Your itinerary
Day 1
Day 1: Explore Paris Before Dinner
You’ll arrive in Paris with time to follow its broad boulevards, pause beneath elegant balconies and hear cafe chatter spilling onto the pavements. At the hotel, you’ll meet your Travel Director and fellow guests before heading to a local restaurant, where dinner is served from recipes made with fresh ingredients and the scent of home-style cooking drifts from the kitchen. As glasses are raised and plates are passed around the table, you savor your first dinner in Paris.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2
Day 2: Rouen, Honfleur and Deauville
Follow the River Seine to Rouen, capital of Normandy, to admire its ancient cathedral – a masterpiece of Gothic style and the subject of a series of paintings by Claude Monet. Wander through the narrow streets beneath the Great Clock to the Old Market Square. Here, a superb modern church memorializes the burning of Joan of Arc on this very spot in 1431. Continue to the charming fishing town of Honfleur and wander along the harbor or stroll through the colorful streets. Close by, visit a family-owned apple farm for apple juice, cider and calvados tasting. Later, arrive at your luxurious hotel, located in the chic seaside resort of Deauville.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3
Day 3: Normandy Beaches and D-Day Landings
Follow the route of the Rangers and visit the bunkers and the Rangers Memorial at Pointe du Hoc. Then with a Local Specialist, spend a few reflective moments at the American Military Cemetery of Saint-Laurent, near Omaha Beach. Explore Normandy with your choice. Choose to visit the D-Day Museum in Arromanches and see the remnants of the artificial port in the bay. Alternatively, visit the Bayeux Cathedral. This evening you are treated to a delightful dinner, which promises creative cuisine, seasonal ingredients and delicious wines.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 4
Day 4: Mont Saint-Michel and Saint-Malo
Journey through bocage country and explore the hilltop abbey of Mont Saint-Michel with your Local Specialist. Situated on an island, the abbey is reached by a bridge across the shining sands. Behind the outer ring of defenses huddles the small town – its singular street containing shops, cafes and hotels. Continue to stunning Saint-Malo, situated on the Rance Estuary and one of the most charming places in France. A Local Specialist will take you on an exploration of the City of the Corsairs. Walk through the maze of streets of Intra Muros, the walled city, home of Jacques Cartier and other celebrated voyagers. At your leisure, you can wander around the ramparts of the thick city walls, offering fantastic views over the old town and the bay. By night, the town’s medieval maze of winding streets is abuzz with quaint bars and restaurants. Alternatively, you may wish to join an optional experience to Cancale, known throughout France for its oyster beds, for a delicious meal of fresh seafood and other Breton specialties.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5
Day 5: Villandry Experience
Head south through the Loire Valley, stopping to admire the moated Château d’Angers. Cross the river to Saumur, where you’ll join a local vintner for a guided tasting of the region’s elegant wines. Continue to the Château de Villandry, a masterpiece of Renaissance design, where you’ll explore its spectacular terraces, with ornate flowerbeds, tranquil pools and a flourishing potager. Later, arrive at your chateau hotel, sweeping views overlooking the capital of the Loire Valley.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6
Day 6: Scenic Drive Along the Loire Valley
This morning, you might join an Optional Experience to the elegant Château de Chenonceau, set gracefully across the River Cher and surrounded by manicured gardens, or simply relax at your hotel. In the afternoon, meet your Local Specialist for an in-depth visit to the Château d’Amboise. Perched high above the Loire, this former royal residence was a political and cultural hub during the Renaissance, attracting Europe’s greatest minds. Stroll through its grand halls, adorned with period furnishings, and step onto the panoramic terraces overlooking the river. Here, you’ll also find the chapel where Leonardo da Vinci is buried, a poignant reminder of the close ties between the French court and the Italian master. This evening, enjoy a Farm-to-Table dinner at the historic Le Domaine de la Tortinière, featuring seasonal produce from its gardens and local farms for an authentic taste of the Loire Valley.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 7
Day 7: La Beauce and Chartres to Paris, City of Light
Traveling through the vast wheat fields of the Beauce region, Chartres Cathedral, nicknamed the ‘Acropolis of France’ by August Rodin, looms large on the horizon. Enjoy a guided tour of this architectural delight. From here, return to the French capital where your Travel Director introduces you to the fabulous sights of Paris, including the vast Place de la Concorde, where the guillotine once stood. Travel up the Champs Élysées to Napoleon’s Arc de Triomphe. After dark, the City of Light really lives up to its name, when the monuments, buildings and bridges are lit up in all their glory. Add a special touch of excitement and glamour to your evening with the unforgettable thrill of a world-famous cabaret show — an Optional Experience not to be missed.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8
