Paris, Champagne, The Loire Valley, Bordeaux

PARIS, CHAMPAGNE,

THE LOIRE VALLEY, BORDEAUX

15 days / 14 nights

Programme

An important place is given in this tour to gastronomy and wine.

Day 1 - Paris (5 nights)

  • Late afternoon meeting of the Group at the Hotel.
  • Programm overview and Questions / Answers
  • Group  Dinner at the Hotel
Notre Dame Paris
Fontaine Invalides Paris

Day 2 - Private coach guided visit of World Heritage sites in Paris

  • Morning: Left bank.

  • Afternoon: Right bank.

  • Evening:  Cruise Group Welcome Dinner.
    Embark on a boat-restaurant for a romantic and gourmet dinner-cruise on the Seine.
Coucher de soleil croisière sur la seine

Day 3 - Champagne

  • Morning: By TGV to Reims and coach to Ay en Champagne for an introduction to Champagne : École des vins de Champagne.
    Champagne Lunch at winegrower’s

  • Afternoon : to Reims for a guided visit of the World Heritage Cathedral, one of the largest in the Christian world and famous for its beauty and its historical importance : it was where the kings of France were crowned.

    Return to Paris by TGV.

  • Evening: Free.
Cathédrale de Reims

Day 4 - Paris guided visit

  • Morning: Guided walking tour : Ile St Louis and Le Marais.

  • Afternoon : Guided visit of the Invalides

  • Evening : Group dinner in a parisian restaurant

Day 5 - Paris guided visit

  • Morning: Guided visit of the Sainte Chapelle
    Group lunch in gastronomic restaurant (1 star Guide Michelin).

  • Afternoon & Evening: Free.

Sainte Chapelle Paris
Dégustation de vin
Gastronomie française

Day 6 - The Loire Valley (World Heritage) 4 nights

  • Morning: On the way to Tours guided visit of the Château of Chambord.
    Lunch : Free.
  • Afternoon : Visit of the famous royal Château of Blois
  • Transfer to your Hotel in Tours.
  • Evening : Group dinner.
Château de chambord

Day 7 - Cours de cuisine & visit of Château de Chenonceau

  • Morning : Cours de cuisine (cuisine of the Val de Loire) followed by a lunch prepared by yourself.

  • Afternoon : Guided Visit of Château of Chenonceau.

  • Evening : Free.

Cours de cuisine française
Cours de cuisine française

Day 8 - Amboise, Clos Lucé & visit of cellars

  • Morning : Visit of Amboise, guided visit of the Clos-Lucé (da Vinci’s last home).
    Visit of  the cellars of a Montlouis wine grower..
    Lunch accompanied by his various wines.

  • Afternoon : guided visit of the Château de la Bourdaisière : the  National tomato conservatory (700 variaties of tomatoes)  

  • Evening : Free.

Verre de vin blanc dans une cave

Day 9 - Abbaye de Fontevraud, Château de Villandry

  • Morning : guided visit of Fontevraud Abbey : famous for the beauty of the 12th century architecture of its church and buildings. Its kitchens are particularly important : the most beautiful romanesque kitchens which can be seen. It is also the burial place of many Plantagenet kings and queens.

  • Lunch:Free time for lunch in the lovely town of Chinon

  • Afternon :Visit of the Villandry château gardens

  • Evening : Dinner at one of the best chefs of the region in a remarquable site

abbaye de Fontevraud
Cuisinier plat gastronomique

Day 10 - to Bordeaux, a World Heritage city (5 nights)

  • Morning: On the way, stop to visit St Pierre d’Aulnay de Saintonge church, a magnificent romanesque church, classified World Heritage on the Pilgrim way from Paris to Santiago de Compostella. 

  • Afternoon : Guided visit of Bordeaux.

  • Evening : Group dinner.

Miroir d'eau à Bordeaux

Day 11 - Ecole des vins de Bordeaux

  • Morning : Ecole des Vins de Bordeaux.

  • Afternoon: guided  visit of the World Heritage citadelle of Blaye, built by Vauban 1685 to completely  lock the entrance of the Gironde estuary.

  • Evening : Group dinner.

Ecole de vins Bordeaux

Day12 - Saint Emilion

  • Morning : Guided visit of the World Heritage town of St Emilion, not only famous for its wine  but one of the prettiest cities in Aquitaine, selected  Unesco as « an exceptionnal cultural countryside ».
    Lunch in a winery.

  • Afternoon: Visit of its cellars and its wineyards, with wine tasting.

  • Evening : Free.

Saint Emilion
Cave à vin

Day 13 - Whole day in the World Heritage Valley of the Vézère

  • Morning: Guided visit of Les Eyzies de Tayac (the national prehistory museum)

  • Afternoon: Guided visit of Lascaux (the Sixtine chapel of Prehistory).

  • Evening : Group dinner.

Grotte de Lascaux

Day 14 - Musée du Vin

  • Morning: Guided visit of the Quai des Chartrons and the Musée du vin et du négoce du vin.

    Farewell group lunch: Cruise lunch on the river.

  • Afternoon & Evening : Free time for shopping.

Day 15 - Paris

  • Morning: Return to Paris by TGV.

Service

The price includes
  • Accompanied by Tour Leader/Tour Manager throughout the tour.
  • Ground transport : Trains first class, Luxury coaches.
  • 4 star hotel accommodation, breakfast included.
  • One main meal a day : lunch or dinner including a few gastronomic meals.
  • All expenses related to entries, guided tours and visits.
The price does not include
  • One meal a day
  • Personal charges and expenses
  • Insurances
  • Travel to and from France

15  days / 14 nights

Price and departure dates upon request

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