THE GREATEST GENERATION TOUR
TO LONDON AND FRANCE
A luxury 5-star tour honoring the 80th Anniversary of
D-Day
$ 2,834/person London. Aug 25 - 28
$ 11,695/person Normandy, Loire Valley, Paris and Provence Aug 28 - Sept 7.
$14,529/person Total
14 days/13 nights
Based on a minimum of 8 travelers with Tour Director, Janette Tepas
TO LONDON AND FRANCE
A luxury 5-star tour honoring the 80th Anniversary of
D-Day
$ 2,834/person London. Aug 25 - 28
$ 11,695/person Normandy, Loire Valley, Paris and Provence Aug 28 - Sept 7.
$14,529/person Total
14 days/13 nights
Based on a minimum of 8 travelers with Tour Director, Janette Tepas
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Please join Tour Director Sandy Gregory for this wonderful adventure through France, or contact us to help you create your own independent travel experience with our Concierge Travel Services.
Suggested time to travel: April - October |
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The Greatest Generation Tour:
3 nights London 3 nights Bayeux 2 nights Loire Chateau 3 nights Paris 2 nights Avignon Post-tour suggestion to: • Nice and the French Riviera |
DAY 1: |
Your chauffeur will be waiting as you exit baggage claim to escort you to the hotel.
3 nights. Our 4+-star elegant boutique hotel is located in historic Russell Square, located just blocks away from the British Museum and Covent Garden. The hotel is an intriguing blend of up-to-the-minute city vibrancy and old-world Bloomsbury charm, where guests can expect British hospitality at its finest.
Your Tour Director will welcome you at the hotel with an included English tea, enjoying a luxury sampling of tea sandwiches, scones and pastries with clotted cream, and of course, cocktails.
The rest of the day is yours to settle in, get rid of jet lag and enjoy the area.
About dinner on your own. Che Bella tours are specifically paced so you have plenty of leisure time. We have included dinners as a group as well as nights on your own. Your tour director can always recommend a variety of choices and will be happy to make reservations for you. Of course, you are also invited to join your tour director to explore new and interesting finds.
3 nights. Our 4+-star elegant boutique hotel is located in historic Russell Square, located just blocks away from the British Museum and Covent Garden. The hotel is an intriguing blend of up-to-the-minute city vibrancy and old-world Bloomsbury charm, where guests can expect British hospitality at its finest.
Your Tour Director will welcome you at the hotel with an included English tea, enjoying a luxury sampling of tea sandwiches, scones and pastries with clotted cream, and of course, cocktails.
The rest of the day is yours to settle in, get rid of jet lag and enjoy the area.
About dinner on your own. Che Bella tours are specifically paced so you have plenty of leisure time. We have included dinners as a group as well as nights on your own. Your tour director can always recommend a variety of choices and will be happy to make reservations for you. Of course, you are also invited to join your tour director to explore new and interesting finds.
DAY 2: LONDON: Westminster Abbey & Churchill War Rooms |
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This morning we take the Tube from our hotel to Westminster. The Longon Pass and Oyster Cards are included.
9:00. 4 hr. Private Tour of Westminster Abbey and the Churchill War Rooms. Includes private guide and admissions. Westminster Abbey Gothic church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site popular with many visitors to London. On our tour, we will go into The Lady Chapel, the burial place for Henry VI, Henry VII and his Queen, Elizabeth of York and the tombs of Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary I and Mary Queen of Scots. We will also see the Coronation Alter, where both Queen Elizabeth II and most recently, King Charles, was crowned on King Edward’s Chair, along with every monarch since 1308. A highlight is Poet’s Corner: Charles Dickens, Geoffrey Chaucer, Dr. Samuel Johnson and Charles Darwin were buried in the church’s grounds.
Enroute to the War Rooms, we will pass Big Ben, #10 Downing Street, and The Houses of Parliament, the home of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. We are not allowed to enter these sights, but our guide will tell us all about the workings of the British Parliament.
Lunch. We will enjoy lunch (not included) at the pub that has served every Prime Minister in the history of Britain. It’s no secret that Churchill loved a drink. He never broke this tradition and neither will we.
We are then on to the Churchill War Rooms. We will explore the secret headquarters of ‘the greatest Briton’, Sir Winston Churchill, and uncover the underground nucleus of Britain’s war effort. The first London museum of its kind, the Churchill War Rooms and Museum depicts all ninety years of Winston Churchill’s life, divided into five chapters starting from his childhood, through his early years as British Prime Minister and the period famously known as the ‘Gathering Storm’. The War Cabinet Room includes the Map Room and the Transatlantic Telephone Room, taking you back in time to experience the planning and the plotting of the Second World War. The Churchill Museum is an interactive gallery of Churchill’s life, with documents, photos and film clips of his famous political reign.
Tonight: Included Welcome Dinner.
About Che Bella Included Dinners: Hosting this celebration is one of the joys of being a Che Bella Tour Director. On our tours, we take you to our favorite restaurants, guide you through the menu, inspire you to choose something you’ve never tried before, choose the perfect wine pairings and throw in some local delicacies to broaden your palate and surprise you a bit. You’ll go home with a new knowledge that will draw you under Italy’s spell and increase your hunger for more. Waiter gratuities are included in all included dinners.
