything you've seen across France.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
