Saturday: Paris

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - Arrive at Paris Airport on Saturday or Sunday. Self-transfer to the hotel. Optional individual transfer can be booked as well.

Paris - The tour description is designed for the program starting on Saturday. However, we include important information for travelers arriving in Paris on Sundays. Arrivals on other weekdays are available upon request.

9th Arrondissement - After 2:00 pm, hotel accommodation is available via mobile voucher. If you arrive earlier, you can use the hotel luggage room. We offer 3 and 3+ hotels located in the 9th Arrondissement of Paris, close to the Opera Garnier, our main meeting point for all experiences. Enjoy free time in Paris.

Sunday: Optional Day Trip to Loire Valley Castles: Chenonceau, Chambord, Amboise

Palais Garnier - For those who arrived in Paris on Sunday, this optional day trip to three Loire Valley castles with wine tasting will be offered on Saturday.

07:30 - Meet at the Opera Garnier steps. We will drive 180 km on the highway in our comfortable, air-conditioned Mercedes minivan in a small group of up to 6 people to reach the first castle, Chambord. The drive takes about 2.5 hours with one stop at a rest area. The guide will provide general information about French history related to the Loire Valley castles.

Château de Chambord - 10:00 am - 11:30 am - Visit Château de Chambord. The guide will explain the history and construction of the castle. Château de Chambord is renowned for its French Renaissance architecture. Built between 1519 and 1547 by Francis I, it is the largest castle with 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces, and 84 staircases. The castle is also famous for its open double-spiral staircase, possibly designed by Leonardo da Vinci. We will then drive for one hour (60 km) on national roads through small towns and countryside.

Plou Et Fils - 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm - Wine tasting and lunch time. At 12:30 pm, enjoy a wine tasting of at least 7 wines at a local family winery that has existed for centuries. Learn about the traditional wine-making process and enjoy the tasting with explanations. From 1:15 pm to 2:30 pm, have lunch in Amboise city, where you’ll find many restaurants and cafes. We can recommend or reserve a table at a good restaurant.

Chateau Royal d’Amboise - 2:30 pm to 3:40 pm - Skip-the-line access with a guide to Royal Chateau d’Amboise with a Histopad explaining the history of the castle and each room. Amboise is a grand 15th-century residence of King Charles VIII and an example of the transition from Gothic to Renaissance architecture. Learn about the castle’s history, known for the birth of princes, the reign of kings, and the death of Leonardo da Vinci, whose grave is in the chapel. We will then depart for Chenonceau castle, a 20-minute drive away.

Chateau de Chenonceau - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Skip-the-line access to Chateau Chenonceau and its gardens. The guide will explain the history and construction of the castle. You will also receive a brochure with explanations of each room. Chenonceau, nicknamed the “ladies’ castle,” is notable for its history of famous French women like Catherine de Medici and its stunning architecture, including unique arches over the River Cher. The Renaissance-style gardens with over 130,000 flowering plants are also impressive. In low season, we depart at 5:10 pm, and in high season at 5:30 pm due to the castle’s opening hours. We will then depart for Paris, a 3 to 3.5-hour drive (245 km).

Palais Garnier - 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm - Return to Paris.

Monday: Paris — Sightseeing City Tour — Montmartre — Latin Quarter — Louvre — Paris by Night — Seine Cruise

Paris - 08:00 am - 10:30 am - Meet the participants in Paris at the Opera Garnier steps. The guided sightseeing city tour by minivan begins. The guide will provide general information about French history and many interesting facts about France, its culture, architecture, and history. The tour lasts 2.5 to 3 hours.

Montmartre - 10:30 am - 11:30 am - Walking tour of Montmartre included in the sightseeing city tour. Montmartre is a famous quarter of Paris located on a 430 ft high hill in the 18th district, dominated by the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur. It is popular today as a nightclub district and is famous for its artistic history during the Belle Époque, with artists like Toulouse-Lautrec, Pablo Picasso, Camille Pissarro, and Vincent van Gogh having lived and worked there.

Quartier Latin - 11:30 am - 12:30 pm - Walking tour of the Latin Quarter. The Latin Quarter of Paris, situated on the left bank of the Seine river near Notre-Dame de Paris, is known for its university, high schools, student life, lively atmosphere, and numerous bistros. Its name is related to the Latin language, which was widely spoken during the Middle Ages in and around the university. We will then depart for the Louvre.

Louvre Museum - 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Visit the Louvre Museum with an audioguide. After the Latin Quarter walking tour, the minivan will drop you off at the Louvre, and our guide will advise you on the entrance and provide audioguides. The Louvre Museum has one of the largest collections of paintings in the world. It was created in the royal palace of the Louvre during the French Revolution. You will visit the former royal residence with your guide. The most interesting halls are the Apollo Gallery and the Caryatids Hall. The collection is based on former royal collections, as well as collections from monasteries and individuals. Napoleon expanded and enriched the museum with archaeological finds collected during military campaigns. Among the most famous exhibits are the Venus de Milo, Mona Lisa, Nike of Samothrace, and paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt, and Botticelli.

