C'est Magnifique: Exploring the Cities and Countryside of France

15 days
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4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews  
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Small Group Tour
Learn the stories behind Omaha Beach, exquisite cuisine, picturesque vineyards and ever-evolving culture of Provence as you dive deeper into world-renowned icons of France.
26%
$5,196
From$3,849
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Wheelchair Accessible
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • Learn the story of the Allied Invasion of Normandy as you explore the D-Day landing beaches
    • Taste the terroir, or “sense of place,” in foods like cheese from Normandy and wines from Bordeaux
    • Discover two of the Loire Valley’s most stunning châteaux and stand in awe of the island fortress Mont Saint-Michel

What's this trip about?

    Learn the stories behind Omaha Beach, exquisite cuisine, picturesque vineyards and ever-evolving culture of Provence as you dive deeper into world-renowned icons of France.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportRound trip airfare and all internal transport included
Start CityOperator does not provide
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Education / Learning

Destinations

  • Europe
  • France

Attractions

  • Arles
  • Avignon
  • Bordeaux
  • Loire Valley
  • Paris

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Day
1 Departures from the U.S. In Flight

Day
2 Group Arrival in Paris/ Orientation Paris D Le Patio Bastille Afternoon: After arriving at the hotel, check in and get your room, then take some time to unpack, freshen up, and relax. In the late afternoon, we will gather in our private meeting room where the Gro...
Day
3 Paris Overview Bayeux B,L,D Churchill Hotel Activity note: Today's activities include an approximately three hour motor coach transfer to Bayeux Breakfast: At the hotel, the breakfast buffet offers cold and hot choices including eggs, breads and pastries, ju...
Day
4 Caen Memorial/ Bayeux Tapestry Bayeux B,L,D Churchill Hotel Activity note: Walking up to two miles on uneven pavement Breakfast: At the hotel Morning: This morning the coach will depart for the Caen Memorial, a major museum commemorating WWII. This is a...
Day
5 Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery Bayeux B,L Churchill Hotel Activity note: Walking up to two miles on uneven terrain. Standing up to 1 hour at a time. Breakfast: At the hotel. Morning: Depart by coach for Omaha Beach. This morning there will be a l...
Day
6 Mont St. Michel Tours B,D Hotel Oceania Tours Activity note: Today's activities incude travel by coach. At Mont Saint Michel, there is a walk of 0.56 mile from the bus car park to the shuttle, (each way) and many flights of steep steps to climb, as well as dark a...
Day
7 Chateau of Azay, Gardens of Villandry Tours B,L Hotel Oceania Tours Breakfast: At the hotel. Morning: This morning set off by coach and head for the castle at Azay-le-Rideau. Built on an island in the middle of the Indre, the building that you can see today ...
Day
8 Chateaux of the Loire Valley: Amboise and Chenonceau Tours B,L Hotel Oceania Tours Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles on uneven terrain. Breakfast: At the hotel. Morning: This morning, we will take a field trip to explore some of the most beautiful Lo...
Day
9 TGV to Bordeaux / Explore Bordeaux Bordeaux B,L,D Hotel Bordeaux Best Western Plus Bayonne Etche-Ona Activity note: Today's activities include 2 hours 45 minutes of travel by TGV. Breakfast: At the hotel. Morning: This morning, the coach will drop us of...
Day
10 The Bordeaux Wine Region Bordeaux B,L Hotel Bordeaux Best Western Plus Bayonne Etche-Ona Breakfast: At the hotel. Morning: This morning, we will take a field trip to St. Emilion to explore several centuries of history and legends, from the time of the monk ...
Day
11 The Walled City of Carcassonne Carcassone B,L Best Western Hôtel Le Donjon Activity note: Today's activities include four hours of coach travel from Bordeaux to Carcassonne with a rest stop en route. Carcassonne is a walled medieval city with only pedestrian acc...
Day
12 Narbonne/ Pont du Gard Arles B,L,D Best Western Atrium Activity note: Pont du Gard requires a good amount of walking. Breakfast: At the hotel. Morning: This morning we depart by coach to Narbonne. Enjoy a walking excursion of Narbonne, including the fa...
Day
13 Arles / Les Baux de Provence Arles B,L Best Western Atrium Activity note: Today's activiites include walking on cobblestone streets in Arles and Les-Baux-de-Provence. Please note that Les-Baux-de-Provence is rather steep and buses cannot enter the city in Arles ...
Day
14 Avignon/Chateauneuf du Pape Arles B,L Best Western Atrium Breakfast: At the hotel. Morning: The coach will depart to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. We will then take a field trip to a local winery. Lunch: At a local restaurant. Afternoon: This afternoon, we...
Day
15 Departures In Flight B Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program. Morning: Departure transfers to the Marseille Airport. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring t...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,849
Price per day$257
Last Updated: 0/6/2022

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Road Scholar.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Road Scholar Reviews & Ratings

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M

Michael

Dec 2023

Written on

Not a good bicycle trip

Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, th...

