‘Bonjour’ and welcome to France, a country that possesses a rich and storied history that is echoed through its masterful literature, art and music. We begin our tour in the romantic capital of Paris, often referred to as the ‘City of Light’. Tree-lined boulevards, cobblestone lanes and charming architecture are hidden around every corner of this iconic city that oozes style and elegance. Well-known for being the backdrop to many famous films and productions, Paris is home to some of the most recognisable sites in the world, including the Eiffel Tower. We don’t want you to miss out on a single moment of your French ‘soirée’, so we recommend that you arrive at your starting destination by 3.00pm. After meeting our fellow travellers and Tour Director for a welcome drink, we’ll enjoy a brief introduction to the city, taking an afternoon stroll through some of its beautiful streets. After wandering past some of the local sites, we will make our way to a local restaurant. Here, we will indulge in some of the delicious flavours that are iconic to French cuisine, before making our way back to our accommodation.

Waving ‘au revoir’ to Paris this morning, we’ll take a relaxing drive through the stunning French countryside as we make our way to the Loire Valley. Dating back over one thousand years, the Loire Valley is surrounded by beautiful rolling vineyards and fruit orchards. Thanks to the kings, queens, dukes and nobles who built magnificent châteaux, and the quaint medieval villages that are dotted throughout the region, the Loire Valley today feels like stepping into a real-life fairytale. In the late morning, we reach Chartres, where we will discover the wonderful architecture and rich history of the city during a walking tour. We’ll then enjoy a guided tour of its impressive Gothic-style cathedral, built in 1220, before some free time for lunch and a chance to further explore its medieval streets. Next, we continue to the town of Amboise to visit the Château du Clos Lucé, where the famous artist and engineer Leonardo da Vinci lived and worked in the 14th century. We’ll see da Vinci’s workshop, bedroom and replicas of his famous inventions during a tour of the château. We’ll finish the day in Tours, where we check into our hotel and our home for the next two nights.

Waking in the charming city of Tours, enjoy a slow start to the day before we set out to explore the many châteaux of the region. We’ll begin in the small village of Chenonceaux, home to one of the region’s best-known châteaux, Château de Chenonceau. In its current form, the château was built between 1513 and 1517 on the banks of the Cher River and is home to an exquisite collection of furniture and art. We’ll explore its opulent rooms and manicured gardens before continuing to a local winery.

Special Experience

Enjoy an underground tour and tasting at Caves Monmousseau Winery, famous for its fine bubbles and labyrinth of cellars carved into tufa stone.

Venturing to the town of Montrichard, we’ll take a guided tour of the Maison Monmousseau cellars. Carved into the natural tufa stone, the wine cellars create the perfect temperature of 12 degrees Celsius for aging sparkling wine, but you might need a jacket! Enjoy a tasting of Monmousseau’s famous wines, accompanied by a selection of local delicacies.

We then return to Tours and enjoy the evening at leisure. Why not take a stroll past some of the well-preserved Roman ruins or soak up the city’s vibrant atmosphere with a wine in hand?

After breakfast, today we’ll take a short drive to the lovely village of Villandry. Small but picturesque with charming lanes lined with 15th century cottages, our sightseeing will take us to the Château de Villandry. Inhabited since the Renaissance, the grand château is home to exquisite exterior architecture and several hectares of verdant gardens. We’ll enjoy time in the grounds, exploring the perfectly manicured hedges, immaculately pruned trees and colourful flowers. We then make our way to the lively town of Angers, where we’ll visit the staggering stone stronghold of Château d’Angers that dates back to 1230. During our visit, we’ll learn about how the fortress was constructed and the history it survived before admiring its most prized possession, the 100-metre-long 14th century Apocalypse Tapestry. Depicting scenes from the Book of Revelation, the Apocalypse Tapestry is the largest surviving set of medieval tapestries. In the afternoon, we make our way to the university city of Rennes, buzzing with a vibrant atmosphere and the charming character of its old town. Home to a delicious restaurant scene, the capital of France’s Brittany region is perhaps most famous for its medieval half-timbered houses, the oldest of which dates back to the 16th century.

We’ll embark on a guided city tour of Rennes this morning, passing by the Palais du Parlement de Bretagne, the former parliament of Brittany. As we move through the mix of old and new, we’ll marvel at quintessential French architecture and the medieval old town before visiting the Rennes Cathedral. Stepping inside, we’ll see the slabs of rare marble taken from the Roman Forum that adorn the altar, and the blend of Gothic and Neoclassical styles added throughout its many transformations. Heading northwest, we continue on to the town of Dinan, where quaint cobblestone streets are lined with half-timbered houses from the Middle Ages. Enjoy a chance to stroll through the town on your own to find a spot for lunch. In the afternoon, we travel to the historic walled city of Saint Malo. Located on the English Channel in France’s Brittany region, Saint Malo was first inhabited in the 8th century. A wealth of history is housed between its ancient walls, with charming laneways leading to beautiful buildings and a sandy stretch of coastline. Enjoy the evening at leisure to get to know the city – Our tip? Visit one of the many delicious crêperies for dinner!