Paris - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Meet at the Opera Garnier steps for the Paris by Night city tour. The guide will share many interesting facts about French culture, architecture, and history. During the tour, we will see the main attractions of Paris illuminated at night. We will drive past the Louvre, Tuileries Park, Champs-Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame de Paris, Pantheon, and Eiffel Tower.

Seine River - 9:00 pm - 9:45 pm - Seine River cruise begins. Enjoy views of Paris by night from the boat. The cruise ends at 9:45 pm, followed by a transfer to the meeting point at Opera Garnier.

Palais Garnier - 10:00 pm - Drop off at Opera Garnier steps.

Tuesday: Paris — Versailles — Giverny

Paris - 08:00 am - Meet in Paris at the Opera Garnier steps. The guide will welcome you, and the sightseeing begins. We will depart for Giverny, the country home of Claude Monet. The guide will provide general information about French history and Impressionism during the drive. It is approximately 70 km from Paris to Giverny, taking about 1.15 hours.

Fondation Claude Monet - 09:15 am - 11:00 am - Arrival in Giverny and visit Claude Monet’s house to admire the nature that inspired one of the most famous French painters and founders of Impressionism. Visit the house, Norman flower gardens, and Claude Monet’s studio. At 11:00 am, enjoy free time to walk around the village of Giverny, admire flowered houses, art galleries, and cafes. We will depart for Versailles at 11:45 am, a 70 km drive taking about 1 hour.

Palace of Versailles - 12:30 pm - Arrival in Versailles. During the trip from Giverny, the guide will explain the rich history of Versailles and its inhabitants, sharing many interesting facts. From 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, visit the gardens with access to the Big and Small Trianon and Hamlet de la Reine. From 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm, visit the Versailles Palace with an audioguide. Learn about the entire estate of Versailles: the palace, the estate of Trianon, the gardens, the park, and the coach gallery. You will have skip-the-line access to the palace. The audioguided visit will complete this day trip. We will depart for Paris at 5:30 pm, taking 40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic.

Palais Garnier - 6:30 pm - Arrival in Paris at Opera Garnier steps.

Wednesday: Optional Burgundy 20 Chablis Wines Tasting Day Trip

Paris - 07:30 am - Meet at the Opera Garnier steps and depart for Chablis. It is approximately 190 km from Paris to Chablis, taking around 2.5 hours on the highway in our air-conditioned Mercedes minivan. One stop at a rest area will be made.

Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard - 10:15 am - 11:30 am - Arrival in the Chablis area. Visit Jean-Marc Brocard Domaine, surrounded by vineyards, with a cave visit and wine tasting of 5 wines with cheese: Chablis, Chablis 1-er Cru, and Chablis Grand Cru. The experienced staff will explain the wine-making process in Chablis and the differences between Chablis, Chablis 1-er Cru, and Chablis Grand Cru.

Domaine Celine & Frederic Gueguen - 11:30 am - 12:30 pm - Arrival in Chablis village. Enjoy a second wine tasting by local Chablis wine producers Domaine Celine & Frederic Gueguen, with 5 wines: Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis Premier Cru, and Chablis Grand Cru.

Chablis - 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm - Free time in Chablis village. Enjoy the small town or reserve a gastronomic lunch. You pay directly to the restaurant.

Maison Regnard - 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Visit Maison Régnard Chablis, founded in 1860, with a wine tasting of 5 wines and explanations by the local sommelier.

La Chablisienne - 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Visit the fourth Maison in Chablis with a wine tasting of 5 wines and explanations by the local sommelier. We will then depart for Paris, a 190 km drive on the highway, taking about 2.5 hours. One stop at a rest area will be made.

Palais Garnier - 6:30 pm - Arrival in Paris. Drop off at Opera Garnier steps.

Thursday: Paris — Mont Saint-Michel Day Trip in Small Group with Calvados Tasting

Paris - 07:30 am - Depart for Mont Saint-Michel. It is 367 km from Paris to Mont Saint-Michel, taking 4 to 4.5 hours on the highway in our comfortable, air-conditioned Mercedes minivan. One stop at a rest area will be made.

Calvados Christian Drouin - 10:00 am - 10:45 am - Stop for Calvados tasting by a local producer. Learn about the traditional technology and enjoy a tasting. We will then depart for Mont Saint-Michel, a 2-hour drive.

Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel - 1:00 pm - Arrival at Mont Saint-Michel and visit the Benedictine Abbey. We usually join the guided visit organized by the Abbey itself. If not possible, we provide an audioguide for the Abbey visit. After arriving at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Mont Saint-Michel, we will walk up the narrow streets of the medieval village toward the top. At the top of the island, enter the Benedictine Abbey and admire panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the bay. First settled in 709, it contains a medieval village and a beautiful Abbey fortress dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel. The construction of the Benedictine Abbey started in the 900s and continued through the 1200s. It remains practically unchanged since the Middle Ages and was a goal for pilgrims from all over the world. It is the most visited site in France. We will depart for Paris at 5:00 pm, with one stop at a rest area.

