PARIS, NORMANDY, LOIRE VALLEY & THE CHAMPAGNE REGION
Discover the heart of France on this enchanting tour taking us from the famous “City of Lights” through historic Normandy and on to the lovely Loire Valley and Champagne region. No visit to Paris is complete without a visit to the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, and Arc de Triomphe plus enjoy dinner in the city’s famous Montmartre area. We’ll also take in the country’s natural beauty with visits to Giverny and Monet’s House & Gardens which inspired the famous impressionist painter’s most famous works. Explore Mont Saint-Michel with its medieval abbey and take a step back in history to learn about one of our most famous days in history: D-Day. In the Loire Valley and the Champagne region, we’ll visit some of France’s most stunning châteaux like Château Chambord and Château de Chenonceau and enjoy wine tastings!
Did you know you can make this tour private? Find out about pricing and options
for groups of 15 or more travelers.
Itinerary at
a Glance
Tour Itinerary:
- 2 nights in Paris
- 3 nights in Normandy
- 2 nights in Loire Valley
- 2 nights in the Champagne Region
Tour Highlights
- City Tour of Paris—Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe & more!
- Monet’s House & Gardens (Giverny)
- Versailles Optional Excursion
- Mont St. Michel (Normandy)
- Normandy Beaches
- Normandy American Cemetery
- Château de Chambord (Loire Valley)
- Château de Chenonceau (Loire Valley)
- Wine tastings in Loire Valley & Champagne region
- Reims Tour
Your Tour Includes
- Optional round-trip airfare from the New York area (varies by departure) including taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
- Intra-France ground transportation and transfers
- Accommodations at first-class hotels
- 15 meals: 9 full buffet breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 4 dinners
- Glass of wine with included dinners
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours including admissions fees
- Experienced English-speaking Tour Director throughout
Max Group Size: 30 travelers
Activity Level: Intermediate
Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods up to 4 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day). Included touring may feature light hiking, and/or stairs on some hilly and/or uneven terrain. Learn More
Pacing Level: Fast
Expect full-day tours most days with some limited free time at specific sites, for meals, and/or in the evenings. You can expect early mornings and/or long travel days by bus, and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 1-3 nights. Learn More
No Additional Entry Requirements for U.S. Passport Holders
A valid passport is required for international tours. Currently, there are no additional entry requirements for U.S. passport holders, but this can change at any time. Before travel, both U.S. and non-U.S. passport holders should visit our Passports & Visas page to reconfirm entry requirements.
Mont St Michel and Montmartre are hilly with lots of stairs and might pose a challenge for those with difficulties walking.
For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit
our Before You Depart section.
Passengers who purchase flights will depart 1 day before the tour starts and return on the same day as the tour ends.
For flight details, see Before You Depart.
Arrive in the beautiful city of Paris, also known as the "City of Lights." For centuries, Paris has been one of the world's most important cities and certainly one of the world's most beautiful. Not only is Paris the capital of France, but it is considered the global capital for cuisine, art, fashion, and more. After checking into our hotel, enjoy some free time to say "bonjour" to Paris before our welcome dinner at a local restaurant this evening.
Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Republique or similar
Meals: Dinner
Today we'll enjoy a guided orientation tour of this magnificent city. We'll see the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, Latin Quarter, Pantheon, Place Vendome, and the Paris Opera and more. The tour will end with the afternoon free to explore on our own or to take an optional tour to Versailles. In the evening, we'll come together for our transfer to Montmartre, a famous section of the Right Bank or "Rive Droite" in Paris for a dinner at an authentic Parisian restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast, we'll travel to the lovely town of Giverny which rose to fame in 1883 when famous impressionist painter, Claude Monet, "discovered" the village and moved there. Here, we'll visit the Monet House and Gardens and see firsthand the place that inspired many of Monet's most famous works. Our next stop is Rouen, one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe located on the River Seine. Upon arrival in Rouen, the capital of Normandy, we'll enjoy a walking tour and visit the famous and imposing Notre Dame cathedral, which was the subject of a series of paintings by none other than Claude Monet. We'll also visit the Place du Vieux-Marche (or "Old Marketplace"), where Joan of Arc was executed for heresy in the 15th century and where a church was built in her name in 1979. We'll continue to our hotel in Caen, the heart of the Normandy region. This evening, we'll enjoy dinner at our hotel.
Accommodations: Mercure Caen Côte de Nacre or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Note: Mont Saint-Michel is hilly with lots of stairs and might pose a challenge for those with difficulty walking.
Today we'll travel to the rugged coast of Normandy and savor breathtaking views of magnificent Mont Saint-Michel which was built on an isolated island in the gulf of Saint-Malo. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mont Saint-Michel is reached by causeway. The lower towers and medieval sea wall protect a small village, capped magnificently by the commanding Abbey dedicated to the Archangel Michael. We'll enjoy a visit of the spectacular interior of the Abbey which was designated as a monument historique in 1874. Prior to the causeway, Mont Saint-Michel was an isolated island that pilgrims could approach mindful of a tide that could seep in at any time. Afterwards, we'll return to Caen.
