Highlights of France

Paris, standing by the romantic River Seine, by any other name would have been just as enigmatic and iconic. The city conjures up visions of cafés, wide tree-lined avenues, riverside promenades and a proverbial night life set to a background score of lively accordions playing Edith Piaf’s La Vie en Rose. A city of lovers, artists and fashion alike, Paris has set the tune for avant garde movements down the centuries. The city has always been at the vanguard of social and creative revolutions for generations – whether in art, fashion, gastronomy and cinema or with passionate ideals of liberty and equality. The city is peppered with quintessential museums like the Louvre with their equally celebrated displays of Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People, Rodin’s Thinker or Monet’s Impression, Sunrise. Stroll down its streets or sit down with a coffee and croissants at a corner café. Watch artists sketching the iconic Arc de Triomphe, fashionistas walking down the avenue des Champs-Élysées, and lovers sailing down the Seine. Peopled by towering maestros like Pablo Picasso and Modigliani to Salvador Dali and Coco Chanel, this is in Voltaire’s words: ‘the best of all possible worlds’.

The name conjures up landmark historical events from the medieval ages down to the 20th century – the famous execution of Joan of Arc, the 11th century Norman invasion of England, everyday medieval life forever captured in the Bayeux Tapestry and images of Allied soldiers landing on its beaches during WWII. Geographically, Normandy’s Atlantic coastline mirrors the chalky cliffs of Dover across from the English Channel. And its very name comes from the Viking ‘Northmen’, who raided England and the North of France in the early ages. The Normandy region, shaped by miles of the Atlantic coast, numerous streams and rivers (including the Seine), has always been known for its rich agricultural and marine produce. It has also been an important center of scholarship and learning, captured by the striking island monastery of Mont St-Michel and the romantic ruins of the Jumièges Abbey. The beautiful capital city of Rouen, the war museums of Caen, and the charming old manor homes of Pays d’Auge are all worth a visit. Normandy’s rich culinary tradition of the finest cheese, seafood, delicious ciders and a bottle of Calvados is also enough to attract travelers from across the world.

Set off from Bayeux on this fascinating exploration of the D-Day beaches that featured prominently in the Allied victory of World War II. Drive past the scenic landscape to the beautiful beaches that witnessed the largest seaborne invasion in world history. Retrace the steps of American soldiers as you stroll down the Utah and Omaha beaches. Listen to incredible stories of courage and bravery from your guide before you pay your respects at the Normandy American Cemetery. Get a closer look at Pointe du Hoc and gain insights into how American Rangers scaled the 90 feet (27 m) cliff to capture this fortified site on that fateful day. Afterward, stop at the village of Sainte-Mere-Eglise that was at the heart of the jump zone for the soldiers of the 82nd Airborne. Soak in the history to your heart’s content before heading back. (Full Day; Time: 0900 hrs; Shared Activity; Transfers to Meeting Point not included; Group Size: Max 8 guests; Fitness Level: Easy.)

The UNESCO World Heritage site of the prosperous and fertile Loire River valley straddling Central France is known for its classic French châteaux and grand palaces. The eastern part of the region, is strewn with pretty little French towns, famous chateaux and castle grounds dotting a beautiful countryside. Gastronomic tours are popular with travelers through a region celebrated for its fine cuisine and local wines.

Explore the rich architectural and cultural heritage of Loire Valley on this delightful tour. Set off for the scenic environs surrounding the gently flowing Loire River. Known as the Valley of Kings, this region has always attracted royalty for its spectacular natural beauty and pleasing climate. Arrive at Chenonceau, known as the “ladies castle”, as it was the residence of French empresses like Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medicis. Built in the 16th-century on the river Cher, the Chateau is famed for its vast collection of artwork, Renaissance furniture and intricate tapestries. Stroll through the exquisitely laid out gardens and formal parklands. Savor the finest wines from the Loire Valley during a lunch featuring fresh, locally sourced produce. Afterwards, head to the sprawling Chambord estate and admire its towering Renaissance-inspired architecture that ranges over turrets, chimneys and dormer windows. The chateau is also famous for its double return staircase, thought to be designed by master creator Leonardo Da Vinci himself. (Full Day; Shared Activity; Group size: Max 8 guests; shared guide services, entrance fees, tastings and lunch with drinks included).

Located right in the heart of Burgundy’s Côte d’Or vineyards, the old medieval town of Beaune lives and breathes for the ‘draught of vintage tasting of Flora and the country green’. Wine may very well be flowing through the veins of its cobblestoned streets and maturing beneath its old tiled roof houses. One is not, in fact, very far from the truth because the old city does sport a subterranean maze of wine cellars that goes back to the medieval era! It is hardly surprising that Beaune is one of the best places in the country for wine tasting tours. This beautiful city’s second claim to fame is the medieval Hôtel-Dieu or Hospices de Beaune, a former charitable hospital. At present, the building functions as a charming museum. The city has managed to blend its two loves into a popular tradition: its annual wine auction is held on the grounds of the former hospital.

Enjoy an extensive wine tour and tasting session at the charming villages of Côte de Beaune. Meet your local guide at the Beaune Tourist Office in the popular Boulevard Perpreuil, well in time for your tour. Drive along the Grands Crus roads via Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet, enjoying your ride through the pretty little villages of Pommard, Volnay, and Meursault. Visit the famous monuments of Bâtard-Montrachet, Montrachet, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet, and Chevalier-Montrachet, during your day-long excursion. Learn all about the region’s classic wines and pick up interesting anecdotes on the subject from your guide. Enjoy tasting a variety of delicious wines in Beaune. You will also visit a little known but impressive wine estate in the town, right off the beaten tourist path! Savor white wines such as Saint-Aubin, Meursault 1er cru ‘Les Charmes’ or the famous Grand cru Corton–Charlemagne. Relish a sumptuous lunch in Beaune after your tasting tour and then return to your hotel. (Full Day, Time: 0930; Shared Activity; Group size: Max 8 guests; Wine tasting included; Fitness level: Easy, Please wear comfortable walking shoes).

The graceful architecture and historical significance of Avignon has earned the centre of the city the status of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Once part of the dukedom of Anjou, a vassal of the Pope, Avignon has had its share of colorful medieval history. The Avignon papacy sat not in the Roman Vatican, but in the French city of Avignon. The Catholic church’s power and influence of those ages is captured in the fort-like Palais des Papes. The other iconic feature of this charming city is the Rhône River that flows past it, with the old wooden bridge of Pont Saint-Bénézet or Pont d’Avignon spanning the river. In July, and the Festival d’Avignon, the annual summer arts festival, also attracts travelers to this lovely French city with its tree-lined squares and wooden bridges.

Spend an enjoyable day in the picturesque Provence region known for its mountainous scenery and fragrant lavender fields. Drive past the scenic countryside to the hamlet of Roussillon that sits perched atop ochre cliffs with its colorful houses making for a striking contrast. On Thursdays, you could mingle with the locals at the weekly market while browsing through fresh produce and exquisite handicrafts. Stop to take stunning images of the hilltop village of Gordes that is home to houses and buildings made of different varieties of natural stone. Travel on to the picturesque town of Fontaine de Vaucluse for a peek at the cave where the River Sorgues originates. Head on to Pont du Gard, a well-preserved ancient Roman aqueduct bridge and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Afterward, journey to the breathtakingly beautiful Les Baux de Provence to explore its medieval fortress and charming cobblestone streets. You can make a short stop at Antiques in Saint Remy de Provence to photograph the two ancient Roman monuments that occupy pride of place. On Sundays, you can stop by the weekly market in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue before returning to the city by nightfall. (Full Day; Time: 0830 hrs; Group Size: Max 8 guests; Shared Activity; Fitness Level: Easy.)

A Mediterranean seaside with palm trees, sunny days and balmy nights, a grand boulevard and the old-world opulence of the South of France – that’s Nice for you in a nutshell. The glittering queen of the French Riviera, Nice has attracted the bold and the bountiful to its sunny shores along the Cote d’Azur for ages. Skating or lounging on the beach, people-watching from the seaside ‘blue chairs’, kayaking or swimming in the Mediterranean – the sun and sea form the life and soul of this lovely coastal town. Seaside sports aside, the École de Nice has been equally influential in shaping the town’s popularity. Nice has been home to avant-garde artists like Henri Matisse and Chagall, also calling Picasso and Renoir to its shores over brief periods. The Musées Matisse, Chagall and d’Art Moderne form a pilgrimage for art lovers. Lovers of Niçoise cuisine are, meanwhile, rewarded with fresh produce from mussels and tuna to olives and eggplant. You can take the classic Salade Niçoise to go in a Le Pan Bagnat, enjoy an original Ratatouille or sit down to a hearty La Daube Niçoise – all washed down with a rosé wine. Issa Nissa!