L aventure Francais A private tour designed by Julie Sanders - Johnson Requested departure date: Monday, March 19, 2007 (Required date flexibility of 2 days on either side of requested date) Day 1 Flight to Paris Day 2 Arrival in Paris Welcome to Paris, cosmopolitan City of Light. Over the centuries, Paris has grown to become the undisputed center of France, and one of the world s most important cities both culturally and politically. Equally famed for its high fashion, awe-inspiring museums and elegant cuisine, Paris has also been a center of theater, literature and philosophy throughout the ages. EF walking tour of Paris Your EF Tour Director will introduce you to some of the highlights in the center of Paris. From the 19 th -century opera with its stunning façade you will head towards Place Vendome. Here a column, forged from the metal of defeated armies cannon, is topped with a statue of Napoleon Bonaparte as emperor. You will also see the Ritz hotel and a statue commemorating Joan of Arc before ending at the majestic Louvre museum. Musée d Orsay (time permitting) Visit one of Paris most beloved museums. Housed in the former elegant train station Gare d Orsay, the museum contains a stunning array of 19th-century European art. The Impressionists dominate these walls, with famous works like Manet s Picnic on the Grass and Monet s Rouen Cathedral sharing space with various works of Van Gogh, Renoir and Cezanne. Photographs, architectural models, and belle-époque furniture round out the masterpieces in this remarkable museum. Overnight in Paris Day 3 Guided sightseeing of Paris Discover the city on the Seine during this panoramic tour: You will stop on the Île de la Cité to visit the famed cathedral of Notre Dame. Later take a drive down the elegant Champs- Elysées and see the imposing Arc de Triomphe. Your local guide will also lead you past the Place Concorde, Les Invalides and the École Militaire. There is also a chance to make a photo stop at the Eiffel Tower, one of Europe s most famed landmarks. Louvre Museum Europe s most well-known museum safeguards one of the world s greatest art collections. The structure, originally built in the 12 th century and used as a royal palace for centuries, was later converted to a museum housing Greek, Roman and Egyptian antiquities as well as I.M. Pei s controversial glass pyramids, which were added to the courtyard in 1989. Inside, among countless precious works, you will see the world s most famous painting, Da Vinci s Mona Lisa. Overnight in Paris Day 4 Guided visit to Versailles Step back into le grand siècle as you experience the opulence of Versailles. Built under the orders of Louis XIV to be the most extravagant palace in the world, Versailles came to be a symbol of the gap between France s lavish royalty and its impoverished masses in the decades leading up to the 1789 Revolution. Today, you will tour the Royal Apartments, the historic Hall of Mirrors, and the elegantly landscaped gardens. (Please note: because of the extreme popularity of Versailles, guided visits of the interior cannot be guaranteed during peak seasons.) Paris by Night Enjoy the city of light with a narrated cruise along the River Seine. You will head east along the river, circle Notre Dame and return to the Eiffel Tower. Elevators then take you to the top of the tower where you will enjoy views over the whole city. Finally, you will have a chance to drive by more of Paris landmarks, including the Arc de Triomphe, before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Paris Day 5 Transfer to Toulouse via TGV Get on board one of France s Trains a Grande Vitesse (TGV) and watch the countryside and picturesque towns roll by as you approach speeds of up to 170 miles per hour. Transfer to Carcassonne Transfer to Carcassone, a town which is divided into two regions, the ville-basse and the Cité, which has the appearance of a fairy-tale medieval town. The turrets of the Cité stand proudly over the town below. Within the walls of the Cité lies a charming world of reconstructed housing, cafes and craft-shops. The town is named after a resident, Dame Carcas, who, in the 8 th century, saved the town from Charlemagne s siege. Legend has it that Dame Carcas stuffed a pig with the town s last wheat. When she threw the pig over the walls, Charlemagne s troops believed that the town must have had an endless supply of food and gave up their siege.
Guided Tour of Carcassonne This afternoon, you will tour the medieval Cité. Serving as a backdrop to the 1991 movie Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, the city evokes images of jousts, castles, knights, and princesses. You will be taken back to the Middle Ages, as you tour the walled city. You will end your tour at the Basillique St-Nazaire, which dates back to the 11 th century. Overnight in Carcassone Day 6 Transfer to Provence Travel to one of the most beautiful and acclaimed parts of France. In the low-lying plains near the Rhone, you will discover a land of stunning architecture with heavy Roman influence, varied local produce and strong artistic links, none more famous than Impressionism. Pont du Gard After your walking tour of Nîmes, visit the Pont du Gard, the best-preserved portion of an aqueduct built by the Emperor Agrippa in AD 19. This spectacular work of Roman engineering is impressive in both form and function the water conduit, atop the three levels of arches over the River Gard, brought 2,000 gallons of fresh water to the city each day. Tour Director-led sightseeing of Nîmes Your tour director acquaints you with the ancient Gallic settlement of Nîmes. The town sprouted up around a sacred spring, which was the haunt of the god Nemausus, origin of the city s name. With the arrival of the Romans in 121 BC, the settlement began to prosper. Today, you will visit an ancient amphitheater built to accommodate 21,000 spectators. Nîmes is also famous as the birthplace of denim, a fabric named for its origins de Nîmes. Overnight in Provence Enjoy some free time to explore the labyrinthine passages of the Vielle Ville of Nice. Or you might wish to visit the Marche aux Fleurs, a riotous splash of color in the Saleya area of the city. Or you could enjoy the lovely waters of the Riviera. Relax on the white sands of the beaches along the Mediterranean. Overnight on the French Riviera Day 9 Visit to Eze Travel to Nice via cliff-top Eze, where you ll enjoy a guided tour of a perfume factory. The town stands at the top of a pyramidshaped rock, topped by a castle which is linked to the town by labyrinthine streets. Visit to Monaco Follow the coastline of the Riviera to Monaco, a