Overview
Experience an incredible array of France’s most important cultural sites and alluring natural sights, from the iconic art and architecture of Paris to the sun-drenched Mediterranean seaside. Visit the historical WWII D-Day landing beaches of the Normandy coast; see ancient cave paintings along the Rhône River in Provence; and tour renowned vineyards in Bordeaux.
Days: 16
Best time to visit: April-June, September-November
Ideal for: Couples
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 – Paris
Arriving in Paris, settle into your boutique hotel in the heart of the city. Spend a relaxing morning in the Luxembourg Gardens, take a tour of the Eiffel tower, or stroll over to the Ile de la Cité to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral—enjoy your first day in France at your own pace.
Day 2 – Paris City Tour
With your private guide to tailor your experience to your interests, explore the best Paris has to offer on a walking and driving tour of the city. Visit the Palais Garnier, Sainte Chapelle, the colonnaded Pantheon, and the Latin Quarter. Head to the artist neighborhood of Montmartre and experience the famous cafés and shops of Place du Tertre, and take in amazing city views from the hilltop Sacré Coeur.
Day 3 – Paris Museums & Seine River Cruise
Start your day with a tour of the Louvre, the world’s largest art museum, and one Paris’ crowning cultural jewels. With an art collection that would take lifetimes to truly appreciate, get the most from this iconic museum with your private guide to help navigate between artistic masterpieces. This evening, depart near the Eiffel Tower on a luxury dinner cruise on the Seine, with elegant French cuisine and wine paired with live music and incredible views.
Day 4 – Monet’s Gardens, Honfleur & Bayeux
Today you travel westward by private transfer to the historic town Bayeux in Normandy. Along the way, stop in Giverny and visit Claude Monet’s home and the splendid gardens that featured in so many of his paintings. Or spend a couple of hours exploring Honfleur, a small fishing port nestled into the hills at the mouth of the Seine—another landscape that inspired Monet—before settling into Bayeux.
Day 5 – Normandy D-Day Tour
Normandy is steeped in history, and today you will embark on a private, full-day tour of the landing beaches and monuments of D-Day. Spared from the worst of WWII, Bayeux was the first French village liberated when the Allies landed. Visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, the Overlord Museum which showcases the planning behind the landings, Omaha Beach, and more.
Day 6 – Mont Saint-Michel
With your driver, travel southwest to the majestic Mont Saint-Michel, and join your guide for a private 2-hour tour of the fortified monastery. Sitting on a tidal island and historically accessible only at low tide, Mont Saint-Michel has served as a strategic base and monastic center since ancient times. After lunch on the ramparts, explore on your own before heading back to Bayeux, stopping at the copper workshops of Villedieu-les-Poêles on the way.
Day 7 – Fly to Bordeaux
This morning, you will be picked up at your hotel for a private transfer to the Caen Airport, where you will board and early afternoon flight to Bordeaux. You will be met at the airport and brought to your luxury hotel located amidst vineyards and forest just a short drive from Bordeaux’s center.
Day 8 – Bordeaux Wine Region
Join an experienced wine guide for a private, full-day tour of Bordeaux—one of the world’s premier wine regions—where you will explore the Pessac and Saint-Emilion areas, and enjoy tastings at Chateaux Grands Crus Classés. Between tours of vineyards and estates, you will also have the chance to explore well-preserved medieval villages set in this enchanting landscape.
Day 9 – Bordeaux Walking Tour
Known as a ‘City of Art and History,’ Bordeaux is brimming with 18th-century architecture. Today you will enjoy a private walking tour of the city, which will take you through cobblestone plazas and hidden courtyards, and along wide boulevards to see highlights like the neoclassical Grand Théâtre and Saint Andrews Cathedral.
Day 10 – Medieval Avignon
Board a late morning train to Avignon in southern France, where you will be met in the afternoon and taken to your hotel in the historic city center. Set on the banks of the Rhône River, Avignon is an enchanting city of medieval streets and houses, and filled with delightful cafés and restaurants.
Day 11 – Explore Avignon
Begin the day with a private, half-day tour of the city, starting with the Pont St-Bénézet, the ancient bridge of Avignon. Stroll through Old Town and visit the 12th-century Notre Dame des Doms, and the Palais des Papes, which was the papal residence during a turbulent time in Christian history when there was a pope both in Avignon and Rome.
Day 12 – Caves & Canyon
Today, enjoy a private, full-day excursion to Chauvet Cave and Ardèche Canyon. The cave paintings of Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc Cave, discovered only in 1994, are considered one of the most significant examples of prehistoric art in the world, dating back roughly 30,000 years. Beyond the cave, you will explore the iconic Gorges de l’Ardèche, a wild and beautiful landscape of steep cliffs and forested slopes along the clear, winding Ardèche River.
Day 13 – Èze & the French Riviera
This morning you will be picked up at your hotel for a private transfer from Avignon, across Provence, to the medieval village of Èze. En route, stop for lunch and some sightseeing in Aix-en-Provence, an ancient Roman city, before arriving in the clifftop village of Èze, overlooking the French Riviera. Settle into your château-style hotel, and explore the village’s ancient fortifications with stunning views over the Mediterranean.
Day 14 – Enjoy the French Riviera
Spend the day relaxing in Èze, or head down the coast to Nice for a stroll down the Promenade des Anglais and a day on the beach. Visit the Chagall Museum, stop into the Cours Saleya fruit and flower market, or climb up Colline du Château for sweeping views of the bay.
Day 15 – Explore Monaco
Explore the ancient village of La Turbie—named for the monument built by the Roman Emperor Augustus to celebrate his victory over local tribes in the first century—on your way to Monaco. Tucked between the Alps and the sea, this ancient city and modern microstate is synonymous with luxury. Take a private tour of the city and then experience the Palace of Monaco after its normal closing hours.
Day 16 – Departure
Transfer to Nice for your international flight home.
Remarkable Journeys has partnered with Lost World Adventures to create this journey. We partnered with Lost World due to their well-mannered relationships with tour guides, hotellers, airlines, and ground management services in the region. In our opinion, they offer the best value and experience in the region.
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