Discover why France is regarded as the finest wine producer in the world. Join a 7 Day Luxury Coach Tour before embarking on a cruise of the Rhine through some of the most fascinating towns and beautiful rural regions in Europe.
Day 1. Arrive Paris, Transfer to Versailles
Be met at the airport on arrival and transferred to your hotel in Versailles. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure, before a Welcome Reception this evening with your Tour Director and fellow guests.
Day 2. Versailles, Villers Bretonneux, Rouen, Deauville
Tour the resplendent Palace of Versailles this morning, the residence of French royalty for many centuries and a breathtaking château. Discover the dramatic history of the French monarchy and marvel at the ostentatious design of the world-famous palace complex. Then travel to the small town of Villers-Bretonneux, where a moving war memorial bears the names of 10,773 Australian soldiers who died in France in World War I. Re-board your coach and depart for Rouen, the historic riverside capital of Normandy, where a guided walking tour reveals the medieval sights, half-timbered buildings and more. Then, continue to historic Deauville and check in to your hotel for the night.
Day 3. Deauville
Delve into wartime history with a day of guided tours taking in significant World War II sites. Tour the beaches of Normandy and see where the events of D-Day unfolded, when thousands of Allied forces travelled through terrible weather to launch their unexpected attack. Visit the Mémorial de Caen Peace Museum and Gardens, dedicated to the history of conflict in the 20th century; see the clifftop Pointe du Hoc, used by the U.S Army Ranger Assault Group during D-Day; and visit the Normandy American Cemetery and War Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, honouring American soldiers who died in the Second World War. The burial site, on a bluff overlooking Omaha beach, is the first American cemetery on European soil. This evening is at leisure for you to relax or explore.
Day 4. Bayeux, Mont St-Michel, Saint Malo, Dine Around Dinner
This morning, depart Deauville for the Roman city of Bayeux. Here you’ll see the famous Bayeux Tapestry, the oldest surviving complete tapestry in the world. Almost 70 metres long, the tapestry tells the story of the Norman conquest of England and is thought to date back as early as 1077. Re-board your coach and travel to the rocky island of Mont St-Michel for a tour of the famous abbey. Discover the crypts, chapels and magnificent arches of this World Heritage-listed site before travelling onward to the walled coastal city of Saint Malo. Tonight, sample your choice of French cuisine with our Dine Around Dinner. Enjoy the ambience of a traditional French bistro, dine in your waterfront hotel, or visit a créperie for a delicious French delicacy.
Day 5. Saint Malo Sightseeing
This morning, discover the sights of Saint Malo with a guided walking tour. Explore the maritime history and cultural attractions, including the cathedral and tower. This afternoon, discover why Saint Malo is so famous for seafood restaurants as you enjoy a delicious lunch of fresh local shellfish and fish.
Day 6. Rennes, Chinon, Tours
Discover Rennes today with a guided walking tour of the medieval and Renaissance houses that stand in the city’s historic centre. Continue onward to Chinon, where you’ll discover two spectacular châteaus. The first, Château de Villandry, is a beautifully restored Renaissance palace with magnificent gardens. The second, the magical Château d’Ussé, is thought to have inspired the story of Sleeping Beauty. Depart Chinon and travel to Tours, where you’ll check in to your hotel. Then, enjoy sampling delicious French cuisine during a special dinner of culinary masterpieces at your hotel restaurant. Dine overlooking the River Indre, in the peaceful setting of the beautiful Loire Valley.
Day 7. Tours, Freedom of Choice Touring
Explore Tours today with your choice of touring activity. You may like to discover some of the famous wineries of France during a vineyard tour and wine tasting; alternatively, see spectacular horticultural displays during a tour revealing the Gardens of France.
Day 8. Blois, Chartres, Paris
Depart Tours today and travel to Blois, a beautiful city on the banks of the Loire River. Enjoy a guided tour through the city’s winding streets, and see the famous Château de Chambord, a spectacular palace featuring distinctive Renaissance architecture. Then, travel to the town of Chartres to visit what is considered to be the finest Gothic cathedral in France. After exploring Chartres, depart for Paris, and check in to your hotel for the night.
Day 9. Paris Sightseeing, Freedom of Choice Touring
After breakfast, discover the sights and attractions of the French capital with a choice of touring activities. Take a sightseeing tour, including the famous Avenue des Champs Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower, where you’ll ascend to the second level of the tower to enjoy amazing views out over Paris. Alternatively, you could opt to discover French cuisine during a cooking class, or learn about photography during a tour designed to help you take the perfect picture of Paris. An excursion to Giverny, the picturesque village once home to the celebrated Impressionist artist Claude Monet, is another option. Tonight, enjoy a lovely dinner cruise along the Seine River for a unique look at the city. Afterwards, embark on a Paris Illuminations Tour and see why Paris is known as the City of Light. Learn about the city’s history as you tour the boulevards with their animated cafés and brilliantly illuminated monuments and squares.
