Compare Birding: Paris, Avignon, Arles & the Camargue, France by Kaiyote Tours vs Paris, Barcelona and Madrid Tour by Discovery Nomads
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 10 days | 7 days |
| Price From | $ 2,950 | $ 1,296 |
| Price Per Day | $ 295 | $ 185 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
Paris is one of the art centers of the world. Not just for the collections that the museums hold, but for the inspiration is still gives to artists today. We start and end this tour in Paris, such an amazing city to see! We will be taking the train to the Rhone River Delta area known as the Camargue and spend 5 days visiting three historically significant towns: Avignon, Arles and Saintes Maries de la mer. Where a better place to enjoy the Mediterranean, but in the south of France? Voila!! You will enjoy this tour if you only wish to see Paris, the Rhone River Delta (the Camargue), the Mediterranean, the cities of Avignon and Arles and walk the land and enjoy the sights. Each day there will be time for birding, walking, exploring and learning. |
Take a short trip from Paris to Madrid, walk on Champs Elysees, see Paris from Eiffel Tower, explore masterpieces of Gaudi and visit Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, discover cosmopolitan Madrid and Museo del Prado and try amazing food of France and Spain. |
Day 1: Fly to Paris
Flights usually leave in the evening, so we will be arriving in Paris the morning of day two.
Day 2: Arrive in Paris
We will arrive in Paris in the morning. We will be staying at the Hotel Royal Opera in the 2nd arrondissement near the Opéra Garnier. In the afternoon we will have time to visit Pére Lachaise Cemetery (great virtual tour). Besides being the resting place for numerous great artists, writers and composers including FrédéricChopin, Molière, Eugène Delacroix, Camille Pissarro, Georges-Pierre Seurat, Paul Signac, Oscar Wilde, Richard Wright and Jim Morrison, it is an excellent place to see birds and interesting sites. We will also visit La Basilique du Sacré Coeur and in the evening, a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Day 3: Paris
We will spend the morning at the Bois de Boulogne, which is a 2,100 acre park with woods and gardens just on the western edge of Paris. We will have time to walk down the Champs Élysées and see the Arc de Triomphe. In The afternoon we will be visiting the Museé d’Orsay. The d’Orsay opened in 1986 and contains artwork from 1848 – 1914. It is an amazing collection and a must see.
Day 4: Avignon
From Paris it is a 3.5 hour train ride to the city of Avignon on the TGV. The TGV (pronounced tay-zsah-vay) is one of the fastest trains in the world and can travel over 200 miles an hour. There numerous historical sites to see in Avignon including the Saint-Benezet Bridge which was built in the in the 12th century. We will be staying at the Hôtel de Blauvac in the heart of the old town. The Hotel de Blauvac originally belonged to the Marquis Jean-Baptiste de Tonduty, Seigneur de Blauvac beginning in 1664.
Day 5: Camargue
From Avignon, it is a 30 minute train ride and a one hour bus ride to the seaside village of Saintes Maries de la Mer. We will be staying at the Hôtel le Castelet which is perfectly located at the edge of the Camargue and the Mediterranean sea.
Day 6: Camargue
The Camargue is the delta of the River Rhone and covers 190,000 acres. It is a birding paradise and over 400 different species having been identified. The most representative species of the delta is the Pink Flamingo because the Camargue is the breeding grounds for this species. The scenery is beautiful. The Camargue is also famous for the horses that breed here. In the morning we will be going horseback riding and in the afternoon there will be birding, walking or whatever you choose.
Day 7: Camargue
If you enjoy bike riding, the Camargue is a great place to explore on bike. The Camargue is criss-crossed with dirt paths and roads atop the canals and ponds. The biking is easy and very relaxing. In the afternoon you can choose to visit the Pont de Gau Ornithological Park
Day 8: Arles
It is a one hour bus ride back to the town of Arles. Arles is an ancient town and people have been living in the area since 800 BC. Arles has been a cultural center since the late Roman Empire. The Arles amphitheater was built in 90 AD and is still used today for bull fighting and other events. Vincent Van Gough lived in Arles from 1888–1889 and created over 300 paintings and drawings during his stay. Picasso also spent time in Arles and some of his drawings and paintings are at the Museé Reattu. We will be staying at the Hôtel du Museé.
Day 9: Paris
It is a 4 hour train ride back to Paris on the TGV train. We will have time in the afternoon to visit the Rodin Museum. We will be staying at the Hotel de Saint Germain located in the Saint-Germain district in the center of Paris.
Day 10: Fly Home
Flights usually leave in the morning, so getting to the airport and getting home is our only activity for the day.
Day 1-3: Paris
Accommodation: Mercury Paris Opera or similar
Explore fascinating Paris, visit the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, take a walk through the creative Montmartre, visit Sacre Coeur Cathedral and in the evening you will have free time to explore the nightlife of the city.
Day 3-5: Madrid
City tour in Madrid with local guide, see the Gran Via, the Puerta del Sol & Plaza de Espana and take an opportunity to stop at the Hard Rock Cafe with welcome drink. Additionally you can visit the Prado Museum, Reina Sofia Museum where you will see the works of Picasso and Dali, or you can go to a bullfight in the evening (please book the tickets in advance).
Day 5-7: Barcelona
Today you will fly to Barcelona, exploring this beautiful city, visiting the Gothic Quarter and Las Ramblas, Sagrada Familia, Parc Güell, and in the evening go to try tapas and Spanish wine.