Day 8: Romantic Capital on the Seine
During your time in Paris, see the impressive Eiffel Tower, the Luxor obelisk in the center of the Place de la Concorde and enjoy a drive along the Champs Élysées to Napoleon’s Arc de Triomphe. You are in for a memorable evening with a delicious dinner of excellent French cuisine and wine to toast your journey through France.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 9
Day 9: Journey Through Champagne to Dijon
Through Champagne’s vineyard country, neat rows of vines line your route, changing with the seasons from tender green shoots to dense summer leaves and copper-toned autumn color. In Troyes, you wander through the medieval Old Town, looking up at crooked timber frames and painted houses leaning towards narrow streets. A glass of Champagne follows, with a soft pop of the cork, fine bubbles rising and the crisp taste of the region’s best-known export on your lips. In Dijon, your Travel Director leads you through streets lined with carved stone façades and traces the history behind the city’s architecture.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 10
Day 10: Burgundy’s Capital: Dijon in Detail
In Dijon, you wander through old courtyards, gazing at the grand architecture left by the Dukes of Burgundy, whose power once rivalled that of France’s kings. You may choose an Optional Experience to Beaune, Burgundy’s wine capital, where glazed rooftops catch the light and cool cellars offer the scent of oak and ageing wine. Later, another Optional Experience takes you to the Premier Cru village of Fixin. Here, you raise a glass of Burgundy, taste its dark fruit and savor a traditional dinner as candlelight flickers across the table.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11
Day 11: Mont Blanc and Chamonix
As you climb into the high Alps, Mont Blanc rises above the valley and the air turns cooler around you. In Chamonix, you might ride the cable car for wide views across the mountain peaks and the resort far below, or explore the streets at your own pace beneath the surrounding slopes. This evening, you may choose an Optional Experience in a traditional chalet.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12
Day 12: Explore Annecy Before Continuing to Grenoble
Between the lake and mountains, Annecy invites you into lanes crossed by narrow canals, where water laps against the banks beneath old bridges and medieval buildings lean towards one another. With free time in the Old Town, you can choose a place for lunch, follow the winding lanes through Little Venice and pause on the bridges to watch the reflections ripple below. From Annecy, you continue to Grenoble, then settle in for dinner at a local restaurant as the city lights begin to glow outside.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 13
Day 13: Grenoble to Nice via Provence
Following the mountain road once traveled by Napoleon, you wind through steep passes and deep valleys before Provence opens towards the French Riviera. In Nice, you step into streets washed with Mediterranean color and set out to explore at your own pace. Later, you might wander through the Old Town, listening to voices echo between ochre buildings before reaching Cours Saleya, where fresh flowers fill the stalls and their perfume drifts between rows of bistro tables.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 14
Day 14: Perfume and Palaces: Monaco in Full
On the Côte d’Azur, you begin among stoppered bottles and carefully blended fragrances at a local perfumery, where floral, citrus and woody notes unfold one by one. In Monaco, you’ll follow the bends of the Grand Prix circuit before selecting your preferred experience. At the Oceanographic Museum, you watch tropical fish move through blue-lit aquariums above the sea. Or enter the Royal Palace beneath painted ceilings, then step into the hush of Monaco Cathedral, where Princess Grace lies at rest. Later, you may join an Optional Experience to Èze, climbing through its medieval lanes to the Botanical Gardens, where sculptural cacti and succulents weave among the ruins of a fortress high above the sea.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 15
Day 15: Explore Saint-Paul De Vence and Aix
High above the Riviera, you’ll wander through Saint-Paul de Vence, passing fountains, vine-covered walls and glimpses of mountains and sea between the medieval lanes. Next, you try your hand at pétanque, weighing the metal boule in your palm before sending it skimming across the gravel. After the game, you’ll raise a glass of anise-scented pastis. In Aix-en-Provence, the journey continues beneath the plane trees of Cours Mirabeau, where elegant mansions line the avenue on the way to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 16
Day 16: Roman Provence: Pont Du Gard And Avignon
