ITINERARY
Day 1
(Wed.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.
Day 2 Arrival in Paris, France
(Thu.) Time to rest or to start exploring the splendid French capital. At 6 p.m., meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a welcome dinner with wine at one of Paris’ lively restaurants. After dinner you may wish to join an optional outing to get a first impression of the “City of Light.”
Day 3 Paris
(Fri.) Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Louvre, and Champs-Elysées. Visit magnificent NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL and for a panoramic view, take the elevator to the second floor of the EIFFEL TOWER. After an afternoon at leisure, visit the LE CORDON BLEU COOKING SCHOOL this evening for a lively cuisine demonstration by a Le Cordon Bleu chef. Develop your talent and taste buds for successful food and wine pairing as you savor a variety of dishes and wines!
Day 4 Paris–Bordeaux
(Sat.) Morning departure aboard the famous high-speed “TGV” TRAIN to Bordeaux. In the afternoon, join your Tour Director for a pleasant walk through the center of this captivating city.
Day 5 Bordeaux. Excursion to St. Emilion
(Sun.) Tour the most famous wine region of France and stop for lunch in the pretty town of St. Emilion. Then, the highlight of today: an expert will explain the local secrets of WINE TASTING. Return to Bordeaux in the afternoon for a visit to the BORDEAUX WINE SCHOOL, where you will learn about the region’s climate, soils, grape varieties, making and ageing process, and the language and technique of tasting.
Day 6 Bordeaux–Biarritz–Lourdes
(Mon.) Enjoy a scenic drive south, following the Atlantic coast to the charming resort of Biarritz for a visit and tasting at the MUSEUM OF CHOCOLATE. After a stop here, continue to Lourdes of pilgrimage fame, where you will stay for the next two nights. You may wish to join this evening’s memorable rosary and candlelight procession.
Day 7 Lourdes
(Tue.) Enjoy morning sightseeing with a Local Guide. The rest of the day offers plenty of time to soak in the special atmosphere of this place and to follow the pilgrims to the grotto where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernardette in 1858.
Day 8 Lourdes–Carcassonne–Nîmes
(Wed.) Stop for lunch in the beautifully preserved medieval walled city of Carcassonne on your way to the Provence. While in Carcassonne, enjoy a PÂTÉ TASTING at a local restaurant. Continue to Nîmes, where your Tour Director will take you for an orientation walk through the center to admire the well-preserved Roman Amphitheater and the Maison Carré. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant this evening.
Day 9 Nîmes. Excursion to Pont du Gard, Tavel & Avignon
(Thu.) Enjoy your drive through the gently rolling hills to Pont du Gard. Admire the 2,000-year-old Roman Aqueduct, a monumental feat of engineering. Next, travel to Tavel, beautifully situated in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape area, for a tasting of its famous rosé wines at CHÂTEAU D’AQUERIA. In Avignon, an orientation tour includes a picture stop of the bridge from the popular song and the massive Palace of the Popes. Time to browse through the many attractive shops or to join the locals at one of the outdoor sidewalk cafés before returning to Nîmes.
Day 10 Nîmes–Aix-en-Provence–Cannes–Monte Carlo, Principality of Monaco
(Fri.) This morning is dedicated to Aix-en-Provence, one of France’s most elegant cities. Explore its center on foot, stroll along shaded Cours Mirabeau, admire its famous cafés and fountains, discover colorful squares, or barter with the locals at the quaint flea market on Place de Verdun. After lunch, head east past Cézanne’s Mount St. Victoire and drive through Cannes, where you will see the Festival Hall and the Croisette on your way to your beachfront hotel in the Principality of Monaco. Tonight you may wish to try your luck at the casino!
Day 11 At Leisure in Monte Carlo
(Sat.) Your day is at leisure to just relax or dabble in the Mediterranean. Why not join an optional excursion to Dolceacqua, Italy, for a tasting of its famous Rossese di Dolceacqua, and for an olive oil press demonstration and tasting?
Day 12 Monte Carlo–Nice Airport
(Sun.) Homebound flight. Morning transfers to Nice Airport. For land-only travelers: airport transfers are available.