FRANCE 2012

Meet at the designated point and travel by coach to visit the Latin Quarter, the Marias District, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower (second floor) followed by a Seine River cruise.

You will be met at your hotel and transferred to the Louvre Museum and guided visit of priceless works of art in the main exhibition rooms. You may extend your visit on the day. In the evening meet at the designated point for dinner at the Moulin Rouge followed by a fabulous show.

After breakfast you will be met by your driver and private transfer to the airport or station.

Disneyland Park: meet at the designated point and depart by deluxe coach to Disneyland Paris where you will visit one park at your own leisure. Return to Paris.
Walt Disney Studios: meet at the designated point and depart by coach to the Studios where you will spend the day at your own leisure. Return to Paris.

Breakfast and full day at leisure.

Your tour will end after breakfast.

You will be picked up from your hotel and travel to Barbizon. The town became famous in the 19C with the patronage of Millet, Rousseau and Stevenson. Across the woods to Fontainebleau Castle once a Royal residence. Lunch at l'Ecureuil (at the Vaux le Vicomte site). Visit the Castle and gardens with the audio guide.

Meet at the departure point for your excursion to the Loire Valley, a favourite of France’s royals, they left many castles of architectural elegance and known as the Garden of France. Guided visit of Chenonceau Castle spanning across the Cher River, hear about the history of the Castle. (Lunch included in winter, 01Nov-31Mar). Also view Amboise or Chenonceau.

From the departure point visit what was once a ‘village’ at the top of Montmartre crowned by the white Sacred Heart Basilica, it became a rendezvous for famous artists. Guided tour of the village and Place du Tertre. At the Louvre Museum, your guide will show you the highlights. You can extend your visit.

Early pick up from your hotel. Through the landscapes of Normandy to Mont Saint Michel Abbey, a medieval pilgrimage venue listed as a WHS. Lunch at the restaurant Relais Saint Michel. Guided visit of the Abbey and free time before your return to Paris.

Your tour coes to an end after breakfast.

Meet at the designated point and depart for Normandy. Visit to the Memorial Peace Museum of Caen followed by a documentary. After lunch at Caen Memorial, we visit the Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach and Saint Laurent at Colleville sur Mer for the American Cemetery. En route to Paris we will stop at Arromanches.

You will be picked up at your hotel and travel to Giverny and visit Monet’s residence and gardens, view the Japanese Bridge, the water garden of this genius of Impressionism. As you lunch observe the peacefulness of Giverny. On our return to Paris visit Versailles.

Meet at the departure point for your tour of the Loire Valley, France’s Royals left many castles and the area is known as the Garden of France. Guided visit of the wonderful Chenonceau Castle spanning across the Cher River. Stop also at Amboise or Chenonceau on our return to Paris.

After breakfast your day is at leisure in Paris.

From the designated point commence your tour. Visit the beautiful Notre Dame, Montmartre and the white Sacred Heart Basilica, a favourite rendezvous for famous artists. Tour the village and Place du Tertre. Your guide will show you the highlights of the Louvre Museum, your visit can extend until evening.

Your tour comes to an end after breakfast

Visit St Malo, city of the pirates. In the afternoon guided visit of the Mont Saint Michel Abbey. Dinner at your hotel, the Mercure Lac de Maine in Angers

Travel through Cunault and Saumur. External visit of Langeais Castle and the Castle in Amboise with time at leisure. External guided tour of Chenonceau Castle Cheverny or Chambord. Evening return to Paris.

Afternoon guided visit of the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel. Dinner and overnight in Angers at the Mercure-Lac de Maine (or similar).

Travel through Cunault and Saumur. External guided tour of the Castles in: Langeais, Amboise, Chenonceau, Chambord and Cheverny. Visit the Clos-Lucé, Leonardo da Vinci’s last dwelling and the Gardens of Villandry ending at the Mercure Tours Nord (or similar).

Guided visit of the historic centre Tours. Evening return to Paris.

(22.5km) After crossing magnificent landscapes of pine woods and olive groves arrive at your hotel in Tarascon. Dinner at restaurant in town centre.

(22.5km) Breakfast, before joining the long-distance path leading to Les Baux via the Alpilles mountain passes. Dinner and night at hotel.

