Itinerary

1. Arrive Nice
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hôtel Negresco, Nice, France. A transfer is included from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport to the Hôtel Negresco in Nice, a historic, five-star luxury hotel overlooking the sparkling Bay of Angels. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D

2. Monaco Sightseeing
Explore the tiny principality of Monaco, where the famed Casino, the Prince’s Palace, and Monaco Cathedral define the skyline. Travel to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat to tour the lavish estate and gardens of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a seaside palazzo built in the early 1900s. Meals BL

3. Explore Aix-en-Provence and Arles
For centuries, Provence has been a favorite of travelers and artists alike. An idyllic country road skirts Mont Ste-Victoire, featured in many of Cézanne’s works, en route to Aix-en-Provence, known for its fountains and shaded squares. Travel to ancient Arles for a two-night stay at a 17th-century convent that’s now a stately country hotel; take a walk in Old Town, and visit Les Arenes. Meals BD

4. Landscapes of Van Gogh
Provençal landscapes brimming with olive groves, fields of lavender and multicolored flowers served as some of the great inspirations for Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings. Travels today begin with the olive groves of Mas des Barres, where an olive oil tasting reveals flavorful differences! Spend time in St-Rémy-de-Provence, where Vincent Van Gogh checked himself into a hospital – and experienced a period of creativity that produced 150 of his most famous paintings over the course of a year, including Starry Night. See Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, the asylum where he sought refuge, and enjoy some free time in St-Rémy. Visit Pont du Gard, and return to Arles for the evening. Meals BL

5. Avignon / TGV Train to Paris
Drive to the remarkable walled city of Avignon, which served as the papal residence in the 14th century. Visit the magnificent Palais des Papes, built for the pontiffs who reigned in Avignon from 1309 to 1376; it is one of the most important medieval Gothic buildings in Europe. Travel first class this afternoon aboard the TGV, one of Europe’s fastest trains, to the enchanting city of Paris. Meals BD

6. Discover Paris
A sightseeing tour this morning gives you a good overall view of famous sights in the capital city of France; view the famed Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysées, Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower, Cathedral of Notre Dame, and Palais du Louvre. Spend the rest of the day exploring as you please; your stylish and elegant boutique hotel is ideally located in the heart of Paris, with each of its four façades facing a famous Parisian landmark. Meals B

7. Musée du Louvre / Seine Cruise
Take a guided tour of Musée du Louvre, originally built as a fortress to protect Paris from Viking raids; in the 16th century, it was replaced by a Renaissance-style building that became a royal residence, and today contains some of the world’s most beloved art collections. Join us this evening for a private farewell dinner cruise on the River Seine, surrounded by the soft lights of Paris. Meals BD

8. Journey Home
Tour ends: Paris, France. A transfer from the Hotel du Louvre to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 2 ½ hours for flight check-in. Meals B

Dates & Prices

*International Airfare is additional.

Please ask about additional hotel nights and about our Guest Protection Plan.

Note – Dining experiences in France are known for their culinary delights, but tend to be lengthy. In order to best balance your time, some à la carte menus on this tour have been slightly modified while still offering fine regional selections.
 

• An olive oil tasting and lunch on a visit to Mas des Barres, an awardwinning olive oil producer

• A guided adventure walk on the Pont du Gard

• A guided tour of Musée du Louvre

• Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as detailed

• A farewell dinner cruise on the River Seine in Paris

• 13 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

Itinerary

1. Arrive Nice
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hôtel Negresco, Nice, France. A transfer is included from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport to the Hôtel Negresco in Nice, a historic, five-star luxury hotel overlooking the sparkling Bay of Angels. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D

2. Monaco / Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
Explore the tiny principality of Monaco, where the famed Casino, the Prince’s Palace and Monaco Cathedral define the skyline. Travel to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat to tour the lavish estate and gardens of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a seaside palazzo built in the early 1900s. Meals BL

3. Explore Aix-en-Provence and Arles
Follow the idyllic country road skirting Mont Ste-Victoire, featured in many of Cézanne’s works, en route to Aix-en-Provence, known for its fountains and shaded squares. Travel to ancient Arles for a two-night stay at a 17th-century convent that’s now a stately country hotel; take a walk in Old Town, and visit Les Arenes. Meals BD

