Best of France 2009
Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to Paris.
Day 2 - Arrive Paris On arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport you're met and transferred to your hotel. After check-in you are free to explore this beautiful city or just relax. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Drink with your Tour Director and fellow travellers.
Day 3 - Paris — Beaune — Lyon We drive southwards into Burgundy wine country and past the Cote d'or vineyards of Gevrey-Chambertin and Nuits St. Georges to the medieval town of Beaune. Here we sample some of the regional wines at one of the local wine cellars before we head to Lyon for the night. Tonight, why not try out some of the gourmet specialities for which Lyon is justifiably famous" (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 4 - Lyon — Avignon — Nice (2 nights) — Monte Carlo Excursion Our Tour Director will show us a Hidden Treasure today! But first to Avignon where we see the Papal Palace and famous bridge. Then through the Provence of Van Gogh and Cezanne to Nice. Later enjoy dinner in a local restaurant before visiting the Principality of Monaco to see the famous Monte Carlo casinos!
(Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
Day 5 - Nice at leisure After breakfast you'll have a full day at leisure to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the CÙte d'Azur. Perhaps lounge on the beach, shop in the elegant boutiques or maybe visit the hilltop town of St. Paul de Vence. This evening, why not dine in one of the many pleasant seaside restaurants" (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 6 - Nice — Nîmes — Carcassonne Today our drive takes us through Cannes along this magnificent coast and then through the Camargue to Nimes. Here we see the Roman arena, the Maison CarrÈ and city gardens. Then on past Alaric's Mountain to the walled city of Carcassonne. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 7 - Carcassonne — Lourdes — Biarritz This morning we enjoy a guided tour of this magical city. Then we wind our way through the Corbieres Hills and 'Cathar' landscapes toward the Pyrenees and the pilgrimage site of Lourdes. Here we will see the Basilica on top of St. Bernadette's grotto en route to Biarritz. There's time for a walk along the beach before we reach our hotel for dinner and overnight stay. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 8 - Biarritz — Bordeaux We leave Biarritz and cross the country of Les Landes to the classical town of Bordeaux. Here an orientation tour shows us the magnificent Esplanade des Quinconces and the banks of the Gironde. Then, take some time at leisure to explore in the old quarter. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 9 - Bordeaux — St. Emilion — Dordogne Valley Our first stop is at St. Emilion, famous for its red wines. Here we will be able to wander through the winding streets, admire the ancient architecture and perhaps buy some fine wine. Then through the Dordogne, we travel via Bergerac to see the castle of Beynac, the fortress of Castelnaud and Josephine Baker's Ch - teau of Les Milandes. Next via La Roque-Gageac, with its quaint houses clinging to the Dordogne cliffs. From here we continue via Les Eyzies, 'the cradle of pre-history' before arriving at our ch - teau-hotel in the Dordogne Valley. Tonight, we will enjoy a gourmet dinner in the elegant dining-room of this 19th century ch - teau. (Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
Day 10 - Dordogne Valley — Loire Valley — Tours Our journey continues to Limoges, where we'll see a porcelain manufacture demonstration. Then we stop to visit the beautiful fairytale Palace of Chenonceau in the Loire Valley before reaching our hotel in Tours. This evening, why not take the opportunity of dining with the Troglodytes" (Buffet Breakfast)
Tours — Mont St. Michel — Omaha Beach (Bayeux) This morning we continue our journey into Brittany, to visit the island-town of Mont St. Michel, with its picturesque streets and abbey. From here we travel along the Liberty Highway to St. Lu and the D-Day Landing Beaches. Here we have the chance to see where this momentous event took place and to remember the lives that were touched by this conflict. Then we have the chance to visit the new D-Day museum which recalls the events in every detail and is such a poignant reminder of this recent history. Then we continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 12 - Omaha Beach — Giverny — Paris (2 nights) This morning we set off towards the valley of the river Seine to make a stop in Giverny. Here we visit the house and gardens of Claude Monet ñ inspiration for his 'water-lily' paintings. Next we continue to lively Paris for two nights. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 13 - Paris sightseeing & at leisure Today's sightseeing tour with a local guide includes the ascent of the Eiffel Tower to its second level for wonderful views over the city. Other highlights include views of Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde and the Champs ElysÈes. Our main highlight will be a stroll through the gardens of Les Invalides where we will visit the tomb of the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, housed in the magnificent golden domed church. The rest of the day is at leisure. Later we will enjoy a Farewell Dinner together with our Tour Director and new found friends. (Buffet Breakfast / Farewell Dinner)
Day 14 - Paris — USA It's 'au revoir' today as we transfer to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport for our return flight to America. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 15 - Please note: Provisional Itinerary 2009 Prices, itineraries and tour content mentioned in this Preview are based on tours as featured in Trafalgar's Europe & Britain 2008 brochure.
The exact final composition of your tour will be published in Trafalgar's Europe & Britain 2009 Brochure, due for release in October 2008. By paying your deposit, you are agreeing to accept the finalised version of your tour itinerary, as published in Trafalgar's Euroe and Britain 2009 Brochure, In return, Trafalgar will honour the tour prices listed in this brochure, even should the final tour price listed in Trafalgar's Europe & Britain 2009 Brochure, increase. In the event that your finalised tour price is lower, Trafalgar will refund the difference to you.
This guarantee excludes fuel surcharges and does not apply to any taxes, charges or levies imposed by any goverment or its agencies.
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