9:00. 4 hr. Private Tour of Westminster Abbey and the Churchill War Rooms. Includes private guide and admissions. Westminster Abbey Gothic church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site popular with many visitors to London. On our tour, we will go into The Lady Chapel, the burial place for Henry VI, Henry VII and his Queen, Elizabeth of York and the tombs of Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary I and Mary Queen of Scots. We will also see the Coronation Alter, where both Queen Elizabeth II and most recently, King Charles, was crowned on King Edward’s Chair, along with every monarch since 1308. A highlight is Poet’s Corner: Charles Dickens, Geoffrey Chaucer, Dr. Samuel Johnson and Charles Darwin were buried in the church’s grounds.
Enroute to the War Rooms, we will pass Big Ben, #10 Downing Street, and The Houses of Parliament, the home of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. We are not allowed to enter these sights, but our guide will tell us all about the workings of the British Parliament.
Lunch. We will enjoy lunch (not included) at the pub that has served every Prime Minister in the history of Britain. It’s no secret that Churchill loved a drink. He never broke this tradition and neither will we.
We are then on to the Churchill War Rooms. We will explore the secret headquarters of ‘the greatest Briton’, Sir Winston Churchill, and uncover the underground nucleus of Britain’s war effort. The first London museum of its kind, the Churchill War Rooms and Museum depicts all ninety years of Winston Churchill’s life, divided into five chapters starting from his childhood, through his early years as British Prime Minister and the period famously known as the ‘Gathering Storm’. The War Cabinet Room includes the Map Room and the Transatlantic Telephone Room, taking you back in time to experience the planning and the plotting of the Second World War. The Churchill Museum is an interactive gallery of Churchill’s life, with documents, photos and film clips of his famous political reign.
Tonight: Included Welcome Dinner.
About Che Bella Included Dinners: Hosting this celebration is one of the joys of being a Che Bella Tour Director. On our tours, we take you to our favorite restaurants, guide you through the menu, inspire you to choose something you’ve never tried before, choose the perfect wine pairings and throw in some local delicacies to broaden your palate and surprise you a bit. You’ll go home with a new knowledge that will draw you under Italy’s spell and increase your hunger for more. Waiter gratuities are included in all included dinners.
DAY 3: LONDON: Full Day Tour of WWII Highlights |
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8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Full-day Panoramic driving tour of London sights with guided stops and admissions. Your tour starts in fashionable Kensington where we will learn about some of London’s most famous sights. We’ll drive through Trafalgar Square, then stretch our legs with a walk through St James’s Park and Buckingham Palace. We are then on to see St Paul’s Cathedral, a huge symbol of hope during WW2 for Londoners, especially during the Blitz. It stayed standing, although was slightly damaged, even though many of the buildings around it had been bombed. Inside the cathedral there is an American Memorial Chapel which is dedicated to the soldiers of D-Day.
We are then on to the elegant Tower Bridge, and a tour of the Tower of London, one of London’s most important and historic buildings. We will learn about the Tower’s wealth of history, the secrets and scandals of the court and the role the Tower used to play as prison, armory and menagerie before we see the Crown Jewels, used in the coronation ceremony of each new monarch, which symbolize the divine right of kings.
Lunch (not included) in the famous Burrough Market, one of London’s oldest and largest food markets, with over 100 delicatessens, butchers, fishmongers, and cheesemakers selling fresh produce, meats, artisanal delicacies, and more. It’s where locals come to do their grocery runs, and where travelers can come to try some of the best British food in a busy, vibrant, historic setting.
After lunch, we continue on to The HMS Belfast, one of only 3 surviving ships from the D-Day bombardment of Normandy shores and one of very few ships from WW2 left. With our guide, we will wind through the same hatches and climb the same ladders as those who served on board to discover what life was like for the 950-strong crew. You will hear the unique stories of how the crew survived in freezing conditions during the Arctic Convoys to boiling conditions in the Far East; what it was like to be part of the action on D-Day and HMS Belfast’s role as part of the United Nations forces in Korea from 1950 to 1952. After our tour, we will take a 5-minute walk to pick up our boat for our Cruise on the Thames.
At this point, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure so you can make stops along the way or work your way back to the hotel.
OPTION: PERFORMANCE AT SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE OR A THEATER PERFORMANCE IN COVENT GARDEN. We will present choices and pricing when the 2024 performance schedules are published.
DAY 4: LONDON TO BAYEUX WITH A STOP IN GIVERNY |
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This morning we will be transfered to the London St Pancras Int’l station to board the High Speed Eurostar, which will whisk us underneath the The Channel Tunnel (often called the ‘Chunnel’), an undersea tunnel linking southern England and northern France. Started in 1988 and taking more than five years to complete, with more than 13,000 workers from England and France collaborating to realize the vision, the chunnel has been named one of the seven wonders of the modern world. The Eurostar train travels through the Channel Tunnel at a speed of 100 miles per hour, and reaches a speed of 186 miles per hour. It’s a quick 2:20 minute trip to Paris Gare du Nord.
Eurostar Standard Premier direct. Depart 8:01 London St Pancras International, arrive Paris GARE DU NORD at 11:17
• 1 large bag + 1 hand luggage per person. Please make sure you can carry your own bags comfortably.
