Best of Northern France

Welcome to France and its capital city Paris, often referred to as the ‘city of light'. Tree-lined boulevards and charming architecture are around every corner in this iconic city that oozes romance and elegance.

We don't want you to miss out on any aspect of your small group tour. To ensure that you don't, we recommend you arrive at your starting destination by 3.00pm.

We'll join our fellow travellers and our tour director for a brief orientation this afternoon, walking through some of the beautiful streets of Paris, before making our way to a local restaurant to enjoy our welcome dinner.

Dating back over one thousand years, the Loire Valley is surrounded by beautiful French countryside. Thanks to the kings, queens, dukes and nobles who built chateaux, and the quaint medieval villages that are dotted throughout the region, the Loire Valley today feels like stepping into a real-life fairytale.

Sit back and enjoy a travelling day as we make our way to the Loire Valley, taking us through the stunning countryside before we reach the city of Chartres. Here, we discover the wonderful architecture and rich history of Chartres during a tour, before visiting its impressive Gothic-style cathedral, built in 1220. We'll enjoy free time for lunch and a chance to further explore the city's narrow streets and medieval architecture.

Next we continue to the town of Amboise to visit the Chateau du Clos Lucé, where famous artist Leonardo da Vinci lived and worked in the 14th century. We'll see da Vinci's workshop, bedroom and replicas of his famous inventions during a tour of the chateau.

We'll finish the day in Tours, where we check into our hotel and our home for the next two nights.

Our day today is full of ‘oh la la' moments as we explore the many chateaux of the region. We'll begin our day in the small village of Chenonceaux, home to one of the region's best-known chateaux, Chateau de Chenonceau. In its current form, the chateau was built between 1513 and 1517 on the banks of the Cher River and is home to an exquisite collection of furniture and art. We explore the chateau, discovering its opulent rooms and incredible manicured gardens before continuing to a local winery.

Special Experience: Enjoy an underground tour and tasting at Caves Monmousseau Winery.

A vibrant atmosphere, stunning Old Town, delicious restaurant scene and medieval half-timbered houses can be found in the university city of Rennes. The capital of France's Brittany region, Rennes is a joy to visit.

Our day begins at Chateau de Villandry. Inhabited since the Renaissance, the grand chateau is home to exquisite exterior architecture and several hectares of stunning gardens. We'll enjoy time in the gardens, exploring the perfectly manicured hedges, immaculately pruned trees and colourful flowers.

We make our way to the lively town of Angers, where we'll visit the impressive Chateau d'Angers that dates back to 1230. During our visit we'll learn all about how the fortress was constructed and the history it survived before admiring its most prized possession, the 100-metre-long 14th century Apocalypse Tapestry.

This afternoon we make our way to Rennes and check into our hotel.

The historic walled city of Saint Malo, located on the English Channel in France's Brittany region, is our destination today. First inhabited in the 8th century, a wealth of history is housed between its ancient walls, with beautiful buildings, charming streets and a stunning coast.

We'll embark on a guided city tour of Rennes this morning passing by the Palais du Parlement de Bretagne, the former parliament of Brittany. Our walking tour will take us through the streets of Rennes as we pass by quintessentially French architecture and the city's medieval Old Town before visiting the Rennes Cathedral.

Next, we make our way to the town of Dinan. Its quaint cobblestone streets lined with medieval half-timbered houses are a delight to stroll through and we'll enjoy a chance to explore the town on our own to find a spot for lunch.

We continue to Saint Malo this afternoon and check into our hotel. The evening is free for us to get to know the city on our own – why not visit one of the many local crêperies for dinner?

Today we explore Saint Malo during a guided tour. We see the forts of Saint Malo and take to the city's ramparts for a walk around the ancient city, enjoying views out across the English Channel. We'll continue to the Solidor Tower, a dungeon with three towers built in the 12th century, before stopping at the city's Gothic-style cathedral.

After enjoying some free time for lunch, we'll drive to Cap Frehel. With dramatic cliffs that descend steeply into the water below, we'll admire the stunning scenery before visiting an oyster farm. Here, we learn about the process of farming oysters and enjoy a taste of the farm's freshest harvest. We'll return to Saint Malo for an evening at leisure.

Normandy has battled a rough history, from the 1066 Norman invasion of England to the 1944 Battle of Normandy. Today Normandy is known for its dramatic coastal landscapes, picturesque villages and Gothic churches, as well as being a cultural and culinary hub of France – and the home of camembert cheese!

We'll make our way to the magnificent Mont Saint-Michel. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed site located on an islet off the coast is pure magic. As we approach the causeway that links Mont Saint-Michel to the mainland, you'll be in awe of the beauty of the Benedictine Abbey, erected in 966, that rises high above the islet. We'll enjoy a guided tour of the abbey before enjoying some free time for lunch.

We continue to Bayeux, home to the 70-metre-long Bayeux Tapestry that dates back to the 11th century. We'll visit the impressive tapestry and discover the story of the conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy in 1066, as told by the intricate embroidery. Our evening is at leisure when we arrive at our hotel.

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

Today we have a full day of touring the Normandy region beginning at Colleville-sur-Mer. We'll learn about World War II and pay our respects to those who served before continuing to Pointe du Hoc, a cliff that played an important role during the conflict. Continuing to Sainte Mere Église, we'll have some free time for lunch.

Special Experience: Be transported back in time to 1944 and explore the important sights linked to World War II's D-Day during a tour in World War II open top jeeps.

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

With centuries of history, preserved architecture, and a delightful port, Normandy's cultural capital, Rouen, has a lot to offer. Situated on the banks of the River Seine, the city is home to a cathedral that was famously painted by Claude Monet, delightful medieval half-timbered houses and a turbulent history including the burning of Joan of Arc in 1431.

Our day begins with cheese when we make our way to the town of Livarot. We stop in at Fromagerie E. Graindorge and indulge in a tasting of the cheese produced at the family operated fromagerie. Next, it's on to the colourful port of Honfleur, reminiscent of Denmark's Copenhagen, for free time to explore before we make our way to Rouen this afternoon.

We'll enjoy a farewell dinner together this evening at a local restaurant.

Our day begins with a walking tour of Rouen. We'll take to the streets of Rouen and pass by the Palais de Justice before visiting the city's famed cathedral and the Church of St Joan of Arc. After our tour, we'll enjoy free time for lunch before making our way to Giverny. Made famous by Impressionist painter Claude Monet, the town of Giverny is home to Monet's residence and we'll have the chance to explore the gardens of the residence that featured in his paintings.

Our tour concludes this evening when we arrive back in Paris around 6:00pm. We say ‘au revoir' to our newfound friends and incredible northern France.