Day 10. Paris at Leisure
Today is yours to enjoy at leisure. Perhaps stroll along the boutique-lined boulevards, or go for a wander along the famous Rue Mouffetard. This evening, you may like to visit the famous Moulin Rouge, the historic cabaret and birthplace of the can-can (own expense).
Day 11. Paris, Amsterdam
After breakfast, board the stylish Thalys high-speed train for your luxury 3.5 hour journey to Amsterdam. On arrival, enjoy a tour of the Netherlands Maritime Museum before boarding your ship.
Day 12. Amsterdam, Freedom of Choice Touring
Today select your activity from our options. Perhaps take a canal cruise and admire the city’s architecture. Alternatively, visit the Van Gogh Museum, which contains the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh paintings, or take a guided Wetland Safari canoe tour through extraordinary landscapes. Later, enjoy a photo opportunity at Rembrandt’s Windmill. Tonight, enjoy the Captain’s Gala Wel-come Dinner on board.
Day 13. Cologne, Freedom of Choice Touring, Koblenz
Choose an excursion from Cologne today. Travel to Venlo and explore the spectacular displays on show at the Floriade Horticultural World Expo†, or visit the historic city of Maastricht. Rejoin your ship in Koblenz, and perhaps take an evening stroll.
Day 14. Cochem
This morning your ship will leave the Rhine and turn onto the Moselle River, a winding and picturesque waterway. On arrival in the town of Cochem, visit Reichsburg Castle and absorb stunning views over the river below. Reboard your ship and enjoy an afternoon of stunning views as the scenery of the spectacular Moselle Valley drifts by.
Day 15. Rüdesheim, Freedom of Choice Touring
Today cruise through the Rhine Gorge on what is known as the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine. Arrive in Rüdesheim and choose your activity. Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum; perhaps take a ride in a gondola with views of the Rhine, or visit a Rhine Valley winery for a tour and tasting.
Day 16. Speyer
On arrival in the city of Speyer today, disembark for a sightseeing tour. Then you’ll travel to the fascinating Technik Museum Speyer, Europe’s largest private technology museum.
Day 17. Breisach, Freedom of Choice Touring, Colmar/Black Forest
Today, choose between a tour of Colmar in France or through the famous Black Forest region of Germany. On the Black Forest tour, drive through a scenic forested area and stop at a cuckoo clock factory. Alternatively, visit medieval Colmar for a city tour.
Day 18. Basel, Disembark, Lyon, Embark
After a city tour of Basel, enjoy a special journey to the medieval cheese-making town of Gruyères. On arrival, visit a cheese factory for a tour and a special tasting of the delicious cheese. Continue via beautiful Lake Geneva to Lyon, and board your ship.
Day 19. Lyon, Freedom of Choice Touring, Trévoux
Choose your touring option in Lyon. Take a guided tour of the city, or enjoy a demonstration of the fine art of French cuisine. Returning to your ship for lunch, relax on board as you cruise to Trévoux.
Day 20. Trévoux - Vienne
Today, enjoy a tour of the famous Beaujolais region. Visit a vineyard and sample the world-renowned Beaujolais wine.
Day 21. Vienne - Tournon
This morning following breakfast, take a mini-train tour, during which you’ll see the Roman Temple of Augustus and the medieval churches of St Andre-Le-Bas and Abbey St Pierre.
Day 22. Tournon, Freedom of Choice Touring, Viviers
Choose your activity in Tournon. Sample and learn about the wines of the region with a wine tasting; alternatively, travel to Boucieu-le-Roi and enjoy a visit to a goat farm, followed by a tasting of goat’s cheese. Then return to your ship for lunch as you cruise to Viviers. After dinner this evening, enjoy a ‘ghost walk’ through the largely abandoned medieval town.
Day 23. Viviers, Grignan, Avignon, Freedom of Choice Touring
This morning, enjoy an excursion to Grignan. Cruise to Avignon, the ‘City of Popes’ and choose from two Freedom of Choice Touring options.
Day 24. Avignon - Les Baux, Arles
This morning, visit the village of Les Baux-de-Provence. Tour the castle before visiting a working olive mill and farm to discover the age-old Provençal tradition of olive growing. Leaving Les Baux, return
to Arles for an exciting afternoon of touring. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner on board tonight.
Day 25. Arles, Disembark Ship, Cannes, Nice, Monte Carlo
After breakfast, disembark your ship and travel to the famous coastal city of Cannes for a walking tour, then continue to Nice, where you’ll stop for a guided tour. Later this afternoon, continue to the glamorous city of Monte Carlo in Monaco and check in to your hotel.
Day 26. Monte Carlo Sightseeing
A guided tour of Monte Carlo today includes the spectacular Prince’s Palace of Monaco, You’ll also visit the Private Collection of Antique Cars of Prince Rainier III.
Day 27. Monte Carlo at Leisure
Enjoy an entire day at leisure in Monte Carlo. Tonight, enjoy a Farewell Dinner with your Tour Director and fellow guests.
Day 28. Depart Nice
Your tour ends today with a transfer to Nice Airport.