• A light meal and drinks served at your seat
• Extra spacious seats
Our driver will be waiting at the station to transfer you 1.5 hours to Giverny for lunch (not included) and private tour in Giverny.
Giverny is the quaint village where Monet famously made his home from 1883 until his death in 1926. It’s here that he cultivated the celebrated garden we see in many of his most famous works. You will see the famous Japanese bridge and stroll around the water lily pond to observe the ever changing reflections on the water surface. Then you will get back to the Clos normand, the gorgeous flower garden blooming from spring to fall. You will learn how Monet himself designed it by applying his skills for painting to gardening. The house looks exactly as it did in Monet’s times, with the studio-sitting-room, Monet’s and Alice’s bedrooms, the yellow dining-room with its surprising collection of Japanese woodblocks and the kitchen decorated with blue tiles.Your guide will tell you about the way Monet transformed it to his own style. Thanks to many details about Monet’s family life in this very place you will take a leap backwards to the 19th Century.
After your tour, you will be transfered 2.5 hours to Bayeux.
3 nights. Bayeux Our Bayeux hotel welcomes you in the tradition of the charming hotels of Normandy, in a unique setting right in the city centre.
Included Dinner
Eurostar Standard Premier direct. Depart 8:01 London St Pancras International, arrive Paris GARE DU NORD at 11:17
• 1 large bag + 1 hand luggage per person. Please make sure you can carry your own bags comfortably.
• A light meal and drinks served at your seat
• Extra spacious seats
Our driver will be waiting at the station to transfer you 1.5 hours to Giverny for lunch (not included) and private tour in Giverny.
Giverny is the quaint village where Monet famously made his home from 1883 until his death in 1926. It’s here that he cultivated the celebrated garden we see in many of his most famous works. You will see the famous Japanese bridge and stroll around the water lily pond to observe the ever changing reflections on the water surface. Then you will get back to the Clos normand, the gorgeous flower garden blooming from spring to fall. You will learn how Monet himself designed it by applying his skills for painting to gardening. The house looks exactly as it did in Monet’s times, with the studio-sitting-room, Monet’s and Alice’s bedrooms, the yellow dining-room with its surprising collection of Japanese woodblocks and the kitchen decorated with blue tiles.Your guide will tell you about the way Monet transformed it to his own style. Thanks to many details about Monet’s family life in this very place you will take a leap backwards to the 19th Century.
After your tour, you will be transfered 2.5 hours to Bayeux.
3 nights. Bayeux Our Bayeux hotel welcomes you in the tradition of the charming hotels of Normandy, in a unique setting right in the city centre.
Included Dinner
DAYS 5 & 6: NORMANDY |
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Day 5 is devoted to the Allied Forces Beaches. June 6th, 1944
More than 150,000 Allied troops land on the beaches of Normandy, France, as part of the largest seaborne invasion in history. Known as “D-Day,” the name and date loom large in the memory of World War II—perhaps second only to December 7th, 1941. In 2024, we celebrate the heroes, courage and sacrifice that changed history in 1944. This tour features the unparalleled experience of being in Normandy during the 80th Anniversary of the greatest amphibious assault in history.
9:00 departure from the hotel. Today is the day when we remember the sacrifices of a young generation of Canadian, British and French Soldiers who fought for our freedom. Our local guide will take us on a full day tour of the Landing Beaches. We will begin at the 360 Museum for an overview, then move on to Arromanches and Omaha Beach. Seeing how far our soldiers had to run from the water’s edge with no cover is mind-boggling. You have to experience it for yourself.
We will grab sandwiches near the beach for lunch before we head to the American Cemetery and the Overlord museum. Close to the D-Day American Landing Beach of Omaha Beach and right in front of the roundabout leading to the American Cemetery of Colleville sur Mer, is a building of mineral and sober aspect, blending in perfectly with ts environment and filled with artifacts, maps, dioramas and great information, the museum is dedicated to the story of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.
Return by 5:00 to Bayeux.
Overnight in Bayeux
Dinner is on your own
Day 6 American Forces Focus Day
9:00 departure from the hotel. Today we continue our WWII journey beginning with St Mere Iglese to see where the American paratroopers landed and where one, John Steele, famously got stuck on the tip of the steeple. We will have time at the Airborne Museum, dedicated to the memory of paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions of the United States Army who parachuted into Normandy on the night of June 5–6, 1944.
We are then on to Utah Beach, the western-most beach involved in the WWII landings, with the great monuments in honor of those men who served for us, and Pointe Du Hoc Cliffs. U.S. Army Rangers, 2nd Ranger Battalion, were assigned to capture and disable the German enemy six-gun 115-cm coast defense battery at Pointe du Hoc about three miles west of Omaha Beach. We honor Lieutenant Colonel James E. Rudder, USA, who led his men in a successful mission which was deemed impossible.
5:00. Back in Bayeux. The evening is at your leisure.
Overnight in Bayeux.
Included dinner
More than 150,000 Allied troops land on the beaches of Normandy, France, as part of the largest seaborne invasion in history. Known as “D-Day,” the name and date loom large in the memory of World War II—perhaps second only to December 7th, 1941. In 2024, we celebrate the heroes, courage and sacrifice that changed history in 1944. This tour features the unparalleled experience of being in Normandy during the 80th Anniversary of the greatest amphibious assault in history.
