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Home , Chateau, Palace of Fontainebleau, Palais des Papes, Pont Neuf

Best of

— , Normandy, Mt. St. Michel, St. Malo, Valley, Chartres, Versailles, , , , Marseille, Nice, Monaco — TOUR DETAILS

Best of France Highlights • Price: $4,845 USD • Highlights of Paris • Discounts: • Musée du • Eiffel Tour • 5% - Returning Volant Customer • Normandy • Duration: 21 days • Mont St. Michel • Date: Sept. 30 - Oct. 20, 2017 • St. Malo • Difficulty: Easy • Angers • • Château de Chenonceau Inclusions • Château de Chambord • All accommodations (2-3 star) • Chateau D'if • All scheduled meals • Chartres • Transportation throughout tour • Versailles & Gardens • Airport transfers • Fontainebleau Forest • Mont St. Michel entrance fee • French Riviera • Château d’Angers entrance fee • Pont de Gard • Château de Chenonceau entrance fee • Monaco • Château de Chambord entrance fee • Chateau d' If entrance fee + ferry ride • Versailles Palace entrance fee Exclusions • Versailles Garden entrance fee • International airfare (to and from Paris) • National Park entrance fees • Entrance fees of attractions in Paris • Personal guide • Personal items: Laundry, shopping, etc. ITINERARY Best of France - 21 Days / 20 Nights Itinerary -

DAY ACTIVITY LOCATION - MEALS

International Flight 1 • Board overnight flight to (not included) Dinner

• Arrive: International Airport, Paris Paris, France • Depending on arrival time, take a leisurely walk on the banks of the River while taking in 2 Parisian beauty. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Enjoy a warm welcome dinner

Paris, France • Visit iconic Parisian highlights: Le Tour Eiffel, Notre Dame Cathedral 3 • Cross the historic to visit the Palais and Museé du Louvre Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Drive north to the dramatic white cliffs on the English Channel at Étretat Étretat - Caen 4 • Take short, pastoral hikes and take in the vast vistas overlooking a natural arch and wild beaches • Transfer to Caen for the night, home of the world famous film festival Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Normandy - Mont Saint Michel • Get in touch with history on Utah and Omaha Beaches, the location of the infamous D-Day 5 • Transfer to the dramatic island-city at Mont Saint Michel Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Take a leisurely tour through the winding streets of Mont Saint Michel Mont Saint Michel - Saint Malo • Get your cameras ready for the far reaching views from the mountain top cathedral and 6 monastery Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Transfer to the walled city on the coast, Saint Malo

• Head south to Rennes, the capital of Angers 7 • Be sure to notice the medieval half-timbered homes • Transfer to Angers for a tour of the massive Château d’Angers Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Loire Valley • Turn your sights to the Loire Valley, famous for its many opulent châteaux 8 • Take a leisurely tour through the château and gardens at Chenonceau Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Drive through the French countryside to the most iconic Château in Loire Valley: Chambord Loire Valley 9 • Tour the Château and gardens at Chambord • Retire to a quaint hotel deep in the Loire Valley Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• On our way to the Palais at Versailles, we’ll stop at the famous Cathedral at Chartres. Chartres - Versailles 10 • Enjoy lunch overlooking the vast French countryside • Continue on the Palais and Jardins du Versailles Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Hunting lodge turned to a palace fit for a king, enjoy the opulence of palatial living at Versailles Versailles 11 • Explore as many of the 2,300 rooms as you can at the Palais du Versailles • Get lost in nature as you wonder the vast gardens at Versailles Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Transfer to Fontainebleau (1hr) Fontainebleau 12 • Hike through the Fontainebleau Forest; famous for its mighty sandstone boulders & landscapes • Tour the remarkable Castle of Fontainebleau, viewing its many rooms and museums. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner ITINERARY

DAY ACTIVITY LOCATION - MEALS

• Morning train to Avignon (4hrs) • Walking tour of Avignon: visit historic sites such as and the Avignon Cathedral Arles 13 • Transfer to Arles (1hr) • Visit the Alyscamps and Church of St. Trophime Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • View the inspirations behind much of Van Gogh's artwork

• Witness the remarkable 3-tiered Roman aqueduct built in 19 B.C., Pont de Gard. (40m) Arles • Transfer to Nimes (30m) 14 • View some of the best preserved roman architecture in the world, such as the Arenes de Nimes, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner La Maison Carree and Tour Magne.

