13 Days 12 Nights
Highlights Of France

Day 1: ARRIVE PARIS

Dive right into the history, culture and culinary delights of Paris, from the iconic Iron Lady to croque monsieurs, lazing on the banks of the Seine, or visiting museums and monuments. After checking in, there’s time to relax or explore the city your way, but you might like to get a head start on your sightseeing by joining an optional experience – a Seine cruise and scenic drive taking in many of the major sights.

Accommodation: Courtyard by Marriott La Defense West – Colombes

Choice Optional Experiences:
Seine Cruise and Paris Illuminations
Experience the world-famous ‘City of Lights’ as Paris transforms in the evening. Enjoy a leisurely cruise along the River Seine, taking in views of iconic Parisian sights such as Grand Palais and the Eiffel Tower.
Adult: 47.00 EUR

*Choice Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour.

Day 2: PARIS SIGHTSEEING AND FREE TIME

Hit the grand boulevards on a city sightseeing tour through the heart of the city conducted by your Travel Director. See the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Élysées then perhaps choose to tread in the footsteps of Picasso and Dalí during an optional visit to Montmartre, exploring the cobbled streets and Artist’s Square. This evening, consider a trip to one of the city’s renowned cabarets.

Accommodation: Courtyard by Marriott La Defense West – Colombes

Choice Optional Experiences:
Montmartre Village and Artists’ Square
Dominated by the soaring Sacre Coeur Basilica, Montmartre is a must-visit destination in Paris. Join a Local Specialist to explore the winding streets, unusual galleries and world-famous Artist’s Square – once home to the works of Toulouse Lautrec and Picasso.
Adult: 47.00 EUR

Crack Luxembourg’s Code
With your Local Specialist, visit the historic Saint-Sulpice Church once used in the filming of Dan Brown’s famous ‘Da Vinci Code’. En route to the iconic Latin Quarter, you’ll stroll through the Luxembourg Gardens before enjoying free time to explore the Latin Quarter and view Notre Dame Cathedral.
Adult: 37.00 EUR

La Nouvelle Eve Cabaret and Dinner
Nestled in the heart of Montmartre, Nouvelle Eve has been spotlighted by ‘Emily in Paris’ and has hosted events for high-fashion icons like Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Louboutin and Vivienne Westwood. An a la carte meal and dazzling cabaret will bring the French Cancan to life before your eyes. Performances run from April 20 to October 26.
Adult: 163.00 EUR

*Choice Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour.

Day 3: PARIS – BEAUNE – LYON

Au revoir Paris. The City of Light will keep shining, but for now our sights are set on medieval Beaune where the official raison d’être is the local wine. The beautiful marketplace and 15th-century Hôtel-Dieu are yours to explore before later continuing your journey to Lyon. Get your bearings during an orientation tour.

Accommodation: Hotel Chromatics

Choice Optional Experiences:
Beaujolais Gourmet Dinner and Old Town Discovery
Relax and unwind as we take an evening drive along the beautiful Saône River and savour the tastes of acclaimed French cuisine. Discover the secrets of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Lyon, Along with being an historic centre, Lyon is also the gastronomic capital of France! Our chef will prepare a mouth-watering three course dinner, with local wines included.
Adult: 77.00 EUR

*Choice Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour.

Day 4: LYON – AIX-EN-PROVENCE – MONACO – FRENCH RIVIERA

Follow the Rhône Valley south and enjoy some free time in the Provençal town of Aix-en- Provence. The last leg of your journey southwards stretches out to the shimmering Mediterranean coast, where the Principality of Monaco and the Côte d’Azur await.

Accommodation: Ibis Cannes Mandelieu

Choice Optional Experiences:

Day 5: FRENCH RIVIERA FREE DAY

Ooh là là! A full free day on the French Riviera. There’s no shame in spending the day sprawled out on a sun-lounger with a cocktail, but if you can pull yourself away from the beach you’ll want to join your fellow travellers for an optional exploration of Saint-Paul-de-Vence. 

Accommodation: Ibis Cannes Mandelieu

Choice Optional Experiences:
Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Corniche Drive, Perfumery and Meal
Visit the artist’s paradise of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, exploring the secrets of this medieval hilltop town. Continuing along the Riviera, we’ll travel on the famous Corniche Roads, taking in the most spectacular views of this extraordinary coastline on our way to visit an authentic French perfumery. Later, we’ll enjoy a delicious meal with included drinks at a local restaurant.
Adult: 91.00 EUR

*Choice Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour.

Day 6: FRENCH RIVIERA – ARIES – PONT DU GARD – AVIGNON

Today we travel west to the Camargue centre of Arles, where Vincent Van Gogh found inspiration for so many of his paintings. Next, you’ll view the magnificent Pont du Gard, an aqueduct carefully constructed in the first century to supply fresh water. Continue to the heart of Provence and the city of Avignon which features one of the world’s most incredible religious architectural legacies.

Accommodation: Ibis Avignon Sud

Choice Optional Experiences:

On the Trail of Vincent Van Gogh
You simply can’t visit Arles without seeing all of the treasures the Romans left behind. Marvel at the amphitheatre built 2000 years ago, then switch gears with your Local Specialist to learn about Arles’ other great claim to fame – the locations where Vincent Van Gogh produced some of his most famous works in Provence, including The Starry Night.
Adult: 26.00 EUR

*Choice Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour.

