Paris, Versailles, Normandy & the Loire Valley

Your vacation begins in Paris, the French capital, world renowned for its romance, culture and cuisine. After checking in to our central hotel you are free to soak up the Parisian sights, scents, and flavors at leisure. Walking along the pedestrianized Seine riverbank is an ideal way to navigate the city and locate landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Arc du Triomphe.

From the Arc du Triomphe, you could wander down the famous shopping district, the Champs-Elysées, then maybe relax in the nearby Jardin des Tuileries, with its cooling water features and sculptures. You may also like to visit Notre Dame Cathedral, in the Île de la Cité, to see the progress of its restorations. This famous cathedral is reached by the oldest bridge in Paris, Pont Neuf. One way to quickly feel at home in Paris is by stopping at a characterful al fresco café, where you can watch the world pass by.

Overnight Paris.

A 17th-century masterpiece just outside the city beckons today, the sumptuous Palace of Versailles. This once-powerful complex includes over 2,300 rooms, all filled with stunning period decor. Also renowned for its art, the palace has over 60,000 pieces that reflect centuries of work.

With a Passport Ticket you have priority access to the palace itself and the surrounding gardens, whose fountains, immaculate lawns and ornate plants hint at the grandeur of the palace under Louis XIV.

There is time over lunch to dine independently in one of the onsite restaurants before boarding the Little Train to travel through the grounds to the Estate of Trianon, which houses two smaller palaces, the Queen's Hamlet, and colorful ornamental gardens.

At the end of the afternoon we are transferred back to our hotel before a free evening in enchanting Paris. Overnight Paris. 

• Breakfast

After a Continental breakfast at our hotel, we transfer by coach to Paris-Saint-Lazare station to board the train to Giverny in Normandy. This idyllic village was once home to one of the art world's giants, Claude Monet. Catch a glimpse of life through the artist's eyes with entrance to Monet's house and gardens and time to look around as you wish.

As you might expect from seeing his paintings, the artist's home was filled with color during his 40 years here. You can see the blue sitting room, yellow dining room, Monet and Alice's bedrooms and his first studio. Outside, you may recognize the gardens and ponds which inspired his 'Water Lilies' series.  

Following free time to admire the scenery, we return to the train station to continue the day's travels to Rouen, Normandy's capital. On arrival there is a short walk from the station to the hotel, then - after checking in - the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to explore this medieval city on your own before dinner at the hotel this evening. Overnight Rouen. 

• Breakfast, Dinner

A full-day sightseeing excursion by motorcoach takes us to the historic shores of Normandy, where wide sandy beaches harbor a harrowing past. On a morning guided tour by motorcoach, we step back to the 1940s and the height of World War II while exploring the beaches, bunkers, trenches, and gun posts.

Our tour takes in Sainte-Mère-Église, the first town liberated by American airborne troops at the end of World War II. Our nostalgic journey continues to Omaha Beach followed by free time to look around this poignant site independently, where you can see les Braves Sculpture and US St Lauren Cemetery.

We return by coach to our hotel in Rouen where there's a chance to look around this striking medieval city at leisure this evening, and to dine independently. Second only in size to Paris, the city has an elaborate Gothic cathedral, also called Notre-Dame, whose façade was painted dozens of times by Claude Monet, depicting the scene in different lights. Overnight Rouen. 

• Breakfast

Today takes us to the town of Saint-Malo on the English Channel, along a route filled with fascinating cities and scenic locations. Around mid-morning, we set off by motorcoach through Normandy's coastal towns. We pause enroute in Caen, known as William the Conqueror's city. Here, the 11th-century castle, the Château de Caen, sits as the town's centerpiece, besides two abbeys and an impressive selection of medieval buildings.

You are free to spend time exploring and lunching in Caen before we proceed to the glorious site of Mont Saint-Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage tidal island half a mile off the French coast. The island village is stacked like an architectural layer cake, with the Gothic Benedictine Abbey at the top. During our time here, you can stroll through the historic Old Town, walk the ramparts, and visit the abbey. On arrival in Saint-Malo this evening, we dine at a local restaurant. Overnight Saint-Malo.

