Best of France Paris, Normandy, Mt. St. Michel, St. Malo, Loire Valley, Chartres, Versailles, Fontainebleau, Avignon, Arles, Marseille, Nice, Monaco
TOUR DETAILS Best of France Price: $4,845 USD Discounts: 5% - Returning Volant Customer Duration: 21 days Date: Sept. 30 - Oct. 20, 2017 Difficulty: Easy Inclusions All accommodations (2-3 star) All scheduled meals Transportation throughout tour Airport transfers Mont St. Michel entrance fee Château d Angers entrance fee Château de Chenonceau entrance fee Château de Chambord entrance fee Chateau d' If entrance fee + ferry ride Versailles Palace entrance fee Versailles Garden entrance fee National Park entrance fees Personal guide Highlights Highlights of Paris Musée du Louvre Eiffel Tour Normandy Mont St. Michel St. Malo Angers Loire Valley Château de Chenonceau Château de Chambord Chateau D'if Chartres Versailles Palace & Gardens Fontainebleau Forest French Riviera Pont de Gard Monaco Exclusions International airfare (to and from Paris) Entrance fees of attractions in Paris Personal items: Laundry, shopping, etc.
Best of France - 21 Days / 20 Nights Itinerary - ITINERARY DAY ACTIVITY LOCATION - MEALS 1 Board overnight flight to Europe (not included) International Flight Dinner 2 Arrive: Charles de Gaulle International Airport, Paris Depending on arrival time, take a leisurely walk on the banks of the Seine River while taking in Parisian beauty. Enjoy a warm welcome dinner Paris, France 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Visit iconic Parisian highlights: Le Tour Eiffel, Notre Dame Cathedral Cross the historic Pont Neuf to visit the Palais and Museé du Louvre Drive north to the dramatic white cliffs on the English Channel at Étretat Take short, pastoral hikes and take in the vast vistas overlooking a natural arch and wild beaches Transfer to Caen for the night, home of the world famous film festival Get in touch with history on Utah and Omaha Beaches, the location of the infamous D-Day Transfer to the dramatic island-city at Mont Saint Michel Take a leisurely tour through the winding streets of Mont Saint Michel Get your cameras ready for the far reaching views from the mountain top cathedral and monastery Transfer to the walled city on the coast, Saint Malo Head south to Rennes, the capital of Brittany Be sure to notice the medieval half-timbered homes Transfer to Angers for a tour of the massive Château d Angers Turn your sights to the Loire Valley, famous for its many opulent châteaux Take a leisurely tour through the château and gardens at Chenonceau Drive through the French countryside to the most iconic Château in Loire Valley: Chambord Tour the Château and gardens at Chambord Retire to a quaint hotel deep in the Loire Valley On our way to the Palais at Versailles, we ll stop at the famous Cathedral at Chartres. Enjoy lunch overlooking the vast French countryside Continue on the Palais and Jardins du Versailles Hunting lodge turned to a palace fit for a king, enjoy the opulence of palatial living at Versailles Explore as many of the 2,300 rooms as you can at the Palais du Versailles Get lost in nature as you wonder the vast gardens at Versailles Transfer to Fontainebleau (1hr) Hike through the Fontainebleau Forest; famous for its mighty sandstone boulders & landscapes Tour the remarkable Castle of Fontainebleau, viewing its many rooms and museums. Paris, France Étretat - Caen Normandy - Mont Saint Michel Mont Saint Michel - Saint Malo Angers Loire Valley Loire Valley Chartres - Versailles Versailles Fontainebleau
