Paris, Provence & the French Riviera

Your French vacation begins as you land in Paris and transfer independently to our hotel near the Place du Trocadéro. You can check in from 3 P.M. or leave your luggage if you arrive early.

Perfectly situated for exploring the city, stepping on to the street reveals a picture-perfect view across the River Seine to Paris' most famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower. The afternoon is free to unwind or begin your explorations. You could visit famous sights, walk along the Seine's banks or stroll to the end of our street and sit down in a traditional sidewalk café, embracing the Parisian lifestyle.

Meeting the Tour Manager and traveling group at the hotel early this evening, enjoy a welcome drink and snacks. Dinner is at leisure tonight and there is no shortage of options in the capital of this gastronomic country. Overnight Paris.

After breakfast at our hotel, we embark on a sightseeing tour of Paris this morning.

From the iconic Eiffel Tower near our hotel, we view the French capital's other renowned landmarks. Our explorations also take us along Champs-Élysées - one of the world's most famous streets - to the Arc de Triomphe. Located on the highest hill in northern Paris, the well-preserved quartier of Montmartre reflects a picture-perfect France of centuries past, providing excellent views across the city and of its crowning beacon, the swirling domes of Sacré-Cœur Basilica.

The afternoon is free for you to explore further. Art lovers could easily spend an engaging few hours in the galleries and museums of Paris, such as the Petit Palais, Musée d'Orsay or the Picasso National Museum. The legendary English-language bookshop, Shakespeare and Company, founded by American George Whitman in 1951, is opposite Notre-Dame Cathedral. For dinner this evening, you could seek out signature Parisian dishes, ranging from steak-frites in a traditional brasserie to French onion soup or duck confit in upmarket restaurants. Overnight Paris.

• Breakfast

France is one of the most famous and respected wine producing countries in the world, and the Champagne region is beloved by many for its sparkling variety. Located east of Paris, we head to its capital, Reims, by First Class rail.

On arrival, we enjoy a tour of the city, viewing its astonishing cathedral. Dating from the 13th century, this soaring Gothic masterpiece was where the kings of France were crowned. Next door, we find the Palace of Tau, a former bishops' residence that is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, containing many tapestries, statues and historic treasures.

There's free time for lunch before a vacation highlight - a tour of one of Reims' world-renowned Champagne houses. A wine-growing region since Roman times, it was monks in the early 18th century that gave Champagne its signature sparkle that has since become a byword for luxury. After our tour, we return to Paris by rail and enjoy a three-course dinner at our hotel. Overnight Paris.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Another of France's iconic cities beckons after breakfast. Leaving Paris by First Class rail, we journey through the heart of France on a high-speed TGV train.

Our destination is Lyon, nestled at the meeting point of the Rhône and the Saône rivers. With its riverside location, the beautiful pinks, oranges, reds and whites of its waterfront buildings provide a glimpse into the city's elegance. Despite its UNESCO-listed Old Town and silk-weaving history, Lyon is most famed for its gastronomy and was home to many celebrated chefs including Paul Bocuse. For lunch, we experience traditional Lyonnaise cuisine at a bouchon - a convivial inn that focuses on authentic and hearty dishes.

Afterward, we tour the city, viewing the hilltop Fourvière Basilica and the district known as Presqu'île. Translating as 'almost an island' this peninsula between the two rivers is the newer town and hosts many grand buildings from the 17th century onward. With free public transport provided by an included 24-hour Lyon City Card, you can dine independently tonight and could opt for nouvelle cuisine, which was created in this city. Overnight Lyon.

• Breakfast, Lunch

There's a morning at leisure after breakfast today for you to explore more of Lyon. Your included Lyon City Card includes admission to the Musée des Confluences, a sightseeing cruise on the Saône, and access to Vieux Lyon and its traboules (hidden passageways). Alternatively, wander through the expansive 19th-century Parc de la Tête d'Or, where you can find a botanical garden, the city zoo and a contemporary art gallery.

This afternoon, we head out on a coach tour of a local wine-growing region for a memorable experience. Some of the world's most famous wines are produced between Dijon to the north and Avignon to the south. To the north of Lyon are the Beaujolais vineyards, famed for their light and fruity reds made from the gamay grape. Getting closer to Mâcon, the villages of Morgon, Fleurie and Juliénas produce some of the region's most prestigious crus.