• Breakfast, Dinner

From our base in the walled city of Saint-Malo we head to the small coastal commune of Cancale this morning, renowned for its oysters and shellfish. On a visit to La Ferme Marine, an oyster farm just outside the city, we are given a flavor of the local culture. During our tour of the farm, we hear about oyster harvesting techniques, sorting and washing processes. Tasting fresh, briny oysters straight from the emerald seawater is a highlight of the tour.

After a picnic lunch we head back into the village of Cancale, with a couple of hours to sightsee at leisure. You could wander along the waterfront, pop into some of the local shops, or visit the seashell museum. We return to Saint-Malo, where your evening is free. Maybe wander along the ancient granite ramparts or among its historic buildings, before finding a local place to dine independently. Overnight Saint-Malo.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Noble medieval architecture and enchanting French scenery guide the way for today's sightseeing expedition, which takes us to the Loire Valley city of Tours, with delightful stops enroute. We depart Saint-Malo by coach this morning, heading inland through lush countryside. Our first stop is Saumur, a riverside town founded in the 4th-century, with picture book castles, and surrounded by vineyards. There is free time for lunch and to look around this atmospheric town and view its ancient stone and timbered buildings.

This afternoon, we visit the impressive Royal Abbey of Fontevraud in the glorious Loire Valley, one of the largest surviving monastic cities from the Middle Ages. Founded in 1101, this World Heritage site extends over 32 acres. An audio-guided tour takes you through the scenic cloisters and beautiful buildings of the complex, where you can admire the well-preserved architectural details. The Plantagenet tombs are a particular favorite with visitors.

Our excursion ends in Tours, a city that was once the capital of France. After settling into our city center hotel there's time to discover the olde-world surroundings, ahead of tonight's dinner at the hotel. Overnight Tours. 

• Breakfast, Dinner

Besides being well-known for its fine wines, the Loire Valley is also celebrated for its elegant chateaux. Today we have the opportunity to visit three of these magical castles on a guided tour. Setting out by coach, we enter a fairytale landscape, arriving at Chenonceau Château, one of the most iconic castles in the Loire Valley. Here we have an audio-guided tour which explains why this unusual 16th-century castle was built over, rather than beside, the River Cher. Our excursion continues to Château du Petit Thouars, a castle that has passed directly from father to son since 1636. Our visit starts with an al fresco lunch overlooking the romantic setting, before wandering through the vineyard for a guided tour and a wine tasting. The final château we visit is the Château de Villandry, an estate whose hallmark is its elaborate Renaissance gardens. On a guided tour we look around the castle and its grounds, before returning to our hotel in Tours where the evening is yours to spend as you please. Overnight Tours.

• Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, we transfer to the station for a short train journey back to Paris where our tour began. Back in the beautiful city, the day is yours to sightsee at leisure. You could seek out a local café for a traditional French lunch, such as a croque monsieur (a delicious hot ham and cheese sandwich), moules-frites (mussels with a side of French fries) or relax at a pâtisserie with a coffee and pastry.

Art lovers could easily spend an engaging afternoon in the Centre Pompidou, with its vast contemporary art collection, the wonderful Musée d'Orsay, or the Picasso National Museum. Another must-see is the hill of Montmartre, with the stunning Basilica of Sacré-Cœur at its summit. The English-speaking bookshop, Shakespeare and Company, founded by American George Whitman in 1951, is on the Left Bank, opposite Notre-Dame. This legendary bookstore is situated at Kilometer Zero, the point at which all French roads begin.

For shopping, Galleries Lafayette is another Parisian institution. With so many parks, museums and districts to explore, your sightseeing choices are virtually limitless. Tonight is the last evening of our vacation and we end it in style with dinner aboard a cruise along the Seine, one of the world's most romantic rivers. We pass illuminated landmarks including the Eiffel Tower as we dine on quintessential French cuisine. Overnight Paris.

• Breakfast

Your tour of Paris, Normandy, and the Loire Valley concludes after breakfast this morning. You are free to transfer to the airport at leisure for your return flight home. Alternatively, speak to a Rail Specialist about extending your stay to explore more of Paris and its surrounding regions independently.

• Breakfast