ITINERARY DAY ACTIVITY LOCATION - MEALS 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Morning train to Avignon (4hrs) Walking tour of Avignon: visit historic sites such as Palais des Papes and the Avignon Cathedral Transfer to Arles (1hr) Visit the Alyscamps and Church of St. Trophime View the inspirations behind much of Van Gogh's artwork Witness the remarkable 3-tiered Roman aqueduct built in 19 B.C., Pont de Gard. (40m) Transfer to Nimes (30m) View some of the best preserved roman architecture in the world, such as the Arenes de Nimes, La Maison Carree and Tour Magne. Transfer to Marseille (1hr) Enjoy a walking tour of downtown Marseille; view historic buildings such as the Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde and the Cathédrale La Major Afternoon exploration of Calanques National Park (30min) Easy hike alongside the emerald canals of the Mediterranean Sea at sunset Short ferry ride to the Chateau D'if; setting of the famous novel, The Count of Monte Cristo Spend the remainder of the day exploring the city Morning drive northeast to explore the Verdon Gorge (2.5hrs) Drive through the rolling hills and geological masterpieces of both Luberon Natural Regional Park and Verdon Natural Regional Park Walking tour of old town Nice Scale Castle Hill for an immaculate panorama of Nice and the Bay of Angles. Stroll along the iconic Promenade des Anglais Day trip to Monaco (30min) Enjoy dramatic views of the Mediterranean along the Grande Corniche Explore Old Town Monaco for sweeping views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea Take a relaxing walk through the surrounding botanical gardens View the floating cities that are docked in the Monte Carlo Harbor Train ride north to the vibrant capital, Paris (6hrs) Free day in Paris: spend your time exploring the sites you haven t seen yet. Perhaps you ll want to descend into the gothic catacombs, or visit Monet s Garden. The options are limitless. Tonight we will dine on traditional Parisian cuisine for our farewell dinner Transfer to Charles de Gaulle International Airport, Paris Depart: Flight home Arles Arles Marseille Marseille Breakfast, Lunch, DInner Nice Nice Nice Paris Paris
TOUR MAP ENGLAND English Channel BELGIUM Mont Saint Michel Caen Normandy Étretat LUXEMBURG St. Malo GERMANY Versailles Paris Fontainebleau Angers Loire Valley Chartres Atlantic Ocean Château de Chenonceau Château de Chambord SWITZERLAND Bay of Biscay Nîmes Avignon Arles Nice ITALY Monaco Marseille Corsica SPAIN Mediterranean Sea
ITINERARY DAY 1: BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY Board your overnight flight to Europe (not included). DAY 2: WELCOME TO PARIS! A Volant representative will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Take a relaxing walk through the historic streets of downtown Paris. Take in the iconic mansard roofs, the tranquil waters of the Seine, and the romance in the air. Enjoy a welcome dinner and a leisurely evening. DAY 3: HIGHLIGHTS OF PARIS Stroll the lawns and gardens stretching to the Eiffel Tower. Take a leisurely walk through the historic halls of one the most famous museums in the world: Le Louvre. Cross the famous Pont Neuf on your way to the holy cathedral of Notre Dame.
ITINERARY DAY 4: ÉTRETAT CAEN Let s take off and explore the coastline. Only a two and a half hour drive from Paris we will spend our afternoon in Etretat. This pristine commune right on the beach is famous for its three arches situated along the chalk cliffs. After a quaint lunch we will transfer to Caen (90 m). We will be sure to wander through Colline aux Oiseaux, a beautifully landscaped park with a rose garden. Only a short distant away stands the Caen Castle. DAY 5: NORMANDY UTAH BEACH OMAHA BEACH MONT SAINT MICHEL This morning we will drive east toward the Normandy coastline. Both Omaha and Utah beaches offer a historical reminder of a difficult past. While we will be sure to stop for lunch we will continue south towards Mont Saint Michel. Traveling from one side of Normandy to the other will take us about two hours. Today s drive is just a small price to pay for the remarkable monastery that awaits us.
ITINERARY DAY 6: MONT SAINT MICHEL ST. MALO The first half of the day is devoted to exploring Mont Saint Michel. Both this island commune and its bay are on UNESCO s list of world heritage sites. During our time in this medieval citadel take the time to explore its many shops and restaurants or even climb the cobblestone path to the 92 meter lookout. After lunch we will head to St. Malo, a intriguing coastal city. The old town is surrounded by tall granite walls that were once used as an enclosure for pirates whom were approved by the king. Before calling it a night we will be sure to watch the sunset over the open ocean. DAY 7: ANGERS This morning we will make our way from the coast and head inland. Our three hour drive from St. Malo to Angers will be broken up by a stop in Rennes, the capital of Brittney. While we get out and stretch our legs be sure to notice the medieval half-timbered homes. Both the Château d Angers and the Chateau de Brissac are a definite must see. The tapestry room within the Château d Angers is to die for as are the views overlooking the city from the top of the Castle. Make sure to get some sleep tonight because the next two days are devoted to exploring some of the many Chateau s of Loire Valley.
ITINERARY DAY 8: LOIRE VALLEY CHATEAU DE CHENONCEAU Getting an early start to the day we will head towards Tours. Keep your eyes peeled for the many chateau s in this area as we drive through the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Natural Regional Park. We will make sure to grab a bite to eat in Tours before we visit St Gatien Cathedral and the Cloister of la Psalette. The second half of our day will be spent in the Chateau de Chenonceau. This unique castle spans over the Cher River and has a garden maze. Only about a 40 minute drive from Tours we will spend the night in Chenonceau. DAY 9: LOIRE VALLEY CHATEAU DE CHAMBORD Day two of our chateau adventures will begin with a short trip to Amboise to tour the Chateau du Clos Luce (Da Vinci s former home). After lunch we will head to Blois, the capital of the Loir-et-Cher region in central France. Blois will be our home base as we branch out and visit the Blois, Cheverny and Chambord chateaus.
ITINERARY DAY 10: CHARTRES VERSAILLES PALACE & GARDENS The beginning of our day will be spent driving from Blois to Chartres. After about two hours we will reach the Chartres Cathedral. This cathedral is famous for its massive contrasting spires and incredible state of preservation. After spending a few hours here we will continue into Versailles for the evening.
ITINERARY DAY 11: VERSAILLES PALACE & GARDENS Today is devoted to exploring the Versailles Palace and Gardens. The Gardens alone cover nearly 800 hectares; containing over 200,000 trees, 210,000 plants, 50 fountains and 620 water jets. Containing 2,300 rooms, the Palace of Versailles is nothing short of extraordinary. It is considered one of the greatest achievements in French 17th century art. Louis XIV began embellishing his fathers castle in 1682 and the following generations continued to do so until the start of the French Revolution. After spending the day among this architectural giant there will be no question as to why the Palace has been on the UNESCO World Heritage site for 30 years.
ITINERARY DAY 12: FONTAINEBLEAU This morning climb abroad the train for a short trip southeast to the town of Fontainebleau. After our arrival we will enjoy a leisurely hike through the mixed deciduous Fontainebleau Forest. Unlike most woodland areas, this forest is renown for its mighty sandstone boulders. Stretch out and enjoy the fresh air, luscious moss and magical views. After spending our morning among natural beauty we will now turn our heads toward the local man made wonder. As one of the largest royal chateau's' in all of France's history; the Palace of Fontainebleau is considered to be the only royal and imperial chateau to be continuously inhabited for seven centuries. Situated in the heart of 130 acres of gardens and parkland this enormous palace contains over 1,500 rooms. As you tour the palace and surrounding gardens keep in mind that you are walking in the footsteps of the many french monarchs that once resided in this palace.
ITINERARY DAY 13: AVIGNON-ARLES After our morning train ride to the south of France we will enjoy a walking tour of Avignon. Be sure to tour the Palais des Papes as it is considered to be one of the largest and most important medieval gothic buildings of Europe. Later in the day we will commute to Arles, the city that inspired much of Van Gogh's artwork. Arles is also home of the most famous Roman necropolis' of the ancient world, Alycamps. DAY 14: NIMES-PONT DU GARD-ARLES The first part of our day will be spent at Pont du Gard; the 3-tiered Roman aqueduct built in 19 B.C. Next stop, Nimes is known for some of the best preserved roman architecture in the world including the Arenes de Nimes. Take a moment to examine the fine details in the Corinthian columns of La Maison Carree or climb to the top of the Tour Magne monument for panoramic views of the city.