Returning to Lyon this evening, we enjoy dinner at our hotel. Overnight Lyon.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Lyon after breakfast, we reboard the high-speed TGV in First Class and enjoy a short journey along the Rhône to the historic Provençal city of Avignon.

There's time to find lunch independently after we check in to our hotel near the station. This afternoon, we get to know Avignon on a walking tour, accompanied by an expert guide. Along the way, we take in landmarks such as the 12th-century Pont St. Bénezet, the bridge that featured in the popular children's song Sur le Pont d'Avignon. All but four of its arches were washed away by a devastating flood in 1668, and the surviving arches are an iconic symbol of the city.

After the tour, there's some time to explore at your own pace and you could choose to enter the four-towered Palais des Papes, one of the largest Gothic buildings in Europe and once the seat of the papacy during the 14th century. Back at our hotel this evening, we sit down for a three-course dinner. Overnight Avignon.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Founded as a Roman spa town in 123 B.C., Aix-en-Provence is our first destination after a short First Class rail journey this morning.

A guided tour of this historic city showcases its timeless appeal, from its narrow streets that reveal small squares and flowing fountains around almost every corner to its plane tree-lined Cours Mirabeau. Afterward, there's time at leisure to explore independently and you learn more about the lives of Aix's famous residents including artist Paul Cézanne and author Émile Zola.

There's time to find lunch independently before we transfer by motorcoach to the glistening French Riviera resort of Nice. This evening is free to dine independently, and you might like to seek out some typical local cuisine, such as fresh Salade Niçoise, the savory onion tart called pissaladière or the delicious vegetable stew, ratatouille. Overnight Nice.

• Breakfast

After breakfast at our hotel, we explore Nice on a guided coach tour. In the historic Old Town, a jumble of alleyways lined by centuries-old buildings, we see the Opera House, the colourful flower market, and Nice's striking cathedral. We also enjoy tastings of local specialties as we explore, offering a flavour of this attractive city and its history.

This afternoon, you are free to explore this artistic city at your own pace. The Musée National Marc Chagall honours the Belarussian-born French artist and pioneer of modernism, while the Matisse Museum in Cimiez, contains Fauvist works by Henri Matisse, who spent many years in Nice.

One of Nice's most popular locales is the famous Promenade des Anglais, a shimmering palm-lined seafront looking out onto the Mediterranean Sea. As you walk along here, you could visit the Hotel Negresco for a famous Royal Negresco cocktail containing champagne and flakes of gold. Overnight Nice.

• Breakfast

Our final full day in France begins with a motorcoach journey along the Lower Corniche Road to Monaco. Winding around the coast, we bask in fantastic views of the azure Mediterranean.

The world's second-smallest sovereign state, Monaco is renowned as a playground for the rich and famous. Led by an expert guide, we discover the principality's most iconic sights, beginning by viewing the world-famous Monte-Carlo Casino. Our tour also provides the opportunity to witness the time-honoured Changing of the Guards ceremony at the Palais du Prince, the residence of the current Prince of Monaco. There's free time afterward to experience Monaco on your own.

Leaving Monaco, we stop in nearby Èze. This medieval village of labyrinthine lanes is set high on a rocky peak. Overlooking the terracotta rooftops sits Èze's ruined castle and an unusual cactus garden, the ideal spot to look out across the scenic Côte d'Azur. Back in Nice this evening, we gather at our hotel for our final dinner together. Overnight Nice.

• Breakfast, Dinner

From the iconic landmarks of Paris to the gleaming French Riviera, this exploration of France has revealed its timeless elegance and gastronomic excellence. After basking in views of the Eiffel Tower, we visited the Champagne capital of the world, then headed to the country's gastronomic center, Lyon. Here, we enjoyed local flavors at an authentic bouchon and tasted wonderful wines. Avignon and Aix-en-Provence revealed history stretching back to the Roman Empire, while Nice and Monaco allowed us to experience the glamour of the sun-kissed French Riviera.

After breakfast this morning, your vacation comes to an end and you can begin your journey home.

• Breakfast