Itinerary
- Day 1
Paris
Landmarks Paris 
- Day 2
Les Andelys
Included Activities
- Cruise along the Seine to Les Andelys
Optional Activities
- Hike to Château Gaillard with Medieval-themed tour and guide in traditional attire
- Guided tour of Les Andelys with Château Gaillard
- Normandy cider farm visit with production demonstration and tasting
- Guided tour of Renaissance-era Château Gaillon
Landmarks Château Gaillard Les Andelys Château Gaillon - Day 3
Rouen
Included Activities
- Evening expert lecture: WWI - A day in the life of a Tommy with interactive elements, equipment try-on, and ration tasting
Optional Activities
- Rouen city tour visiting cathedral district, old marketplace, Saint-Maclou Quarter, and Joan of Arc death site with free time
- Guided tour of Rouen with costumed Viking warlord Rollo the Walker focusing on Medieval history
- Walking tour: In the footsteps of Joan of Arc through St. Ouen Church and Old Market Square
Landmarks Rouen Cathedral Old Market Square, Rouen Saint-Maclou Church St. Ouen Church 
- Day 4
Rouen
Included Activities
- Evening dessert buffet with local pastry chef creations and fine coffee or dessert wine
Optional Activities
- Full-day excursion to Somme Battlefields including Newfoundland Memorial Park, Australian National Memorial (Sir John Monash Centre), Franco-Australian Museum, Lochnagar Crater
- Full-day excursion to Somme Battlefields including Thiepval Memorial, Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Australian National Memorial, Franco-Australian Museum, Lochnagar Crater
- Claude Monet and the colours of Rouen tour visiting iconic landmarks that inspired the Impressionist artist and Musée des Beaux-Arts
Landmarks Australian National Memorial (Sir John Monash Centre) Franco-Australian Museum Lochnagar Crater Newfoundland Memorial Park Thiepval Memorial to the Missing Caterpillar Valley Cemetery Rouen Cathedral Musée des Beaux-Arts - Day 5
Honfleur
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Honfleur including Inner Harbour, Church of Sainte-Catherine, and Garden of Personalities
- French cheesemaking presentation and tasting featuring Camembert de Normandie, Pont-l'Évêque, and Neufchâtel
- Lecture about Operation Fortitude and daily life during the D-Day campaign in WWII
Landmarks Honfleur Inner Harbour Church of Sainte-Catherine Garden of Personalities - Day 6
Honfleur
Optional Activities
- Full-day excursion to Normandy Beaches including Utah Beach memorial, Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy American Cemetery and Visitor Centre, and Omaha Beach Memorial (US-focused)
- Full-day excursion to Normandy Beaches including Bayeux War Cemetery, Museum of the Battle of Normandy, Landing Museum at Arromanches, British Normandy Memorial, Pegasus Bridge & Museum, Ranville War Cemetery (UK-focused)
- Full-day excursion to Normandy Beaches including Abbey d'Ardenne memorial, Juno Beach Centre, Bény-sur-Mer Canadian Cemetery, Pegasus Bridge & Museum (Canadian-focused)
- Guided tour of Bayeux including Notre Dame Cathedral of Bayeux with free exploration time
Landmarks Utah Beach Sainte-Mère-Église Normandy American Cemetery Omaha Beach Bayeux Bayeux War Cemetery Museum of the Battle of Normandy Arromanches Landing Museum British Normandy Memorial Pegasus Bridge & Museum Ranville War Cemetery Abbey d'Ardenne Juno Beach Centre Bény-sur-Mer Canadian Cemetery Notre Dame Cathedral of Bayeux - Day 7
Honfleur - Caudebec-en-Caux
Optional Activities
- E-bike cycling tour to Villequier with Victor Hugo Museum visit, covering approximately 8 kilometres each way along the River Seine
- Coach transfer to Fécamp with guided tour of Bénédictine Palace (19th century architectural masterpiece) and B énédictine liquor tasting
- Walking tour: Tales of the French Resistance learning stories of WWII heroism and daring missions
- Guided Abbey Road tour exploring medieval abbeys on the banks of the River Seine
Landmarks Caudebec-en-Caux Notre Dame Caudebec-en-Caux Villequier Victor Hugo Museum Fécamp Bénédictine Palace - Day 8
Vernon - La Roche-Guyon
Included Activities
- Classical concert at Château de La Roche-Guyon with pre-concert drink, featuring music by French composers
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Monet's House and Garden in Giverny with free time to explore
- Self-guided e-bike tour from Vernon to Giverny (approximately 5 kilometres each way) with option to visit Monet's House and Garden or explore the town
- On board painting class
Landmarks Vernon Giverny Monet's House and Garden Château de La Roche-Guyon 
- Day 9
Conflans - Paris