speck of a principality that packs wealth, royalty, and the world s most famous casino into just 0.8 square miles. See the palace where Pricne Rainer once resided, and pass by the Cathédral de Monaco, site of Rainer s wedding to Grace Kelly in 1956. Catch a glimpse of the stately casino as you stroll the streets with your tour-director. Overnight on the French Riviera Day 10 Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Itinerary is subject to change. For complete registration and payment details, please refer to the EF Booking Conditions located at the back of the participant application booklet. Day 7 Guided sightseeing of Arles Arles is the sight of countless Roman Ruins and monuments. Arles was a favorite haunt of many modern artists, most notably Van Gogh. Your tour will pass the square that was the setting for his famous Café at night. Overnight in Provence Day 8 Transfer to Nice Arrive at the Queen of the Riviera. Many believe the name of the town, which was founded by Greek mariners in 350 B.C., derives from a great territorial victory realized here (the Greek word for victory is nike). Free time in Nice
Tour Highlights of: Got France? Overnight Stays: Paris (3) Carcassone (1) Provence (2) French Riviera (2) Comprehensive sightseeing tour led by an expert local guide of the following: Paris Versailles Carcassone Arles Entrance included to the following sites: Louvre Gallery Musee D Orsay Versailles Eiffel Tower Seine Cruise Amphitheater (Nimes) Amphitheater (Arles) Perfume Factory (Eze) (free) Included in the itinerary: Round-trip airfare Transfers to and from the airport and hotel and between destination cities (as per program itinerary) Overnight stays in first-class, superior tourist-class, tourist class hotels(all with private bathrooms) Continental breakfast daily Dinners daily Full-time services of an EF Tour Director Not included in the itinerary: Personal Insurance Beverages and lunches daily Customary gratuities for your Tour Director, Driver and local guides Public transportation to free time activities Porterage Accommodations Accommodation details available approximately 7-10 days prior to departure.
Tour Profile of L aventure Francais Tour Length: 10 days, 8 overnights Requested Departure Date: Monday, March 19, 2007 Requested Return Date: Wednesday, March 28, 2007 Requested Departure Gateway: Cincinnati, OH Free place ratio: 6:1 Early Bird Program Fee: Valid for all participants enrolled before September 30, 2006 Based on 35 paying participants per bus $1615 Based on 30 paying participants per bus $1685 Based on 25 paying participants per bus $1780 Fall Program Fee: Valid for all participants enrolled before 99 days before departure Based on 35 paying participants per bus $1690 Based on 30 paying participants per bus $1760 Based on 25 paying participants per bus $1855 Additional Fees: Lifetime Membership Fee $95 Departure Fees $317 Weekend Supplement $0 Adult Supplement (applicable to all participants aged 23 and over) $315 This tour was custom designed for you by Jessica Bass on February 20, 2006. Once you have reviewed your itinerary and price quote and found it to your satisfaction, please complete and sign the final page of this quote, so that EF may invoice your participants and activate your customized website.
Important Information about Your Customized Tour If you have any special requests regarding Tour Directors, optional excursions, transportation arrangements, or other changes to your itinerary please contact us no later than 129 days prior to departure. Please be aware that these changes may affect the price of your tour. Please be certain that you and your participants read the 2006-2007 Booking Conditions and Release and Agreement, (a copy is attached to the participant application form). It contains important information regarding payment deadlines for your tour. Please sign and return this EF Customized Tour Agreement with your first set of applications. This will confirm the Program Fee (based on your group size) that will be charged to your participants on their invoices. At 129 days prior to departure, if your group size is greater than what you indicated on your Agreement, we will reassess your program fee to be pro-rated based on the actual number of travelers you recruited: this will result in a lower program fee for your travelers. At 129 days prior to departure, if you fall short of the number of travelers you indicated on your Agreement, you may choose one of the following three options: 1) Pay a small group supplement The small group supplement will be based on the number of paying participants enrolled on the tour who have paid a minimum of $495 by 129 days prior to departure. Should there be a supplement due, it will be added to participant accounts at this time and an invoice reflecting this supplement will be mailed to each participant. 2) Modify the itinerary to bring the cost down* 3) Transfer to an available EF Educational Tour* Please note that once we receive your signed EF Customized Tour Agreement, we will need to process the pricing information. EF s customized tour itineraries are designed specifically for each group. As a result, there may be a slight delay until the initial invoices are generated. Your participants $400 payment deadline will be adjusted accordingly to allow for a 30-day payment period after the first invoices are sent. However, your group s final payment deadline will remain at 99 days prior to departure regardless of your enrollment date. EF Customized Tour Agreement I have read and am familiar with the 2006-2007 Booking Conditions and Release and Agreement. I have explained the payment plan and booking conditions to my participants. I have chosen the following information regarding my tour: Program Fee (see above): $ Based on a number of: One free place per: Chosen Tour Name (limit 30 characters): paying participants per bus paying participants Should I select a Free Place Ratio other than one free per six paying, my stipend/invoice will be individually calculated, and the stipend and discounted Program Fee charts as published in EF s group leader materials do not apply. I understand that I will be the liaison between my group and my EF Tour Consultant, and I will inform my group of all pertinent tour information. My participants are aware that they may call EF s Customer Service Department at 1-800-665-5364 for any questions they may have regarding their accounts. I have read and understand the above information: Name: Date: Signature: *The deadline for these options is 129 days prior to departure. These options may not be available due to flight space.