Paris, Normandy & Chateaux Country

Welcome to Paris!

At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.

Spend your day your way in Paris

Bonjour, Paris! Start your day with a guided walk to discover one of Paris’s iconic quarters.

Explore more of Paris with your choice of included Globus Choice Excursions.

• Undercover shopping - Discover some of Paris¿s lesser-known gems-the ¿Passages Couvert,¿ elaborate 19th-century covered shopping arcades. Stroll the walkways beneath glass rooftops with your Local Guide for stories about the curiosities and architectural innovations. Enjoy a drink and sweet treat at the Galerie Vivienne!
• Making scents in Paris - French parfum fills the air while breathing in the history and craftsmanship behind the art of French perfumery. Visit a charming perfume museum in the heart of Paris, then become a parfumier yourself and create your own custom fragrance to bottle as a special souvenir. Ooh, la la!

*For operational reasons, changes to the Paris program cannot be excluded.

A Big Impression

This morning, bid au revoir to Paris as you depart for Giverny to visit the home and gardens of master impressionist painter Claude Monet. Continue to Rouen, free time to try some local specialties for lunch and see some of the famous sights such as the Gros-Horloge and the Place du Vieux-Marché where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. Arrive in Deauvillew with free time to enjoy a walk along the Promenade des Planches. (B) 149 mi / 240 km.

LOCAL FAVORITE - CULTURAL GEM: Wander through the gardens which inspired Monet to create some of his most celebrated Impressionist paintings at his home in Giverny. This special retreat evokes the serenity and artistry of the natural world captured in the master’s works.

Heroes & Hope for Peace

Embark on a moving journey to the legendary beaches of Normandy where brave Allied troops landed on D-Day, June 6,1944. Visit Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach with the Monument to the Brave, and experience the most moving site of the American Cemetery at Omaha. Continue to Arromanches and see the remains of Mulberry Harbor. (B/D) 112 mi / 180 km.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - ICONIC FOOTSTEPS: Walk in the footsteps of heroes on the beaches of Normandy, where Allied Forces stormed the beach with courage and heroism in World War II. Visit the final resting place of American soldiers who gave their lives for freedom.

Castle in The Sand

Travel through the Normandy countryside to spectacular Mont St. Michel which stands on an island at the mouth of the Couesnon River and accessed via a causeway. Enjoy some free time to explore before meeting your local guide for a walking tour that includes a visit of the Abbey. (B/D) 112 mi / 180 km.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - ART & ARCHITECTURE: A real-life castle in the sand, magical Mont St. Michel Abbey sits on top of a tidal island on the coast of Normandy. Learn how this strategic position has protected it from being invaded but also has made it the ideal location for a place of confinement, as Napoleon converted the abbey into a prison for his enemies.

French Treasures & Views

Drive through the French countryside to Angers. Enjoy free time to admire the medieval castle, enjoy a spot of lunch, and stroll along the elegant streets. Continue with a scenic drive through the Loire Valley. (B) 217 mi / 350 km.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - ART & ARCHITECTURE: Historic tapestries, half- timbered houses and, of course, the Castle. Take all of this and much more in while you wander the charming cobble streets or walk along the banks of the Maine river. Make sure you don’t forget to bring your cameras with you!

French Country Homes

A real treat today, experience some of the highlights of the Loire Valley. Start with a guided visit of the lovely Chenonceau Castle, once owned by Catherine de Medici and known as the “Ladies Chateau” having been owned and managed by various important female figures. Enjoy a well-deserved wine tasting experience before continuing for a guided visit to Chambord, one of the most recognizable French castles in the world! (B) 112 mi / 180 km.

LOCAL FAVORITE - LOCAL TASTES: Sip the very best in French wine in the picturesque French countryside along the Loire River Valley, where many stately castles dot the landscape. Hear about the history of the region that with more than 55.000 hectares of vineyards is France’s longest vineyard with an annual turnover of 320 million bottles of wine.

City Lights & River Nights

Return to Paris. Enjoy some free time this afternoon for some last-minute shopping or sightseeing. This evening, enjoy a dinner cruise on the River Seine, served with incredible sights of celebrated landmarks. (B/D) 155 mi / 250 km.

LOCAL FAVORITE - LOCAL TASTES: What better way to celebrate your visit to France than with a dinner cruise along the Seine. Gaze at the City of Light from your ship, while indulging in French fare and wine. Bon Appetit!

Safe travels until we meet again!

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)