Itinerary
- Day 1
Paris
This afternoon you'll meet your Travel Director and the other travelers for an orientation drive through Paris. You'll pass by the Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe as you get oriented to the city layout. Later, the group gathers for dinner so you can start getting to know everyone on the tour.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Orientation drive through Paris past the Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe
Landmarks/POIs Champs-Élysées Arc de Triomphe - Day 2
Paris to Bayeux
You'll leave Paris and head to Rouen, which holds historical significance as the site of Joan of Arc's execution. From there, it's on to Honfleur, a charming harbor town with narrow streets and colorful buildings worth wandering through. Next you'll travel to Bayeux to visit the Tapestry Museum and see the 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry showing the Battle of Hastings. Dinner happens back at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Bayeux Tapestry Museum
Optional Activities
- Explore Rouen
- Admire Honfleur harbour and colourful storefronts
Landmarks/POIs Rouen Honfleur Bayeux Tapestry Museum - Day 3
Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches
A Local Specialist joins you for the morning as you explore the D-Day Landing Beaches. You'll start at the American Rangers Memorial at Pointe du Hoc, then move to Omaha Beach to pay your respects where Allied forces came ashore. By lunchtime you'll be in Arromanches, the seaside town that housed the Mulberry Harbour during the Normandy landings, so you can grab a meal and take in the location.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit to American Rangers Memorial at Pointe du Hoc
- Visit to Omaha Beach
- Lunch in Arromanches
Landmarks/POIs Pointe du Hoc Omaha Beach Arromanches - Day 4
Normandy to Mont-Saint-Michel
After traveling through the Normandy countryside, you'll reach Mont-Saint-Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage tidal island featuring a medieval Benedictine Abbey. Your Local Specialist shares the history as you explore the site. The afternoon is yours to relax, or you can join an optional trip to St. Malo, the walled port city nearby if you'd like more to do.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Mont-Saint-Michel with Local Specialist
Optional Activities
- Jewels of St. Malo guided experience with Local Specialist
Landmarks/POIs Mont-Saint-Michel St. Malo - Day 5
Normandy to Loire Valley
You'll continue through the scenic countryside and stop at a 17th-century château for a Be My Guest lunch. This special experience includes local wine and home-cooked dishes, giving you a real taste of the region. Later, you head to the Loire Valley where you'll spend the next couple of nights exploring the famous châteaux in the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch with wine in a 17th-century château)
Included Activities
- Be My Guest lunch experience with wine at 17th-century château
Landmarks/POIs Loire Valley - Day 6
Loire Valley Châteaux
Start your morning at Maison Bigot for a hand-crafted chocolate tasting experience. Then your Local Specialist takes you through the Loire Valley châteaux, beginning with Amboise Royal Château where King François I once hosted Leonardo da Vinci. Next you'll see Château de Chenonceau, built across the Cher River and known as the Ladies Castle, where you can view Renaissance furniture, tapestries, and paintings by Rubens and Tintoretto.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hand-crafted chocolate tasting at Maison Bigot
- Visit to Amboise Royal Château with Local Specialist
- Visit to Château de Chenonceau
Landmarks/POIs Maison Bigot Amboise Royal Château Château de Chenonceau - Day 7
Chartres to Paris
You'll visit the town of Chartres to see its Roman Catholic cathedral, one of the most complete and authentic works of religious architecture from the early 13th century. After that, you head back to Paris for the afternoon and evening. Your tour wraps up with a Farewell Dinner at a Parisian bistro, featuring local wines and a chance to celebrate the journey with your group.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell Dinner with local wines at a Parisian bistro)
Included Activities
- Visit to Chartres Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Chartres Cathedral - Day 8
Departure
Your trip through France comes to an end today. You'll say goodbye to your fellow travelers and your Travel Director as you head home.
