Beyond Paris
Castles - Beaches -  

Itinerary

Day 1 - Thursday, : Your Hometown

Your vacation begins when you board your overnight flight to Paris. Plan your flight to arrive on Friday. Remember you are flying home from Nice!

Day 2 - Paris

Upon arrival at the Paris airport take a shuttle to our hotel. Check-in and receive your 2 day Paris hop on hop off bus pass. Arrive early and enjoy the day in Paris.

Paris is steeped in history and packed full of world famous landmarks, A hop on hop off bus is by far the best way to see the capital. Enjoy great views from the open top deck of your bus and see the sites of Paris that you choose. The bus offers 4 different routes and it is valid for 2 consecutive days. The Paris Grand Tour will take you to all the main sights, while the other 3 routes concentrate on particular areas (Montparnasse/St Germain tour, Montmartre/Grands Bouleverds tour and Bastille/Bercy tour).

Meet in the hotel lobby for an optional dinner at 7:00pm

Day 3 - Paris to Caen, Normandy

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at our hotel. Then continue to enjoy the sights of Paris using the hop on hop off bus.

Later that afternoon we will meet at our hotel for a transfer to the Paris train station and board our train to Caen. Almost completely destroyed in 1944 during WWII, it is a remarkable that Caen has kept so many of its historical monuments given the terrible battle that besieged the town following the Normandy beach landings.

Upon arrival in Caen the group will transfer to our hotel for check-in and our Welcome Dinner.

overnight Caen

Day 4 - Normandy

Today we drive along some of the D-Day Beach. Visit the Invasion Landings Museum at Arromaches; see the American Military Cemetery of St Laurent and visit the Peace Memorial.

Enjoy a sunset stroll along the picturesque old port of Honfleure, and the coastal resort of Trouville-Sur-Mer or the prestigious Deauville.

overnight Caen

Day 5 - Mont St Michael - St Malo

As we leave the Normandy Beaches our first glimpse of Mont St Michael will be an unforgetable experience.

In 708, a dream led Saint Aubert, bishop of Avranches, to create a shrine to Saint Michael. Mont-Saint-Michel became one of the major pilgrimage destinations in medieval Christendom. Our guided tour will include The Abbey, a UNESCO site, perched precariously on a 264-foot high rocky islet surrounded by over half a mile of massive walls and reached by a steep climb up winding streets.

Then we drive to St Malo and our hotel. Check-in and then free time to explore the fortifed port and to shop or stroll along the harbor.

Day 5 - St Michael to Le Mans to Tours

After breakfast we drive towards the Loire Valley, stoping at Le Mans, a truly unique city, world-famous for the 24-hour La Mans car race first held in 1923. There is far more to Le Mans than just its legendary motor sports past; the Old Town area features ancient Roman walls, a true labyrinth of winding alleyways, and many old buildings.

Tour the Le Mans racetrack and The Musée de l'Automobile, including a superb collection of 150 cars from as far back as 1885 to recent winners.

Enjoy a free afternoon in Tours, famous for its original medieval district, called le Vieux Tours . Unique to the Old City are its preserved half-timbered buildings and la Place Plumereau, a square with busy pubs and restaurants, whose open-air tables fill the center of the square.

Day 6 - Loire Valley to Bordeaux

Guided visit of three of the most impressive castles in the Loire Valley.

The royal Château de Chambord, the largest castle in the Loire Valley was constructed as a hunting lodge by King François I in part to be near to his mistress and was never completed.

Chateau de Blois has been the residence of several French kings and also where Joan of Arc received a blessing from the Archbishop of Reims in 1429 before departing with her army to drive the English from Orléans.

Beyond the memorable visit to Castle Chenonceau discoveri the two renowned and magnificent gardens that Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici have given their names to.

Early evening train to Bordeaux and transfer to our hotel.

Day 7 - Bordeaux

Morning free to sleep late, explore or shop the city of Bordeaux. The historic part of the city is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble" of the 18th century. In the heart of Bordeaux is Rue Sainte-Catherine, a pedestrian only shopping street with .75 miles of shops, restaurants and cafés; it is also the longest shopping street in Europe.

Discover the secrets of Bordeaux and see the vineyards that have made Bordeaux wines world famous on this afternoon's guided tour. Then we will taste some of the finest wines in the region.

Day 8 - Boudeaux to Marseilles to Nice

Early morning transfer to train station and our 6:25am train to Marseilles. Arrive in Marseilles for lunch and a few hours at the Old Port, lined by its quais, filled with fishing boats and yachts, and surrounded by small streets teeming with seafood restaurants and shops. The wide streets offer leisurely strolling and many terrace cafes. Make a "loop" of the Old Port, walking around three sides and then taking the little ferryboat across from one side to the other.

Board our train for Nice. Upon arrival we will transfer to our hotel and check-in. Time for dinner and a leisurely walk. Overnight Nice

Day 9 - Nice

Discover this picture-postcard city on the French Riviera on our morning walking tour of Nice. Its maze of staircases and lanes, fine Baroque churches, a bustling flower market and the famed Promenade des Anglais. Visit Old Town, site of the trading center founded by the Greeks 2,700 years ago.

After our group tour, the afternoon is free – perhaps you might pick up some fresh local fare and head across to the buzz of activity that is the Promenade des Anglais. A hot spot for street theatre, locals artists, ‘the beautiful people’ and visitors alike

Day 10 -  Nice - Depart Home

Say Au Vois to Nice as your France vacation ends and you are transferred to the Nice airport for your return flight home.