• 2 Dinner (D)
• 6 Breakfast (B)

• Paris: Take a dreamy jaunt around the city of romance. Fall in love with landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Champs-Élysées and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
• Paris: What could be better than sailing down the Seine with the Contiki crew, taking in all the chic Paris landmarks? Sign us up!
• Paris: Your chance to learn the art of fragrance at a Parisian perfume house. You know it makes scents! (soz).
• Tours: We’ll tour the Christmas markets in Tour where you’ll have the chance to pick up delicious goodies. Trust us, your taste buds will thank you.
• Dijon: Your Trip Manager will show you around the beautiful town of Dijon – the capital of the Duchy of Burgundy. Expect lots of art and architecture from the Renaissance & medieval eras. 
• Colmar: Welcome to one of the most popular Christmas markets in Europe! We’ll stroll by the canals and check out the illuminated markets in town. 
• Reims: If you were a French royal, you’d be crowned right here in Reims. Today, we’ll check out the medieval architecture of this town. Plus, your Trip Manager will tell you all about the pivotal role it played during Roman times and WW1. 

Join a local guide to taste Franco-German holiday classics—tarte flambée, crispy bretzels, spiced bredele cookies—and sample regional wines or juice pairings. Stroll atmospheric alleys as stories of guilds and bakers bring seasonal recipes to life.

Along the way, uncover how monastic traditions and Rhine trade shaped Strasbourg’s winter table. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, perfect for travelers keen to dig deeper into Alsatian flavors.

Join a guided panoramic tour to trace Paris’s grand perspectives and river bends, taking in the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the grand boulevards of the Champs-Élysées. Glide past the Louvre’s courtyards and lively squares as your Trip Manager points out the quartiers that shape the capital’s winter rhythm.

Hear how Haussmann’s redesign forged the modern city plan and how medieval islands anchored old Paris. Pause to admire the restored facade of Notre-Dame Cathedral from across the Seine and picture the festive lights twinkling along elegant avenues.

Cruise the River Seine as Paris shimmers into night. From the open deck or glassed-in salon, watch bridges drift by and spot the illuminated monuments that define the city—palatial facades, gilded statues, and the sparkling beacon of the Eiffel Tower.

Glide past Île de la Cité and the Louvre’s riverfront as commentary reveals layers of history, from royal courts to artists’ ateliers. The reflections on the water and cool winter air set a festive, cinematic mood for your Paris stay.

Discover how master noses learn the art of fragrance at a traditional Parisian perfume house. A specialist introduces the craft of blending top, heart, and base notes, with time to sample essences that evoke citrus groves, powdery florals, and warm spice.

Hear stories of Grasse distilleries and Belle Époque salons where bespoke scents became signatures. Leave with a heightened sense of smell—and new confidence reading perfume pyramids—perfect for winter market browsing and choosing aromatic gifts.

Step inside the Palais Garnier, Paris’s showstopping opera house, for an evening immersion in Belle Époque opulence. Ascend the grand staircase, sweep through gilded foyers, and admire the celebrated Chagall ceiling over the crimson auditorium.

Hear how Charles Garnier’s 19th-century masterpiece became a temple of music and ballet, inspiring legends from Phantom lore to couture. Seasonal decorations enhance the theatre’s marble, mirrors, and mosaics—an atmospheric contrast to the wintry streets outside.

Stroll the Christmas markets of Tours amid timber-framed facades and lantern-lit lanes. Your Trip Manager points out Place Plumereau and cozy squares where artisans sell ornaments, local cheeses, and Loire treats; warm your hands around vin chaud perfumed with cinnamon and orange.

Learn why Tours flourished between royal courts and monastic communities, and taste seasonal specialties—from nougat and pain d’épices to rillettes—while the scent of roasted chestnuts drifts through the medieval streets.

Experience the Loire Valley’s showpiece as you visit Château de Chambord, a Renaissance marvel set in vast parkland. Admire its distinctive skyline and the ingenious double-helix staircase often linked to Leonardo’s influence, framed by seasonal decorations and winter gardens.

Hear how Francois I envisioned Chambord as a hunting lodge showcasing royal power and architectural daring. From limestone turrets to sculpted chimneys, the château’s Renaissance grandeur feels especially atmospheric during the festive period.

Explore Burgundy’s former ducal capital as you follow the Owl Trail past mansions, market halls, and hidden courtyards. See the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy and the sculpted facade of Notre-Dame of Dijon, famed for its lucky owl carving.

Learn how ducal wealth shaped Dijon’s medieval streets and Renaissance art, and hear why mustard became an emblem of the city. The route’s discreet brass owls guide you to photogenic corners ideal for winter-light photography.

Wander Colmar’s storybook lanes and Little Venice canals, where half-timbered houses frame bridges draped in lights. Browse glowing market chalets for ornaments, candles, and Alsatian specialities while choirs and brass bands set a charming seasonal soundtrack.

Discover how Germanic and French influences shaped Colmar’s guild houses and wine culture. With spiced aromas hanging in the air, this intimate old town becomes a living postcard—a perfect backdrop for photos and warming sips of mulled wine.

Experience Strasbourg’s UNESCO-listed heart as you explore the markets on the Grande Île. Drift between wooden chalets, admire the pink-sandstone Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, and taste vin chaud while the historic Christkindelsmärik atmosphere fills the squares.

Hear how Rhine-front trade and ecclesiastical power forged the city’s mixed identity, reflected in its timbered houses and elegant arcades. Seasonal illuminations lace every street, casting a warm glow over facades and canal bridges.

Walk Reims’s historic core to the soaring facade of Notre-Dame de Reims, traditional crowning place of French kings. Explore café-lined boulevards, ornate squares, and Art Deco fronts rebuilt after WWI, with time to pause for photos and reflection.

Hear how Roman roads and Champagne prosperity shaped the city, and learn about restoration after wartime damage. The cathedral’s sculpted angels and winter light make a stirring finale before browsing festive stalls nearby.

In Reims or Épernay, visit a renowned Champagne house to descend into chalk crayères where bottles mature in cool, silent galleries. Learn about the Méthode Champenoise—from blending and second fermentation to riddling—before a guided tasting of selected cuvées.

Gain insight into terroirs, grape varieties, and dosage as you compare styles that define the region’s festive sparkle. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, with limited group slots during peak season.

Contiki