ESCAPE TO FRANCE WITH

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1 ESCAPE TO FRANCE WITH

2 AUSTRALIA AAT KINGS AAT KINGS SYDNEY ITINERARY THURSDAY 30 MARCH For interstate agents, upon arrival in Sydney you will be met by our AAT Kings Representative and then transferred to the Grace Hotel, Sydney. For NSW agents, check in to the hotel after 2pm and enjoy some relaxing free time. Tonight we enjoy a Welcome dinner at Nick s Seafood Bar and Grill in fashionable Darling Harbour. Grace Hotel, Sydney D FRIDAY 31 MARCH Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before being transferred by coach to The Rocks in preparation for your BridgeClimb experience. We have scheduled group times but the short wait will be well rewarded with magnificent unrestricted views over Sydney Harbour and the Sydney skyline. As the adrenalin subsides we will take a leisurely walk to Circular Quay for our lunch cruise on Sydney Harbour. We will board Captain Cooks luxurious Sydney 2000 to cruise around the harbour and enjoy a sumptuous seafood buffet lunch. After the cruise there will be time to freshen up at the hotel ready for our evening farewell event. Tonight we transfer to Tobruk Sydney, an authentic sheep station just over an hour from the CBD for some fun and entertainment as we farewell you before you depart on the next leg of the Great Escape. Grace Hotel, Sydney SATURDAY 01 APRIL This morning we will transfer you to Sydney International Airport for your flight. Pick up times will be advised. Enjoy the remainder of the TTC Great Escape and safe travels from the whole AAT Kings Team. ttcgreatescape.com.au 2

3 FRANCE ITINERARY Uniworld s French Escapes will allow you to experience this beautiful place on board a Luxury Boutique River Cruise Ship. You will discover the charms of the Normandy countryside and its rich history on our Paris and Normandy cruise or take an exquisite journey through Southern France on our Burgundy & Provence cruise, exploring charming towns and medieval treasures. PARIS AND NORMANDY, S.S. JOIE DE VIVRE SUNDAY 02 APRIL Arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, where you will be transferred to the ship. D MONDAY 03 APRIL Monet often painted the little riverside town of Vernon, your port of call, so you are likely to recognize scenes the master rendered in oils on your way to his home in Giverny. You have a choice as to how you wish to journey to his home where he lived and worked for more than 40 years via a short bus ride or by bike. Once there, you ll discover how Monet immortalized his home and gardens in his paintings. Later, cruise along the peaceful Seine to Les Andelys, where you may wish to hike up to Château Gaillard, Richard the Lionheart s 12th-century stronghold, offering inspiring views of the Seine. Cap the day off at the festive Captain s Welcome Reception and Gala dinner. ttcgreatescape.com.au 3

4 FRANCE ITINERARY TUESDAY 04 APRIL Victor Hugo called Rouen the city with a hundred bell towers and easily the most famous is the one rising above Notre Dame Cathedral, which you ll visit. You will also see the Renaissance clock tower and the bronze cross marking the site where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. Your tour includes stops to sample some delicacies of Normandy, including white cider and Camembert. For a more active experience, you have a choice to go golfing at Rouen s Mont-Saint- Aignan, just minutes from the city. This 18-hole course offers both veterans and beginners the chance to play in a beautiful setting surrounded by woods. B, L,D WEDNESDAY 05 APRIL Travel through bucolic Calvados countryside to Honfleur, an enchanting seaside town. You ll soon discover why impressionist painters came to paint its inspiring scenery. For those who want to continue their French golf experience, you ll want to go play at Golf d Étretat, perched on the clifftops more than 150 ft. above the sea, making playing golf here both a memorable experience and visual feast. B, L,D ttcgreatescape.com.au 4

5 FRANCE ITINERARY THURSDAY 06 APRIL Normandy has been the setting for many battles over the centuries, including the D-Day invasion of WWII. You decide how you wish to experience it. For those wishing to visit the American airborne forces landing beaches, you ll want to go to the historic Utah and Omaha beaches, along with Pointe du Hoc, one of the strategic strong points between the two beaches. You ll also visit Sainte-Mère-Église, which became the first town in France to be liberated, and its airborne museum. If you prefer to go to the Canadian landing beaches, journey to Juno Beach, where the 3rd Canadian infantry division came ashore; you ll see the exhibit at the Canadian Centre. And for those who wish to see an astonishing millennium-old textile listed on UNESCO s Memory of the World Register, you ll wish to travel to Bayeux to view the famous 11th-century tapestry depicting the Battle of Hastings. All groups will meet later in the day at the American Cemetery and Memorial honoring US soldiers. While here, you are welcome to participate in a special remembrance ceremony that includes a wreath laying, the American national anthem and a moment of silence. B, D FRIDAY 07 APRIL Dock in Mantes-la-Jolie, gateway to either an excursion to Versailles or Château de Malmaison. Versailles set the standard for opulence, not just in the 17th century but for the succeeding centuries as well. Tour the royal apartments, which still look much as they did when Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette fled in Marvel at the magnificent Hall of Mirrors and walk through some of the fountain-filled gardens. Château de Malmaison, once home to Napoleon s first empress, Josephine, is filled with Empire-style furnishings, thanks to the keen eye of young Josephine. Here the empress entertained in elegance and created gardens that were world famous in her day. Cap your royal day off with the festive Captain s Farewell Reception and Gala Dinner. ttcgreatescape.com.au 5