At Pont du Gard, you stand beneath vast tiers of arches supporting the Roman aqueduct before continuing to Avignon, where medieval walls and the legacy of the 14th-century papacy surround you. Your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience takes you into a local olive estate, where leaves rustle through the groves and you find out how olives travel from tree to table. During the tasting, you’ll learn how to distinguish each note on the palate by comparing each oil’s aroma, color and texture. Back in Aix-en-Provence, the evening is yours to linger over a cafe table, browse the boutiques or enjoy the city at your own pace.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 17
Day 17: Arles to Albi via Carcassonne
Among Arles’ honey-toned buildings, you pass the Roman Arena and the broken columns of the ancient theater, following streets that later caught Vincent van Gogh’s eye. Across the Languedoc, Carcassonne rises behind two rings of fortified walls. You enter beneath its towers, cross the worn paving within the UNESCO-listed fortress and look up at the medieval keep. In Albi, your Travel Director guides you past the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum and the immense red-brick walls of Sainte-Cécile Cathedral. Afterwards, you can wander at your leisure, perhaps pausing beside the Tarn, where the medieval arches of Pont-Vieux stretch towards Albi’s terracotta skyline.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 18
Day 18: A Leisurely Day in Albi
With a full day at leisure, you might follow Albi’s russet lanes to where the nutty scent of local cheeses mingles with butter-rich pastries beneath the ironwork of the covered market. Perhaps wander through the gardens of the Palais de la Berbie, among sweeping arabesques of deep-green boxwood curled across white gravel. You could also join today’s Optional Experience to Puycelsi, Castelnau-de-Montmiral and a village marché. This evening, you’ll settle into a local restaurant and savor a dinner prepared with carefully selected fresh ingredients.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 19
Day 19: Browse Cahors and Climb Through Rocamadour
In Cahors, you stand before the three fortified towers of Pont Valentré. Weaving through the open-air market, you may pause over baskets of seasonal produce and bottles of the city’s deep-red Black Wine with its notes of blackberry, plum and black pepper that dance on the tongue. Continue to Rocamadour, where stone lanes rise in tiers above the Alzou canyon, tracing a pilgrimage route traveled for centuries on the Camino de Santiago. Later, take your seat for a Farm-to-Table Dinner, tasting ingredients sourced nearby and sipping regional wine as each course arrives.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 20
Day 20: Explore Lascaux and Medieval Sarlat
Traveling through the Dordogne Valley, you step into the cool half-light of Lascaux II, where reproductions of prehistoric horses, bulls and deer sweep across the cave walls in ochre, charcoal and rust. In Sarlat-la-Canéda, wander through a medieval center of honey-gold limestone, passing carved doorways, shuttered windows and narrow lanes that glow warmly in the light. The scent of baking pastry and coffee may drift from nearby cafes as you linger beneath the old façades and watch the town move around you. This evening, the journey winds through the wooded Dordogne countryside back to your hotel for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 21
Day 21: Dordogne to Paris: Countryside to Capital
Arriving in Paris, you’re free to follow its broad avenues, settle at a cafe table or wander along the river as the scent of warm bread drifts from nearby boulangeries. After dusk, bridges and elegant buildings glow against the night, their reflections trembling across the Seine. Later, you settle in for French cuisine and wine, tasting each course as glasses catch the soft light across the table.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 22
Day 22: Bid Farewell to France
Today, you’ll leave the French countryside behind as you transfer to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Dining Summary
- 10 Dinner (D)
- 21 Breakfast (B)
How You'll Travel
- Business class coach with extended leg room
- Top-rated dining, from farm-to-table to local restaurants
- 4 & 5-star stays
Authentic Dining
- Paris: Join your Travel Director and fellow guests at a local restaurant for a delightful dinner.
- Saumur: Learn about local grape varieties and regional wine-making traditions as you sample wines of the Loire Valley.
- Loire Valley: This evening, dine at the historic Le Domaine de la Tortinière, surrounded by elegant French gardens. Enjoy a thoughtfully crafted three-course menu featuring fresh produce from the château’s gardens and local producers. With traditional family cuisine and warm hospitality, this Farm-to-Table dinner offers a true taste of the Loire Valley.
- Paris: Rendez-vous with your fellow travelers at a typical French bistro for a rousing dinner with wine. Bon Appetit!
- Grenoble: Enjoy a delicious dinner in Grenoble.
- Cahors: See the Pont Valentré as you enjoy a tasting through the markets.
- Dordogne: Enjoy a delicious Farm-to-Table dinner prepared with locally sourced ingredients and served with wines from the region.
