| Day 1 Arrive Paris |
| Welcome to Paris! After a welcome meeting with your Tour
Director you have time to relax and explore this beautiful
city. Perhaps take an evening illuminations tour. Hotel: Holiday Inn Garden Court St. Ouen |
| Day 2 Paris
- Beaune - Lyon |
| We drive to the medieval town of Beaune in the famous wine
region of Burgundy. Later, we arrive in Lyon, the third city
of France which is the home of thousands of gastronomic
specialities. (Buffet breakfast) Hotel: Kyriad Perrache |
| Day 3 Lyon - Avignon -
Nice (2 nights) |
| A scenic morning drive brings us to Avignon. Here we see the
Palace of the Popes and St. Benezet Bridge before heading to
the Pont du Gard to view the Roman aqueduct. Next we
continue to the French Riviera, where we arrive in the
elegant resort of Nice for our two-night stay. (Buffet
breakfast / Dinner) Hotel: Apogia |
| Day 4 Nice -
Monte Carlo Excursion |
| Time at leisure to relax and enjoy the sophisticated
atmosphere of the Côte d'Azur. Why not laze on the beach and
sip cocktails in a shady terraced bar Or perhaps go shopping
in the elegant boutiques. The highlight of our day is an
included excursion along the coast to the Principality of
Monaco where we see the famous Monte Carlo casinos. (Buffet
breakfast) |
| Day 5 Nice -
Nimes - Sete |
| We drive to Cannes to see the Film Festival Centre. From
here we head for the Roman city of Nîmes where we see the
Roman Arena, Maison Carré and city gardens. Then on to our
hotel in the fishing port of Séte. (Buffet breakfast /
Dinner) Hotel: Mercure |
| Day 6 Sete -
Carcassonne - Lourdes |
| Today we cross to Carcassonne for a short orientation of
this completely walled medieval town. Then we ascend into
the spectacular snow-capped Pyrenees to the pilgrimage site
of Lourdes, to see the basilica on top of St. Bernadette's
grotto. This evening, after dinner, we can join in the
torch-lit procession to the basilica with the pilgrims, a
magical and moving experience. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: Best Western Christina |
| Day 7 Lourdes - Bordeaux |
| Today our awe-inspiring journey through the Pyrenees
continues through Pau – a palm-tree fringed town with a
mountainous backdrop, and to the charming village of
Aire-sur Adour. Then on to the glamorous resort of Biarritz
on the Atlantic coast. Time to watch the surfers perform
their stunts and to explore the chic boutiques before we
travel across the rolling country of Les Landes to classical
Bordeaux. On our arrival an included excursion takes us to
visit the hilltop town of St. Emilion in the heart of the
wine country. Perhaps sample some of the delicious Graves
wines in one of the wine boutiques in this picturesque
village. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) Hotel: Ibis Meriadeck |
| Day 8 Bordeaux - Loire Valley (Tours) (2
nights) |
| A morning departure from Bordeaux takes us across the
vineyards to Cognac where we visit a brandy distillery. From
here we continue our journey past the strange buildings of
Futuroscope at Poitiers, the amusement and science theme
park completed in 1987, en route to Tours in the Loire
Valley for our two-night stay. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) Hotel: Novotel Tours Sud |
| Day 9 Chateaux -
Exursion |
| After breakfast our day begins with a visit to the charming
fairytale Palace of Chenonceau straddling the River Cher.
Next we stop to visit the imposing castle at Amboise,
associated with Leonardo da Vinci. Afterwards, we view the
beauty of the enormous Castle of Chambord before we head
back to our hotel. Tonight, why not try some typical
Touraine cuisine (Buffet breakfast) |
| Day 10 Loire Valley (Tours) - Deauville |
| This morning we will travel via Le Mans, famous for its
24-hour car race. From here we continue to the fortified
town of Fougères before heading to Mont St. Michel, where we
visit the island town and view its abbey. Finally, we visit
the D-Day landing beaches and the American cemetery at Omaha
Beach, before arriving at our Normandy hotel in Deauville,
the elegant resort renowned for its racecourse, harbour and
international film festival. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) Hotel: Ibis Deauville |
| Day 11 Deauville - Paris (2 nights) |
| We drive along the Normandy Coast to the picturesque harbour
at Honfleur, summer haunt of the Impressionist painters.
Then through cheese and cider country, we make our way to
Rouen where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake. Then we
return to the glittering capital city of Paris for the next
two exciting nights. (Buffet breakfast) Hotel: Mercure Fontenay Sous Bois |
| Day 12 Paris
sightseeing & at leisure |
| This morning's sightseeing tour features views of the Eiffel
Tower, Champs Élysées, Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral. The
rest of your day is at leisure. Paris has something for
everyone. Maybe visit the Pompidou Centre, view the numerous
art treasures in the Louvre Museum, or simply relax at a
pavement café and watch the world go by. This evening, why
not sample Paris nightlife at a cabaret show (Buffet
breakfast) |
| Day 13 Depart
Paris |
| This morning we say ‘au revoir’ to Paris, our Tour Director
and new-found friends as our memorable tour of France comes
to an end. (Buffet breakfast) |
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