French Sampler (RB Tour

Welcome to Paris! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions, and leave the hotel for a welcome dinner with wine at one of Paris’ lively restaurants. Also enjoy an orientation drive to get a first impression of the “City of Light.”

Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Louvre, and Champs-Elysées. Visit magnificent NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL, and for a panoramic view, take the elevator to the second floor of the EIFFEL TOWER. You may wish to join an optional excursion to the artists’ hill of Montmartre, followed by a cruise on the beautiful Seine River.

Enjoy a special visit to the magnificent PALACE AND GARDENS OF VERSAILLES. Then, enter Burgundy and arrive in Beaune, capital of the region, where a [LF] WINE TASTING awaits you at the famous Marché aux Vins wine cellar. Continue to your hotel, Le Cep, ideally located in the heart of the medieval town and just a couple of steps away from the famous Hôtel-Dieu and Notre Dame Basilica.

Stop at Pont du Gard and admire the largest remaining Roman aqueduct in France, a monumental feat of engineering completed in the year 19 BC. Continue to Avignon, a town on the Rhône River that in the 14th century became the residence of the popes. During your walking tour, take pictures of the magnificent Palace of the Popes and the famous bridge, and browse through the colorful shops that sell traditional products made in Provence, like cloth, honey, herbs, and nougat candy. Next is the pleasant town of Aix-en-Provence, where you will stay for two nights.

Aix-en-Provence is one of France’s most elegant cities. It was the birthplace of painter Cézanne, and has always attracted artists from all over. Explore its center during your walking tour, wander through the maze of small streets and along shaded Cours Mirabeau, and [LF] enjoy a café au lait with calissons (a traditional French confectionery). Balance of the day is at leisure.

Enjoy a highlight visit to the picturesque hilltop town of St. Paul de Vence. Marvel at the many art galleries and little shops. Then, turn to the glittering Mediterranean Sea and reach the tiny country of Monaco, built on a rocky peninsula and famed for its nightlife. Capture the spirit and beauty of this magical place in your overnight surroundings situated on the Cap d’Ail harbor. You may wish to join an optional excursion to see the palace and royal church of Monaco town, and to try your luck at the Monte Carlo casino.

Morning at leisure to dabble in the blue Mediterranean Sea. In the afternoon, [LF] a scenic drive along the Basse Corniche brings you to Nice, “Queen of the Riviera.” Time to walk along the famous Promenade des Anglais. Then, continue to Èze along the Moyenne Corniche with spectacular views. Here, enjoy a unique highlight: visit the famous Fragonard perfume factory and CREATE YOUR OWN FRAGRANCE before joining a special farewell dinner with wine at Cheval Blanc restaurant to celebrate the success of your vacation.

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning (the nearest airport is Nice).