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Trip	Best of France Tour by Eskapas 5 \| Excellent 166 Reviews Trip Details Save Trip Reserve	9 Day Affordable France by Gate 1 Travel 3.5 \| Average 746 Reviews Trip Details Save Trip See Offer

Duration	6 days	9 days
Price From	$ 1,820	$ 2,139
Price Per Day	$ 303	$ 238
Highlights	Best of Loire Valley Castles and Normandy D-Day Beaches Best of Paris Highlights Best seller fully guided trip	Drive along the Champs Elysees and view the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris Visit the site of the heroic D-Day invasion and American Cemetery in Normandy Cross the causeway to the magnificent Mont St. Michel, built on an isolated island Explore the fairy-tale Chateau de Chenonceau, stretching across the river Cher Visit the village of Amboise and tour the Royal Chateau of Amboise View the Cathedral in Chartres, the finest architectural example of High Gothic style †Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates
Trip Style	Group tour	N/A
Lodging Level	Standard	Standard
Physical Level	2- Easy	3- Moderate
Travel Themes	Cultural Family Friendly	N/A
Countries Visited	France	France
Cities and Attractions	Angers Mont Saint-Michel Normandy Paris	Angers Loire Valley Normandy Palace of Versailles Paris
Flights & Transport	Ground transport included	Ground transport included
Activities	Culture History Ruins & Archaeology	N/A
Meals Included	5 Breakfasts & 1 Dinner	N/A
Description	Best of France Tour is the perfect way for value-minded travellers to see the highlights of the Loire Valley and Normandy. Beautiful scenery combined with famous landmarks and fascinating history sum up this 6-day guided tour.	3 Paris, 1 Normandy, 1 St. Malo, 2 Tours

Itinerary: Best of France Tour

Day 1: Arrive in Paris, France

Upon your arrival meet and greet by our assistant and transfer to your hotel in Paris.

Meals: N/A Overnight: Paris

Day 2: Paris Highlights

After your breakfast, enjoy the guided adventure of triple sightseeing in Paris.

At 09:30 AM (to avoid traffic jams we do not pick up from hotels), we’ll meet at Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, facing the Louvre Pyramid, and get ready to begin our unforgettable guided tour of Paris. From there we’ll walk to the Louvre Museum, which is five minutes away walking.

Stroll straight into the largest museum in the world with fast track access and discover the Louvre’s masterpieces on an engaging guided tour. The Venus de Milo sculpture that represents the goddess Aphrodite and Jacques-Louis David’s impressive “Coronation of Napoleon” are just some of the must-see works of art housed in Paris’ most-visited museum, not to mention da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

Day 3: Paris - Rouen - Honfleur - Beaches of Normandy - Caen

Early departure from 22 de la rue Jean Rey in central Paris at 7:15 am on a luxury air-conditioned coach and sit back during a 2-hour journey to Rouen. The first stop includes a guided visit through this fascinating medieval city and its famous landmarks, including the Gros Horloge, an astronomical clock, which is the subject of many mysterious legends. You’ll also visit the impressive Gothic-styled Cathedral, which has been painted by the French Impressionist painter Claude Monet several times

You’ll continue the itinerary towards the mouth of the Seine River and admire the Pont de Normandie suspension bridge, one of the longest in Europe. Upon arrival in Honfleur, you can enjoy some free time and have lunch in one of its typical restaurants and stroll through the Port where the boats are docked in front of pretty coloured houses.

In the afternoon, you’ll head to the Beaches of Normandy. Here, you’ll discover the history of France and you’ll also probably recognize this part of the coast of France, as it has been the set for numerous films about World War II, including “Saving Private Ryan.” Visit the American cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer and Arromanches beach, where the Allies built an artificial port to disembark in France. The last stop of the day is Caen, where you’ll spend the night in a 3 star hotel and enjoy a exquisite dinner at your hotel.

Day 4: Caen - Saint Malo - Mont Saint Michel - Angers

After a good breakfast at the hotel, the coach will head south to Saint-Malo. Follow the guide on a tour of the city walls on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and discover its landmarks, like the Cathedral or National Fort, where several bloody battles between pirates took place. You’ll then have time to explore the city at your own leisure and have lunch before heading Mont Saint Michel.

Mont Saint Michel is a small rocky island with winding cobbled streets. It houses the magnificent Benedictine Abbey at the very top. Follow the guide through the charming alleyways and discover some of the most famous legends about this Medieval pilgrimage site, many of which have inspired film directors and writers. After visiting Saint-Michel, board the coach and get off at Angers.

Overnight: Angers meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Angers - Loire Castles Valley - Chenonceau - Chambord – Paris

From Angers, we’ll head towards château de Chenonceau, where you’ll have free time to get lunch before going on a guided tour of the famous castle. The arches of this striking fortress cross the Cher River, making it one of the most visited monuments in France

Next, you’ll visit Château de Chambord, where you’ll go on a guided tour to see its famous double helix staircase, designed by the Tuscan genius Leonardo da Vinci.

After our visit to this stunning castle, we’ll make our way back to our starting point in Paris. We will arrive back in the French capital around 9 pm.

