France Paris and Provence 2 - Itinerary
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Day 1: Paris - Arrivals, Paris Highlights Tour On your arrival at the Paris airport (CDG), we will arrange for your private transfer to your boutique hotel in the heart of the Eiffel Tower neighborhood. In the early afternoon, after some time to rest after your journey, you will meet the rest of the group and enjoy a guided introductory driving tour of Paris highlights: the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysees, Ile de la Cite, the splendid medieval Sainte-Chapelle church, the Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral, the Latin Quarter, the Pantheon, and the Jardin du Luxembourg. Then, for spectacular views of the sun setting over Paris, we'll ascend the Eiffel Tower, the city's most famous landmark, and in the evening, we'll enjoy our welcome dinner at a celebrated Parisian restaurant, when we'll get to know each other, and enjoy an informal discussion about the light side of Paris. Day 2: Paris - Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle, Musee d'Orsay, Culinary Tour On our first full day in Paris, we'll enjoy an in-depth guided tour of some of the most celebrated sights in Paris. We'll start with a morning visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral, the most famous of all Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages. We'll continue with a tour of the royal chapel of Sainte Chapelle with its incredible stained glass windows which fill it with rainbows of light. In the afternoon we'll continue to Musee d'Orsay, located in a Beaux-Arts building that used to be a railway station, where we'll explore the world's largest collection of both Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces. Afterwards, we'll set out for a gourmet walking tour. In the dreamlike setting of Paris' most beautiful neighborhoods, we'll explore the history of events that made the city the world's culinary capital, as we indulge in the most exquisite foods in existence. We'll visit a colorful market, a cheese dairy, bakeries, coffee shops and a regional specialty shop, enjoying the rich flavors of wine, cheese and bread, which will introduce us to the French gourmandise. The evening will be free to pursue our own individual interests through the glittering streets of Paris. Day 3: Giverny and Versailles Today, we'll venture out of the city, as we travel through the picturesque French countryside to Giverny. Here, we'll have a chance to appreciate the Impressionist masterpieces of Claude Monet, during a docent-led tour of his house and the photogenic waterlily gardens that inspired his art. Afterwards, we'll visit Versailles, the world's most famous royal palace whose rich collections illustrate over five centuries of French history. We will tour the Royal Apartments, the newly restored Hall of Mirrors, the famous gardens with the Orangerie, and admire the dancing fountains and Marie-Antoinette's Estates. After returning to Paris there will be free time to relax or to explore Paris at night. Day 4: The Loire Valley After breakfast, we’ll set out to explore the poetic Loire Valley with its vineyards, opulent châteaux, and historical mysteries. After a fast train ride to the town of Tours, we’ll join our local expert guide who'll share with us the history behind the elegant Château de Chenonceau, spanning the River Cher and filled with lavishly decorated chambers, ornate public spaces, and dance halls. Then we’ll continue to Amboise for a short stroll featuring the best views of its illustrious castle, before relaxing over lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of Chateau de Chambord, the inspiration for Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast', and celebrated for its unique architecture imagined for King François I, and infused with the spirit of Leonardo da Vinci. After this venture into the French royal history, we’ll return to Paris in the evening. Day 5: Paris - Musee du Louvre, Montmartre, Seine River Cruise After breakfast, we'll continue our exploration of Paris, as we enjoy a private tour of Musée du Louvre, once a royal palace and now a renowned art museum containing one of the world's most important collections of art and antiquities. Afterwards, we'll visit the famous Parisian neighborhood of Montmartre, a living canvas of the city's artistic and cultural history, with the famous Sacré-Cœur Basilica, winding cobblestone streets, quaint squares and places where the city's bohemian past comes alive in its cafés and former haunts of Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Van Gogh. We'll return to our hotel in the afternoon, and in the evening, we'll enjoy another Parisian highlight - a night time dinner cruise on the Seine River to see for ourselves why Paris is called the City of Lights. Day 6: Paris to St. Remy In the morning, we'll leave Paris, taking the TGV bullet train, and for a total change of mood and scenery, we'll arrive in the sun-splashed Avignon in the heart of Provence at lunchtime. After settling into our Provencal villa, there will be time to take a walk around the town of St. Remy or to relax by the villa's beautiful gardens and the elegant swimming pool. Aperitifs and dinner will be served at the hotel's elegant, Provencal style restaurant. Day 7: Les Baux de Provence, Arles On our first full day in Provence, we'll see one of the most beautiful villages in France: Les Baux de Provence, then travel 2,000 years back to the Roman city of Arles. Originally founded by Greeks, Arles was favored by Caesar and flourished as one of the most important provincial cities of the Roman Empire. Like many towns built by Romans in the "provinces" or Provence, it resembles a miniature Rome with its own arena, Theatre Antique, thermal baths and the Forum. We'll visit the striking Roman monuments, walk the labyrinth of narrow streets and visit Place du Forum Café, immortalized by Vincent Van Gogh in his painting, Café Terrace at Night. Day 8: Avignon, Pont d'Avignon Today, we will experience more delights of Provence, as we travel though the fairytale countryside, stopping in picturesque villages with their unforgettable antique markets before we continue to Avignon. Named Altera Roma, Avignon retains the mark of a hundred years of the Popes' stay in the city, when it was the capital of the medieval western world. Today, it is the cradle of Provencal literature and the theater revival movement. We'll visit the Papal Palace, the largest Gothic palace in Europe, stroll through the narrow alleys and expansive plazas, shop or even give in to the musical lyricism of Pont d'Avignon. Day 9: Pont du Gard, Chateauneuf-du-Pape In the morning, we'll visit the Roman built architectural marvel of Pont du Gard, the multi-story aqueduct over the Gard River, built to supply clean water to the town of Nimes. In the afternoon, we'll experience Chateauneuf-du-Pape, a village dedicated to its world famous wine. We'll tour the vineyards, visit the wine making museum and, of course, sample excellent Provencal wines. We'll also enjoy a chocolate and wine pairing session, and a vineyard picnic at a private wine-producing estate. Day 10: Cooking Class We'll spend our last day in Provence with our new friends, learning to appreciate the cuisine of Provence. More than just recipes and techniques, this cooking class will introduce us to the Provencal way of life: a life based around friends, wonderful food prepared from the freshest local ingredients, good wines, blue skies and laughter. After the guided morning visit to the market, we'll engage in the preparation of a spectacular meal which will celebrate our journey in this most blessed region of France. Day 11: St. Remy to Paris Today, we'll say good-bye to Provence, and catch the TGV train back to Paris. We will arrive at the Charles de Gaulle Airport shorlty before 11:00AM.
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