Optional Activities
- Visit to Auvers-sur-Mer with entry to Van Gogh's room (his rented attic during final months) and free time to explore
- Guided tour of Château de Chantilly with garden exploration and free time (Note: Closed Tuesdays - replaced with Versailles Palace and Garden)
- Active walking tour with Musée de la Batellerie (Inland Water Transport Museum) in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine
- Visit to Château de Malmaison, former residence of Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine de Beauharnais, with museum and gardens
Landmarks Conflans-Saint-Honorine Auvers-sur-Oise Notre Dame de l'Assomption, Auvers Van Gogh's Room Château de Chantilly Versailles Palace and Garden Musée de la Batellerie Château de Malmaison - Day 10
Paris
Optional Activities
- Guided walking tour of Marais district with local Parisian guide highlighting diverse cultures, history, architecture, and arts
- Highlights of Paris city tour by coach viewing Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysée, Arc de Triomphe, Concorde Square, and Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral (reopened after 2019 fire)
- Guided tour of Opéra Garnier featuring ornately decorated rooms, grand staircases, and chandeliers
- Coach excursion to Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte (one hour from Paris) featuring formal gardens that inspired Versailles
Landmarks Eiffel Tower Notre Dame Cathedral Marais District Opéra Garnier Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte Champs-Élysée Arc de Triomphe Concorde Square Montmartre Moulin Rouge - Day 11
Paris to Lyon
Included Activities
- Train transfer from Paris to Lyon
Landmarks Paris Lyon - Day 12
Chavanay
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Vienne visiting well-preserved Roman theatre built against steep hillside slopes with capacity for 10,000 spectators
- Easy e-bike cycling tour on flat terrain with loop from Chavanay along the Rhône River through picturesque villages, including wine tasting or local refreshments stops
Landmarks Chavanay Vienne Roman Theatre, Vienne - Day 13
Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Arles
Optional Activities
- Wine tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape exploring the region's celebrated wine production history
- Chocolate workshop at Chocolaterie Castelain with live chocolate-making demonstration and tasting of signature artisanal chocolates infused with Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine, paired with regional wines and delicacies
- Gentle cycling tour along ViaRhôna paths on the Rhône riverbanks through vineyards, including visit to the Passerelle de l'Oiselay pedestrian and cycle bridge with panoramic river views
Landmarks Châteauneuf-du-Pape Arles Passerelle de l'Oiselay 
- Day 14
Arles - Avignon
Optional Activities
- Guided walking tour of Arles visiting the 20,000-seat Arènes d'Arles Roman amphitheatre (built 90 AD, still in use) and artistic landmarks
- Excursion to medieval village of Les Baux with visit to Carrières des Lumières, a 7,000 square-metre immersive visual and musical art installation
- Farm visit featuring olive oil production techniques demonstration and traditional Provençal recipes with regional experience sharing
- Lavender farm experience (typically late June to mid-August) at organic farm specializing in essential oils, including lavender mist creation activity
- Walking tour: Following Vincent - Van Gogh's Arles tracing the artist's journey through sites that inspired his famous works during his 15-month stay
Landmarks Arles Arènes d'Arles Les Baux Carrières des Lumières Avignon 
- Day 15
Avignon
Included Activities
- Classical concert with exclusive gala dinner at the Palais des Papes featuring trio of musicians performing in the Pope's former dining room (Scenic Enrich)
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Avignon including historic city walls and Palais des Papes (Pope's Palace), the 14th-century seat of Western Christianity (moderate fitness required)
- Guided tour of Pont du Gard, the ancient Roman aqueduct from the first century, an engineering masterpiece designed to carry water to Nîmes
- Shop with a Chef & Scenic Culinaire experience visiting local market with chef for ingredient shopping and sampling, followed by interactive cooking demonstration at Scenic Culinaire (Note: Avignon Market closed Mondays)
- Excursion to Luberon villages including Gordes (considered one of France's most beautiful villages) and picturesque Sénanque Abbey