4. Landscapes of van Gogh
Provençal landscapes brimming with olive groves, fields of lavender and multicolored flowers served as some of the great inspirations for Vincent van Gogh’s paintings. Travels today begin with the olive groves of Mas des Barres, where an olive oil tasting reveals flavorful differences! Spend time in St-Rémy-de-Provence, where Vincent van Gogh checked himself into a hospital – and produced 150 of his most famous paintings over the course of a year, including Starry Night. See Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, the asylum where he sought refuge, and enjoy free time in St-Rémy. Visit Pont du Gard, and return to Arles. Meals BL

5. Avignon / TGV Train to Paris
Drive to the remarkable walled city of Avignon, which served as the papal residence in the 14th century. Visit the magnificent Palais des Papes, built for the pontiffs who reigned in Avignon from 1309 to 1376; it is one of the most important medieval Gothic buildings in Europe. Travel first class this afternoon aboard the TGV to Paris. Meals BD

6. Discover Joie de Vivre in Paris
A sightseeing tour this morning gives you a good overall view of famous sights in the capital city of France; view the famed Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysées, Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower, Cathedral of Notre Dame, and Palais du Louvre. Spend the rest of the day exploring as you please; your stylish and elegant boutique hotel is ideally located in the heart of Paris. Meals B

7. Musée du Louvre / Seine Cruise
Take a guided tour of Musée du Louvre, originally built as a fortress to protect Paris from Viking raids. In the 16th century it was replaced by a Renaissance-style building that became a royal residence, and today contains some of the world’s most beloved art collections including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. Join us this evening for a private farewell dinner cruise along the River Seine, surrounded by the soft lights of Paris. Meals BD

8. Journey Home
Tour ends: Paris, France. A transfer from the Hotel du Louvre to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

Dates & Prices

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in the U.S. (subject to availability).

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before your tour begins and about our comprehensive Guest Protection Plan.

Small Group Departures are available on select departures with no more than 26 Tauck guests, specially priced from $3840 per person double; inquire at time of booking.

Note – Dining experiences in France are known for their culinary delights, but tend to be lengthy. In order to best balance your time, some à la carte menus on this tour have been slightly modified while still offering fine regional selections.
 

Nice ~ Monaco ~ Aix-en-Provence ~ Arles ~ St-Remy-de-Provence ~ Paris
Private River Seine Dinner Cruise
Cap your travels through lovely Provence and Paris with a private farewell dinner cruise on the River Seine, amidst the evening glow of France’s legendary capital city.

Olive Oil Tasting
Olive groves produce a gourmet delight in Provence; visit Mas des Barres, an award-winning olive oil producer in Maussane les Alpilles for an olive oil tasting.

Visit Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
The 1905 Belle Époque era inspired the magnificent estate built by Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild, with seven beautiful themed gardens designed to commemorate her travels; visit this Côte d’Azur masterpiece.
 

Itinerary

1. Arrive Paris / Chantilly
Tour departs: 9:00 AM from Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport. Travel to the lovely town of Chantilly for a tour of Château Chantilly, set in its own park. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals LD

2. Rouen / Honfleur / Deauville
Visit historic Rouen, one of medieval Europe’s most prosperous cities; at the old market square, see the Church of Ste. Joan of Arc. Continue along the Normandy coast to picturesque Honfleur, arriving in the glamorous seaside resort of Deauville for a two-night stay at Royal Barrière Deauville, your beachfront resort hotel built in 1913, at the height of la Belle Époque. Meals BL

3. Beaches of D-Day / Bayeux
On June 6, 1944, Allied Forces landed at beaches along the Normandy coast, with code names that are etched in the annals of history – Utah, Gold, Juno, and Sword. A scenic drive along the Yellow Roads brings you to Le Mémorial de Caen (Peace Museum) and then to Bayeux to see the exquisite Bayeux Tapestry; created in 1077, it chronicles the story of William the Conqueror and the Norman invasion. Visit Pointe du Hoc (a 100-ft. cliff taken by the 2nd Ranger Battalion on D-Day), Omaha Beach and the American Military Cemetery. Meals BD

4. Mont-St-Michel / St-Malo
Traverse the Normandy countryside to Villedieu-les-Poêles, a small medieval village that became a center for crafts. Next stop is world-famous Mont-St-Michel, a thousand-year-old mountaintop abbey perched on an island linked to the mainland by a road; be prepared for a fair amount of walking up and down hills during your tour. Drive through charming villages to St-Malo, a walled medieval town set dramatically by the sea. Meals BD