Day 7: AVIGON – CARCASSONNE – LOURDES (1 NIGHT)

Carcassonne’s undeniable charm is evident when you come across the town’s 12 century architecture and turreted medieval castle. From fairy tales to the foothills of the Pyrénées, your next stop is the town of Lourdes where you’ll tread in the footsteps of the millions of pilgrims, paying homage to St. Bernadette and view the basilica on top of the Grotto where she is said to have seen visions of the Virgin Mary. This evening presents an opportunity to join a procession by torchlight with the pilgrims – a truly magical and moving experience.

Accommodation: Mercure Imperial

Day 8: LOURDES – BIARRITZ – BORDEAUX

The beach is back on the agenda today, so get your hat and sunglasses ready for a trip to the glamorous seaside town of Biarritz on the Atlantic coast. If watching local surfers perform their stunts isn’t enticing enough, you could choose an Optional Experience into the Basque country. After a good dose of sun, sea and lofty peaks, it’s back into the rolling countryside of Les Landes and onwards to our final destination of the day, Bordeaux.

Accommodation: Ibis Centre Meriadeck

Choice Optional Experiences:

St Jean de Luz, Jewel of the Basque Country
Truly the jewel of the Basque Country, St. Jean de Luz is a wealthy port town with an intriguing past filled with pirates, a royal marriage and closelyguarded family recipes. Our local specialist will guide you through it all and give you the chance to taste this city’s world-famous creation – the macaron. Later, you’ll have time to explore the local craft shops and the beautiful beach.
Adult: 44.00 EUR

*Choice Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour.

Day 9: BORDEAUX – SAINT-ÉMILION – TOURS

After a night sampling Bordeaux blends and the city’s eclectic mix of street life and well preserved 18 century architecture, a new adventure awaits. The hilltop village of Saint Émilion is an appealing stop for red wine lovers. Join an optional wine tasting at an historic vineyard. Continue to your hotel by the city of Tours, known as the gateway to the Loire Valley.

Accommodation: Ibis Styles Sud

Choice Optional Experiences:
Wine Tasting in a French Chateau
Enjoy an iconic travel experience in Bordeaux as you journey through scenic vineyards to our favourite French Château Estate. Here, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the rolling green vineyards and cellars before sampling some of the world’s most prestigious wines. Heading home with the secrets of French winemaking added to your repertoire; you’ll love feeling like a true wine connoisseur.
Adult: 42.00 EUR

*Choice Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour.

Day 10: LOIRE VALLEY AND CHATEAUX EXCURSION

Indulge your inner king or queen when you embark on a whimsical tour to Chenonceau with a Local Specialist. This enchanting, fairytale château straddling the Cher River is the most photographed sight in the Loire Valley and it’s easy to see why. After that, continue on to the royal town of Amboise where Leonardo da Vinci is said to be buried. Your encounter with French nobility not quite at its end, you’ll view the splendid Château de Chambord, one of the world’s most remarkable châteaux. Make the most of your last night back in Tours with an Optional Experience to visit the Old Town and enjoy Touraine cuisine in a traditional restaurant.

Accommodation: Ibis Styles Sud

Choice Optional Experiences:

Tours, Old Town and Traditional Dinner
Join our Local Specialist for an enchanting excursion to rival the greatest fairy tales, discovering the dreamlike Old Town of Tours, including the Basilica of St. Martin and the history of Renaissance Kings. This evening tour out in the city will also include a feast of Touraine Cuisine in a traditional restaurant, adding yet another authentic experience to your holiday.
Adult: 67.00 EUR

*Choice Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour.

Day 11: TOURS – MONT SAINT-MICHEL – D-DAY LANDING BEACHES (OMAHA) – DEAUVILLE

Only the epic sight of a medieval town rising out of the sea could compete with the beauty of the Loire Valley and your visit to Mont Saint-Michel will certainly not disappoint. Then continue your journey to the iconic D-Day landing beaches where thousands of Allied soldiers first landed on French soil, in what became the largest seaborne invasion in history. After a poignant stop at the Normandy American Cemetery at Omaha Beach, you’ll continue on to your hotel in Deauville. This elegant resort is renowned for its racecourse, harbour and high-profile international film festival held in September.

Accommodation: Ibis Centre

Day 12: DEAUVILLE – HONFLEUR – ROUEN – PARIS

The colourful port town of Honfleur is the ‘most ravishing spot in the world’ and has been immortalised on canvas by many of the world’s greatest artists. Next head to Rouen, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. After a busy day engaging with all that history, return to the glittering French capital for the final evening of your adventure. Consider joining an Optional Experience dinner for a celebration of your memorable journey with new friends.

Accommodation: Courtyard by Marriott La Defense West – Colombes

Day 13: DEPART PARIS

And just like that, you’ve seen all the highlights of France. From Paris and beyond, you’ll be finishing your trip this morning with a lifetime’s supply of memories. Say a fond au revoir to your Travel Director and newfound friends.