(9.5km) Breakfast, before continuing your walk along the mountain passes to Saint Rémy de Provence. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

(18 km) Breakfast, followed by a round trip of the most beautiful but toughest leg of your trip! Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

(15 km) You will take Chemin de Maussane which runs along the limestone foothills of the Alpilles. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Your Provence experience comes to an end after breakfast.

(22.5km) After crossing magnificent landscapes of pine woods and olive groves you arrive at your hotel in Tarascon. Dine at a restaurant in the town centre.

(41km) Today's itinerary is through country lanes crossing "Mas" (farmhouses) and crops. Dine at a restaurant in the town centre. Overnight at your hotel in Arles.

(41km) The Camargue landscapes offer striking contrasts to those of Provence. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Les Saintes Maries de la Mer.

(36km) This itinerary follows the sea dyke and leads you into the very heart of Camargue. Dinner and overnight at your hotel Le Sambuc

(63 km) From Sambuc, you will head towards Arles then Maussane les Alpilles. After visiting Les Baux you will descend into the Val d'Enfer (Valley of Hell!) towards Saint Rémy. Dinner at your hotel.

Your Provenece experience comes to an end after breakfast.

(22.5km) After crossing magnificent landscapes of pine woods and olive groves arrive at your hotel in Tarascon. Dinner at restaurant in the town centre.

(41km) Today's itinerary heads along country lanes crossing "Mas" (farmhouses) and crops. Dinner at restaurant in town centre. Night at hotel.

(21 km) You will cross the villages of Le Paradou and Maussane, then head across olive groves and vineyards to Les Baux de Provence.

(28 km) Today's itinerary crosses the Vallée des Baux, Maussane and Eygalières, via Chemin du Destet.

(20 km) Departure from "Les Antiques" in Saint Rémy to Les Baux and return.

(16 to 21 km)You will take the country lanes crossing Eyragues and Châteaurenard to arrive back at your initial hotel.

Your Provenece experience comes to an end after breakfast.

After breakfast depart for excursion to the vineyards, visiting four different wine cellars. Meet the winemakers who will discuss the art of winemaking and tasting their wine.

Your wine experience comes to an end after breakfast.

Breakfast. Open the roof top and choose your itinerary for the day Sainte Victoire or the Blue Coast.

You will be transferred to Aix or Marseille Airport before midday where the tour ends.

Enjoy an independent visit of Arles with a city pass that allows you to visit all the monuments, such as the Roman Amphitheatre, Arena, Baths of Constantin and the lively city centre. Return to the Péniche.

Your unique experience comes to an end after breakfast.

Panoramic tour of the historic centre of Bordeaux. Then on to charming medieval Saint Emilion renowned for its vineyards, its history and the monolithic church. After wine tasting at a classified grower discover the town at your leisure.

Visit the lowlands of the Medoc a unique geological area suited to vineyards and where producers follow old traditional methods to gain the finest red wines. Along the châteaux route, view the Château Margaux, then wine tasting of two Medoc wines and five Bordeaux wines.

Graves is the only sub region which is famed for Bordeaux's three main wine types: reds, dry whites, sweet wines. Visit and wine taste in two famous chateaus of the Pessac or Graves varieties. To the Sauternes, made from Semillon, taste it a renowned grower.

Your tour comes to an end after breakfast.

Morning guided walking tour of historic Sarlat. Then to the village of La Roque Gageac and Boat trip on the Dordogne aboard an authentic Gabarre. We reach the quaint villages of Beynac and Domme and free time to explore both.

Excursion to the Padirac Abyss, a 75m chasm after the visit, boat trip in the Abyss. Then to the fortress town of Rocamadour and the renowned Notre Dame Chapel, one of the most dramatic pilgrimage sites in Europe. Finally the beautiful Gardens of Eyrignac Manor.

Some 15,000 years bC unknown painters created breath taking cave paintings of which the most extraordinary are found in Dordogne. Visit the National Prehistoric Museum in Les Eyzies. View original Cave paintings in Rouffignac and in Lascaux II the reproduction of the original cave.