Meals: Breakfast
Today we'll experience and learn about one of the most famous days in history: D-Day. First, we will visit the Caen Museum to set the stage for the day's events. Next, we'll visit the Normandy Beaches including Omaha Beach near the coastal village of Colleville-sur-Mer. Omaha was one of the principal beachheads where the U.S. Army stormed ashore on D-Day (June 6th, 1944). Explore Pointe du Hoc, located between Utah Beach and Omaha Beach, where a group of American Army Rangers defied all odds by scaling a massive cliff at a critical moment during the invasion. Continue to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, a spectacular and emotional setting located on a bluff overlooking both Omaha Beach and the English Channel.
Meals: Breakfast
This morning is free to explore Caen (Normandy) independently before we travel to the Loire valley, famous for its old-world villages and charming châteaux (castles). En route we'll pay a visit to the Château and Gardens of Villandry, the last of the great Renaissance châteaux built on the banks of the Loire River. The estate's renowned architecture is matched (if not surpassed) by its magnificent gardens, which are spread across three levels and are truly a sight to see. You'll continue to your upscale hotel, where we'll enjoy an included dinner.
Accommodations: Novotel Amboise Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, we'll visit Château de Chambord, the undisputed crown jewel of the region and arguably the emblem of the French Renaissance. Originally King Francois I's weekend hunting lodge in the early 16th century, the Château evolved into one of the most expensive and excessive architectural projects by a French monarch. Next, we'll continue to Château de Chenonceau, the second most visited château in France (after Versailles), where we'll be blown away by the magical architecture that was constructed in harmony with the beautiful River Cher. On the way back to our hotel we'll enjoy a delicious wine tasting at the magnificent Caves du Pere Auguste winery with its wide variety of refreshing wines to enjoy. After we return to our hotel the evening is at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, we'll transfer to the Champagne Region by coach. En route, stop in Château-Thierry which was the site of one of the first actions by the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) during WWI. We'll visit the Belleau Woods & Château Thierry monument prior to some brief time wandering around town to see the château and a quick lunch before continuing to Reims, the “City of Kings”. Upon arrival in Reims, explore the town with a local guide including the Notre Dame de Reims which was the place where French kings were coronated after 816. The tour will end at your hotel with the evening at leisure.
Accommodations: Mercure Reims Centre Cathedrale Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, we'll enjoy a tour through the famous Champagne Region visiting two local wineries with an included tasting and a farewell lunch. Our tour will end at our hotel with the evening free at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
We'll say "au revoir" to France as our tour comes to an end after breakfast. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive package will head to the airport for our return flight and touch down in the U.S. later today.
Meals: Breakfast
Book by Jun. 2, 2023 to get the best price.
Prices listed as “with flights” below include
round-trip airfare from one or more airports
in the USA.
Travelers may choose to purchase the tour only,
and arrange their own arrival in destination.
Please note this may change your tour start date.
* Departures designated as "Guaranteed" may be canceled or rescheduled only
under Extraordinary Circumstances, for example in situations deemed to be unsafe
or nonviable due to local conditions. See Terms
& Conditions for full details.
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a
date above to see the rates for that specific departure.
For more information on this tour, please
contact us here
or call us during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 7:00 pm Eastern)
at 1.800.337.7773.
Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made online or by phone
(1.800.337.7773)
and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable,
non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the
time of reservation.
Deposits are $300 per person.
Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure.
Space and prices subject to availability.
Please see the
smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete
booking information.
Optional Tours
Customize your trip with these optional tours.
Enhance your trip with our recommended optional tours.
Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book
when you reserve your trip and can be added to your
reservation up to final payment. This is the best option
to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour!
Optional tours require a minimum number of participants.
Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.
Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and
may cost extra. The payment methods and currency
information to purchase tours in-destination will be
provided on final documentation.
Join an optional excursion to Versailles for a fascinating visit of the Château and the brilliant hall filled with mirrors and chandeliers, numerous galleries, salons, and royal apartments, all lavishly decorated and fitted with ornate furnishings. The magnificent fountains, supplied by almost 100 miles of pipes, spray jets of water in a forceful dance. You will also have an opportunity to explore the palace and grounds at your own pace.
MUST BE PRE-BOOKED!
This tour must be pre-booked prior to final payment as
it is not available to book in-destination.
Featured Accommodations
10 Place de la République, 75011 Paris, France
Website
2 Place Boston, Citis, 14200
Herouville Saint Clair, France
Website
17 Rue des Sablonnieres
37400 Amboise, France
Website
31 Boulevard Paul Doumer, 51100 Reims, France
Website
Erica L
This was a very exciting and fun-filled tour. Our tour Director, Patrick, was very knowledgeable about France and French history which added to our experience. This trip included lots of walking so it would be for someone who is used to physical activity and who could navigate difficult terrain such as steps, cobblestones, etc.
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