ITINERARY DAY 15: MARSEILLE- PARC NATIONAL DES CALANQUES Early this morning we will make our way to France's main trade seaport, Marseille. Before lunch be will take a tour downtown making sure to visit sites such as the Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde and the Cathedrale La Major. With the remainder of our day we will head down to towards the city of Cassis where we will explore Calanques National Park. The highest point in this wild and rugged terrain is called Mount Puget and should be visible in the landscape to the west. Feel free to relax near the turquoise waters or explore the parks many trails. The choice is yours. For those who are up to the challenge the hike out to the Calanque d'en-vau takes about two hours and is quite extraordinary. DAY 16: MARSEILLE- CHATEAU D'IF After a relaxed start to our day we will take a short ferry ride to begin our tour of the infamous French prison, Chateau d' If. Constructed in 1525 on a tiny island in the Bay of Marseille, this fortress has housed thousands of criminals over the centuries. It wasn't until author, Alexandre Dumas, published The Count of Monte Cristo in 1845 that this prison's worldwide fame took off. For those who don't know the story, this novel recounts a characters' 14 years of imprisonment and eventual escape from the Chateau d'if. Unlike most people who have gone behind these walls we will make our escape after completing the tour. The remainder of the day is free for you to do with what you will. Explore the shops downtown, stroll along the beach or try something you have never done before.
ITINERARY DAY 17: MARSEILLE-VERDON NATURAL REGIONAL PARK-NICE This morning we will drive northeast to explore the Verdon Gorge. We will take a scenic drive through the rolling hills and geological masterpieces of both the Luberon and the Verdon Natural Regional Park. It is easy to see why this gorge is considered to be one of Europes more beautiful. The stunning turquoise water, the deep green of the surrounding fauna and the pale sandstone all combine to create the memorable landscape that the people who visit here long for.
ITINERARY DAY 18: NICE Located right on the French Riviera the city of Nice is known for many attractions including its scenic walkway, the Promenade des Anglais that stretches alongside the shore for 7 km. There is also the Matisse Museum, the Nice Lighthouse. Russian Cathedral and Vieux Nice (Old Town Nice) that should not be missed.. Be sure to climb Castle Hill for sweeping views of the city as well as the Bay of Angels. DAY 19: NICE-MONACO Today we will take a day trip to Monaco. Measuring a grand total of 499 acres the microstate of Monaco resides just a short drive outside of Nice. Be sure to notice the dramatic views of the Mediterranean while we drive along the Grande Corniche. Once in Monaco we will have the opportunity to explore Old Town, an area rich in local history. Take advantage of the many spectacular botanical gardens in the area and be sure to spot the hundreds of yachts docked in the Monte Carlo Harbor, it is definitely a sight worth seeing.
ITINERARY DAY 20: NICE - PARIS After a scenic train ride through the heart of France we will arrive back in the bustling capital. With the remainder of the day enjoy any number of iconic Parisian attractions. Use the day to create your own adventure. Perhaps take the time to check out the catacombs, the Pantheon, Rodan Museum or Sainte-Chapelle. The Arc de Triomphe is also incredible, as is Le Centre Pompidou. Whatever you decide we will make sure to gather one last time this evening for a farewell dinner. DAY 21: PARIS - TOUR ENDS Breakfast will be provided although there will be no group activities for the day. Your Volant representative will escort you to the Charles de Gaulle International Airport and bid you adieu. Au Revoir and thank you for choosing Volant.
CONTACT VOLANT ONLINE www.volant.travel CALL U.S. +1-801-651-7208 EMAIL Tour Specialist: John@Volant.Travel MAIL 4110 S Highland Dr. Suite #322 Salt Lake City, UT 84124