Highlights
- Walk through the gilded halls and manicured gardens of Versailles
- Visit the D-Day beaches of Normandy and see the famed Bayeux Tapestry
- Cross the tidal causeway to the island abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel
- See Leonardo da Vinci's final resting place in the Château d'Amboise
- Indulge in world-class gastronomy in the markets and restaurants of Bordeaux
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Paris, Evening at the Eiffel Tower | Paris |
| Day 2 | Pastry Tour of Le Marais, Afternoon at the Louvre | Paris |
| Day 3 | Day Trip to Versailles | Paris |
| Day 4 | Tour the Île de la Cité & Paris Catacombs | Paris |
| Day 5 | Drive to Bayeux, Afternoon City Tour | Bayeux |
| Day 6 | Tour of D-Day Beaches & Sites | Bayeux |
| Day 7 | Day Trip to Mont-Saint-Michel | Bayeux |
| Day 8 | Drive to Tours, City Walking Tour | Tours |
| Day 9 | Day Trip to Chambord & Chenonceau | Tours |
| Day 10 | Visit Château de Clos Lucé & Royal d'Amboise | Tours |
| Day 11 | Drive to Bordeaux, L'Apéritifs & Dinner | Bordeaux |
| Day 12 | Morning Market Visit, Bordeaux Bike Tour | Bordeaux |
| Day 13 | Oyster Tasting & Wine in Saint-Émilion | Bordeaux |
| Day 14 | Depart Bordeaux |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Paris, Evening at the Eiffel Tower
Welcome to Paris, the City of Lights! This elegant capital boasts centuries of history, art, fashion, and, of course, romance. Upon arrival, you'll be picked up from the airport and transferred to your hotel by private car. Get settled in, then head out for your first look at the city.
In the evening, meet with your private guide for a 3.5-hour exploration of the Trocadero Esplanade and Eiffel Tower. Start at the Trocadero to see its statues, monuments, and city views. Continue to the "Iron Lady" herself with skip-the-line tickets, giving you the most time to visit both floors and take in the incredible twilight views from the top.
Day 2: Pastry Tour of Le Marais, Afternoon at the Louvre
Eating pastries and enjoying art are synonymous with French culture, and you'll get to do plenty of both today. Start with a tour of Le Marais with a hyper-local guide (a neighborhood resident, in fact!) to explore the neighborhood's secret cafés and taste some of the best-baked goods in the city. Spend two hours sampling crépes, crème brûlée, pain au chocolat, espresso, chocolates, macarons, and more.
Visit the city's oldest food market, the Marché des Enfants Rouges, and try your hand at haggling for your favorite treat. As you walk, learn about world-famous pastry chefs: Poîlane, Jean-Paul Hévin, Jacques Genin, Pierre Hermé, and others. In the afternoon, it's time to explore the Louvre, the world's largest art museum. Skip the lines and head right to the classics, as well as your personal favorites. See iconic works like the "Venus de Milo" and the "Mona Lisa" up close, then get some fresh air afterward at the tranquil Jardin des Tuileries.
Day 3: Day Trip to Versailles
In the morning, venture outside the capital with a day trip to the resplendent Palace of Versailles. Take the train there, then make your way directly inside with your skip-the-line tickets to spend a few hours exploring the palace and grounds. Travel back in time as you discover what life was like living in the splendor of the court of the kings and queens of France. Your historian guide will walk you from hall to gilded hall, pointing out ornately painted ceilings, the Hall of Mirrors, and the private royal quarters.
After touring the castle, head outside to the manicured gardens and lawns, where a dazzling display of flowers and exotic plants delights visitors of all ages. Enjoy lunch near the castle, then take the train back to Paris for a free afternoon in the city. Shop, enjoy the fresh air in one of the many parks, or explore one of the city's many world-class art museums.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Tour the Île de la Cité & Paris Catacombs
Spend the morning exploring the heart of Paris: the Île de la Cité, located on an island in the middle of the Seine. Start the tour at the world-famous Notre-Dame Cathedral, a 12th-century masterpiece of architecture that celebrated its triumphant reopening in December 2024 after the devastating 2019 fire. Even from the outside, the building's grandeur and history inspire a sense of awe.
From here, cross over the Seine to explore the northern edge of the vibrant Latin Quarter, including Paris's oldest streets. End your tour with a visit to the iconic Shakespeare & Co. bookstore, whose colorful history includes acting as a meeting place for the greatest beatnik minds in Europe and hosting generations of weary writers among its bookshelves in exchange for a day's work.
In the afternoon, venture underground to discover the city's shadowy depths and explore its darkest secrets. Hidden deep inside the maze of underground tunnels, you'll find spine-tingling discoveries: millions of skeletons arranged in bizarre configurations, hidden doors, and more. This tour will peel back the layers of the Catacombs to reveal bone-chilling tales of murder, massacre, revolution, and a few ghost stories to boot!