6 FRANCE ITINERARY SATURDAY 08 APRIL Hemingway called Paris a moveable feast: Once you ve experienced it, you will take it with you wherever you go. You have three choices for how you wish to experience the city. If you are experiencing Paris for the first time, you may wish to take a cruise along the Seine for an unforgettable look at the heart of Paris from the water and continue on a panoramic tour to see the City of Light s most famous sights, with a stop at the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens. For those who wish to experience Paris as a true Parisian, join the Do as the Locals Do tour. Take the Métro to the Île de la Cité, the historic center of Paris, and the great cathedral of Notre Dame. An expert in the history and architecture of this magnificent cathedral is your guide as you explore both inside and out. After you ve admired Notre Dame s stained glass, flying buttresses and idiosyncratic gargoyles, cross the Archbishop s Bridge to the Left Bank and the Latin Quarter. Wander through the narrow streets where for centuries artists, writers, philosophers and the Sorbonne s students have lived and worked, argued politics, painted, sipped absinthe and lived the bohemian lifestyle for which the district is famous. And for those who prefer a more active exploration of the city, hop on a bicycle for a guided ride along the Seine. B, L,D SUNDAY 09 APRIL Disembark the ship and transfer to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport for your flight home. B ttcgreatescape.com.au 6

7 FRANCE ITINERARY BURGENDY & PROVENCE, S.S. CATHERINE SUNDAY 02 APRIL Arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport, where you will then catch the train to Lyon and be transferred to the ship. D MONDAY 03 APRIL Beaune may not be a large town, but it brims with history, a wealth of splendid regional architecture and incredible food. You ll recognize the Hospices de Beaune immediately by its fabulous multicolored tile roof it s a symbol of Burgundy. Learn about Burgundy s celebrated wines on an excursion here, where monks have been making and selling wine to support their charitable work since the 15th century. Afterwards, check out the farmers market, which spills from street to street in the Old Town. Cheeses, fruits, vegetables, local sausages, breads all are on colorful display here. Celebrate the evening at the Captain s Farewell Reception and Gala Dinner. B, D TUESDAY 04 APRIL Situated at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers, and with roots stretching back over 2,000 years to the days of Julius Caesar, Lyon is a place of fascinating dualities. You have your choice of ways to explore this city of contrasts. Foodies will want to delve into France s capital of gastronomy with a guided tour of Les Halles, Lyon s world-famous food market, taking in a tantalizing array of elaborate food stalls, bars ttcgreatescape.com.au 7

8 FRANCE ITINERARY and restaurants. In addition to being known for its culinary heritage, Lyon is also known for its history with silk at one time, almost a third of the city s population were silk weavers so for those who enjoy this dignified fabric, you ll be delighted to discover its heritage, and you ll even have a chance to see a Jacquard loom in use. For a more active exploration of the city, pedal through the city designed with bike riders in mind. Cap the day off on an evening tour showcasing the best way to see the city s architectural heritage, with over 100 sites illuminated. WEDNESDAY 05 APRIL Nestled on opposite sides of the river in the heart of the Côtes du Rhône, the twin cities of Tournon and Tainl Hermitage are an ideal destination for wine connoisseurs. Experience this famous wine district in one of two ways. Explore Tournon and its historic castle, then cross over the suspension bridge to Tain-l Hermitage to taste Côtes du Rhône wines. If you prefer to explore the Hermitage vineyards more actively, then take a guided hike through the steepest vineyards on the Rhône, where the world-famous wines are produced. After you ve seen how the grapes are grown, taste the fruit that has been transformed by the vintners craft into legendary wine. THURSDAY 06 APRIL Viviers retains much of its medieval character and charm, with narrow lanes and historic structures. See the sights on foot, then climb Rue du Château to take in the view from the 12th-century St. Vincent Cathedral. Afterwards, you can go inside the cathedral to hear a recital of music by Puccini, Bach and Handel. Before returning to the ship, spend time enjoying some local activities. You have a choice to learn the art of clay pot making at a demonstration, and then be treated to an aperitif of the local favorites, such as olives, rosé wine and apricot juice, or you can enjoy your aperitif at a private mansion in the village. ttcgreatescape.com.au 8

9 FRANCE ITINERARY FRIDAY 07 APRIL Avignon a UNESCO World Heritage Site is endlessly inviting; cafés and boutiques line tree-shaded squares enlivened with street performers. Discover the city built by the Avignon papacy with your guide, including the vast Palace of the Popes, or visit the UNESCO-designated Pont du Gard built by the Romans 2,000 years ago. If you prefer to see a different side of the city, join a local expert to venture off the beaten path. Discover the city s picturesque hidden alleys and secret squares, strolling from enchanting Place Crillon to the Jewish quarter, and end at Place Pie, in the old city center, home to Avignon s famous market hall. Here you ll want to stroll through, as there is a treasure trove of Provençal delicacies on display. Later in the day, you can also Go Active by paddling a kayak on the tranquil Gardon River. Note: The kayak ride on the Gardon River is only available for May through September departure dates. SATURDAY 08 APRIL Vincent van Gogh found inspiration in Arles and you will, too. Under the spell of the Provençal light and the vivid colours of nature, he spent a period of impassioned work under these bright sunny skies. As you explore the capital of the Camargue region with your local expert, see Van Gogh s Arles, as well as a fascinating wealth of Roman monuments, such as the Amphitheatre and Constantine s baths. For those who wish to discover another wonderful town along the Rhône, visit Tarascon, home to the oldest producer of French-made indiennes, Souleiado, established in In the evening, enjoy a festive Captain s Welcome Reception and Gala Dinner. SUNDAY 09 APRIL Disembark the ship and transfer to the train where you will travel to Charles de Gaulle Airport for your flight home. B Escape itinerary details provided are subject to change. For full terms & conditions, please visit our website - ttcgreatescape.com.au. ttcgreatescape.com.au 9

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