This 6-night itinerary has been carefully crafted to give you the perfect
combination of free time & organized sightseeing while in France. You'll
begin with a couple of free days on your own to enjoy Paris, France's
fashionable and very historic capital city. This gives you the flexibility to
spend that time to your heart's content. Visit Napoleon's Tomb, shop in
designer boutiques, see Da Vinci's Mona Lisa inside the Louvre Museum - or
explore local bakeries and food markets to satisfy your epicurean desires.
While in Paris you can take cruise down the River Seine, enjoy the
panoramic view atop the Eiffel Tower, go inside the Cathedral of Notre Dame - or
visit the nearby Palace of Versailles. It's entirely up to you! Then you're
off on a fantastic, 4-day professionally escorted tour to Normandy, Brittany and
the Loire Valley.
Enjoy the rich history and beauty of these three
regions without the hassle of organizing the logistics. This way, you make the
most out of your time in France. Sightsee without stress and enjoy expert,
local guiding; vacations are meant to be relaxing after all!
The
itinerary will first take you to Normandy beginning with Rouen, the historic
capital of Normandy. Rouen was one Europe's most booming cities during the
Middle Ages. The city's Notre Dame Cathedral inspired Claude Monet in one of
his most famous painting series, and Rouen is also where Joan of Arc was
executed in in 1431.
You will then lunch in the charming port village
of Honfluer before visiting sights connected with the American troops who
bravely fought alongside Canadians and the British in the Allied invasion of
Normandy 70 years ago. After touring Omaha Beach, you'll pay a visit to the
American Cemetery & Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer before arriving to the
city of Caen.
The tour's next stop is the lovely region of Brittany.
Rife with interesting history and considerable Celtic influence, while in
Brittany your professional guide will take you to St-Malo, a beautiful, walled
port city that originated as a medieval fishing village, and then to the iconic
Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, a magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The final two days of the escorted-tour portion will be spent in the
spectacularly scenic Loire Valley, home to fairytale-like castles, wine
vineyards, lovely gardens and charming villages. While here you will enjoy
guided tours of incredibly historic and beautiful castles including Chenonceau,
Cheverny, Chambord and Langeais.
The escorted tour will finish back up in
Paris, where you'll have one final evening on your own to enjoy the City of
Light. Offering convenience, flexibility and fantastic sightseeing - after just
one week you'll be amazed at how very much you have managed to see in France -
at a relaxing pace.
