Welcome to Paris! Upon arriving at the airport, we will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. Check the information boards in the hotel reception area for details of the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travellers. In the evening, we provide a transfer to the Montmartre district. This neighbourhood is known for its painters, artists, and its cabarets. Choose from one of the many restaurants and sit down to a relaxing dinner. We ascend to the top of the hill by funicular to admire the spectacular views of Paris. After this we will return to hotel.
Today we take a guided tour to discover the history, main boulevards and the breathtaking monuments of Paris. We end the visit at the Eiffel Tower. You will have the opportunity to climb up to the second floor of this remarkable metal monument (ticket admission included). End your visit with a boat cruise along the River Seine, which divides the north of Paris from the south. Enjoy an afternoon of leisure to explore and relax! At sunset enjoy dinner in the Latin Quarter, a very picturesque historic area where a wide variety of international cuisines await you. We will then return to hotel.
Transfer to the centre of Paris and time at leisure. Today you have the option of visiting the Louvre Museum. At 16.30 we leave Paris for the Loire Valley. AMBOISE, arriving in the late afternoon, this city on the Loire River is well-known because Leonardo Da Vinci lived and died here, and it also has a large castle and a beautiful historic centre with narrow streets.
We continue on our way to the south of France. We cross lands of vineyards. BORDEAUX, time for lunch and a stroll through this city whose centre was declared a World Heritage Site. We suggest you know the Port of the Moon and the Cathedral of St Andrew. We continue towards the Pyrenees. LOURDES, arrival in the late afternoon. You can attend the candle procession (until the end of October) and visit the places of worship. We include dinner at the hotel for all our travellers!
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).
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. Check the time of your flight in case you need an additional night.