France in a nutshell - 17 days
From EUR 6'740
This journey across France, from Normandy to the Côte d'Azur in 17 days, arouses a range of emotions. In Normandy, respect and admiration are in order at the D-Day sites. In Brittany, the ruggedness of the coasts and Celtic legends create a mystical fascination. The Loire Valley, with its majestic castles, evokes a romantic feeling. Paris, vibrant with its cosmopolitan energy, offers an experience that is both exhilarating and intimate. In Provence, the tranquility of the landscapes and hilltop villages provides meditative peace. On the Côte d'Azur, between sparkling beaches and elegant cities, an atmosphere of relaxed glamor reigns. Together, these regions offer a symphony of emotions to visitors, from poignant history to natural beauty, from the romance of castles to Mediterranean elegance. A trip not to be missed in your life!
Day 1 / always a Monday: Meeting and start of the trip
Meet at 11 a.m. at a hotel near CDG. Meeting with your French and English speaking guide (who will accompany you throughout the tour) and departure to Normandy. First stop at the village of Giverny to visit Monet's gardens. Then, free time to discover the historic old town of Rouen. Night in Rouen.
Day 2 / Tuesday: Normandy
Visit the Cliffs of Etretat, like in the series Lupine on Netflix, a geological marvel. After crossing the Normandy Bridge over the Seine, we stop at Honfleur, a former fishing village, today a favorite destination for Parisians. Night in Caen.
Day 3 / Wednesday: D-DAY
The Normandy beaches are where everything happened on D-Day. Tribute to the fallen soldiers at the American cemetery at Omaha Beach before reaching Pointe du Hoc. Continue towards Bayeux.
Day 4 / Thursday: Mont Saint Michel
Morning dedicated to visiting Mont Saint Michel and its abbey. In the afternoon (210 km), road to Angers located between the Loire and the Maine. Night in Angers
Day 5 / Friday: Cointreau factory & Villandry Castle
Discover how the famous Cointreau drink is made, before heading to the Château de Villandry and its large garden. Night in Tours.
Day 6 / Saturday: Chenonceau Castle
Visit the world-famous Chenonceau castle, then stop in Amboise for free time. Night in Blois.
Day 7 / Sunday: King's castle of Chambord and the Cathedral of Chartres
The magnificent Château de Chambord awaits your visit, before reaching Chartres (130 km). Visit Chartres Cathedral, and see the illuminated monuments of Chartres after dark (in season - variable). Night in Chartres.
Day 8 / Monday: Paris, the city of lights
Today, enjoy a 3-hour guided city tour by coach and a 2-hour guided walking tour of the Louvre Museum. Arrival at your hotel near CDG airport.
Day 9 / Tuesday: TGV to Marseille
Day of transfer to the south of France, with the TGV. Arrive at Marseille train station where you will meet your local English-speaking guide (who will be with you for the duration of the second leg of the combined tour). Arrival in the south of France and check-in at your hotel.
Day 10 / Wednesday: Les Baux de Provence and world-famous Pont du Gard
Visit the small village of Les Baux de Provence before reaching the world famous Pont du Gard. Arrival in the afternoon in Avignon. 2 nights in Avignon.
Day 11 / Thursday: Avignon, discover Provençal life.
3-hour guided walking tour of the city in the morning, including entry and visit to the Palais des Papes and the Bénézet Bridge. Free afternoon to explore the city ad libidum.
Day 12 / Friday: The Luberon
Visit to the Luberon Natural Park in the heart of Provence. Photo stop in Gordes and its world-famous Sénanque Abbey with its lavender fields (in season). Other photo stops are on the program, including a visit to one of the most beautiful villages in France. 2 nights near Aix en Provence.
Day 13 / Saturday: Aix en Provence
Morning guided walking tour of the town of Cézanne and free afternoon.
Day 14 / Sunday: Croisette in Cannes, the artists’ village of Saint Paul de Vence
This tour would not be complete without visiting Cannes and the famous Croisette, best known for its international film festival. On the road to Nice, a stop at the artists' village of Saint Paul de Vence is essential. 3 nights near Nice.
Day 15 / Monday: Monaco and Eze
Monaco is definitely one of the highlights of this circuit, with its small port with gigantic yachts, its Formula 1 circuit and its royal life. Also enjoy a free visit from a perfumer in the small village of Eze, also offering a bird's eye view of the Baie des Anges.
Day 16 / Tuesday: Nice, Capital of the Côte d’Azur
Today, 3-hour guided tour of the city of Nice by coach, with certain parts on foot, and visit to the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, an architectural jewel on the Cap-Ferrat promontory with no less than 9 gardens.
Day 17 / Wednesday: Departure day.
Use the hotel shuttle (or a taxi) to get to Nice International Airport when your flight departs.
Meet at 11 a.m. at a hotel near CDG. Meeting with your French and English speaking guide (who will accompany you throughout the tour) and departure to Normandy. First stop at the village of Giverny to visit Monet's gardens. Then, free time to discover the historic old town of Rouen. Night in Rouen.
