|  |
 |
 |
 |
|
Packages > A taste of France Standard Tour 21 days / 20 nights
 |
 |
|
 Standard Tour 21 days / 20 nights
The ultimate guided tour of France, with our selection of some of the most fabulous experiences that France has to offer from the English Channel to the Meditteranean.
|
|
 |
 Day 1 Pick up at Charles de Gaulle airport, meet your guide and travel through Normandy to Honfleur. This city is a port located where the Seine river meets the sea with a rich artistic and historical heritage. Night in Honfleur.
Day 2
Normandie: D-DAY memorial - In the morning we visit the Caen Memorial for an emotional experience as you relive the most important hours of the D-Day landings and the battle of Normandy. We then go to Arromanches to see the remains of the artificial bridge built by the allied forces in less than 15 days. Lunch and a visit to Pommeau, with tasting of Calvados at a local winery. In the early afternoon, discover the batteries of Longues and visit the Cemetery of Saint Laurent. Night in Arromanches.
Travel to Mont Saint-Michel. The site was founded, according to legend, after the appearance of the archangel Saint Michael. The monastery grew around the abbey church from the 10th to the 15th century. All the monastery rooms were built above each other on the rock and the site is today one of the most important pilgrimages for Christians. Free visit of the site. After lunch, visit the quaint fortified town of Saint-Malo: a coastal village with a boat-building heritage who prides itself on having never been conquered. Free time to explore this lovely place at your leisure. Night in Saint Malo.
Day 4
Travel to Blois, which brings together the flamboyant gothic, renaissance and classical styles of architecture all in one city. After lunch, we go to Chenonceaux, also called the Castle of the Ladies, which is an icon of romanticism built on the Cher River with magnificent French gardens. Night in Tours.
Day 5
Morning visit of Tours: Once the capital of the French kingdom, here you will find a mixture of Gallic-Roman remains and timbered houses. Later in the day we have a guided visit of a cellar in Vouvray with wine tasting. Onwards towards Bordeaux. Night in Poitiers.
Day 6
Travel to Saint-Émilion: Discover the underground treasures and wines of this famous vineyard and charming village. Saint-Emilion, the vineyard and the landscapde are listed by the UNESCO as World Heritage. Night in Saint Emilion.
Day 7
In the morning, we visit a vineyard and meet one of the winemakers who will explain the techniques used to make wine. The afternoon is free, you can visit the collegiate church and its cloister, the bell-tower, the convent of Cordeliers, the underground pottery museum or simply stroll through the city. Night in Saint Emilion.
Day 8
Road to Bergerac: Located in a region of bastides and chateaux, this medieval city is a gem to discover. In the morning, we board an old goods boat and cruise along the Dordogne to see five of the most beautiful castles along this river (this itinerary may change during the winter months). After lunch we have a guided visit of the Château de Montbazillac with a tasting of a ‘grand cru’ – a superior vintage wine. We continue towards Rocamadour via Sarlat, the capital of the Périgord Noir and home to the black truffle « Black Diamond ». Night in Rocamadour.
Day 9
Visits of the Manor Gardens of Erignac and the village of Rocamadour, a sacred city with views over the canyon of Alzou, plus the Padirac Abyss located 103 meters underground. Road to Toulouse: “The Pink City”. Ideally situated in the heart of Southern France, between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean, the cosmopolitan and enthusiastic Ville Rose joyously mixes heritage and lifestyle, great cultural events and festival pleasures. Free time to discover this gorgeous city. Night in Toulouse.
Day 10
Road to Castelnaudary, world capital of the typical French dish Cassoulet. Gastronomic lunch in a restaurant. Continuation towards Carcassonne, a famous medieval city classified as UNESCO world heritage in 1997. Visit of the fortified city. Arrival in Montpellier in the late afternoon, free time to visit the city. Night in Montpellier.