9:00 departure from the hotel. Today is the day when we remember the sacrifices of a young generation of Canadian, British and French Soldiers who fought for our freedom. Our local guide will take us on a full day tour of the Landing Beaches. We will begin at the 360 Museum for an overview, then move on to Arromanches and Omaha Beach. Seeing how far our soldiers had to run from the water’s edge with no cover is mind-boggling. You have to experience it for yourself.
We will grab sandwiches near the beach for lunch before we head to the American Cemetery and the Overlord museum. Close to the D-Day American Landing Beach of Omaha Beach and right in front of the roundabout leading to the American Cemetery of Colleville sur Mer, is a building of mineral and sober aspect, blending in perfectly with ts environment and filled with artifacts, maps, dioramas and great information, the museum is dedicated to the story of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.
Return by 5:00 to Bayeux.
Overnight in Bayeux
Dinner is on your own
Day 6 American Forces Focus Day
9:00 departure from the hotel. Today we continue our WWII journey beginning with St Mere Iglese to see where the American paratroopers landed and where one, John Steele, famously got stuck on the tip of the steeple. We will have time at the Airborne Museum, dedicated to the memory of paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions of the United States Army who parachuted into Normandy on the night of June 5–6, 1944.
We are then on to Utah Beach, the western-most beach involved in the WWII landings, with the great monuments in honor of those men who served for us, and Pointe Du Hoc Cliffs. U.S. Army Rangers, 2nd Ranger Battalion, were assigned to capture and disable the German enemy six-gun 115-cm coast defense battery at Pointe du Hoc about three miles west of Omaha Beach. We honor Lieutenant Colonel James E. Rudder, USA, who led his men in a successful mission which was deemed impossible.
5:00. Back in Bayeux. The evening is at your leisure.
Overnight in Bayeux.
Included dinner
DAYS 7 & 8: THE LOIRE. Mont San Michel and a Luxury Chateau |
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DAY 7. Mont San Michel
This morning, we head to the rocky island of Mont San Michel. Perched on a rocky islet in the midst of vast sandbanks exposed to powerful tides between Normandy and Brittany stands the ‘Wonder of the West’, a Gothic-style Benedictine abbey dedicated to the archangel St Michael, and the village that grew up in the shadow of its great walls. Walking along this narrow, cobblestone street will take you back to medieval times. The buildings lining the street date from the 15th and 16th centuries! We will walk along the mount’s impressive fortifications. While it was originally built with religious purposes in mind, from the 14th century onwards the conflicts of the Hundred Years War between France and England required new and powerful fortifications to be erected on the mount.
Lunch (not included) and back on the coach for the 2.5 hour transfer to the Loire Valley. The Loire Valley is one of the most beautiful destinations in France, a delicate blend of nature, history, and French elegant art-de-vivre. Here, you can enjoy a fairytale château, stunning gardens, delicious food, and some of France’s best wines.
We will arrive at our castle at 5:00.
Set in an 18th-century château, our hotel is surrounded by a 25-hectare park. The guest rooms at are individually decorated and include a fireplace and a TV. Each room has a view of the garden, a seating area and a private bathroom with bathrobes.
Breakfast is served every morning and includes fresh pastries, homemade jam and fresh eggs from the property’s hens. The traditional-style restaurant serves organic and seasonal produce in a room with exposed beams, lusters and stone walls or on the terrace when the weather permits.
Tonight we splurge! Included aparatif winetasting and then dinner at the hotel.
Loire wines have lightness, airiness and freshness. There is no such thing as a heavy or high-alcohol Loire wine. The region is dominated by four major varieties—Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne and Cabernet Franc. The restaurant of the Château de l’Epinay, the Orangerie, offers authentic and tasty Franco-Italian cuisine in a unique setting. The Chef focuses on seasonal, local products,
Day 8. A Day of Leisure at the Chateau
Today is yours to enjoy at your leisure. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner and you can even book a picnic to enjoy on the grounds. Not included.
A fitness room with the latest Technogym equipment is at guest’s disposal with a hot tub and a hammam. Beauty care and massages can be booked. There’s also a billiards room and a range of board games - ideal for those who want to play cards, backgammon, darts or chess on the giant chessboard. Relax by the fireplace, watch a film in the cinema room and play billiards, table tennis or piano.
This morning, we head to the rocky island of Mont San Michel. Perched on a rocky islet in the midst of vast sandbanks exposed to powerful tides between Normandy and Brittany stands the ‘Wonder of the West’, a Gothic-style Benedictine abbey dedicated to the archangel St Michael, and the village that grew up in the shadow of its great walls. Walking along this narrow, cobblestone street will take you back to medieval times. The buildings lining the street date from the 15th and 16th centuries! We will walk along the mount’s impressive fortifications. While it was originally built with religious purposes in mind, from the 14th century onwards the conflicts of the Hundred Years War between France and England required new and powerful fortifications to be erected on the mount.
Lunch (not included) and back on the coach for the 2.5 hour transfer to the Loire Valley. The Loire Valley is one of the most beautiful destinations in France, a delicate blend of nature, history, and French elegant art-de-vivre. Here, you can enjoy a fairytale château, stunning gardens, delicious food, and some of France’s best wines.
