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INCLUSIONS |
Tour de France 2009 14 Days • $2,919 |
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Day 1 •
Depart Today we depart the United States on our overnight flight to Paris, France. During the trans-Atlantic portion of our flight, we enjoy complimentary meal and beverage service, as well as in-flight entertainment. In-flight D Day 2 • Bayeux We arrive this morning in Paris and meet our coach and driver. After time to collect our luggage, we begin our “Tour de France” and drive towards Normandy. Our first stop, however, is in the village of Giverny, where we visit Claude Monet’s gardens and have time to explore the inspiration for his “Water Lillies” series. We then continue on to Bayeux, in the heart in Normandy, for our overnight. B/D Day 3 • Bayeux Today is devoted to Normandy’s role in World War II. We begin our day with a visit to the Peace Museum in Caen. After our visit, we continue on to view Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery, Pointe du Hoc. We conclude our day in Normandy with a visit to the Bayeux Tapestry Museum, where we see a giant tapestry depicting the Norman Conquest in 1066. B/D Day 4 • Tours Departing Normandy, we drive southward to Mont St. Michel, located on an island off the coast of France. Once only accessible at low tide, the monastery is now connected to the mainland by a causeway. Upon our arrival, we have time to explore the island and enjoy the views before continuing on to Tours in the Loire Valley. B/D Day 5 • Tours We enjoy a full day in the Loire Valley, starting first in Tours, where we tour a bakery and learn the fine art of baking French bread. We then continue on to Château Chambord, the largest of the châteaux with 440 rooms (mostly empty!), where we have time to enjoy a picnic lunch on the beautiful grounds. In the afternoon, we continue on to Château Chennonceau, one of the most magnificent château, built over the River Cher where we enjoy a tour of the stately rooms. We return to our hostel in time for dinner and relaxation. B/D |
Day 6 •
Brive-la-Gaillarde Our journey takes us southward today, to the village of Oradour sur Glane. In June 1944, the Nazi SS surrounded the village and murdered its inhabitants as retribution for acts committed by the local Resistance. The village was left by Charles de Gaulle as a reminder of the horror of the Nazi occupation of France during World War II, as well as a memorial to the innocent lives lost that day. In the afternoon, we continue on to Brive-la-Gaillarde and check into our hostel for our overnight. B/D Day 7 • Arles Today we drive further south to Provence and Arles, an ancient Roman city located in the Rhone delta. We arrive in Arles in the late afternoon. B/D Day 8 • Arles We spend the entire day exploring the Arles and the surrounding area. Our first stop is the incredible Pont du Gard, located in the countryside outside of Arles. This Roman aqueduct carried water to residents of the area for centuries and is considered one of Ancient Rome’s finest engineering feats. We then return to Arles and explore the city with our comprehensive admission ticket, including the Roman amphitheater. B/D Day 9 • Arles This morning we take an excursion to Graveson and visit the Musée des arômes et du parfum and learn the art of creating French fragrances. After our visit, we transfer to Saintes Marie de la Mer and spend the remainder of the day relaxing on the fine sand beach. B/D Day 10 • Dijon We depart Arles this morning and drive northward along the Autoroute towards Dijon, home of the famed French mustard of the same name. Upon our afternoon arrival, we tour a mustard mill and learn about the unique process of making Dijon mustard. B/D Day 11 • Paris Our final destination on our “Tour de France” is Paris, France’s elegant and exciting capital. We first stop in Versailles and visit the renowned Château de Versailles, home to French kings and queens prior to the Revolution. Our visit includes time to see the richly decorated rooms, as well as the extensive gardens. We check into our hostel in the late afternoon, in time to settle in before dinner. B/D |
Day 12 • Paris After breakfast this morning, we take the Métro to the Eiffel Tower and ride the elevator up to the top level for a panoramic view of Paris. We then descend back down to the base of the tower and meet our guide from Fat Tire Bike Tours for a unique tour of Paris. Pedaling along side streets, bike paths and through parks our guide introduces us to the rich history and famous landmarks of Paris including the Louvre, the Champs Elysées and a stop for lunch in the Tuileries Gardens. The remainder of the day is free to explore Paris. B/D Day 13 • Paris This morning we visit the Louvre Museum, home to the mysterious Mona Lisa, as well as many other famous paintings and sculptures. We break for lunch and some free time before making a short visit to perhaps the famous Parisian cathedral, Notre Dame. We enjoy our final afternoon in Paris with free time for shopping or perhaps another museum visit. After dinner, we take a Bateaux Parisiens cruise along the Seine enjoying the landmarks of Paris bathed in light. B/D Day 14 • Return Sadly, we pack our bags this morning and transfer to the airport for our return flight to the United States. We return with fond memories of the French countryside, as well as exciting cities and historic places. B/In-flight L Family stays are available at the end of the tour for an additional cost, determined by the length and activities of the family stay. |
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