View Lot, Carsac-Aillac and Montfort along the Dordogne Valley. The medieval fortress Castelnaud Castle, nce a rival of Château de Beynac. Milandes Castle was the house of the Lords of Caumont. We end the day at Marqueyssac Castle and Gardens, a National Historical site, with 6km of shaded paths, edged with 150,000 hand-pruned boxwoods.

Your tour comes to an end after breakfast.

Guided walking tour of charming Sarlat. From the village of Beynac board the boat on the Dordogne River to La Roque Gageac on the river with overhanging cliffs. Guided visit of the National Prehistoric Museum in Les Eyzies de Tayac. Visit Lascaux II a perfect reproduction of the original cave. Return to Sarlat.

Visit of the authentic cave paintings of Pech Merle. Then at leisure to explore St Cirq Lapopie, quoted as one of the most beautiful villages of France. Visit the Pont Valentré medieval bridge in Cahors. Return to Sarlat

Your tour comes to an end after breakfast.

Graves is the only sub region which is famed for Bordeaux's three main wine types: reds, dry whites, sweet wines. Visit and wine taste in two famous chateaus of the Pessac or Graves varieties. To the Sauternes, made from Semillon, taste it a renowned grower.

Enjoy morning at leisure before afternoon transfer to Sarlat for overnight.

Morning guided walking tour of historic Sarlat, including the famous markets. We drive to the village of La Roque Gageac and boat trip on the Dordogne aboard an authentic Gabarre. To the quaint villages of Beynac and Domme with time at leisure to explore both.

Excursion to visit the Padirac Abyss, a 75m chasm, then boat trip in the Abyss. We continue to the dramatic fortress town of Rocamadour, the Notre Dame Chapel is a renowned pilgrimage site. Finally stop at the beautiful Gardens of Eyrignac Manor.

The amazing Cave Paintings have been dated to 15,000 years bC the most extraordinary are found in the Dordogne area. In Les Eyzies visit the National Prehistory Museum at leisure. In Rouffignac Cave see authentic paintings, then, view the perfect reproduction at Lascaux II. Return to Sarlat.

Your tour comes to an end after breakfast.

Discover the natural beauty of the “Moyenne Corniche”, stops on the way en route to Monaco. We visit the eagle nest village of Eze and the Perfume laboratory. Stroll the historic centre of Monaco and visit the Cathedral. Drive along the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit. Return to Nice via the Basse Corniche.

Breakfast and full day at leisure

Your tour comes to an end after breakfast.

On your full day visit Mont Alban, Nice and Villefranche. Stop at medieval Eze overlooking the sea. Discover the art of making perfume. In Monaco visit the Cathedral, then, follow the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit. Discover the artistic atmosphere at Saint Paul de Vence. View “billionaires quay” in Antibes and stroll the “Croisette” in Cannes.

Breakfast and full day at leisure

Your tour comes to an end after breakfast.

Visit Antibes Port, the old town and the exclusive Cap d’Antibes. View of Cannes from Croisette Boulevard, guided visit at the perfume laboratory. To Gourdon the most magnificent medieval village on the Riviera. Followed by Tourrettes sur Loup, the village of violets. Then to the artistic jewel, Saint Paul de Vence.

Panoramic of the town from Castle Hill once a Greek settlement. The Musee Chagall and Matisse in Cimiez, Queen Victoria’s winter Palace, the Franciscan Monastery, the Roman ruins and garden. View the Russian Church, the largest outside Russia and stroll along La Promenade des Anglais.

Full day at leisure. Picked up in the evening for a drive along the “Moyenne Corniche” to Monaco, external view of the Prince’s Palace and at leisure to absorb the extravagant atmosphere. Panoramic drive on the Basse Corniche on your return to Nice.

Your tour will end after breakfast.

We start touring the beautiful town of Antibes, followed by a coastal drive to Cannes and panoramic of the city. Guided visit to the perfume laboratory Fragonard in Grasse.

The quaint village of Gourdon is set in a beautiful landscape after a visit we continue to the provincial village of Tourrettes. Absorb the artistic atmosphere view the impressive ramparts at the charming St Paul de Vence.

Across the Italian border to visit the renowned market in Sanremo. Time at leisure to try the local cuisine. Travel through Menton and Roquebrune Cap Martin to Monaco. Then reach Monte Carlo via the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit.

Your tour will end after breakfast.