- Paris: Join your Travel Director and fellow guests at a local restaurant in the heart of the city for a delightful dinner served with wine.
Trafalgar Choice
- Arromanches-les-Bains: Visit the D-Day Museum in Arromanches and see the remnants of the artificial port in the bay.
- Bayeux: Marvel at stunning Norman-Gothic architecture during a visit to Bayeux Cathedral. Learn about its rich history and see the site where the Bayeux Tapestry was originally displayed.
- Monaco City: Admire the Italian Renaissance frescoes and State Apartments of the Prince’s Palace.
- Monaco City: Visit the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. Admire grand aquariums of the Mediterranean and tropical seas, and gain insight into the challenges of scientific research in Polar environments.
Premium Experience
- Saint-Paul-de-Vence: Join a pétanque player to learn the secrets behind this traditional French discipline. Steady your hand and get ready to test your newfound skills in a game. End with a glass of pastis, a French apéritif.
Honfleur Harbor Walk & Normandy Cider and Calvados Tasting
Wander the quays of Honfleur’s Vieux Bassin, where slate-fronted houses crowd the water’s edge and fishing boats sway with the tide. Artists once flocked here for the changing light and sea air that shaped Impressionism’s early palette.
Continue among Normandy’s orchards to meet a local producer preserving generations of craft. Learn how apples become fresh juice, crisp cider and amber Calvados using time-honored methods, then taste the nuanced aromas that anchor this region’s rural identity.
Omaha Beach: Pointe du Hoc & American Cemetery
Trace the route of the Rangers at Pointe du Hoc, where sheer cliffs and shattered bunkers reveal the scale of the D-Day assault. Walk among concrete casemates and coastal defenses that once guarded the Normandy shore.
At the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, rows of white crosses face the sea above Omaha Beach. Spend time for photos and reflection while a Local Specialist shares stories of courage and sacrifice that forever shaped modern Europe.
Arromanches D-Day Museum (Included Choice)
Discover how the Allies built a harbor from scratch at Arromanches by visiting the D-Day Museum. See models and exhibits that explain the ingenious Mulberry artificial port that enabled vital landings and supply lines in 1944.
Gaze across the bay to the scattered remains of caissons that still break the surf, a stark reminder of wartime innovation. This is one of two included choices on day 3; you may alternatively visit Bayeux Cathedral.
Bayeux Cathedral Visit (Included Choice)
Step inside Bayeux Cathedral, a Norman-Gothic masterpiece of pointed arches, rib vaults and soaring stonework. Your visit traces the cathedral’s medieval role and its connection to the Bayeux Tapestry’s original display.
Admire sculpted portals, stained-glass windows and the cathedral’s graceful proportions that survived centuries of conflict. This is one of two included choices on day 3; you may alternatively explore the D-Day Museum in Arromanches.
Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey Guided Tour
Cross the causeway to the fortified island of Mont-Saint-Michel, crowned by an abbey that rises like a stone ship above the sands. Follow a Local Specialist through cloisters, refectories and a maze of halls and vaults shaped by monastic life.
Hear how pilgrims once braved tidal currents and shifting sands to reach this sacred site. From ramparts and terraces, take in far-reaching views over the bay and feel the timeless atmosphere of this UNESCO icon.
Saint-Malo Walled City Walk & Ramparts
Explore Saint-Malo’s Intra-Muros with a Local Specialist, tracing corsair lore through narrow lanes of granite houses and bustling squares. Visit the cathedral and hear tales of seafarers who once brokered fortunes from these tides.
Climb the stout ramparts for sea views and the lighthouse-dotted horizon. The city’s storied resilience—from privateers to wartime reconstruction—gives this Breton stronghold a palpable maritime spirit and a lively café culture within its walls.
Loire Valley Wine Tasting in Saumur & Villandry Renaissance Gardens
Join a vintner in Saumur to sample elegant Loire wines shaped by tuffeau stone cellars and a cool Atlantic breeze. Learn about Chenin Blanc’s minerality and Cabernet Franc’s supple fruit during this guided tasting.
Continue to the Château de Villandry gardens, a masterpiece of Renaissance design. Walk among geometric parterres, water gardens and an abundant potager where careful planting patterns and sustainable practice create beauty and bounty in equal measure.
Château d’Amboise Guided Visit & Leonardo’s Chapel
Visit Château d’Amboise, a royal stronghold perched high above the Loire. Stroll through grand halls and onto panoramic terraces once frequented by Renaissance courtiers and visiting luminaries.