Day 2 / Tuesday: Normandy
Visit the Cliffs of Etretat, like in the series Lupine on Netflix, a geological marvel. After crossing the Normandy Bridge over the Seine, we stop at Honfleur, a former fishing village, today a favorite destination for Parisians. Night in Caen.
Day 3 / Wednesday: D-DAY
The Normandy beaches are where everything happened on D-Day. Tribute to the fallen soldiers at the American cemetery at Omaha Beach before reaching Pointe du Hoc. Continue towards Bayeux.
Day 4 / Thursday: Mont Saint Michel
Morning dedicated to visiting Mont Saint Michel and its abbey. In the afternoon (210 km), road to Angers located between the Loire and the Maine. Night in Angers
Day 5 / Friday: Cointreau factory & Villandry Castle
Discover how the famous Cointreau drink is made, before heading to the Château de Villandry and its large garden. Night in Tours.
Day 6 / Saturday: Chenonceau Castle
Visit the world-famous Chenonceau castle, then stop in Amboise for free time. Night in Blois.
Day 7 / Sunday: King's castle of Chambord and the Cathedral of Chartres
The magnificent Château de Chambord awaits your visit, before reaching Chartres (130 km). Visit Chartres Cathedral, and see the illuminated monuments of Chartres after dark (in season - variable). Night in Chartres.
Day 8 / Monday: Paris, the city of lights
Today, enjoy a 3-hour guided city tour by coach and a 2-hour guided walking tour of the Louvre Museum. Arrival at your hotel near CDG airport.
Day 9 / Tuesday: TGV to Marseille
Day of transfer to the south of France, with the TGV. Arrive at Marseille train station where you will meet your local English-speaking guide (who will be with you for the duration of the second leg of the combined tour). Arrival in the south of France and check-in at your hotel.
Day 10 / Wednesday: Les Baux de Provence and world-famous Pont du Gard
Visit the small village of Les Baux de Provence before reaching the world famous Pont du Gard. Arrival in the afternoon in Avignon. 2 nights in Avignon.
Day 11 / Thursday: Avignon, discover Provençal life.
3-hour guided walking tour of the city in the morning, including entry and visit to the Palais des Papes and the Bénézet Bridge. Free afternoon to explore the city ad libidum.
Day 12 / Friday: The Luberon
Visit to the Luberon Natural Park in the heart of Provence. Photo stop in Gordes and its world-famous Sénanque Abbey with its lavender fields (in season). Other photo stops are on the program, including a visit to one of the most beautiful villages in France. 2 nights near Aix en Provence.
Day 13 / Saturday: Aix en Provence
Morning guided walking tour of the town of Cézanne and free afternoon.
Day 14 / Sunday: Croisette in Cannes, the artists’ village of Saint Paul de Vence
This tour would not be complete without visiting Cannes and the famous Croisette, best known for its international film festival. On the road to Nice, a stop at the artists' village of Saint Paul de Vence is essential. 3 nights near Nice.
Day 15 / Monday: Monaco and Eze
Monaco is definitely one of the highlights of this circuit, with its small port with gigantic yachts, its Formula 1 circuit and its royal life. Also enjoy a free visit from a perfumer in the small village of Eze, also offering a bird's eye view of the Baie des Anges.
Day 16 / Tuesday: Nice, Capital of the Côte d’Azur
Today, 3-hour guided tour of the city of Nice by coach, with certain parts on foot, and visit to the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, an architectural jewel on the Cap-Ferrat promontory with no less than 9 gardens.
Day 17 / Wednesday: Departure day.
Use the hotel shuttle (or a taxi) to get to Nice International Airport when your flight departs.
What is not included:
- Lunches and dinners
- Personal expenses
- Flight or train to the starting location of the tour (Paris CDG Airport) and ending location of the tour (Nice International Airport)
- Travel insurance
- Transfer to Nice airport on day of departure - please use hotel shuttle
- Any other expenses not mentioned in "what is included"
Highlights
- Not to missed visits: Monet's Gardens, Abbey of Mont Saint Michel, D-Day sites, Cointreau factory, Castles of Villandry, Chenonceau and Chambord, the Louvre Museum, Les Baux de Provence, Pont du Gard UNESCO site, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Monaco & Eze.
- 16 nights in tourist class hotel (3 stars French classification), with breakfast and city hotel taxes
- Transportation in modern air-conditionned véhicule for the duration of the tour, including parking fees and tolls
- TGV Train from Paris to Marseille en day 9, in 2nd class cabin
- French/English-Speaking guides for the duration of the tour, except on transfer day (day 9)
- Plenty of free time to explore on your own or to relax
Route
- Paris
- Rouen
- Omaha Beach
- Le Mont-Saint-Michel
- Chambord
- Arles
- Vers-Pont-du-Gard
- Aix-en-Provence
- Monaco-Ville
- Nice