5. Rance Estuary / Dinan
Cross the Rance Estuary, which flows into the English Channel; view the scenic estuary before traveling upriver. Tiny villages, fields and orchards line the country road to Dinan, whose picturesque harbor is dominated by the ancient town above; stroll the town’s quaint streets before heading back to St-Malo for the evening. Meals B

6. Josselin / Port du Crouesty
The lifestyle and traditions in Brittany have endured for centuries, as you’ll see in the medieval town of Josselin, dominated by its castle, Château Josselin, residence of the aristocratic Rohan family. A guided tour of the ground floor rooms reveals its turbulent history. Arrive in Port du Crouesty; your accommodations are at the unconventional, elegantly furnished Miramar Crouesty. Meals BD

7. Vannes / Pont-Aven
In medieval Vannes, see the Cathedral, and enjoy a stroll through the colorful Promenade de la Garenne. Travel to the idyllic riverside village of Pont-Aven. The painter Paul Gauguin was so enchanted by the area that he came here to live; other artists followed, and the School of Pont-Aven had a profound impact on French Impressionism. Return to your hotel via a ferry ride across the bay; pass by Carnac, where thousands of ancient granite rocks were arranged in mysterious patterns by Megalithic tribes. Meals BL

8. Angers / Loire Valley
Journey to Angers, the Loire Valley’s center for the wine trade, where you’ll visit the majestic, seventeen-towered Château d’Angers, a 13th-century medieval fortress that is home to the famed Apocalypse Tapestry. Continue on to châteaux country; your hotel in Langeais, Château de Rochecotte, was the private estate of diplomat Prince Talleyrand and the Duchess of Dino – it is surrounded by romantic gardens and a woodland setting. Meals BD

9. Villandry / Langeais
Explore the beautiful châteaux, gardens and towns of the Loire Valley today, including Château de Villandry, built around an original 14th-century keep where King Phillip II and England’s Richard the Lionhearted once met to discuss peace; it boasts exquisite furnishings and some of the world’s most spectacular formal gardens. Also visit medieval Château de Langeais, one of the oldest and best maintained medieval fortresses; dine tonight at a private country estate, featuring a hunting hound demonstration in full regalia. Meals BD

10. TGV to Paris / Musée d’Orsay
Ride the TGV high-speed train first class to Paris in just under one hour! After lunch atop Montparnasse Tower overlooking the French capital, a local guide leads you on a tour of the Musée d’Orsay, displaying an extensive collection of French Impressionist paintings and art objects in a restored 1900 railway station. Spend the next three nights on the Left Bank at stylish Hôtel Lutetia Paris – the first Art Deco hotel in Paris. Meals BL

11. Paris at Your Own Pace
A city tour views landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, and the Eiffel Tower; pick your favorite spot to start exploring Paris on your own. Meals BD

12. Giverny / Seine Dinner Cruise
You have a choice of spending the day in Paris, or traveling to visit the home and gardens of painter Claude Monet at Giverny, depicted in some of his most celebrated works; see the special exhibits at the Musée d’Art Américain and return to Paris in the afternoon. Gaze upon famous Parisian sights tonight during a private farewell dinner cruise along the romantic River Seine. Meals BD

13. Journey Home
Tour ends: 8:30 AM at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport. Persons departing at other times should secure their own transportation to the airport. You should allow a minimum of 2 ½ hours for flight check-in. Meals B

Dates & Prices

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in the U.S. (subject to availability).

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before your tour begins and about our comprehensive Guest Protection Plan.

Note – Dining experiences throughout France are renowned for their culinary delights, but also tend to be very lengthy. In order to best balance your valuable time, some à la carte menus on this tour have been slightly modified while still offering fine regional selections.
 

Chantilly ~ Omaha Beach ~ Mont-St-Michel ~ St-Malo ~ Châteaux Country

Tauck’s Yellow Roads
Scenic drives include the “Mother of Pearl Coast” that leads to the D-Day beaches of Normandy, and the magnificent headlands, wooded valleys and megalithic stone monuments found along the rugged Brittany coast.

Normandy Beaches
Reflect on some of World War II’s most poignant moments on memorable visits to the Normandy beaches and the Peace Museum, Le Mémorial de Caen.

Country Estate Dinner
Dine at an elegant country estate in the heart of châteaux country, where a hunting hound demonstration in full regalia will be a memorable experience.

Farewell Dinner Cruise on the River Seine
Bid your journey in France adieu during a private farewell dinner cruise along the romantic River Seine.