Itinerary for: Grand Tour of France (14FRAV/1)
14-Day Break
- Day 1 – Local departure by coach then onwards to the Rouen area for an overnight stay.
- Day 2 – Honfleur, Mont St. Michel and St. Malo. Overnight stay in St. Malo area. Honfleur, Mont St. Michel and St. Malo (included). A day exploring the beautiful Normandy coastline; Honfleur with its 17th century Old Dock, the Vieux Bassin was always a favourite for artists and still is – have your camera at the ready. We continue south through Normandy to the picturesque island site of Le Mont St. Michel with its impressive Abbey, then into Brittany to arrive in the fortified town of St. Malo, with its huge ramparts and city walls, which you can walk around. Explore the old centre, and the maze of streets, steeped in history, and perhaps try one of the famous ‘crêpes’. B,D
- Day 3 – To Tours for two nights, Amboise and Vouvray. Tours and Amboise (included); Winetasting in Vouvray (optional). We head for the Loire Valley where we spend two nights in Tours, a smart ‘bourgeois’ town with an appealing centre, and at one time the capital of France. Enjoy an included visit to Amboise, then why not join our optional winetasting in Vouvray, home of some fine white and sparkling wines. (Please note, château entrance fees are at an extra cost). B,D
- Day 4 – Loire Valley (included). Enjoy a full-day excursion exploring the lovely countryside and seeing the imposing châteaux of the Loire Valley. We begin at the leafy village of Azay-le-Rideau with its small, but incredibly beautiful château, which some claim was used as a model for Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. Then to the huge, beguiling edifice of Chenonceau, which spans the River Cher. (Please note that the reasonable entrance charges to the châteaux are at an extra cost). B,D
- Day 5 – Oradour-sur-Glane en route to Rocamadour for two nights. Oradour-sur-Glane (included). We visit the remembrance village of Oradour-sur-Glane, scene of an insane massacre of the villagers by the German SS in 1944. The village has been left exactly as it was during the war. B,D
- Day 6 – Rocamadour and the Dordogne (included). We spend a morning at leisure in Rocamadour, the important pilgrimage site, perched high on a limestone cliff overlooking the gorge of the River Alzou in the heart of the Dordogne. We also visit the wineproducing town of Cahors. B,D
- Day 7 – To Carcassonne area for an overnight stay. B,D
- Day 8 – Morning in Carcassonne, then via Béziers and the Grotte de Clamouse to Aix-en-Provence for three nights. Carcassonne, Béziers and the Grotte de Clamouse (included). Enjoy a morning at leisure exploring the majestic fortified city of Carcassonne. You can enjoy splendid views of the surrounding countryside and new town from the walls of the old city. We will later call at the medieval town of Béziers, where the Canal du Midi crosses the river by means of an aqueduct. We then continue to the famous Grotte de Clamouse, where we tour the cave and see the famous calcite and aragonite formations. B,D
- Day 9 – Bormes les Mimosas, Fréjus and St. Raphael (included). To the coast and the Côte d’Azur. Bormes les Mimosas is known as the most florally decorated village in France. The old houses are covered with pink tiles, the streets are lined with flowers and the medieval village is a delight. Then to Fréjus and St. Raphael, two striking riviera resorts, both with charming old centres, fine beaches and home to the rich and famous – indeed St. Raphael is one of the richest towns on the Côte d’Azur. B,D
- Day 10 – Gorges du Verdon (optional). Spend a day in Aix-en-Provence or perhaps our optional tour to one of the most impressive natural sights in Europe might tempt you. This dramatic gorge, created over millions of years, is a sight not to miss as the pretty River Verdon flows through this precipitous valley. This spectacular natural canyon divides the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, and the Var. We enjoy a scenic drive through part of the gorge, stopping to admire the breathtaking views. B,D
- Day 11 – Ardèche Tour en route to the Lyon area for overnight stay. Ardèche Tour (included). On our way north to the Lyon area we explore a region of France which boasts incomparable delights. Wild, rugged yet intensely beautiful scenery abounds in the Ardèche and we will see quaint villages clinging to the hillsides, as well as the famous Gorges de l’Ardèche. Steep cliffs carved after millions of years of erosion are stunning as is the Pont d’Arc, a natural limestone bridge over the river (pictured above) created by the elements. B,D
- Day 12 – North to the Paris area for a two-night stay. B
- Day 13 – Paris (included); River Seine Cruise (optional). Enjoy a full day in the ‘city of lights’. Join our optional guided sightseeing tour, seeing many of the sights, including the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Champs Élysées, Place de la Concorde and Notre Dame Cathedral. For a different view of the city, there’s an optional hour-long River Seine cruise, complete with English commentary, that drifts past elegant buildings and beneath historic bridges. B
- Day 14 – To Calais, then return home. B
Included Meals: B=Breakfast, D=Dinner
Notes
Prices are per person, based on two sharing
Extras:
- Optional excursions
- Single room supplement £385
- Travel insurance from £45.95