Overview
This fabulous 8-day trip showcases the best that historic and
cultural France has to offer. A carefully-designed tour that begins and ends in
enchanting Paris, the world’s most romantic city, the main highlights include
the grandeur of the Palace of Versailles; Chartres, which for many is France’s
best cathedral; the idyllic abbey and village of Mont Saint-Michel rising
dramatically from the sea; the fascinating medieval centre of Tours; prestigious
Renaissance monuments such as the Château de Blois and much much more. The
artistic journey is embellished throughout with plentiful fine French cuisine
and perhaps a few drops of the world’s best wine, and is sure to leave abundant
everlasting memories.
Itinerary
Touring: Paris - Mont St.
Michel - St. Malo - Nantes - Angers - Tours -
Orleans - Gien - Briar - Montargis - Fontainebleau
Day 1: Paris
Airport arrival,
then transfer to your hotel. After check in, an
afternoon city tour of the best sights in the world's
most romantic city. There is then time to spend at
your leisure, followed by dinner in an atmospheric
Parisian restaurant. (D,O)
Day 2: Paris - Versailles -
Chartres
A morning visit to the glorious Palace
of Versailles. After free time for lunch, we visit
the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Notre Dame
cathedral in Chartres, perhaps the finest of all
French Gothic cathedrals, with sightseeing around
lovely Chartres itself. (B,D,O)
Day 3: Chartres - Mont St. Michel
- St. Malo
Departure to UNESCO world heritage
site Mont St Michel with free time for lunch en
route. The fabulous little island with its historic
abbey and beautiful village is a tourist mecca. Then
leave for the beautiful walled port city of St Malo.
(B,D,O)
Day 4: St. Malo – Nantes – Angers
- Tours
Our first stop is gorgeous Nantes. Visit
the ancient Dukes of Brittany Castle with its
splendid courtyard, then enjoy sightseeing around
town. Onward to the imposing Angers fortress, and to
medieval Tours with dinner and overnight. (B,D,O)
Day 5: Tours – Amboise – Blois –
Chambord - Orleans
After breakfast, view the
fabulous half-timbered medieval buildings of Tours
with its fine cafe-filled squares. Then we go to the
stunning Château de Blois, one of France's most
prestigious Renaissance monuments and a favourite
home of French kings. (B,L,D,O)
Day 6: Orleans – Gien – Briar -
Montargis – Fontainebleau
Joan of Arc's pretty
Orleans on the mighty Loire River has much to see
within its old walls. We also visit Anne of Beaujeu's
Castle of Gien, the magnificent aqueduct at Briare
and Montargis, that calls itself the Venice of
Gâtinais for its 127 bridges. (B,D,O)
Day 7: Fontainebleau – Paris
A morning visit to the world famous UNESCO-listed
Fontainebleau Palace which every French king rightly
cherished and embellished with the stunning work of
their best artists, painters, sculptors, architects
and gardeners. After lunch, return to romantic Paris.
(B,D,O)
Day 8: Paris
Free time before
your airport transfer can be used to visit artistic
Montmartre and the dramatic Church of Sacre Coeur.
Transfer to the airport (B)
B=Breakfast; L=Lunch;
D=Dinner; O=Overnight;