- 4.9/5 478 Latest reviews
- Destination: France
- Duration: 8 Days
- Tour Type: Private Tour
- Tour Style: Classic
About This Trip
Best of France comes alive on this 8-day journey through Paris, the Loire Valley, and Normandy. Begin by enjoying lunch at "58 Tour Eiffel," located atop the Eiffel Tower, where you can admire sweeping views of Paris. Continue to the magnificent Palace of Versailles, one of France's most important national monuments, renowned for its splendid architecture and rich political past.
This Best of France itinerary then travels to the Loire Valley to visit the elegant Château de Chenonceau and the grand Château de Chambord. Afterwards, experience the wonder of Mont Saint-Michel, a remarkable natural and historic site. Before returning home, spend meaningful time at the D-Day Beaches and the Normandy American Cemetery — making this one of the most complete and rewarding ways to experience the very best of France.
Summary
DAY
PLACE
HIGHLIGHTS
1 - 2
Paris
Lunch at "58 Tour Eiffel", Seine River Cruise, Champs Elysees, Basilique du Sacre-Cœur
3
Versailles
Palace of Versailles
4
Tours
Chenonceau Castle, Chambord Castle, Winery Visit
5
Le Mont-Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey
6
Bayeux
D-Day Beaches, Normandy American Cemetery
7
Giverny
Fondation Claude Monet
8
Paris
Departure
Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Paris
Bienvenue à Paris! Upon arrival at the airport or train station, you will be met by your private licensed guide-driver and escorted to your hotel. After completing check-in and taking a brief break, you may wish to enjoy a leisurely stroll along the Seine River or explore the city’s many iconic architectural sights — a fitting first taste of the best of France.
- Paris
- Day 2: Private City Tour & Seine River Cruise
Today, set out with your guide-driver for an in-depth exploration of Paris. Departing from your hotel, you will begin with a visit to the Louvre Museum, the largest art museum in the world, housing an impressive collection of over 460,000 works. You will then drive along the famous Champs-Élysées to its western end, stopping to photograph the iconic Arc de Triomphe. The tour continues to the Eiffel Tower, where you will enjoy lunch at “58 Tour Eiffel” on the first floor.
Following lunch, relax on a one-hour cruise along the Seine River, passing beneath historic bridges and admiring many of Paris’s most celebrated landmarks from the water — true highlights of the best of France’s capital city. Later, travel to Montmartre to visit the beautiful Sacré-Cœur Basilica. At the end of the day’s sightseeing, you will be comfortably transferred back to your hotel.
- B , L
- Paris
- Day 3: Paris – Versailles – Tours (Loire Valley)
After breakfast, travel with your guide-driver to the Palace of Versailles. Once the royal residence of French kings and the seat of government from 1682 to 1789, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is celebrated for its grand architecture, lavish interiors, exquisite artistic details, elegant French formal gardens, and beautiful fountains — widely regarded as one of the finest examples of the best of France’s royal heritage.
In the afternoon, continue your journey to Tours, an important gateway city in the Loire Valley, conveniently located near many of the region’s renowned châteaux. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and enjoy some free time to relax.
- B
- Tours
- Day 4: Loire Valley Châteaux & Wine Experience
Today, journey into the heart of the Loire Valley to discover two remarkable castles and a local winery. Begin with a visit to Château de Chenonceau, gracefully built over the Cher River and widely regarded as the most refined and romantic château in the region — one of the most photographed symbols of the best of France’s architectural elegance. Afterwards, stop at a winery in Cheverny, where you can learn about
traditional wine production and enjoy a tasting if you wish.
Following lunch, continue to the impressive Château de Chambord, the largest and most magnificent example of French Renaissance architecture in the Loire Valley. Surrounded by vast forests and a landscape rich in woodlands and vineyards, this area beautifully reflects the elegant lifestyle once enjoyed by French nobility.
- B
- Tours
- Day 5: Tours – Mont-Saint-Michel – Bayeux
Enjoy a scenic drive of approximately 3.5 hours to Mont-Saint-Michel and its surrounding bay. Here, you will be amazed by the Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the heart of both the island and the medieval town. This dramatic mount is considered a natural marvel and ranks as the third most sacred pilgrimage site for Catholics, after Jerusalem and the Vatican — without question one of the most extraordinary sights in all of the best of France.
After exploring the area, continue with a drive of about 1.5 hours to Bayeux. Located just 24 kilometers from Omaha Beach, Bayeux holds historical significance as the first town liberated during the Battle of
Normandy.
- B
- Bayeux
- Day 6: Bayeux – D-Day Landing Beaches – Caen
Today, you may explore some or all of the five historic D-Day landing beaches, along with a visit to the Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. Utah and Omaha Beaches were stormed by American forces, while Gold and Sword Beaches were taken by the British Army, and Juno Beach by Canadian troops — a profoundly moving and essential chapter in any exploration of the best of France’s history.
Following the day’s historical exploration, continue your journey to Caen, where you will settle in for an overnight stay.
- B
- Caen
- Day 7: Caen – Giverny – Paris
On your return journey to Paris, pause in the charming village of Giverny to visit the Fondation Claude Monet, once the home of the renowned French artist Claude Monet. It was here that he created masterpieces such as Water Lilies and The Japanese Bridge. As you stroll through the gardens, the pond, graceful weeping willows, and iconic bridges seen in his paintings will come vividly to life before you — a peaceful and inspiring final stop on your journey through the best of France.
- B
- Paris
- Day 8: Paris – Departure
Say goodbye to France as your journey through the best of France comes to an end. Your guide-driver will transfer you to the airport in time for your return flight home.
- B
Get a Free Tour Quote
Fill out the form below and our travel experts will send you the best personalizes offer.
CONTACT A TRAVEL EXPERT
1-to-1 Service | Reply within 24hrs | Expert's Advice