Pause at the chapel where Leonardo da Vinci is buried, a quiet space linking France’s royal past with Italian genius. From the ramparts, admire the river’s slow bends and the handsome rooftops of Amboise clustered below the château.
Loire Valley Farm-to-Table Dinner at Le Domaine de la Tortinière
Taste the Loire at its source during a Farm-to-Table dinner on the château estate. Seasonal produce from the gardens and nearby farms informs a thoughtful menu paired with regional wines.
Dine amid manicured grounds and salons where family traditions and French hospitality shape the experience. Expect fresh, local ingredients, time-honored recipes and a relaxed, elegant setting that celebrates the valley’s agricultural heritage.
Chartres Cathedral: Stained Glass and Stone
Uncover the artistry of Chartres Cathedral, whose sculpted portals and labyrinth floor emblemize medieval devotion. A guided visit reveals stories preserved in luminescent stained glass, among the best conserved in Europe.
From the crypt to the soaring nave, learn how pilgrims viewed its blue windows as heavenly light. Rodin called it the “Acropolis of France”—a testament to Gothic ingenuity and the enduring power of sacred architecture.
Paris Panoramic City Drive
See Paris’s grand set pieces on a panoramic drive that takes in the Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, and the monumental sweep of Place de la Concorde.
Hear how emperors, artists and revolutionaries shaped the avenues and squares you pass. From Haussmann’s boulevards to riverside vistas, this overview orients you to neighborhoods and landmarks you can explore further at your own pace.
Champagne Tasting in Troyes’ Medieval Quarter
Pause in the timber-framed lanes of Troyes to savor a glass of Champagne from its nearby vineyards. Learn how chalk soils, cool cellars and meticulous blending create the fine bead and crisp finish of the region’s emblematic wine.
As bubbles rise, admire the city’s pastel facades and narrow streets that speak to Troyes’ medieval prosperity and careful restoration. The tasting adds sparkle to a stroll through one of France’s most photogenic old towns.
Dijon Historic Center Orientation
Walk Dijon’s elegant core with your Travel Director to trace the legacy of the Dukes of Burgundy. See carved stone mansions, handsome squares and traces of trade wealth that once rivaled royal France.
From the Palais des Ducs to market streets rich with gastronomic tradition, discover why Dijon’s name is synonymous with mustard and fine wine. Architecture, flavor and history meet in this cultured Burgundian capital.
Riviera Perfumery Visit & Scent Discovery
Enter a working perfumery on the Côte d’Azur to learn how nose-trained experts compose accords from floral, citrus and woody notes. Trace each step from distillation to blending as vials release the fragrance of the Mediterranean.
Sample signature creations and discover how raw essences become balanced perfumes. This behind-the-scenes look connects centuries of Provencal craft with the Riviera’s glamorous reputation for style and sensorial pleasure.
Monaco Old Town, Grand Prix Drive & Cathedral
Glide along a portion of the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit before exploring Monaco-Ville on foot. Wander lanes above the yacht-filled harbor and step into the hush of Monaco Cathedral, final resting place of Princess Grace.
Views over the sunlit Riviera frame this compact principality’s contrasts—palatial facades, medieval streets and modern glamour. Your visit balances scenic drama with quiet moments in the Rock’s historic heart.
Prince’s Palace State Apartments (Included Choice)
Admire Italian Renaissance frescoes and period décor in the State Apartments of the Prince’s Palace. Step through gilded salons and ceremonial rooms that illuminate Monaco’s centuries-old sovereignty.
Beyond the palace square, guards in crisp dress underscore living tradition in this modern microstate. This is one of two included choices on day 14; you may alternatively visit the Oceanographic Museum overlooking the sea.
Oceanographic Museum of Monaco (Included Choice)
Visit the clifftop Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, where grand aquariums showcase Mediterranean and tropical ecosystems. Observe reef life beneath blue-lit tanks and exhibits on polar science and marine exploration.
Founded by Prince Albert I, the museum links royal curiosity with cutting-edge research. This is one of two included choices on day 14; you may alternatively tour the Prince’s Palace State Apartments nearby.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence Hilltop Walk & Pétanque with Pastis
Stroll the stone lanes of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a village beloved by artists for its light and views to the sea. Fountains, vine-draped walls and small ateliers line your path atop ancient ramparts.