• Transfer to Marseille (1hr) • Enjoy a walking tour of downtown Marseille; view historic buildings such as the Basilique Notre Marseille 15 Dame de la Garde and the Cathédrale La Major • Afternoon exploration of Calanques National Park (30min) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Easy hike alongside the emerald canals of the Mediterranean Sea at sunset

• Short ferry ride to the Chateau D'if; setting of the famous novel, The Count of Monte Cristo Marseille 16 • Spend the remainder of the day exploring the city Breakfast, Lunch, DInner

• Morning drive northeast to explore the Verdon Gorge (2.5hrs) Nice 17 • Drive through the rolling hills and geological masterpieces of both Luberon Natural Regional Park and Verdon Natural Regional Park Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Walking tour of old town Nice Nice 18 • Scale Castle Hill for an immaculate panorama of Nice and the Bay of Angles. • Stroll along the iconic Promenade des Anglais Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day trip to Monaco (30min) • Enjoy dramatic views of the Mediterranean along the Grande Corniche Nice 19 • Explore Old Town Monaco for sweeping views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea • Take a relaxing walk through the surrounding botanical gardens Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • View the floating cities that are docked in the Monte Carlo Harbor

• Train ride north to the vibrant capital, Paris (6hrs) Paris • Free day in Paris: spend your time exploring the sites you haven’t seen yet. Perhaps you’ll want 20 to descend into the gothic catacombs, or visit Monet’s Garden. The options are limitless. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Tonight we will dine on traditional Parisian cuisine for our farewell dinner

Paris • Transfer to Charles de Gaulle International Airport, Paris 21 • Depart: Flight home Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner TOUR MAP

ENGLAND

English Channel

Caen Normandy LUXEMBURG Mont Saint Michel Étretat GERMANY St. Malo

Versailles Paris

Fontainebleau

Angers Loire Valley Chartres

Château de Chambord SWITZERLAND Château de Chenonceau Atlantic Ocean

ITALY Bay of Avignon Biscay Nice Arles Monaco Nîmes

Marseille

Mediterranean SPAIN Sea ITINERARY

DAY 1: BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY

Board your overnight flight to Europe (not included).

DAY 2: WELCOME TO PARIS!

A Volant representative will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Take a relaxing walk through the historic streets of downtown Paris. Take in the iconic mansard roofs, the tranquil waters of the Seine, and the romance in the air. Enjoy a welcome dinner and a leisurely evening.

DAY 3: HIGHLIGHTS OF PARIS

Stroll the lawns and gardens stretching to the . Take a leisurely walk through the historic halls of one the most famous museums in the world: Le Louvre. Cross the famous Pont Neuf on your way to the holy cathedral of Notre Dame. ITINERARY

DAY 4: ÉTRETAT – CAEN

Let’s take off and explore the coastline. Only a two and a half hour drive from Paris we will spend our afternoon in Etretat. This pristine commune right on the beach is famous for its three arches situated along the chalk cliffs. After a quaint lunch we will transfer to Caen (90 m). We will be sure to wander through Colline aux Oiseaux, a beautifully landscaped park with a rose garden. Only a short distant away stands the Caen Castle.

DAY 5: NORMANDY – UTAH BEACH – OMAHA BEACH – MONT SAINT MICHEL

This morning we will drive east toward the Normandy coastline. Both Omaha and Utah beaches offer a historical reminder of a difficult past. While we will be sure to stop for lunch we will continue south towards Mont Saint Michel. Traveling from one side of Normandy to the other will take us about two hours. Today’s drive is just a small price to pay for the remarkable monastery that awaits us. ITINERARY

DAY 6: MONT SAINT MICHEL – ST. MALO

The first half of the day is devoted to exploring Mont Saint Michel. Both this island commune and its bay are on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites. During our time in this medieval citadel take the time to explore its many shops and restaurants or even climb the cobblestone path to the 92 meter lookout. After lunch we will head to St. Malo, a intriguing coastal city. The old town is surrounded by tall granite walls that were once used as an enclosure for pirates whom were approved by the king. Before calling it a night we will be sure to watch the sunset over the open ocean.

DAY 7: ANGERS

This morning we will make our way from the coast and head inland. Our three hour drive from St. Malo to Angers will be broken up by a stop in Rennes, the capital of Brittney. While we get out and stretch our legs be sure to notice the medieval half-timbered homes. Both the Château d’Angers and the Chateau de Brissac are a definite must see. The tapestry room within the Château d’Angers is to die for as are the views overlooking the city from the top of the Castle. Make sure to get some sleep tonight because the next two days are devoted to exploring some of the many Chateau’s of Loire Valley. ITINERARY

DAY 8: LOIRE VALLEY – CHATEAU DE CHENONCEAU

Getting an early start to the day we will head towards Tours. Keep your eyes peeled for the many chateau’s in this area as we drive through the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Natural Regional Park. We will make sure to grab a bite to eat in Tours before we visit St Gatien Cathedral and the Cloister of la Psalette. The second half of our day will be spent in the Chateau de Chenonceau. This unique castle spans over the Cher River and has a garden maze. Only about a 40 minute drive from Tours we will spend the night in Chenonceau.

