Highlights
- See the lights of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower
- Go on a treasure hunt through the world's largest art museum
- Spot privateer forts and defensive towers as you sail around the Gulf of Saint-Malo
- Take a guided walk across the tidal sands of Mont-Saint-Michel
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Paris, Eiffel Tower Visit, Seine Dinner Cruise | Paris |
| Day 2 | Musée du Louvre Treasure Hunt, Pâtisserie Tasting Tour | Paris |
| Day 3 | Parisian Painting Class, Free Afternoon | Paris |
| Day 4 | Train to Saint-Malo, Vintage Sidecar Tour | Saint-Malo |
| Day 5 | Saint-Malo Gulf Cruise, Sand Yachting Adventure | Saint-Malo |
| Day 6 | Full-Day Mont-Saint-Michel Experience with Tidal Walk | Saint-Malo |
| Day 7 | Train to Paris, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Paris, Eiffel Tower Visit, Seine Dinner Cruise
Welcome to Paris, the City of Light! Upon arrival at the airport, you'll be picked up by a private driver and transferred to your hotel. After taking some time to settle in at your accommodations, set out for your first look at the city. France's capital is considered the European epicenter of culture, art, fashion, and food—not to mention a rich history that spans more than 2,000 years.
Of course, nothing says Paris like a trip to the Eiffel Tower! Built for the 1889 World's Fair, this 1,063-foot (324 m) steel structure is one of the city's primary landmarks. There are elevators to take visitors to the upper levels, but active kids might enjoy making the 600-step climb to the second level, which has an observation deck that showcases the whole city. If heights aren't a concern, ascend in a glass-walled elevator all the way to the top, where you'll find breathtaking, unobstructed views.
When it's time for dinner, return to the base of the Eiffel Tower to board a Seine river cruise. Once you're aboard, parents will be greeted with a glass of bubbly while kids can head to the deck to watch the city's illuminated landmarks start to glide past. Settle in at your window table, enjoy the live music, and dine on a multicourse menu as you pass iconic sights like the Musée du Louvre, Notre-Dame, and Le Grand Palais Garnier.
Day 2: Musée du Louvre Treasure Hunt, Pâtisserie Tasting Tour
Begin your day at the world's largest art museum—the Musée du Louvre. Although it's tempting to stand lost in wonder at the masterpieces before you, there's also work to be done: a family treasure hunt, culminating in a prize hidden under the glass pyramid! This is a private tour that will bring art history to life for the whole family as you go on a scavenger hunt through a range of collections—Egypt and the Near East, ancient Greece and Rome, and the Renaissance.
Day 3: Parisian Painting Class, Free Afternoon
If the whole family was inspired by yesterday's time at the Louvre, you're in luck—today you'll get behind the canvas yourselves and create your own masterpieces under the tutelage of a local Parisian artist. Step into your teacher's private studio, gather your easels and painting supplies, and get to work creating your own watercolor or acrylic inspired by the city around you. Creative parents are welcome to join in, and you'll end the 2.5-hour experience with artworks to take home as a reminder of your Parisian adventure.
Later this afternoon, you might want to spend some time visiting another one of the city's kid-friendly museums, such as the Cité des Sciences (Science & Industry Museum), with exhibits specifically designed for children, or the Natural History Museum and Zoo, which has an interactive kids' gallery. Or, challenge the family to some climbing with a visit to the hilltop district of Montmartre. Visit the Basilica de Sacré-Cœur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart) and wander the streets and squares that inspired the Impressionists, then let the kids ride the beautifully preserved carousel at the base of the hill.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Train to Saint-Malo, Vintage Sidecar Tour
It's time for a change of scene! Your next destination is the fortified town of Saint-Malo. Located in France's Brittany region, this port city once served as a stronghold for pirates, with tall granite walls surrounding the atmospheric Old Town district. This is also the perfect base for exploring the nearby island settlement of Mont-Saint-Michel, one of Brittany's most iconic sites. Check out of your Paris hotel in the morning and head to the train station for the scenic, 2.5-hour journey.
Arrive and check in at your accommodations, then get ready to explore the city and its surroundings in style as you settle into a vintage motorcycle sidecar and set off on a private ride around the fortified walls and along Brittany's legendary coastline. Guided by a friendly local driver, you'll hear stories of daring privateers and maritime adventurers as you soak up panoramic views of the surrounding Emerald Coast. After an hour of comfortable cruising, your guide will drop you back in the Old Town, where you can indulge in some Breton culinary traditions like crêpes and cider.
Day 5: Saint-Malo Gulf Cruise, Sand Yachting Adventure
Start this morning down at the harbor, where you'll join a local sailor for a relaxing one-hour cruise around the Gulf of Saint-Malo. Cruise under the Tour Solidor, a medieval tower that guards the port, and glide past Bizeux Rock, a tiny islet topped with a statue of the Virgin Mary. The kids will love spotting the 17th-century Fort du Petit Bé, an island fortress flanked by iron cannons, and hearing local legends about the area's swashbuckling past from your skipper, who comes from a long line of Saint-Malo fishermen.
Back on dry land, descend beneath the city ramparts to the golden sands below, where you'll spend two hours experiencing the exhilarating sport of char à voile (sand yachting). Harness the Brittany coasts' famous wind in these lightweight, three-wheeled vehicles, which kids as young as nine can pilot under the guidance of an expert instructor. Families with younger ages might want a quieter afternoon, building sandcastles at the Grand Plage (Big Beach), a long stretch of white sand along the edge of town, or paddling in the shallows of Plage du Mole, a smaller pebbled beach with gentle waves and warm water.
Day 6: Full-Day Mont-Saint-Michel Experience with Tidal Walk
Grab your walking shoes and make sure to eat a hearty breakfast—you're off on a full-day adventure to the tidal island and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mont-Saint-Michel. Sitting in the Couesnon River estuary and crowned by the walls of a towering Benedictine abbey, this pilgrimage site dates back to the eighth century, with several buildings added to it throughout the Middle Ages. With the help of a private guide, you'll start your explorations from the village's entrance, walking along ancient streets and passing traditional timber-framed architecture.
Visit the vast abbey and its ramparts, whose setting has inspired countless artists, and listen as your guide shares lesser-known tales and legends about Mont-Saint-Michel through the ages—don't be surprised if you feel like you've fallen back into the medieval era! Later on, it's time for the highlight of the day when you step out into the bay itself for a guided walk across the tidal sands. Learn how the dramatic tides shape the landscape, experience the surprising (and safe) sensation of quicksand, and end back at the village, where you'll have free time to explore before returning to Saint-Malo.
Day 7: Train to Paris, Depart
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