First up this morning, we’ll mosey across to the Solidor Tower of Saint-Servan, a fortified dungeon with three towers built in the 12th century. After gazing over the towering heights of the defensive structure, we’ll settle back into the coach to admire the passing coastal scenery of northern Brittany as we continue to Cap Frehel. Characterised by dramatic cliffs that plunge steeply into the water below, this peninsula is home to fertile moors and unique geological formations which we’ll spend time admiring – keeping an eye out for the diverse birdlife that flocks to the area! Making our way back to Saint Malo, enjoy some free time for a bite to eat before we meet for a guided tour of the port. As we meander through the city, we’ll see the forts of Saint Malo and take to the city’s ramparts for a walk around the ancient walls, enjoying views out across the English Channel. In the afternoon, we journey to the coastal town of Cancale to visit a local oyster farm. We’ll learn about the process of farming oysters and enjoy a tasting of the farm’s freshest harvest, before returning to Saint Malo for an evening at leisure.

Today, keep your camera at the ready as we make our way to the magnificent Mont Saint-Michel. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed fortress perches on an islet surrounded by the lapping tides of the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel. As we approach the causeway that links Mont Saint-Michel to the mainland, take in the beauty of the Benedictine Abbey, erected in 966 and seemingly defying gravity as it rises high out of the sandbanks. We’ll enjoy a guided tour of the abbey before enjoying some free time in this storybook setting for lunch. As the afternoon sets in, we proceed to Ducy-Sainte-Marguerite and visit the apple orchards of Les Vergers de Ducy. We’ll enjoy a tour of the property that produces apple cider, cider vinegar, apple juice and the aperitif, Pommeau de Normandie. Following the tour, we’ll treat our taste buds to a taste of the delicious apple beverages, before continuing to our next destination. In the evening, we’ll arrive to our hotel in Bayeux, a popular base for exploring the infamous sites of the D-Day Landings in Normandy. Enjoy the evening at leisure to discover more of the town. You might consider a stroll amongst the elegant 17th and 18th century mansions that flank Bayeux’s medieval streets.

Challenging Day

Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

Today is dedicated to discovering the remarkable history of the Normandy region. Normandy has battled a rough history, from the 1066 Norman invasion of England to the 1944 Battle of Normandy. Today, the region is known for its breathtaking coastal landscapes, picturesque villages and Gothic churches, as well as being a cultural and culinary hub of France – and the home of camembert cheese! We begin at Colleville-sur-Mer (also known as Omaha Beach), where we will visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. We’ll learn about the poignant events of World War II and pay our respects to those who served before continuing to Pointe du Hoc, a cliff that played an important role during the conflict. Continuing to Sainte Mere Église (also known as Utah Beach), we’ll stop briefly to find some lunch.

Special Experience

Be transported back in time to 1944 and explore the important sights linked to World War II’s D-Day during a tour in World War II open top jeeps.

Challenging Day

Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

Departing Bayeux this morning, our day begins with cheese when we make our way to the town of Livarot! Stopping in at Fromagerie E. Graindorge, we’ll delight in a tasting of the traditional cheeses that have been produced at the family operated fromagerie for three decades. Next, it’s on to the colourful port of Honfleur, reminiscent of Denmark’s Copenhagen. Lying on the southern bank of the river Seine, Honfleur was popular among French impressionist painters such as Claude Monet and Eugène Boudin. Enjoy some free time to explore its historic fishing port and marina that once served as a vital trade hub. In the early afternoon, we’ll continue on to Normandy’s cultural capital, Rouen. With centuries of history, preserved architecture and a delightful port, Rouen still retains many of the scars of its tumultuous past. Nestled on the banks of the river Seine, the city is home to a cathedral that was famously decorated by the brushstrokes of Claude Monet, medieval half-timbered houses and a turbulent history including the burning of Joan of Arc in 1431. Rouen is also renowned for its strong gastronomic traditions, which we’ll get the pleasure of indulging in tonight, as we enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Following breakfast, we’ll explore the city of Rouen on foot. As we take to the streets, we’ll pass by the former royal palace of Palais de Justice, before visiting the city’s famed cathedral. This Gothic masterpiece is well-known for its three distinct towers and is home to the sarcophagus of Richard the Lionheart, the former King of England and a prominent figure in the Third Crusade. We’ll also venture inside the Church of Saint Joan of Arc, resting on the exact site where the heroine was burned at the stake for heresy in the 15th century. Our dive into the story of Joan of Arc continues at the Historical Jeanne d’Arc Museum, where we’ll be immersed in the epic tale through captivating exhibitions at the site of her second trial, the Archbishop’s Palace. After our tour, we’ll take a drive out to the picturesque French village of Giverny, home to the final residence and gardens of Claude Monet. Here, we’ll have the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the lush setting, exploring the vibrant flower gardens and water lily ponds that inspired many of the Impressionist painter’s famous works. Farewelling the beauty of Giverny, our tour concludes this evening when we arrive back in the ambient city of Paris at around 6:00pm. We hope you leave with fabulous memories as we say ‘au revoir’ to our new friends and the incredible landscapes of northern France.