Day 5: Drive to Bayeux, Afternoon Walking Tour
Pick up your rental car this morning and set off on a four-hour drive from Paris toward the city of Bayeux, located about 160 miles (260 km) northwest of the capital near the Normandy coast. After checking into your hotel, meet your guide for a walking tour of the historic city. One of today's highlights includes a visit to the Tapestry Museum, home to the medieval Bayeux Tapestry that depicts the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
As the first town to be liberated after D-Day and one of the only places to have emerged from World War II nearly unscathed, Bayeux retains much of its old architecture. Spend the day exploring the city's narrow streets, lined with traditional wooden-framed Norman houses, and admire the Gothic cathedral. In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Art and History Baron Gerard to learn about the lace and porcelain that made Bayeux so rich.
Day 6: Tour of D-Day Beaches & Sites
You'll spend today discovering the powerful legacy of D-Day on Normandy's landscape, as well as its effect on the world. Your local specialist, an expert on the Battle of Normandy and the five landing beaches (Utah, Omaha, Gold, Sword, and Juno), will walk you through an emotional day. You'll navigate famous scenes of war, memorialized by the films "The Longest Day" by Darryl Zanuck or "Saving Private Ryan" by Steven Spielberg.
Pay tribute to the armed forces who fought to end the war on this day as you visit Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery, and D-Day Experience (an interactive 3D movie theater that chronicles the day's events.) At the end of the eight-hour tour, return to Bayeux for the evening.
Day 7: Day Trip to Mont-Saint-Michel
Spend today exploring Mont-Saint-Michel. This UNESCO-listed abbey sits on an island in the middle of a tidal bay, connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway. Its roots date back to the eighth century CE, and it remains an important pilgrimage site to this day. When the tide is out, you can venture across the causeway on foot, catch a ride with a horse-drawn wagon for a scenic approach, or walk across the sand with a trained guide to the base of the fortifications like the pilgrims used to (the quicksands make it dangerous to cross alone).
Your guide will walk you through the main building, pointing out the history of various rooms and halls. Mont-Saint-Michel is remarkably well-preserved, with huge fireplaces still showing signs of soot from centuries of use. After exploring the castle and the surrounding gardens, head downhill to the town, where you'll find souvenir shops, cafés, and art galleries. You can expect lots of walking today on steep staircases and wet sand, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket for the brisk ocean breeze.
Day 8: Drive to Tours, City Walking Tour
Leave Normandy behind today as you get back on the road toward inland France. Your destination is the Loire Valley, located about a three-hour drive away. Arrive and check in to your hotel in Tours, then meet up with your private guide for a walking tour of the city. Tours was once the capital of the Kingdom of France, and its Old Town is one of the oldest preserved urban areas in Europe. On your guided stroll, you'll see some of the city's most important landmarks, like Les Halles, Place du Grand Marché, the Church of Sainte-Croix, Place de Châteauneuf, and more.
Later in the afternoon, you could hop back in the car and spend some time discovering the Loire Valley on your own. This UNESCO-listed landscape is dotted with over 300 historic châteaux, and the longest wine route in France winds past villages, gardens, and royal abbeys in a landscape of hills and plains. More than one thousand vineyards are open to the public, including 400 specially accredited wine cellars, where you can meet the winemakers and taste their world-class wines. From massive wine cellars to wine-tasting walks in the vineyards, there's no shortage of ways to experience the valley.
Day 9: Day Trip to Chambord & Chenonceau
Today's full-day tour is dedicated to two of the Loire Valley's most iconic estates. Your first stop is the Château de Chambord, whose French Renaissance construction dates back to the early 16th century. This extravagant château is one of France's most famous, thanks to its stately facade and sprawling grounds. Take the grand double spiral staircase to the second floor to see the royal apartments of François I and Louis XIV, and look out over forests once used for royal hunts. Continue up to the terraces, where you can get a good look at the chimneys that rise magnificently above the wide moat.
Stop for lunch, then continue to Château de Chenonceau—a masterpiece of French Renaissance architecture. Built like a bridge across the River Cher, the castle and surrounding gardens are stunning on their own, but it's the history behind it that makes it so interesting. Owned and influenced by powerful women such as Catherine de Médici and Diane de Poitiers, the castle's past includes a narrative full of intrigue, rivalry, and dark secrets. Learn about this fascinating background as you explore the queen's bedroom, the gallery, the gardens, and more.
