Discover the many faces of France on a single itinerary taking you to the City of Light, with its renowned art, architecture and cuisine; idyllic Giverny, immortalized by Monet’s brush; and the historic beaches of Normandy, site of the D-Day landings.
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
DAY 4
DAY 5
DAY 6
DAY 7
DAY 1
Upon arrival at Paris airport, you are met by your Guardian Angel and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel.
Hôtel Pont Royal
DAY 2
Known as the City of Light, Paris boasts some of the most famous landmarks and museums in the world. Get your bearings as you drive past iconic sights such as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées. Continue to the romantic Ile de la Cité to explore the stunning Sainte-Chapelle and its extensive stained-glass collection dating to the 13th century. Then, join a local culinary expert to gather fine cheeses, meats, pastries and wines from a handpicked lineup of authentic Parisian shops for a picnic-style lunch.
Hôtel Pont Royal
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 3
Originally the royal residence of the kings of France, the sprawling Louvre is widely renowned as the world's greatest art museum, its mesmerizing collection spanning early antiquity to the mid-19th century. Take in iconic exhibits such as the exquisite Venus de Milo and Leonardo da Vinci's incomparable Mona Lisa. Continue to Montmartre, a district forever associated with the Bohemian lifestyles of the late nineteenth century. Your guide leads you along winding back streets to reveal the al fresco painters’ studio of Place du Tertre, the hilltop vantage of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, the iconic marquee of the Moulin Rouge and the diminutive façade of St. Pierre church. Then, explore Montmartre Museum, where Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted one of his most important works, the Bal du moulin de la Galette. Cap off your afternoon in the former studio of painter Suzanne Valadon, pausing to take in fabulous views of Montmartre’s rooftops from the museum terrace.
Hôtel Pont Royal
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4
Join your driver-guide for your transfer to Deauville. Along the way, visit Giverny to see the house and gardens that inspired Monet. The home is decorated in the original color schemes Monet admired, with the famous Japanese bridge and water lily pond immortalized by the artist still to be seen in the gardens. Alternatively, you can choose to explore Rouen’s magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral; iconic Gros Horloge (Renaissance clock); and the infamous Place du Vieux Marché, the square where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431.
Hotel Barriere Le Normandy
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5
Explore Normandy’s coast, pausing to reflect amid sites that bore witness to the fierce fighting of World War II’s pivotal D-Day invasions. Begin at Pointe du Hoc, a towering cliff scaled by U.S. Army Rangers, and continue east to Omaha Beach, a sector that witnessed some of the invasion’s most intense combat. Here, local guides reveal insights from both the German and American perspectives. Then, learn about Operation Aquatint, a failed 1942 British raid on the area. Your day ends with a poignant visit to the U.S. Military Cemetery and Interpretation Center at Colleville-sur-Mer, the final resting place of over 9,300 U.S. servicemen.
Hotel Barriere Le Normandy
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6
Today, discover the Norman enclaves of Caen and Bayeux. Begin with an exploration of Caen’s historic architecture, visiting two Romanesque abbeys commissioned by William the Conqueror. Continue to the Mémorial de Caen, a site commemorating the ongoing legacy of World War II. After free time for lunch, head to the medieval town of Bayeux, where you see the iconic Bayeux Tapestry, a 225-foot embroidery depicting William of Normandy's 1066 conquest of England. Cap off your excursion at Bayeux’s impressive Norman-Romanesque cathedral, consecrated in 1077.
Hotel Barriere Le Normandy
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7
After breakfast, transfer back to Paris airport for your departure.
Meals: Breakfast
Hôtel Pont Royal
Hotel Barriere Le Normandy
