Romantic France

Climb to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. Boat ride along the Seine. Evening transfer. Today we will take you on a guided tour in which you will discover the history, main boulevards and the breathtaking monuments of the city of Paris. We will stop at the Eiffel Tower where you will have the opportunity to climb up to the second floor of this remarkable wrought-iron monument (ticket admission included). The tour will end with a boat cruise along the River Seine, which divides north and south Paris. Enjoy an afternoon at your own leisure to explore and relax! At sunset you can grab dinner in the Latin Quarter, a very picturesque and historic area where a wide variety of international cuisines await you. We will then return to hotel. Note: There might be very long lines to climb the Eiffel Tower. For operational reasons, if deemed appropriate, the climb can be made at a different time of the day (or on Monday).

We will start the day by transporting you to the Louvre Museum area in the centre of Paris. You will have some free time to explore at your own leisure. If you wish, we can accompany you to Benlux, which is one of the most complete and best-known perfumeries in Paris. At around 16:30h we will leave Paris for the Loire Valley. We will arrive in AMBOISE in the late afternoon. This city, which sits on the Loire River, is well-known thanks to Leonardo Da Vinci, who lived and died there. It also has a large castle and a beautiful historic town center with quaint narrow streets.

We will continue on our way to the south of France. We will cross lands full of vineyards. BORDEAUX, where we will have time for lunch and a stroll through this city, whose centre was declared a World Heritage Site. We suggest you visit the Port of the Moon and St Andrew’s Cathedral. We will then continue towards the Pyrenees. LOURDES, arrival in the late afternoon. You can attend the candle procession (which takes place until the end of October) and visit the places of worship. We include dinner at the hotel for all our passengers.

Following the Pyrenees, we stop at SAINT BERTRAND, a medieval town hung on the mountainside, dominated by its great cathedral. Time for a stroll before continuing to CARCASSONNE, a city surrounded by the most beautiful walls in Europe. Time to stroll and have lunch. In the afternoon, we continue to MARSEILLES, France’s second city, to see its vibrant “Vieux port” (old port). Note: If the group is small, the section from Carcassonne to Marseilles may be done by train (our guide will give you the tickets and inform you, and another different guide will be waiting for you upon your arrival in Marseilles).

Villages, landscapes, history, today we see some of the most beautiful places in Provence. ARLES, a world heritage city, shows us its legacy of the Roman and medieval times and reminds us of Van Gogh. In LES BEAUX, we have the chance to visit this small medieval village and we will include admission to the CARRIERES DE LUMIERE, an impressive show of art, image and sound underground, in some former quarries. Time for lunch and stroll in AVIGNON, with its immense Palais des Papes. We continue to LYON, where we can walk through the World Heritage Site old town and we will include the cable car to climb Notre Dame de Fourviere, a huge basilica from where we have a great view over the city.

We will leave Lyon for Burgundy. We stop at TOURNUS, a nice little town with its huge stone door and large abbey. After this, on small roads we travel through beautiful vineyards and countryside to LA ROCHEPOT, we include admission to its powerful medieval castle. BEAUNE, time for lunch and stroll in the wine capital of Burgundy; you can visit the wine museum or see the historic hospice. In the early afternoon, arrival in DIJON, the capital of Burgundy, with its lively streets, magnificent urban complex and many medieval and Renaissance buildings, particularly the Ducal Palace.

We leave Dijon for FONTENAY ABBEY, a world heritage site, where we include admission to this Cistercian centre. After this, a stop in SEMUR EN AUXOIS, a medieval city surrounded by impressive walls. Still in Burgundy, we will have time for lunch and a stroll in VEZELAY, one of France’s most beautiful villages, where its immense basilica was one of the starting points of the Way of St James. In the afternoon we continue our route to PARIS. Arrival mid-afternoon. End of our services. Please, check the time of your flight in case you might need an additional night.