Your itinerary
16 Days ~ France
Tour Pace
A well-paced tour with two-night
stays in five
out of nine cities, with the
opportunity for some leisurely later
morning departures.
The journey by TGV train is a relaxing
way to return to the glittering city of
Paris.
DAY 1 – UK - PARIS
Welcome to Paris! After your
scheduled flight to Charles de Gaulle
Airport, there are complimentary
transfers to your Insight hotel at 09.00
& 12.30 hours. Relax and settle
in, or perhaps start exploring the
riches of this great capital. Don't miss
the
chance for a shopping spree in the
famous department stores or even the
elegant
designer boutiques of the Left Bank. In
the evening, you are invited to join your
Tour Director and fellow travellers for
a Welcome Drink. Hotel: Concorde
Ambassador/Paris
Rive Gauche.
DAY 2 – PARIS –
DIJON/BEAUNE
Head to the ancient capital of the
Champagne region,
Troyes: its magnificent centre of
medieval buildings is appropriately
shaped like
a Champagne cork. Continue into
Burgundy, famous for its fine wines,
stopping in
the famous wine village of Chablis to
taste the local nectar. Continue to Dijon
or Beaune for the next two nights.
Hotel: Sofitel La Cloche/ Hotel de
la Poste. (BB,D)
DAY 3
– VéZELAY EXCURSION
Drive through the leafy Burgundian
countryside
to Vézelay, built along a rocky
ridge among the northern Morvan foothills.
Tradition has it that Mary Magdalene was
buried here and from the famous basilica,
Richard the Lionheart set off for the
Crusades. Later, return to your hotel for
time at leisure. (BB)
DAY
4 – DIJON/BEAUNE –
CHAMONIX
A scenic symphony awaits you as you
head into
the high Alps, and climb towards Mont
Blanc and the ski resort of Chamonix.
Hotel:
Alpina. (BB)
DAY 5 –
CHAMONIX – AIX-LES-BAINS
After breakfast this morning, take a
breathtaking
drive to the lake-side town of Annecy.
There’s time to have lunch in the
Little
Venice area or take a boat trip.
Continue to your hotel in the spa town
of Aix-les-Bains,
situated on the edge of France’s
largest and most celebrated lake, Lac du
Bourget
and overlooked by Mt Revard. Hotel:
Radisson SAS. (BB,D)
DAY
6 – AIX-LES-BAINS –
NICE
Travel in the footsteps of Napoleon
as he made
his victorious return from Elba. A
scenic, rugged landscape leads from the
Alps,
down to the French Riviera and elegant
Nice. Hotel: Radisson SAS.
(BB)
DAY 7 – NICE AT
LEISURE
On a morning sightseeing tour,
journey to the
principality of Monaco, see the Grimaldi
Palace and visit the cathedral, burial
place of Princess Grace and Prince
Rainier. Enjoy a drive on the Grand Prix
circuit
and views of the port with its luxury
yachts. The rest of the day is set aside
for
you to enjoy the French Riviera.
(BB)
DAY 8 – NICE
– AVIGNON
Visit the medieval town of St Paul de
Vence, which
sits high above the Riviera beaches.
There is time to explore before continuing
to Cézanne’s home town,
Aix-en-Provence. Journey into the
Luberon, made
famous by Peter Mayle in his book
“A Year in Provence”, and
pass
around Cavaillon, the melon capital of
France, en route to Avignon. Hotel: Grand
/ L’Horloge. (BB,D)
DAY 9 – RHôNE
EXCURSION
A short distance from Avignon, see
the greatest
legacy of the Romans’ presence: the
incredible three tiered Pont du Gard. Head
towards the Rhône River and the
village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape to
taste
the renowned wine. Back in Avignon, take
a little train ride for an overview of
the town past the old Palace of the
Popes, and the ‘Pont
d’Avignon’ before taking time
to relax. (BB)
DAY 10
– AVIGNON –
NîMES
Drive to Arles, one-time home to Van
Gogh and
Roman legionnaires, and visit the
amphitheatre. Continue through the
Camargue to
Stes Maries-de-la-Mer, where Gypsies
gather annually to honour their patron
saint.
You may see flamingos and wild horses on
the way to Nîmes where, on arrival,
an orientation tour shows you the Roman
Arena and 2,000-year-old Roman Temple,
Maison
Carrée. Hotel: Imperator Concorde.
(BB)
DAY 11 – NîMES
– ALBI
After breakfast, cross the Languedoc
for a walking tour of the fortified town
of Carcassonne. Like stepping back in time,
the city has a complete set of ramparts
and a medieval keep. Later, continue to
your hotel in Albi, know for its
Cathedral and the birthplace of Toulouse
Lautrec.
Hotel: Hostellerie du Grand Sainte
Antoine**. (BB,D)
DAY 12 – ALBI –
DORDOGNE
Stop in Cahors, famous for its
‘Black Wine’,
before continuing to Rocamadour. A
resting place for pilgrims on their way
to Spain,
this tiny medieval town is perched on a
cliff side above the Alzou River. After
exploring the beautiful town and its
sanctuary, drive on to your hotel. Tonight,
enjoy a Highlight Dinner of local
specialities. Hotel: Relais de
Castelnau/La Truffe
Noire. (BB,HD)
DAY 13
– DORDOGNE VALLEY
EXCURSION
A morning drive take you into the
stunning Valley
of the Dordogne to visit the town of
Sarlat-la-Canéda with its fine
historic
golden limestone houses. Make your way
to the prehistoric site at Lascaux to view
the world-famous cave paintings. (BB,D)
DAY 14 – DORDOGNE
– PARIS
After stopping at the town of Limoges
to visit
a porcelain showroom, head to Poitiers
to board a TGV train for your fast and
comfortable
journey to Paris.
Hotel: Concorde Saint-Lazare/Paris
Rive Gauche. (BB)
DAY 15
– PARIS SIGHTSEEING
With a local guide, see Notre Dame
Cathedral before
driving past the façades of the
Louvre and along the Champs
Élysées
to the Arc de Triomphe. Stop for a photo
of the Eiffel Tower before enjoying a
scenic
cruise along the River Seine. The tour
concludes with a visit to Napoleon’s
tomb in the gilded Église du
Dôme. Perhaps celebrate the tour with
a farewell bistro dinner. (BB)
DAY 16 – PARIS - UK
The tour ends with complimentary
transfers to Paris airport at 7.30 &
11.00 hours.
(BB)
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