Paris - 9:30 pm - Return to Paris. Drop off at Opera Garnier steps.

Friday: Optional Small Group Trip to D-Day Beaches with Lunch

Palais Garnier - 07:30 am - Depart from Opera Garnier steps for Caen in our air-conditioned, comfortable Mercedes minivan. It takes about 3 hours (240 km) to reach the Memorial of Caen.

Memorial de Caen - 10:30 am - 12:00 pm - Visit the Caen Memorial and Museum, located in the British Sword Beach sector. The Caen Museum is the best World War II museum in France. You will get an overview of the Battle of Normandy and a sense of the personal lives of the people who took part in it. An excellent 19-minute film documents the battle with original historic footage. We will then depart for Arromanches-les-Bains, a 30 km drive taking about 0.5 hours on national roads through beautiful countryside and small villages.

Arromanches-les-Bains - 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm - Stop for lunch and visit Arromanches. The drive from Caen Memorial to Arromanches-les-Bains is about 30 km and takes just half an hour. Arromanches is a small seaside town famous for its former artificial Mulberry Harbour. Located in the center of the Gold Beach landing zone, it played an invaluable role in the D-Day landings. The Allies built an artificial temporary harbor here for unloading vehicles, materials, and people. By June 12, 1944, Mulberry Harbour had helped bring 300,000 men, 54,000 vehicles, and 104,000 tons of supplies to Europe.

Arromanches 360 Circular Cinema - 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm - Visit the 360 Circular Cinema and viewpoint over the bay of Arromanches. We will then depart for the Normandy American Cemetery & Visitor Center, a 20 km drive taking about 0.5 hours.

Normandy Visitors Center - 3:00 pm - 4:20 pm - Visit the Normandy American Cemetery & Visitor Center, located in Colleville-sur-Mer and overlooking Omaha Beach. It contains 9,387 U.S. soldiers, most of whom were killed during the Normandy Landings, and the Wall of the Missing with the names of 1,557 soldiers missing in action. The cliffs leading down to the beaches contain remnants of the German defenses, including concrete casemates with memorials to the soldiers. At the Normandy American Cemetery, you’ll also see the semicircular memorial colonnade with the sculpture “Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves” and large maps of military operations. It is one of the most beautiful, idyllic spots on Earth. We will then depart for Omaha Beaches, a 5 km drive taking about 10 minutes.

Omaha Beach - 4:30 pm - Arrival at Omaha Beaches. Learn about the huge sacrifice made by the 34,000 men who landed here on D-Day. Omaha Beach is the most popular travel destination of the D-Day Beaches. We will then depart for Paris at 5:00 pm, a 3.5-hour drive (290 km) with one stop at a rest area.

Palais Garnier - 8:30 pm - Arrival in Paris. Drop off at Opera Garnier steps.

Saturday: Paris. Optional Day Trip to 3 Loire Valley Castles with Wine Tasting

Paris - Free time in Paris. Self-transfer from hotel to airport. We can reserve an individual transfer. Note that check-out time is 12:00 pm. You can use the hotel luggage room for later transfers to the airport.

Paris - For those who arrived in Paris on Sunday, enjoy free time or optional experiences:

• Optional day trip to 3 Loire Valley castles with wine tasting
• Optional day trip to Champagne with tastings
• More small-group and private experiences on our website www.clewel.com

• Live guided Paris City tour and Paris by night
• 7-night accommodation in comfortable double rooms
• Seine river cruise combined with an audio-guided Louvre visit
• Luxury transport via Mercedes minivan, featuring adjustable seats and air conditioning
• Cultural walking tours through the Latin Quarter and Montmartre
• Complimentary bottled water provided
• Daily breakfast included
• All-inclusive fees and taxes
• Full-day excursion to Mont Saint-Michel including a Calvados tasting session
• Exclusive access to Versailles Palace with tickets and audio guide, including the Gardens and Trianons
• Skip-the-line visit to Claude Monet’s Giverny House with included tickets

• Gratuities and Souvenirs
• Optional Day trips to Loire Castles, D-Day Beaches, Chablis wine tasiting
• Airport - Hotel - Airport individual transfers
• Single room supplement
• Meals and Drinks

Join our intimate 8-day Paris tour, limited to just 8 participants, inclusive of hotel lodging and the top 8 highlights of the city, including day excursions to Mont Saint-Michel, Versailles and Giverny. Your journey will include: City sightseeing tour of Paris and Paris by night via minivan, guided audio tour of the Louvre Museum, and on-foot exploration of Latin Quarter and Montmartre, as well as a Seine River cruise. Optional day visits to castles in the Loire Valley, a Chablis wine-tasting experience, and the D-Day Beaches are also available. Our 3-star and 3-star plus hotels are situated in the 9th Arrondissement close to Opéra Garnier, which is the starting point for all our journeys. We also provide the same tour package without hotel booking. More multiple-day trips in France and one-day excursons from Paris are available from Clewel Travel.

If you cancel at least 7 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.