Learn the rhythm of pétanque from a local player, then toast your game with a glass of anise-scented pastis. The setting captures Riviera charm and everyday Provencal ritual in a single, memorable encounter.
Aix-en-Provence Cours Mirabeau Orientation
Walk beneath plane trees along the Cours Mirabeau, where elegant hôtels particuliers and café terraces showcase Aix’s refined tempo. Pass moss-topped fountains and sunlit squares alive with conversation.
Hear how the city’s waters, markets and artistic lineage shaped local life from Cézanne to today. This polished Provencal capital blends architecture and café culture into a leisurely, sophisticated scene.
Pont du Gard Aqueduct & Avignon Old Town Walk
Stand beneath the vast arches of the Pont du Gard, a 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct that once carried water to Nîmes. Its precise engineering and honey-gold stone span the Gardon River with timeless grace.
Continue into Avignon to view the Pont d’Avignon and walk medieval lanes toward the Palais des Papes. Once the seat of papal power, Avignon blends fortified architecture with vibrant Provencal life within its walls.
Les Baux-de-Provence Organic Olive Mill Visit & Tasting (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER)
Meet the owners of an organic olive estate in the Alpilles to learn eco-friendly cultivation that promotes biodiversity. Walk the groves, hear how fruit is milled, and taste oils distinguished by varietal and terroir.
Your visit supports Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) while showcasing Provencal flavor at its purest. Compare aromas, color and texture as you refine your palate and learn to identify exceptional extra-virgin oils.
Arles Roman Monuments & Van Gogh Trail
Join a Local Specialist in Arles to view the Roman Arena and ancient theater, anchors of a city once vital to the Empire. Walk sun-washed streets where Vincent van Gogh painted cafés, bridges and starry skies.
Discover how Provence’s distinctive light and ochre tones shaped his palette, and see Roman stonework that survived centuries beside scenes immortalized on canvas. History and art meet in this compact, evocative town.
Cité de Carcassonne Guided Walk
Enter the double-walled fortress of the Cité de Carcassonne, a UNESCO-listed stronghold crowned by spiky towers. Cross worn paving stones into a storybook world of keeps, barbicans and narrow lanes.
Hear how medieval engineers fortified this hilltop and how 19th-century restoration revived its silhouette. The vista of battlements and storybook turrets frames Languedoc landscapes rolling away beneath the city’s commanding perch.
Albi Old Town & Sainte-Cécile Cathedral
Walk Albi’s russet lanes past the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum and toward the colossal brick mass of Sainte-Cécile Cathedral. This southern Gothic giant, built of baked earth, embodies Occitan pride and power.
From bridges spanning the Tarn to arcaded squares, your guided stroll reveals a city where red brick glows at sunset and the legacy of a famed painter intersects with episcopal might and market-town rhythm.
Cahors Market Tasting & Pont Valentré
Browse Cahors’ open-air market to sample regional specialties and the city’s famed Malbec “Black Wine”, known for notes of blackberry and spice. Stalls brim with seasonal produce, charcuterie and local cheeses.
See the triple-towered Pont Valentré, a fortified 14th-century bridge that spans the Lot in emblematic silhouette. This blend of flavor and fortification captures the rugged beauty and gastronomy of the Quercy region.
Rocamadour Sanctuary Walk
Climb stone lanes and stairways through tiered Rocamadour to its clifftop sanctuaries, a revered stop on the Camino de Santiago. Chapels tucked into limestone echo with centuries of pilgrimage.
As the Alzou canyon opens below, feel the setting’s spiritual drama—the interplay of rock, devotion and vertiginous views. The village’s houses, shrines and ramparts seem carved from the same ancient stone.
Lascaux Cave Replica & Sarlat Medieval Stroll
Step into the cool half-light of Lascaux II to see faithful reproductions of Paleolithic paintings—horses, bulls and deer sweeping across cave walls in ochre and charcoal. Guides illuminate technique and symbolism.
Later, wander Sarlat-la-Canéda’s honey-gold lanes past carved portals and shuttered windows. Cafés spill onto stone squares as the town’s markets and medieval facades showcase the Dordogne’s warmth and living heritage.
Dordogne Farm-to-Table Dinner
Savor a Farm-to-Table dinner that celebrates Dordogne’s terroir. Expect duck, walnuts, seasonal vegetables and regional wines, served in a relaxed country setting where ingredients travel short distances from field to plate.
