French Sampler
This tour is an ideal introduction to the major regions and sights of France. We start in Paris, the magical City of Lights, then continue on to the D-Day beaches of Normandy, visit palaces and castles in the Loire River Valley, explore pre-historic cave paintings in the Dordogne, taste wine and picnic among the vineyards of Burgundy, wander through the sun-bleached hill villages of Provence and wind up the tour on the glamorous French Riviera.
Not currently scheduled. As shown, this tour is for 17 nights, 18 days. Rates priced from $3800 per person, based on eight people sharing four double rooms.
To schedule a tour like this for your own private group, or to find out about future tours like this, please contact us.
NOTE: This tour is sold out. To schedule a tour like this for your own private group, or to find out about future tours like this, please contact us.
To schedule a tour like this for your own private group, or to find out about future tours like this, please contact us.
NOTE: This tour is sold out. To schedule a tour like this for your own private group, or to find out about future tours like this, please contact us.
Day 1: Arrive in Paris, where you'll be met by your guide and transported to our hotel in the city center. After settling in we'll take an orientation walk that includes Notre-Dame cathedral and the Latin Quarter (D).
Day 2: Paris. In the morning we'll tour the Louvre, one of Europe's greatest museums. The afternoon is free for you to wander, sightsee and shop on your own (B).
Day 3: Paris. Today we'll tour the Orsay Museum, home to France's greatest Impressionist painters. Afternoon free: visit the top of the Eiffel Tower on your own, shop, or sit in a café (B).
Day 4: Normandy. We leave behind the big city and make our way to the lush green countryside of Normandy. Along the way we'll stop to visit Monet's house and gardens at Giverny before continuing on to Honfleur, our seaside village home (B, D).
Day 5: Normandy. Today we'll tour the main sights connected to D-Day, including the American Cemetery and Omaha Beach. Late afternoon return to Honfleur (B).
Day 6: Normandy. Mont St Michel, a stone abbey perched on a rock island off the coast of Normandy, is one of the most evocative sights in France. We'll tour the abbey this morning, then leave some free time for you to explore the village and bay before returning to Honfleur for the evening (B).
Day 7: Loire Valley. From Normandy we'll head inland to the Loire Valley, the 'salad bowl' of France. Along the way we'll stop to tour Chartres cathedral, with some of the finest stained glass in Europe (B, D).
Day 8: Loire Valley. During the Renaissance, the Loire Valley was a favorite playground for the rich and nobel of France, who built hundreds of palaces and castles. Today we'll tour Chambord and Chenonceaux, two of the finest palaces in the valley. Late afternoon back in our village, where you can relax, shop, or visit Le Clos Lucé, Leonardo daVinci's last home (B).
Day 9: Dordogne. Heading deep into the southwest of France we'll make our first stop at Oradour sur Glane, a village completely destroyed during WWII and left as a stark reminder of the costs of war. In the afternoon we continue on to a small villlage in the Dordogne River valley, one of the least touristed regions of France (B, D).
Day 10: Dordogne. This area of France is home to hundreds of pre-historic sites, including 10,000 year old cave paintings and carvings. We'll tour a cave with some of the finest paintings in the region, then visit a small medieval village (B).
Day 11: Burgundy. Our longest drive of the trip will take us about five hours across the Massive Central, a large, sparsely populated mountain range in central France. In the late afternoon we'll arrive in a small village in Burgundy, where we'll have an orientation walk and a guided wine tasting (B, D).
Day 12: Burgundy. This region epitomizes everything French: great food, great wine, regional cheeses, freshly baked bread, and beautiful countryside. After touring Beaune's Hotel Dieu, a 15th-century hospice, we'll spend the afternoon picnicking and wine tasting in the countryside (B).
Day 13: Provence. From the lush countryside of Burgundy we'll jump south, into the arid Mediterranean climate of Provence. Along the way we'll drive through the Luberon, one of the most scenic parts of Provence. We'll visit several hilltop villages, and visit a 1000-year old monastery before settling into our home village of St. Remy for the evening (B, D).
Day 14: Provence. Day trip to Orange, where we'll see one of the best preserved Roman Theaters in the world. Later we'll taste wine in Chateauneuf du Pape, and leave some free time to explore in Avignon before returning to St. Remy for the night (B).
Day 15: Provence. Following the footsteps of Van Gogh, we'll visit Arles, where he spent some of his happiest months, and tour the mental asylum where he spent one of his most productive years. Late afternoon return to St. Remy (B).
Day 16: French Riviera. This morning you'll have time to wander St. Remy's weekly market, one of the finest in France. In the early afternoon we'll drive the last leg of the tour, to a small Mediterranean village between Nice and Monaco (B).