Day 10: Visit Château de Clos Lucé & Royal d'Amboise
More grand palaces are on the agenda today as you set out toward Amboise to visit two jewels of the Renaissance period: Château de Clos Lucé and the Château Royal d'Amboise, both famous for their connections with Leonardo da Vinci. Your first stop is at Clos Lucé, where da Vinci spent his final years. The artist was invited to the château by King Francis I, and at one time, an underground passage connected the château with the king's residence. Tour the house and learn more about the artist, ending at Leonardo's Garden, an open-air museum with installations modeled on Da Vinci's feats of engineering.
In the afternoon, continue to see the Château d'Amboise, a residence for French kings from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Over the years, numerous literary figures, artists, and great thinkers of the time were invited to spend time at the château. Leonardo da Vinci's tomb is preserved here, tucked among the luxurious halls. Spend the afternoon exploring the château's wide balconies, terraced gardens, and grounds as you imagine the resplendent lifestyle of the former French aristocracy. You'll return to Tours in the evening in time for dinner.
Day 11: Drive to Bordeaux, L'Apéritifs & Dinner
Take the road south for about two hours this morning as you drive toward the world capital of wine—the famed Bordeaux region, 80 miles (130 km) away. After checking into your hotel, stroll to the city center to meet up with your private guide for a tour of the Musée d'Aquitaine. Delve into the history and legacy of France as you explore the enormous collection of documents, works of art, and artifacts from the Aquitaine region, then visit the burial place of one of France's most famed authors and philosophers—Michel de Montaigne.
After your visit to the museum, enjoy a quintessential Bordeaux tradition. In this region of wine and gastronomy, l'apéritif (the predinner drink) is the perfect way to begin an evening of fine dining, and you'll visit with a local guide who will share their passion for wine tasting, adding salted and sweet cannelés and other surprises.
Afterward, choose one of Bordeaux's most elegant restaurants and savor a dinner of local delicacies, such as duck breast fillet stuffed with foie gras, followed by Arcachon Basin oysters paired with a glass of chilled Entre-Deux-Mers. Don't miss the indulgent desserts, each prettier than the last, as you take in the resplendent atmosphere. When it comes to food and wine, Bordeaux is a lady who knows how to host.
Day 12: Morning Market Visit, Bordeaux Bike Tour
In the morning, meet your guide for a guided tour of the Marché des Capucins, locally known as "Les Capus." It's the region's oldest farmers market and dates back to the 18th century. Browse the market stalls, which sell everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to cured meats, cheeses, fresh-baked bread, and this morning's seafood catch. Your guide will help you navigate the maze of stalls and vendors as you rub elbows with the local chefs out for their morning shopping.
Although the market is full of mouthwatering smells and flavors, it's the characters who may just delight you most: from mustached vegetable vendors with weathered hands to fishermen in berets and, of course, the daily shoppers. In the afternoon, explore the city by bike with a local guide. Ride along the quays, enjoying beautiful views of the city, and continue through the heart of the UNESCO-listed Old Town. Most of the historic parts of the city are closed to traffic, which makes biking an ideal way to explore.
See the Grand Théâtre, frequented by the National Orchestra and National Ballet of Bordeaux, and visit the Esplanade des Quinconces—a retreat from the busy shopping streets of the center. Head to the river to see the classical buildings of Place de la Bourse, and cross the bridge to the other side of the River Garonne to see the 18th-century docks. At the end of your 6-mile (10 km) ride, stop for a well-deserved snack of the region's delicacies.
Day 13: Arcachon Oyster Tasting & Wine in Saint-Émilion
Start your morning off by meeting your guide for a private tasting tour of the region's famed Arcachon oysters. Drive to the quiet seaside resort of Arcachon to learn about oyster farming from the best in the business and sample just-picked oysters fresh from the ocean. Your guide will explain the tricks of the trade and culinary traditions, and even self-proclaimed oyster denouncers may find themselves pleasantly surprised by the delicious mollusks.
In the afternoon, discover the prestigious wines of Bordeaux's right bank during a guided afternoon in Saint-Émilion. You'll explore the village, as well as two châteaux: a beautiful family-run estate and a Great Classified Growth estate. Your first stop is the family-run estate, where you'll visit the vineyards, the traditional vat room, and the cellar before learning the steps of a proper tasting. Train your nose to identify the wine's aromas and learn the tips and tricks to taste like a pro.
From here, continue to the Great Classified Growth estate, which overlooks the Saint-Émilion vineyards. Here, you'll enjoy demonstrations of the winemaking process, from the vine to the bottle. Round out your visit by enjoying an aperitif of fresh bread and local cheese paired with a glass of wine. End the day with a guided tour of the UNESCO-listed village of Saint-Émilion, a typical sleepy French village that dates back to medieval times. In the evening, return to Bordeaux.
Day 14: Depart Bordeaux
After breakfast, you'll drive to the airport, drop off your rental car, and catch your flight home. A bientôt!
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