Landmarks Avignon Palais des Papes Pont d'Avignon Pont du Gard Le Rocher des Doms Gordes Sénanque Abbey - Day 16
Viviers
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Viviers exploring monuments and Cathedral of St. Vincent (11th-century origins, 18th-century Gothic style with Renaissance facade) with free time
- French Resistance walking tour learning stories of WWII heroism and daring missions in the historic town
- WWII in Viviers guided walk revealing the Rhône Valley's role in the August 1944 Battle of Montélimar when Allied and German forces clashed during the final push to liberate southern France
- Afternoon excursion to Ardèche Nature Park exploring mountains and medieval fortress ruins, including visit to Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Museum, the world's largest decorated Palaeolithic cave replica
- Afternoon Côtes du Rhône Villages wine tasting tour through the Rhône Valley exploring wines capturing the charm of southern France
- Afternoon excursion to Grignan de Provence exploring the beautiful provincial town with its mighty castle and Collegiate Church of the Holy Saviour with leisure time
Landmarks Viviers Cathedral of St. Vincent Ardèche Nature Park Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Museum Grignan 
- Day 17
Tournon
Included Activities
- Evening dessert buffet with local pastry chef creations and fine coffee or dessert wine
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Tournon visiting the castle (built between 10th and 16th centuries) with free time, option to cross France's oldest suspension bridge to Tain l'Hermitage with prestigious chocolatier Valrhona
- Hiking through the sloping vineyards overlooking the Rhône River above Tournon with local wine production education and regional wine tasting
- Cycling tour along the Rhône River's picturesque banks past charming villages and spectacular scenery to nearby village of Glun
Landmarks Tournon Tournon Castle Tain l'Hermitage Glun - Day 18
Lyon
Included Activities
- Acapella choir performance at Chapelle de la Trinite, a 17th-century Baroque building with Carrara marble interior (Scenic Enrich)
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Lyon exploring historic traboules and secret passageways dating to the 4th century, visiting Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourvière with panoramic views
- Excursion to Pérouges, a medieval walled village on a hilltop overlooking the Ain River with vine-covered stone buildings, cobbled laneways, and centuries-old lime tree in market square (high fitness level required due to uneven surfaces and up/downhill walking)
- Silk painting workshop learning about Lyon's five-century silk production heritage and 19th-century silk weaving industry with hands-on technique instruction
Landmarks Lyon Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourvière Pérouges Chapelle de la Trinite - Day 19
Mâcon
Included Activities
- Cooperage demonstration by skilled artisan showing ancient art and its role in wine and spirit making
- Exclusive dinner on board prepared by Michelin-starred Chef Didier Goiffon at Crystal Dining featuring authentic regional French gastronomy
Optional Activities
- Excursion to medieval town of Cluny with famous Benedictine Abbey (once the largest Christian building in the world) tour and free time
- Coach transfer to Château de Cormatin (built 1606) with guided tour featuring gilded rooms, moat, water features, and more than 10 hectares of manicured gardens
- Truffle tasting experience with local truffle farmer and hound learning farming techniques, including tasting of truffle butter and chocolate mousse with truffles
- Tour of Tournous walking through picturesque narrow streets with pastel-coloured buildings, visiting the 18th-century restored Hôtel-Dieu hospital and the 12th-century Saint-Philibert Abbey
Landmarks Mâcon Cluny Cluny Abbey Château de Cormatin Tournous Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Philibert Abbey - Day 20
Mâcon
Optional Activities
- Beaujolais wine region drive through rolling hills meeting local vintner to learn wine production and sample the region's best wines
- George Blanc cooking demonstration at his famed Michelin-star restaurant in the gourmet destination village of Vonnas featuring classic French dishes
- Guided tour of Bourg-en-Bresse with Monastère Royal de Brou visit, a 16th-century masterpiece combining flamboyant Gothic and refined Renaissance architecture, now housing a museum of Flemish and Netherlandish art
Landmarks Beaujolais Vonnas Bourg-en-Bresse Monastère Royal de Brou - Day 21
Lyon
Landmarks Lyon