Day 6: Paris Departure

After breakfast transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule

Overnight: N/A Meals: Breakfast

Itinerary: 9 Day Affordable France

DAY 1, Friday - Depart for France
Depart for France

DAY 2, Saturday - Arrive in Paris
Arrive in Paris, the "City of Lights," and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to rest, relax and enjoy the endless delights of Paris. Your tour begins with an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager at approximately 5 PM. We recommend that you select flights which arrive no later than 3 PM
Overnight: Paris

DAY 3, Sunday - Paris City Tour
Drive along the famous Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe, Concorde Square, and the iconic Eiffel Tower, symbol of Paris. On to the celebrated "Rive Gauche", the vivacious Left Bank where artists, philosophers and writers in a long-gone era flourished in the artistic community at Montparnasse. View the Latin Quarter, home to many of France's higher education establishments, among them the Sorbonne. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure or join the optional tour to the magnificent Palace of Versailles*. Tonight, enjoy exhilarating views from the top of the village-like art colony at Montmartre, on the optional tour that is highlighted by a drive around the illuminated monuments of Paris*
*The Palace of Versailles tour ends before the Montmartre & Illuminations begins. Both tours can be done on the same day.
Optional: Palace of Versailles (PM)
Optional: Montmartre & Illuminations (PM)
Overnight: Paris
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 4, Monday - Normandy Beaches
Depart Paris this morning to Normandy. This is a stirring and emotional day as you explore the D-Day beaches. Stop at the Ranger Memorial at Pointe du Hoc and the historic St. Mere Eglise on the Contentin Peninsula, where the Allied invasion began on June 6, 1944. Here you visit the Airborne Museum, telling the story of 82nd and 101st airborne divisions and their heroic deeds on D-Day. Afterwards, travel to your hotel for dinner and overnight
Overnight: Normandy
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 5, Tuesday - Bayeux Tapestry, Mont St. Michel
This morning, continue on to the unforgettable American Cemetery on Omaha Beach*, final resting place of thousands of U.S. Troops. Offer your respects and salute their bravery. Then, in delightful Bayeux, continue the day at the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry. This 230 foot long embroidered cloth depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England in 1066. Its survival (almost intact over nine centuries) is miraculous, along with its exquisite colors and workmanship. Travelling through Normandy, you have your first sight in the distance of magnificent Mont St. Michel, rising from the sea on a mighty rock in the Gulf of Saint-Malo. This structure is one of France's most recognizable sights and designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Reached by a shuttle across the causeway, the lower towers and medieval sea wall protect a small village, capped by the commanding 10th century Abbey. Prior to the causeway, Mont St. Michel was on an isolated island that pilgrims approached on foot, mindful of tides that could seep in at any time. Tour this amazing structure with its many levels, culminated by a walk, if you wish, to the hilltop to visit the Abbey. Tonight, dinner together at the hotel
*The visit to Omaha Beach's landing site is subject to local conditions.
Overnight: St. Malo
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 6, Wednesday - Loire Valley, Chateau d'Angers, Wine Tasting
Drive south today to the lively river side city of Angers, gateway to the Loire Valley and home of the Plantagenet royalty. This medieval centre is dominated by the massive 13th century open-air Chateau d'Angers. The distinctive striped stonework is eye catching. This French city is also known for the production of Cointreau, the orange flavored liquor created by Édouard Cointreau, born in Angers. Continue this afternoon past historic Saumur, surrounded by gorgeous rolling hills and miles of vineyards. Stop for a wine tasting at a winery before reaching your hotel in Tours. Tonight, have an evening at leisure
Overnight: Tours
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 7, Thursday - Loire Valley, Chateau de Chenonceau, Royal Chateau d'Amboise
Spend the full day in the Loire Valley exploring the nearby sights. First, travel to the magnificent Chateau de Chenonceau. Stretching across the river Cher, the chateau boasts a 197 foot gallery, built over a series of arches. Take some time to explore the extravagantly furnished rooms and formal gardens, added by Diane de Poitiers, mistress of Henry II. Next stop is at the village of Amboise, crowned by the Royal Chateau d'Amboise. The castle is most closely associated with King Francois I who introduced the Renaissance to France and brought Leonardo da Vinci to his court. Take a guided tour of the castle, built in the Gothic and Renaissance styles. Return to Tours for an evening at leisure or, join the optional candlelit dinner in an authentic La Cave aux Fouees Cave Dinner,* enjoying regional specialties and wine
*For November dates the optional may not be available due to local events.
Optional: La Cave aux Fouees Cave Dinner (PM)
Overnight: Tours
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 8, Friday - Chartres to Paris
Depart Tours and travel north towards Chartres, a medieval city in the center of France. En route, view Chateau de Chambord, a strikingly beautiful residence in the Loire Valley, once used as hunting grounds. Chambord was built for Francois I in the 16th century by 1,800 men and master masons. Continue to Chartres, home to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Chartres, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the finest architectural examples of High Gothic style in France. Originally built in 1020, the cathedral contains the sacred Veil of the Virgin relic and a world-renowned collection of stained glass windows. After the drive through Chartres, on to Paris for the rest of the day on your own. This evening, bid au revoir to France and to your Tour Manager, during dinner
Overnight: Paris
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 9, Saturday - Depart France
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast