A Journey Through History, Art, and Nature in Charming France -

A Journey Through History, Art, and Nature in Charming France

9 Days | Group Travel, History & Culture

A Cultural Adventure From Parisian Glamour to Loire Valley Charms

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Travel through France on a picturesque journey where Parisian elegance meets the attraction of the Loire Valley. Discover renowned Paris sights, walk through Monet's vivid gardens, and soar above châteaux in a hot air balloon. Immerse yourself in the charm of Chédigny's rose-filled village before bidding farewell, departing with memories of a cultural adventure.

Day by day

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Day 1: Arrival in Paris

Welcome to France!

Private Transfer from the Airport to Paris Center

A private driver will pick you up from the airport and drive you safely to Paris center

Walk to the Louvre Museum for a dusk photography shot

Previously a residence for the King of France, the Louvre is now the most-visited museum in Paris and one of the most famous museums across the world. Admire the glass pyramid at the museum entrance, which was inaugurated in 1988.

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Day 2: Paris - Canal Saint Martin

Private walking tour of Rue Crémieux

Located a stone’s throw from the Gare de Lyon, in the Quinze-Vingts district, this alley attracts curious tourists and influencers.

In the early 1990s, in exchange for the pedestrianization of the street, the City Council required the inhabitants to clean up their facades. “Some opted for pastel shades before turning to flashier colors. Originally, the thirty-five pavilions were built by the Compagnie Générale Immobilière in 1857 and were rented to well-to-do workers.

Skillfully tended planters and lush green shrubs, roses and hydrangeas thrive to the delight of walkers, a rural stopover in the heart of the urban bustle.

Day 3: Paris - Ile de la Cité & Le Marais

Early walking tour with morning lights on Ile de la Cité

In the Ile de la Cité, you will find yourself in the most central place of the city. In fact, it even marks the center of Paris in geographical and historical terms.

That’s why the oldest archaeological finds of antiquity and the main medieval cathedral of Paris are all located in the vicinity. The Ile de la Cité, close to the Latin Quarter, offers many of the main attractions and is a pleasant area to visit the main attractions of Paris.

One thing is for sure, the long history of Paris is still evident here and you can witness it for yourself!

Stroll through Le Marais

Romantic, festive, trendy, the Marais seduces with its cobbled streets, its historical places and its small stores. Located in central Paris, this village-like district is built on former marshes from which it takes its name. Popular with walkers and Parisians alike, it invites you to relax and shop! Zoom on this place with a thousand facets

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Evening photography session of Eiffel Tower from Place du Trocadéro on your own with your tour leaders

Day 4: Paris to Giverny

First introduction to the gardens at Giverny

Giverny, in Normandy, was home to Claude Monet. Discover all the secrets of this French master of impressionism and his works, including the house he lived in for 43 years, the lily pond which inspired his most prominent paintings, and his wonderful flowering gardens.

The Water Garden boasts a stunning array of flowers and willow trees. It was here, facing this very pond, that Claude Monet painted the famous Nymphéas (Water Lilies) which you can see on display at the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris. Monet actually grew the flowers himself. He was a gardener as well as an artist, arranging his gardens by using his creative eye. The small green bridge, peony bushes and bamboo plants all demonstrate the love Monet had for Japan. The garden really bursts with color and light, something which Monet loved to recreate in his paintings.

With its pink plaster and surrounding flowers and trees, the house of Claude Monet is truly a charming place. Outside of the house, lining the pathways beneath the metal arches, flowers bloom in the garden known as the Clos Normand. Daffodils, irises, peonies, nasturtiums, roses and narcissuses are just a few of the many beautiful flowers that fill these flowerbeds with colour. Spring is definitely the best time to visit!

The interior design remains true to what the rooms looked like in Monet’s time. On the ground floor you can visit Monet’s studio, the Blue Room (reading room) and also the kitchen. The Dining Room showcases Monet’s magnificent collection of Japanese prints, including some notable pieces by artists such as Katsushika Hokusai. All of the bedrooms are on the first floor, namely Claude Monet’s bedroom itself, displaying reproductions of paintings from other impressionist artists of his time.

Day 5: Honfleur

Spend the day at Honfleur Beach in perfect relaxation, soaking in the warm embrace of the sun, feeling the softness of the sand beneath your feet, and listening to the rhythmic lapping of the water against the beach. Take leisurely walks down the seaside, soaking in the salty sea breeze and basking in the peace and quiet. Enjoy beach activities such as building sandcastles, swimming in the ocean, or simply relaxing with a good book by the shoreline. Explore the delightful town of Honfleur throughout the day, which is known for its scenic harbor filled with colorful boats, attractive art galleries exhibiting local talent, and historic structures steeped in nautical heritage. Allow the ambiance of this coastal jewel to wash over you, surrounding you.

Day 6: Honfleur to Loire Valley

In the heart of the Loire Valley, on the banks of the Loire and Cher rivers, Tours symbolizes the historical, cultural and gastronomic heritage of the Loire Valley. The city that was once the capital of the kingdom of France reflects the French art of living, through its old town, its lively squares and its religious buildings.

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At sunset – private hot air balloon’s ride over the châteaux and Loire Valley

This ballooning experience has been designed to bring you a unique view of “the garden of France”. An unforgettable moment to share!

Flights in spacious, comfortable and friendly gondolas.

Day 7: Loire Valley - Château de Chambord

The Château de Chambord is a huge and exceptional masterpiece of architecture from the Renaissance time, a World Heritage site by UNESCO since 1965.

This majestic château acts as a gateway to the Loire Valley. Château de Chambord was dreamed up by King François I and is the biggest and most prestigious of all the French Renaissance Châteaux.

No one knows the architect, but this masterpiece seems to have been inspired by sketches by the Italian master, Leonardo da Vinci, particularly the famous double-helix staircase. This staircase takes you up to the terraces, from where you get a wonderful view of the roofs and their towers, chimney stacks, and dormer windows, as well as an unobstructed view of the estate, which is as big as Paris.

Discover the estate on foot or by bike and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature in the 1,000 hectares of forest land open to the public. Animals roam free around the grounds and look-out areas have been set up for you to observe them. Visits can also be made on horseback, in a horse-drawn carriage, or in a 4×4.

This majestic stone château and its immense estate personify all the “art de vivre” of François I.

All year long there are numerous concerts, performances and exhibitions held at the château.

Castle in Loire Valley, France

Day 8: Loire Valley - Chédigny & Chenonceau

Visit of the garden of Chédigny

In the village of Chédigny, rambling roses climb up the facades of houses. The sidewalks have given way to beds of shrub roses mixed with perennials, shrubs and other grasses.

To date, there are nearly 1000 rose bushes, the majority of which are old roses. Several hundred shrubs and thousands of perennials. Each spring 1500 bulbs bloom. Every year about thirty rose bushes are planted and new beds are created. No weed killers have been used for the last 5 years, and a garden fauna is present (robins, swallows…).

Photography session on your own of Château de Chenonceau in late afternoon

The prestigious water castle is also known as the “Château des Dames” because it was mainly women who decided over its destiny and history.Built by Kathrine Briçonnet in 1513, it was later enriched and transformed by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici, to name but a few.

Revisit the period between the Renaissance and the 17th century on your promenade through the royal domain from the ancient keep via the remains of the medieval fortified mill to Diane de Poitiers’ gardens.

Follow the steps of the great French philosophers and poets Voltaire, Marivaux, Montesquieu, Buffon and Rousseau (during their time, esteemed guests at the castle) on your way to the restaurant of the Orangery.

Day 9: Departure from Paris

Transfer from your hotel to Paris CDG airport

About This Trip:

    • Enjoy 24/7 English-spoken telephone assistance while traveling
    • This itinerary includes transport, activities, guides, accommodations with breakfasts, and other listed services
    • Price is in USD per person, assuming double occupancy. Note that prices and availability are subject to change.

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