Day 17: French Riviera. In the morning we'll visit the spectacular home and gardens of one of Europe's wealthiest families, then leave some free time to explore the old town and beachside promenade in Nice (B, D).
Day 18: Fly home from Nice, or continue on in Europe on your own (B). The tour will start September 1, 2009 in Paris, France and end on Sept 18, 2009 in Nice, France.
Day 2: Paris. In the morning we'll tour the Louvre, one of Europe's greatest museums. The afternoon is free for you to wander, sightsee and shop on your own (B).
Day 3: Paris. Today we'll tour the Orsay Museum, home to France's greatest Impressionist painters. Afternoon free: visit the top of the Eiffel Tower on your own, shop, or sit in a café (B).
Day 4: Normandy. We leave behind the big city and make our way to the lush green countryside of Normandy. Along the way we'll stop to visit Monet's house and gardens at Giverny before continuing on to Honfleur, our seaside village home (B, D).
Day 5: Normandy. Today we'll tour the main sights connected to D-Day, including the American Cemetery and Omaha Beach. Late afternoon return to Honfleur (B).
Day 6: Normandy. Mont St Michel, a stone abbey perched on a rock island off the coast of Normandy, is one of the most evocative sights in France. We'll tour the abbey this morning, then leave some free time for you to explore the village and bay before returning to Honfleur for the evening (B).
Day 7: Loire Valley. From Normandy we'll head inland to the Loire Valley, the 'salad bowl' of France. Along the way we'll stop to tour Chartres cathedral, with some of the finest stained glass in Europe (B, D).
Day 8: Loire Valley. During the Renaissance, the Loire Valley was a favorite playground for the rich and nobel of France, who built hundreds of palaces and castles. Today we'll tour Chambord and Chenonceaux, two of the finest palaces in the valley. Late afternoon back in our village, where you can relax, shop, or visit Le Clos Lucé, Leonardo daVinci's last home (B).
Day 9: Dordogne. Heading deep into the southwest of France we'll make our first stop at Oradour sur Glane, a village completely destroyed during WWII and left as a stark reminder of the costs of war. In the afternoon we continue on to a small villlage in the Dordogne River valley, one of the least touristed regions of France (B, D).
Day 10: Dordogne. This area of France is home to hundreds of pre-historic sites, including 10,000 year old cave paintings and carvings. We'll tour a cave with some of the finest paintings in the region, then visit a small medieval village (B).
Day 11: Burgundy. Our longest drive of the trip will take us about five hours across the Massive Central, a large, sparsely populated mountain range in central France. In the late afternoon we'll arrive in a small village in Burgundy, where we'll have an orientation walk and a guided wine tasting (B, D).
Day 12: Burgundy. This region epitomizes everything French: great food, great wine, regional cheeses, freshly baked bread, and beautiful countryside. After touring Beaune's Hotel Dieu, a 15th-century hospice, we'll spend the afternoon picnicking and wine tasting in the countryside (B).
Day 13: Provence. From the lush countryside of Burgundy we'll jump south, into the arid Mediterranean climate of Provence. Along the way we'll drive through the Luberon, one of the most scenic parts of Provence. We'll visit several hilltop villages, and visit a 1000-year old monastery before settling into our home village of St. Remy for the evening (B, D).
Day 14: Provence. Day trip to Orange, where we'll see one of the best preserved Roman Theaters in the world. Later we'll taste wine in Chateauneuf du Pape, and leave some free time to explore in Avignon before returning to St. Remy for the night (B).
Day 15: Provence. Following the footsteps of Van Gogh, we'll visit Arles, where he spent some of his happiest months, and tour the mental asylum where he spent one of his most productive years. Late afternoon return to St. Remy (B).
Day 16: French Riviera. This morning you'll have time to wander St. Remy's weekly market, one of the finest in France. In the early afternoon we'll drive the last leg of the tour, to a small Mediterranean village between Nice and Monaco (B).
Day 17: French Riviera. In the morning we'll visit the spectacular home and gardens of one of Europe's wealthiest families, then leave some free time to explore the old town and beachside promenade in Nice (B, D).
Day 18: Fly home from Nice, or continue on in Europe on your own (B). The tour will start September 1, 2009 in Paris, France and end on Sept 18, 2009 in Nice, France.
Price includes: accommodations in comfortable, characteristic hotels, all in central locations; all ground transportation from arrival in Paris to departure from Nice; breakfast each morning; other meals as indicated in the itinerary (L=lunch, D=dinner); entry and tour of all sights mentioned in the itinerary; the services of your Hand Crafted guide, who also acts as driver, interpreter, and window on European culture and history.
Not included: airfare to and from Europe; meals not indicated in the itinerary; free time transportation and sightseeing.
Not included: airfare to and from Europe; meals not indicated in the itinerary; free time transportation and sightseeing.