DAY 1, Friday - Depart for France
Depart for France
DAY 2, Saturday - Arrive in Paris
Arrive in Paris, "City Of Light" and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Your tour begins with an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager at approximately 5 PM. We recommend that you select flights which arrive no later than 3 PM. Afterwards, a cruise on the River Seine introduces you to the beauty of Paris at night
Overnight: Paris
DAY 3, Sunday - Paris City Tour
Drive along the impressive 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, the artistic community at Montparnasse. View the Latin Quarter and pass the colorful Luxembourg Gardens, housed in the Luxembourg Palace. This afternoon perhaps join the optional tour to Versailles* to witness the grandeur of French classical architecture on the visit to the Palace and extravagant State Apartments. Tonight, you may wish to join the optional Evening in Montmartre with dinner
*The Palace of Versailles optional tour must be booked prior to departure and may not be available to be purchased locally.
Optional: Palace of Versailles (PM)
Optional: Evening in Montmartre with dinner
Overnight: Paris
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4, Monday - Champagne Tasting, Dijon
Travel from Paris to the famed Champagne region with its stretches of vineyards as far as the eye can see. This historic province in the northeast of France, formerly ruled by the Counts of Champagne, is best known for the sparkling white wine that bears its name. In Epernay, visit one of the renowned cellars, learn more about the process, and enjoy tastings of this bubbly delight. Its main boulevard is the residential Avenue de Champagne, lined with timeless Neoclassical villas and Victorian town houses. Then continue to Dijon and, upon arrival, embark on a guided tour. View Dijon Cathedral and the Ducal Palace, a remarkably well-preserved Gothic structure that served as the royal residence for the estates of Burgundy. Overnight in Dijon, also known as home of the tasty mustard
Overnight: Dijon
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5, Tuesday - Beaune's Burgundy Vineyards, Lyon
Depart Dijon via the Route des Grand Crus to Beaune, celebrated capital of Burgundy wines, nestled in the heart of France's finest vineyards. The facilities and cellars of many prominent wineries, are situated in Beaune itself. This walled city still displays its original battlements, ramparts, moats and a historic Old Town. A orientation walk takes you to the lively central square. Enjoy a tasting at one of the local cellars. View the Hotel-Dieu de Beaune, see the original an example of 15th century French architecture. Then, drive south to 2000-year-old Lyon. Upon arrival, visit Place Bellecour, and ascend Fouvière Hill to visit to the Basilica for a guided tour that overlook the city. Tonight, dinner is at the hotel
Overnight: Lyon
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6, Wednesday - Provence, French Riviera
Heading south, journey through the colorful landscapes of Provence, an inspiration for the early Impressionist painters. Travel past the olive groves and pine forests to the city of Aix-en-Provence, famous for being the birthplace of Post-Impressionist painter Paul Cézanne. Spend free time for lunch on your own. Later, continue to a French perfumery and hear about the many ways to produce this major export and try some of the popular fragrances. Tonight, at dinner, a taste of the French Riviera's specialties
Overnight: French Riviera
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7, Thursday - Full Day in the French Riviera
A full day to discover the delights of the Cote d'Azur and your resort in the Mediterranean twin towns of Antibes and Juan-Les-Pins. Don't miss the optional tour to St. Paul de Vence. Drive into the pine-scented hills above Nice to visit the hilltop St. Paul de Vence, which still retains its medieval character. Wander the cobbled streets to the central fountain, and see the burial place of Marc Chagall. In the late afternoon, see glamorous Monte Carlo's lights glisten as you travel along the seaside Corniche on the optional night tour
Optional: St. Paul de Vence (AM)
Optional: Monte Carlo by Night (PM)
Overnight: French Riviera
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 8, Friday - Avignon, Pont du Gard, Carcassonne
This morning journey on to Avignon, the "City of Popes" named after seven popes who reigned there during the 1300s. Admire the Place de l'Horlorge, the city's main square and the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes), a fortress-like palace that once served as the papal residence. View the famed Bridge of Avignon, the city's landmark. In the afternoon, drive to the Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct that crosses the Gardon River dating from 19 AD, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, travel to Carcassonne for dinner and overnight
Overnight: Carcassonne
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 9, Saturday - Carcassonne, Lourdes
This morning, take a walking tour of Carcassonne. Stroll along the cobbled streets to the St. Nazaire Basilica, adorned with stained glass and intricate carvings. In the afternoon, your journey continues to Lourdes, nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees, a major site of Roman Catholic pilgrimage, and of reported miraculous healings. View the neo-Gothic Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, a Roman Catholic church that dominates the skyline of Lourdes. Dinner and overnight is in Lourdes
Overnight: Lourdes
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 10, Sunday - Visit Lourdes, Wine Tasting in St. Emilion, Bordeaux
In Lourdes, visit the sacred church, sanctuary, and grotto where the apparitions took place and behold the healing water spring from the grotto, believed to possess healing properties. Afterward, drive north, to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of St. Emilion. Views of the city include Romanesque churches and fascinating historic ruins stretching along steep and narrow streets. Enjoy a wine tasting and then free time to wander on your own before continuing to Bordeaux
Overnight: Bordeaux
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 11, Monday - Tour of Bordeaux
Take a morning tour of Bordeaux, on the crescent-shaped Garonne River. Bordeaux is distinguished for the wines that bear its name. The city tour begins at the Place des Quinconces, with its mighty pillar centerpiece, the Girondist Column. In the historic Old Town, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, view the Grand Theater and the Victory Arch. The afternoon is yours to independently explore this city. This evening, an optional wine tasting & picnic in the Bordeaux Countryside will complete the day
Optional: Wine Tasting & Picnic in Bordeaux Countryside (PM)
Overnight: Bordeaux
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 12, Tuesday - Cognac Tasting, Chateau de Chenonceau, Loire Valley
Depart Bordeaux for the town of Cognac, world-famous for the grape-based spirit produced here for over 300 years. Visit one of the cellars, hear about the history of cognac and enjoy a tasting. Onward to the very heart of the Loire Valley. Tour the elegant Chateau de Chenonceau. Stretching across the river Cher, the chateau boasts a 197-foot gallery, built over a series of arches. Proceed to Amboise, a riverside town with an imposing castle, before continuing to the hotel for dinner and overnight
Overnight: Loire Valley
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 13, Wednesday - Return to Paris
Begin by crossing the Loire River and head back to the capital city of Paris for time at leisure. Tonight, have dinner in a Parisian bistro, including wine as you bid au revoir to your Tour Manager
Overnight: Paris
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 14, Thursday - Depart France
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast
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