Day 11
Travel to Aigues Mortes, and on the way crossing the beautiful landscapes of Camargue. Discover the wildlife, nature and lifestyle of the Camargue Manade - free herds of cattle or horses driven by a guardian on horseback. You can spend the day in a Manade where you can go horse riding with the guardians, or in the afternoon visit the ornithological park of Pont de Gau. Night in Arles.
Day 12
Road to Gordes, considered to be one of the most beautiful French villages. Because of its many invasions local populations were forced to find refuge in the hills. This explains why so many villages are "perched" in the hills. These fortified villages lasted during the whole of the middle ages and part of the Renaissance, notably during the religious wars. We visit Roussillon en Provence, a village dressed in blazing colours as a result of the nearby ocre quarries. In the evening a visit to Chateauneuf du Pape for a wine tasting. Night in Avignon.
Day 13
Visit of Avignon: Seat of the papacy during the 14th century, we visit Avignon and the Papal Palace with a fortress that dominates the city and was decorated by Simone Martini and Matteo Giovanetti. Here you will see the surrounding ramparts and the remains of a 12th-century bridge over the Rhone. Gothic architecture, the Petit Palais and the Romanesque Cathedral of Notre-Dame-des-Doms complete an exceptional group of monuments that testify to the leading role that was played by Avignon in 14th-century Christian Europe. Free time to visit the old city. Then we head towards the French Alpilles or "little alps", to Beaux-de-Provence and Saint-Rémy de Provence. Night in Marseille.
Day 14
 A city of contrasts with its old districts (Le Panier near the old port), its brilliant harbour on the sea, its wild and rocky beaches that plunge into deep blue waters along 20 km of coast all the way to Cassis, Marseille shines on Provence. We visit the fish markets in the morning and in the afternoon we take a boat trip to view this magnificent coastline. Night in Marseille.
Day 15
Day trip into the Verdon Gorge by car, canoe, donkey and on foot. At the end of the day, return to the French Riviera. Night in St Tropez.
Day 16
The famous French Riviera on the southeastern coast of France on the Mediterranean is regarded as one of the most luxurious, expensive, and sophisticated areas on the planet and is home to the world's rich and famous. All day free to wander around St Tropez or spend it lazily on the beach. In the late afternoon we continue on to Cannes, host to the annual Cannes Film Festival which attracts movie stars from around the world. Take a stroll along the beachfront, along the Baie des Anges "Angels Bay". Night in Cannes.
 Day 17 Road to Lyon, via Grasse, the city of perfume, with a visit to its museum. We also stop at Montelimar, capital of nougat, to taste and buy some of this celebrated sweet. Continuation toward Lyon, one of the oldest cities in France. If there is one title that can't be taken away from Lyon, it is definitely that of world capital of fine cuisine. Tonight we can see for ourselves with a gastronomical dinner in a restaurant. Night in Lyon.
Day 18
Road to Vezelay then take a walk through its picturesque streets. We visit the abbey where you may choose to have a guided tour from one of the monks. In the afternoon we visit a farm specialising in foie gras (tasting included). Night in Vezelay.
Day 19
Travel to Reims, capital of the world-famous Champagne for a visit of a famous Cellar and tasting. Night in Reims.
Day 20
Road to Paris. Guided visit of the old village of Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. Night in Paris.
Day 21
Transfer to the airport for those leaving today.
Departure on the 1st of August 2009
Price from 11 590 $NZ per person
based on 6 people staying in double / twin rooms
|
The price includes :
|
The price does not include :
|
- Transport by minibus, including tolls and gasoline
- Flights Auckland (or Christchurch) - Paris - Auckland (or Christchurch)
- Bilingual Guide and Driver
- Half-board with a drink (wine or soft drink + coffee and tea)
- Entry to all museums and visits mentioned
- Accommodation in 2 star hotels or charming B&B
|
- Personal expenditure
- Meals not mentioned
- Voluntary insurance
- Other visits not mentioned
- Airport taxes
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
| |
|
|
.jpg)
View Brochures, Price lists etc in PDF format