We will arrive at our castle at 5:00.
Set in an 18th-century château, our hotel is surrounded by a 25-hectare park. The guest rooms at are individually decorated and include a fireplace and a TV. Each room has a view of the garden, a seating area and a private bathroom with bathrobes.
Breakfast is served every morning and includes fresh pastries, homemade jam and fresh eggs from the property’s hens. The traditional-style restaurant serves organic and seasonal produce in a room with exposed beams, lusters and stone walls or on the terrace when the weather permits.
Tonight we splurge! Included aparatif winetasting and then dinner at the hotel.
Loire wines have lightness, airiness and freshness. There is no such thing as a heavy or high-alcohol Loire wine. The region is dominated by four major varieties—Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne and Cabernet Franc. The restaurant of the Château de l’Epinay, the Orangerie, offers authentic and tasty Franco-Italian cuisine in a unique setting. The Chef focuses on seasonal, local products,
Day 8. A Day of Leisure at the Chateau
Today is yours to enjoy at your leisure. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner and you can even book a picnic to enjoy on the grounds. Not included.
A fitness room with the latest Technogym equipment is at guest’s disposal with a hot tub and a hammam. Beauty care and massages can be booked. There’s also a billiards room and a range of board games - ideal for those who want to play cards, backgammon, darts or chess on the giant chessboard. Relax by the fireplace, watch a film in the cinema room and play billiards, table tennis or piano.
DAY 9: A DAY OF CHATEAUX |
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8:30. This morning we take a 2-hour drive to the Castle of Chenonceau where we will enjoy a 90-minute. private tour. The unique architecture makes it one of the most exquisite Chateaux in the Loire Valley. Nicknamed “the ladies castle,” Chenonceau was the home of princesses and queens, including Catherine de Medici. Lunch at the castle cafe (not included).
12:30. We are then back in the coach for another hour to The Castle of Chambordwhere we will enjoy a 90 minute private tour. In the middle of a forest as large as the city of Paris, Chambord was the first Loire Valley chateaux listed in the world heritage by UNESCO. Ordered in 1519 by King Francois I, with 426 rooms, 77 staircases and 282 fireplaces, it is the largest castle in the region. Leonardo da Vinci is the creator of its incredible double helix staircase.
We will finish our day in Paris at the end of the day.
3 nights in San Germaine de Pres.
Included Left Bank DInner
DAY 10: A DAY IN PARIS |
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On our private tour, we’ll drive through the important sights on the Left Bank, then go on to the Champs Elysees, past the Arc du Triomph and Les Invalides, and Place du Concorde. We’ll finish with a walk through the Tuilleries Gardens and a guided tour of the highlights of the Louvre. Your tour includes admission to the Louvre, private guide, car and driver.
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy Paris. Consider:
• Exploring the neighborhood and the bridges along the Seine. Along the banks there are the bouquinistes, or book sellers. The green boxes are filled with used books, great prints and all kinds of souvenirs. Across the Seine, near Saint Chapelle and the central police station is a flower and bird market. We will keep you apprised on the reconstruction of Notre Dame.
• Viewing the Impressionist Masterpieces at the Orsay Museum
• Seeing the Monet Waterlilies at the L’Orangerie, sculpture in the Rodin Museum, and Napoleion’s Tomb at Les Invalides
• Shopping at the funky boutiques in the Marais District
• Strolling along La Promenade Plantée, a three mile long elevated green space near the Bastille
• Paying homage to Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde at Pere Lachaise Cemetery.
You tour price includes a Metro Pass and we will show you how to get around, take you where you want to go, or make any reservations you would like.
Overnight in Paris
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy Paris. Consider:
• Exploring the neighborhood and the bridges along the Seine. Along the banks there are the bouquinistes, or book sellers. The green boxes are filled with used books, great prints and all kinds of souvenirs. Across the Seine, near Saint Chapelle and the central police station is a flower and bird market. We will keep you apprised on the reconstruction of Notre Dame.
• Viewing the Impressionist Masterpieces at the Orsay Museum
• Seeing the Monet Waterlilies at the L’Orangerie, sculpture in the Rodin Museum, and Napoleion’s Tomb at Les Invalides
• Shopping at the funky boutiques in the Marais District
• Strolling along La Promenade Plantée, a three mile long elevated green space near the Bastille
• Paying homage to Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde at Pere Lachaise Cemetery.
You tour price includes a Metro Pass and we will show you how to get around, take you where you want to go, or make any reservations you would like.
Overnight in Paris
NEW! Dig a Little Deeper Series
Foodie Tour of Montmartre. Montmartre has a flourishing restaurant scene, historical culture and charming ambiance. As you stroll the area with our local chef, we’ll enjoy different types of French culinary delights, including cheeses, chocolates, crepes and macaroons. You’ll stop at a boulangerie where you’ll learn about classic French breads and baguettes. A few items from the local butcher will round out your grocery list before you head to a wine bar to enjoy the fruits of your discoveries.
The Palace of Versailles. The palace was originally built as a hunting lodge for Louis XIII, and then transformed in the 1600’s into the extravagant Palace we will see by Louis XIV. Our VIP reservations include Marie Antoinette’s apartments and you can add the amazing Musical Fountain Shows and the Musical Gardens as well as Marie-Antoinette’s Hamlet.