Hosts share the stories behind each course as rustic recipes and robust local flavors arrive. This intimate meal captures the valley’s agricultural rhythms and generous culinary traditions.
Paris Farewell Dinner with Wine
Raise a glass in Paris at a farewell dinner that gathers the journey’s flavors one last time. Share highlights with new friends as classic dishes and well-paired French wines bring the table to life.
Between courses, the conversation and candlelight echo the city’s timeless art de vivre. It’s a warm, celebratory close in the culinary capital of France.
Château de Chenonceau Visit
Visit the elegant Château de Chenonceau, whose arches stride the River Cher and whose salons reflect the rival patronage of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de’ Medici. Wander manicured gardens and river views.
Inside, tapestries and paneling frame Renaissance décor, while the gallery bridge offers a unique sense of place over water. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Paris Cabaret Evening
Embrace Paris by night with a world-famous cabaret. Costumes flare, lights glitter and live music drives a fast-paced revue that pairs spectacle with impeccable stagecraft.
Toast the performance with a glass in hand as the city’s nighttime glamour comes into focus. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Beaune: Burgundy’s Wine Capital
Travel to Beaune to admire glazed-tile roofs and explore lanes lined with centuries-old négociant houses. Learn how limestone soils and careful élevage shape Burgundy’s most coveted wines.
Optional cellar visits highlight terroir and tradition beneath vaulted stone. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Fixin Premier Cru Tasting & Burgundian Dinner
Visit a Premier Cru village in Fixin to taste Pinot Noir marked by cherry, violet and subtle oak. Winemakers explain vineyard parcels and vintages as you compare glasses.
Conclude with a traditional dinner where Burgundian cuisine—from coq au vin to epoisses—meets regional bottles. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Aiguille du Midi Cable Car, Chamonix
Ascend from Chamonix by cable car to the Aiguille du Midi for sweeping views over Mont Blanc and a crown of Alpine peaks. Observation terraces bring you face to face with ice fields and razor ridgelines.
Crisp air and crystalline light make this a photographer’s dream above the high valleys. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Savoyard Chalet Evening
Settle into a traditional chalet for a Savoyard dinner where molten cheese, charcuterie and mountain wines warm the table. Hear how alpine recipes evolved from herders’ fare to regional classics.
Wood beams, crackling fires and hearty flavors create a convivial mood at altitude. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Èze Hilltop Village & Exotic Garden
Climb through medieval Èze, where cobbled alleys rise to the Jardin Exotique overlooking the sea. Sculptural cacti stand among fortress ruins as the Riviera unfurls far below.
Artists’ studios and stone archways add to the village’s photogenic calm. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Cancale Seafood Dinner & Oyster Tasting
Taste the bounty of Brittany in Cancale, famed for its oyster beds. Sample briny, mineral-rich huîtres fresh from the bay, then enjoy a seafood dinner that celebrates local tides and traditions.
Pair your plate with crisp white wine as fishing boats bob on the horizon. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Puycelsi & Castelnau-de-Montmiral with Market Visit
Venture into the Tarn’s bastide villages of Puycelsi and Castelnau-de-Montmiral, perched above green valleys. Arcaded squares, honey-stone ramparts and quiet lanes evoke medieval life on the frontier.
Browse a local marché for seasonal produce and artisanal finds while learning how trading days shaped village rhythms. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Operated By
Insight Vacations
Paris Welcome Dinner at a Neighborhood Bistro
Begin your journey by gathering with fellow travelers for a convivial evening of French cuisine and wine at a local bistro. Savor seasonal dishes, the clink of glasses, and warm Parisian hospitality as you meet your Travel Director and share first impressions of the City of Light.
Absorb the ambiance of classic zinc bar counters, tiled floors and chalkboard menus as your host introduces regional flavors and culinary traditions. It’s an easy, flavorful introduction to Parisian dining culture and a relaxed moment to settle into the rhythm of France.
Rouen Historic Quarter & Cathedral
Explore medieval Rouen with a stroll beneath the ornate Gros-Horloge (Great Clock) to the Old Market Square, scene of Joan of Arc’s martyrdom. See Rouen Cathedral, a Gothic marvel whose lace-like facade inspired a celebrated series of paintings by Monet.
As half-timbered houses lean over cobbled lanes, hear how the city flourished from the Middle Ages to the Impressionists. Pause to admire the cathedral’s soaring vaults and sculpted portals before browsing the atmospheric streets that have witnessed centuries of French history.