M

Marsha

Nov 2023

Written on

Travel Section Incompetent, Unhelpful, and Won't correct error

I booked a tour to Italy for May 2024. I cancelled in Oct. for a lot of reasons. Before I enrolled, I asked if Road Scholar would book the flights so that on the las...

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Jane Johnson

Sep 2023

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There is a nonrefundable deposit

Please know that Road Scholar will always keep a nonrefundable $100 deposit. I cannot find that buried in all the paper and fine print but they state it is there???...

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Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel since 1975, offers 5,500 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries. Alongside local and renowned experts, experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural tours and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Programs For Whatever You Love to Do:

Much more than a tour, a Road Scholar program is a true learning adventure. Whether you join us in Seattle or Santiago, Beijing or Berlin, Road Scholar programs all share four unique attributes:

--Exceptional opportunities for learning and exploration through special behind-the-scenes access to the world's most fascinating treasures, led by our passionate and knowledgeable instructors.

--The shared fellowship of learning and warm camaraderie, whether a solo traveler or with a companion.

--Comfortable accommodations and appetizing meals.

--Excellent value.

Explore Your Mind and the World:

There are no grades or tests on Road Scholar programs. All that's needed is an inquiring mind, an adventurous spirit, and the belief that learning and discovery are lifelong pursuits.

Established in 1975, Road Scholar offers participants once-in-a-lifetime experiences delivered by local and world-renowned experts. Experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural excursions and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Our Most Popular Tours:

Adventures Afloat Cruises: On these educational cruises, you’ll traverse some of the world's most spectacular waterways, offering you a convenient and rewarding way to learn and explore aboard ocean liners, riverboats and small ships.

Independent City Discoveries: Combine structured learning with independent discovery — each program includes hotel accommodations and some meals, lectures, expert-led field trips and detailed outlines for four self-guided excursions.

Grandparent Travel: Discover and explore together with your grandchild through interactive learning experiences and field trips. Both you and your grandchild will share the joy of learning with other grandparents and their grandchildren, bridging generations and opening doors to discovery and friendship.

National Parks: From Denali to the Everglades and countless beautiful, historic places in between, field trips to America’s National Parks reveal what tourists can’t see on their own, with specialized experts showing you how to track wildlife or lead you to the spot with the most awe-inspiring view.

Outdoor Adventures: From hiking in the Grand Canyon to exploring France by barge and bicycle, to sharpening your golf or tennis skills, these active programs exercise the body and the mind.

Service Learning: From tutoring school children or helping restore a crucial forest habitat for wildlife, to assisting with artifact restoration and museum curatorial work, Service Learning adventures are an opportunity to make a difference in the world.

Small Groups: Love to learn in a small-group setting? Check out this collection of programs that have 10-24 participants.

Why Road Scholar?

You Can't Beat Road Scholar's Remarkable Value: Our all-inclusive prices have no hidden costs. Compare the price of one of our programs to what it would cost to duplicate the experience on your own (if that's even possible) and you'll see what we mean by "remarkable value."

Lifelong Learning and Lifelong Friends: When you participate in a Road Scholar program, you will not only expand your mind, you will be in the company of other people who believe that learning is one of the best parts of life.

Instructors Who Inspire: Road Scholar instructors are both experts in their field and lifelong learners themselves who are excited to answer your questions, hear your opinions and share in your experience.

Solo Participants Love Our Programs: Road Scholar programs are renowned for being inclusive, warm and welcoming for solo participants. We can either match you with a roommate or, on most programs, you can choose to room on your own.

Think Outside the Tour: The educational focus of Road Scholar programs makes us completely different from a commercial travel tour. Road Scholar programs offer educational experiences that answer the what's, the why's and the how-to's.

You Go Where Others Can't: We've been offering educational experiences since 1975 and we've made connections with educators and other local "insiders" all around the world, creating learning opportunities that show you the world in a way that just can't be done on your own or on a "tour."

We've Covered All the Bases: From expert-led lectures and field trips to comfortable lodgings and meals, we handle all the details, including the ones you might not anticipate. We've taken the worry out of the planning, so you can focus on your learning experience.

Peace of Mind Through the Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan: The Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan, which is purchased on behalf of every participant, provides 24-hour emergency assistance in the unlikely case of a medical emergency.

Scholarships for Those in Financial Need: Each year, Road Scholar awards $250,000 in scholarships toward programs in North America for those who do not have the financial means to participate.

Our Donors: Each year, thousands of donors contribute to our Annual Fund, helping to cover the gap between the tuition we charge and the actual cost of our programs.

What they’re known for
Popular global tours with a unique focus on educational experiences for mostly senior travelers.

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Logistics

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
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Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included
  • 30 Meals
  • 13 Breakfasts
  • 11 Lunches
  • 6 Dinners
  • The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Low Fat, Low Salt
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
roadscholar-18

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