Giverny. Enjoy the quaint village where Monet famously made his home from 1883 until his death in 1926. It’s here that he cultivated the celebrated garden we see in many of his most famous works.
Literary Paris. During the roaring twenties, Paris was considered the cultural capital of the Western world. Artists and writers flocked to the city from far and wide, including celebrated American writer Ernest Hemingway. During this 3-hour Hemingway-focused Paris literary tour with a literature expert, we'll explore St. Germain, a neighborhood in the city's Left Bank that was once the epicenter of Paris' avant-garde. We'll learn about a wide range of artists, writers, and thinkers in Hemingway's circle including Fitzgerald, Picasso, Pound, Matisse, and the inimitable Gertrude Stein, whose modernist salon provided the gravitational pull for the entire movement.
Cooking classes. Visit the market with a chef. Master the French sauces. Learn how to make French pastries. Paris has some of the best culinary schools in the world. If you have always wanted to become a chef, then it is your time to shine.
A Toast to Champagne. On this full-day tour to Champagne from Paris, we’ll explore the home to some of the most important champagne producers in the world. Our guide today is a sommelier who graduated from the Paris Wine School. Together, we’ll learn about the history of the Champagne region and why its climate is perfect for the production of the effervescent wine. We'll discover the Champagne Road, the city of Epernay and taste Champagne at small properties and at world-famous domain like Veuve Cliquot. Lunch is included in a gastronomic restaurant in the city of Epernay. At the end of the day, thanks to tastings and conversations with specialists, we’ll have expanded our palates and learned to appreciate the nuances of a variety of different champagnes.
The Palace of Versailles. The palace was originally built as a hunting lodge for Louis XIII, and then transformed in the 1600’s into the extravagant Palace we will see by Louis XIV. Our VIP reservations include Marie Antoinette’s apartments and you can add the amazing Musical Fountain Shows and the Musical Gardens as well as Marie-Antoinette’s Hamlet.
Giverny. Enjoy the quaint village where Monet famously made his home from 1883 until his death in 1926. It’s here that he cultivated the celebrated garden we see in many of his most famous works.
Literary Paris. During the roaring twenties, Paris was considered the cultural capital of the Western world. Artists and writers flocked to the city from far and wide, including celebrated American writer Ernest Hemingway. During this 3-hour Hemingway-focused Paris literary tour with a literature expert, we'll explore St. Germain, a neighborhood in the city's Left Bank that was once the epicenter of Paris' avant-garde. We'll learn about a wide range of artists, writers, and thinkers in Hemingway's circle including Fitzgerald, Picasso, Pound, Matisse, and the inimitable Gertrude Stein, whose modernist salon provided the gravitational pull for the entire movement.
Cooking classes. Visit the market with a chef. Master the French sauces. Learn how to make French pastries. Paris has some of the best culinary schools in the world. If you have always wanted to become a chef, then it is your time to shine.
A Toast to Champagne. On this full-day tour to Champagne from Paris, we’ll explore the home to some of the most important champagne producers in the world. Our guide today is a sommelier who graduated from the Paris Wine School. Together, we’ll learn about the history of the Champagne region and why its climate is perfect for the production of the effervescent wine. We'll discover the Champagne Road, the city of Epernay and taste Champagne at small properties and at world-famous domain like Veuve Cliquot. Lunch is included in a gastronomic restaurant in the city of Epernay. At the end of the day, thanks to tastings and conversations with specialists, we’ll have expanded our palates and learned to appreciate the nuances of a variety of different champagnes.
DAY 11: PARIS. Versailles and the Eiffel Tower |
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8:00. This morning we transfer to Versailles for a 3-hour private tour from 9:15 - 12:15. The palace was originally built as a hunting lodge for Louis XIII, and then transformed in the 1600’s into the extravagant Palace we will see by Louis XIV. We’ll enjoy a private tour of the Palace, including the King’s private apartmens. We’ll then move outside to explore the gardens.
You will return back to Paris for lunch and the afternoon at your leisure.
5:30 Dinner will be on your own near the Eiffel Tower before you enjoy your 7:45 Eiffel Tower and Seine Cruise.
Transfer back to the hotel
Overnight in Paris
You will return back to Paris for lunch and the afternoon at your leisure.
5:30 Dinner will be on your own near the Eiffel Tower before you enjoy your 7:45 Eiffel Tower and Seine Cruise.
Transfer back to the hotel
Overnight in Paris
Day 12. ON TO PROVENCE |
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8:15. Transfer to the train station for TGV to Avignon. Depart 9:38, arrive Avignon 12:18
3 nights. We love this 5-star hotel, they do everything right. From the classically decorated rooms to the service, to the bar to the morning breakfast, this is travel at its best.
We will drop our bags off at the hotel and have time to grab some lunch before our 2:30 guided tour of Avignon, including the Palace du Papes. In 1309, French Pope Clement V decided that Avignon was more to his liking than Rome. For the next seventy years the Popes resided here, making Avignon one of Europe’s most powerful cities. We’re then on to the gardens of Rocher des Doms for panoramic views of the Rhône and Benezet Bridge and finish in the Place de Horloge. Most of the opulent furnishings from the Palace returned with the Popes to Rome, but the architecture, frescoes, tiles, and tapestries are remarkable. We’re then on to the gardens of Rocher des Doms for panoramic views of the Rhône, Benezet Bridge. You’ll have some time in the afternoon on your own to stroll and explore this lovely city. The ancient city walls of Avignon enclose both broad tree-lined streets and intriguing passageways, leading to picturesque squares, shops, galleries, churches and a variety of small museums.
Included dinner. Tonight, enjoy a delightful “Table Haute” in our hotel’s 19th century kitchen. Guests are invited to sit around the huge wooden table, at one end of which the chef prepares the meal, also making use of the old, wood-fired stove. The fixed menu, made using local products, is chosen according to the daily market and the chef ’s own inspiration.
Overnight in Avignon
3 nights. We love this 5-star hotel, they do everything right. From the classically decorated rooms to the service, to the bar to the morning breakfast, this is travel at its best.
We will drop our bags off at the hotel and have time to grab some lunch before our 2:30 guided tour of Avignon, including the Palace du Papes. In 1309, French Pope Clement V decided that Avignon was more to his liking than Rome. For the next seventy years the Popes resided here, making Avignon one of Europe’s most powerful cities. We’re then on to the gardens of Rocher des Doms for panoramic views of the Rhône and Benezet Bridge and finish in the Place de Horloge. Most of the opulent furnishings from the Palace returned with the Popes to Rome, but the architecture, frescoes, tiles, and tapestries are remarkable. We’re then on to the gardens of Rocher des Doms for panoramic views of the Rhône, Benezet Bridge. You’ll have some time in the afternoon on your own to stroll and explore this lovely city. The ancient city walls of Avignon enclose both broad tree-lined streets and intriguing passageways, leading to picturesque squares, shops, galleries, churches and a variety of small museums.
Included dinner. Tonight, enjoy a delightful “Table Haute” in our hotel’s 19th century kitchen. Guests are invited to sit around the huge wooden table, at one end of which the chef prepares the meal, also making use of the old, wood-fired stove. The fixed menu, made using local products, is chosen according to the daily market and the chef ’s own inspiration.
Overnight in Avignon
DAY 13: Truffle Hunting, Le Beaux and Carrières des Lumières |
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7:00. This morning you transfer to Avignon to for an 8:30 truffle experience and tasting. Our truffle hunts are only on weekdays (also not available on French public holidays). The tour last at least 3 hours. First you will learn, in English, how truffles are growing, how to farm them, and hunt them. Then you will go with three dogs on the search of the precious tuber. After we have found some, hopefully, you will discover the rest of our property with wild herbs, vineyards, olive groves and beehives. We return to our outdoor kitchen, to eat three different hors d’oeuvre with truffles, followed by truffle ice cream with truffle honey, and finally a tasting of our organic extra-virgin olive oil, truffle oil and truffle salt, with all you care to drink Champagne. During the tasting you will learn how to buy truffles and truffles products, clean them, store them and prepare them.
11:45. You are then on your way to Les-Baux-de-Provence, on the list of France’s Most beautiful Villages. Enjoy the epic views, poke around the medieval town, visit the castle with its catapults, towers, hideouts, and more.
2:15. Guided tour of Les Baux + Carrières de Lumières (quarry of lights). Here in a disused limestone quarry in a hill, vast images are projected on quarry walls, with a new art theme every year. Past subjects include van Gogh, Monet, Gauguin, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.
The rest of the day and evening is yours to enjoy Avignon.
11:45. You are then on your way to Les-Baux-de-Provence, on the list of France’s Most beautiful Villages. Enjoy the epic views, poke around the medieval town, visit the castle with its catapults, towers, hideouts, and more.
2:15. Guided tour of Les Baux + Carrières de Lumières (quarry of lights). Here in a disused limestone quarry in a hill, vast images are projected on quarry walls, with a new art theme every year. Past subjects include van Gogh, Monet, Gauguin, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.
The rest of the day and evening is yours to enjoy Avignon.
DAY 14: A DAY IN CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE |
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9:00. It’s a short 20 minute drive from Avignon, the Southern Rhone Valley is distinguished for its big, bold red wines. The best known of these is Chateauneuf-du-Pape, created from several of the region’s 13 different grapes, notably Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah. We’ll begin with a guided tour of the area with two included wine tasting stops.
1:30. Included Farewell Lunch in a castle. Homemade, fresh products, a warm welcome with a magnificent view of the valley and the palace of the popes, that’s what awaits you for our lunch today. You will enjoy modern cuisine that blends Provençal and Camargue regional cuisine.
This evening is yours to relax and get ready for early departures to Marseilles
Overnight in Avignon
1:30. Included Farewell Lunch in a castle. Homemade, fresh products, a warm welcome with a magnificent view of the valley and the palace of the popes, that’s what awaits you for our lunch today. You will enjoy modern cuisine that blends Provençal and Camargue regional cuisine.
This evening is yours to relax and get ready for early departures to Marseilles
Overnight in Avignon
DAY 15. TRANSFERS TO PARIS OR MARSEILLE FOR FLIGHTS OUT OR CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY WITH ONE OF OUR OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS |
POST-TOUR OPTION TO NICE AND THE FRENCH RIVIERA
Day 1. Transfer from Provence to Nice. One of the oldest French cities, Nice became Capital of the French Riviera in the 1800’s and today is the 5th largest city of France. We'll enjoy a driving panoramic tour of Nice, including the cities Roman sites, Baroque churches, and the Belle Epoque and Art Deco architecture that characterizes the city. We’ll drive along the Promenades des Anglais and finish at our hotel where you'll have the rest of the day to enjoy the boardwalk.
Day 2. A Tour along the French Riviera. Our morning tour will begin with a stop at the Nice market, followed by a drive along the Cote d’Azur, or Blue Coast, with a visit to the Rothschild Mansion and its beautiful gardens. The heiress Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild had an Italian-style pink palazzo erected on the beautiful Cap Ferrat peninsula at the start of the twentieth century. After, our coach will drop us off at the nearby town of Eze. We'll enjoy a long winding walk up the seaside village, stopping at charming galleries and overlooks on the way and finishing at our Michelin lunch stop overlooking the Mediterranean.
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy Nice
Day 3. A Day of Choices in Nice:
• Stroll the Promenades des Anglais. Sit on the blue Riviera seats that are lined up along the boulevard and watch the rollerbladers and bikes go by.
• Walk around the Port of Nice to see the impressive yachts and colorful fishing boats.
• The Chagall Museum. Chagall was involved in the construction of the museum and produced his artworks to fill the rooms. You’ll see different works from different stages throughout his life.
• Explore the culture and cooking of Nice. We’ll begin the morning at Nice’s famous Cours Saleya market with with our chef to sample seasonal produce and meet the local producers. Then we’re off to her kitchen to create the beloved Nicoise dishes for our lunch.
Add some days to your stay. You might want to think about:
• Take the train or hop a bus to Monte Carlo. Live out your inner 007 at the Casino while gawking at the fancy people with their fancy cars. Then hike up to Monaco Ville and see the Grimaldi Palace and the very well-done Aquarium.
• Channel your inner-Hollywood with a day trip to Cannes and the perfumeries of Grasse, the perfume capital of the world.
• An excursion to Antibes and Biot. If you are interested in art and glassware, think about choosing this excursion to Antibes and Biot. The Picasso Museum in Antibes is situated in the old Grimaldi chateau and features not only a superb Picasso collection but also other important 20th century artists and a permanent collection of sculptures on the terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. Biot, between Antibes and Nice, is a picturesque hill village renowned for its pretty glassware. There are several glass works where you can watch the glass blowing process and of course, shops to buy the finished product. Suggested reading for a colorful insight into Antibes: Mediterranean Summer by David Shalleck.
• St. Paul de Vence and Vence. These little towns tick all the boxes of Provence: winding streets, old men playing pétanque, beautiful views, manicured gardens, stone fountains and art galleries. You’ll have the whole day to explore and finish with a dinner of to-die-for rotisserie chicken and lavender creme brûlée.
Day 2. A Tour along the French Riviera. Our morning tour will begin with a stop at the Nice market, followed by a drive along the Cote d’Azur, or Blue Coast, with a visit to the Rothschild Mansion and its beautiful gardens. The heiress Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild had an Italian-style pink palazzo erected on the beautiful Cap Ferrat peninsula at the start of the twentieth century. After, our coach will drop us off at the nearby town of Eze. We'll enjoy a long winding walk up the seaside village, stopping at charming galleries and overlooks on the way and finishing at our Michelin lunch stop overlooking the Mediterranean.
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy Nice
Day 3. A Day of Choices in Nice:
• Stroll the Promenades des Anglais. Sit on the blue Riviera seats that are lined up along the boulevard and watch the rollerbladers and bikes go by.
• Walk around the Port of Nice to see the impressive yachts and colorful fishing boats.
• The Chagall Museum. Chagall was involved in the construction of the museum and produced his artworks to fill the rooms. You’ll see different works from different stages throughout his life.
• Explore the culture and cooking of Nice. We’ll begin the morning at Nice’s famous Cours Saleya market with with our chef to sample seasonal produce and meet the local producers. Then we’re off to her kitchen to create the beloved Nicoise dishes for our lunch.
Add some days to your stay. You might want to think about:
• Take the train or hop a bus to Monte Carlo. Live out your inner 007 at the Casino while gawking at the fancy people with their fancy cars. Then hike up to Monaco Ville and see the Grimaldi Palace and the very well-done Aquarium.
• Channel your inner-Hollywood with a day trip to Cannes and the perfumeries of Grasse, the perfume capital of the world.
• An excursion to Antibes and Biot. If you are interested in art and glassware, think about choosing this excursion to Antibes and Biot. The Picasso Museum in Antibes is situated in the old Grimaldi chateau and features not only a superb Picasso collection but also other important 20th century artists and a permanent collection of sculptures on the terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. Biot, between Antibes and Nice, is a picturesque hill village renowned for its pretty glassware. There are several glass works where you can watch the glass blowing process and of course, shops to buy the finished product. Suggested reading for a colorful insight into Antibes: Mediterranean Summer by David Shalleck.
• St. Paul de Vence and Vence. These little towns tick all the boxes of Provence: winding streets, old men playing pétanque, beautiful views, manicured gardens, stone fountains and art galleries. You’ll have the whole day to explore and finish with a dinner of to-die-for rotisserie chicken and lavender creme brûlée.