DAY 9: LOIRE VALLEY – CHATEAU DE CHAMBORD

Day two of our chateau adventures will begin with a short trip to Amboise to tour the Chateau du Clos Luce (Da Vinci’s former home). After lunch we will head to Blois, the capital of the Loir-et-Cher region in central France. Blois will be our home base as we branch out and visit the Blois, Cheverny and Chambord chateaus’. ITINERARY

DAY 10: CHARTRES – VERSAILLES PALACE & GARDENS

The beginning of our day will be spent driving from Blois to Chartres. After about two hours we will reach the . This cathedral is famous for its massive contrasting spires and incredible state of preservation. After spending a few hours here we will continue into Versailles for the evening. ITINERARY

DAY 11: VERSAILLES PALACE & GARDENS

Today is devoted to exploring the Versailles Palace and Gardens. The Gardens alone cover nearly 800 hectares; containing over 200,000 trees, 210,000 plants, 50 and 620 water jets. Containing 2,300 rooms, the is nothing short of extraordinary. It is considered one of the greatest achievements in French 17th century art. Louis XIV began embellishing his fathers castle in 1682 and the following generations continued to do so until the start of the . After spending the day among this architectural giant there will be no question as to why the Palace has been on the UNESCO World Heritage site for 30 years. ITINERARY

DAY 12: FONTAINEBLEAU

This morning climb abroad the train for a short trip southeast to the town of Fontainebleau. After our arrival we will enjoy a leisurely hike through the mixed deciduous Fontainebleau Forest. Unlike most woodland areas, this forest is renown for its mighty sandstone boulders. Stretch out and enjoy the fresh air, luscious moss and magical views. After spending our morning among natural beauty we will now turn our heads toward the local man made wonder. As one of the largest royal chateau's' in all of France's history; the is considered to be the only royal and imperial chateau to be continuously inhabited for seven centuries. Situated in the heart of 130 acres of gardens and parkland this enormous palace contains over 1,500 rooms. As you tour the palace and surrounding gardens keep in mind that you are walking in the footsteps of the many french monarchs that once resided in this palace. ITINERARY

DAY 13: AVIGNON-ARLES

After our morning train ride to the south of France we will enjoy a walking tour of Avignon. Be sure to tour the Palais des Papes as it is considered to be one of the largest and most important medieval gothic buildings of Europe. Later in the day we will commute to Arles, the city that inspired much of Van Gogh's artwork. Arles is also home of the most famous Roman necropolis' of the ancient world, Alycamps.

DAY 14: NIMES--ARLES

The first part of our day will be spent at Pont du Gard; the 3-tiered Roman aqueduct built in 19 B.C. Next stop, Nimes is known for some of the best preserved roman architecture in the world including the Arenes de Nimes. Take a moment to examine the fine details in the Corinthian columns of La Maison Carree or climb to the top of the Tour Magne monument for panoramic views of the city. ITINERARY

DAY 15: MARSEILLE- PARC DAY 16: MARSEILLE- CHATEAU NATIONAL DES CALANQUES D'IF

Early this morning we will make our way After a relaxed start to our day we will take a to France's main trade seaport, Marseille. short ferry ride to begin our tour of the Before lunch be will take a tour downtown infamous French prison, Chateau d' If. making sure to visit sites such as the Constructed in 1525 on a tiny island in the Bay Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde and the of Marseille, this fortress has housed thousands Cathedrale La Major. With the remainder of criminals over the centuries. It wasn't until of our day we will head down to towards author, Alexandre Dumas, published The the city of Cassis where we will explore Count of Monte Cristo in 1845 that this prison's Calanques National Park. The highest worldwide fame took off. For those who don't point in this wild and rugged terrain is know the story, this novel recounts a called Mount Puget and should be visible characters' 14 years of imprisonment and in the landscape to the west. Feel free to eventual escape from the Chateau d'If. Unlike relax near the turquoise waters or explore most people who have gone behind these walls the parks many trails. The choice is yours. we will make our escape after completing the For those who are up to the challenge the tour. The remainder of the day is free for you to hike out to the Calanque d'En-Vau takes do with what you will. Explore the shops about two hours and is quite downtown, stroll along the beach or try extraordinary. something you have never done before. ITINERARY

DAY 17: MARSEILLE-VERDON NATURAL REGIONAL PARK-NICE

This morning we will drive northeast to explore the Verdon Gorge. We will take a scenic drive through the rolling hills and geological masterpieces of both the Luberon and the Verdon Natural Regional Park. It is easy to see why this gorge is considered to be one of Europes more beautiful. The stunning turquoise water, the deep green of the surrounding fauna and the pale sandstone all combine to create the memorable landscape that the people who visit here long for. ITINERARY

DAY 18: NICE DAY 19: NICE-MONACO

Located right on the French Riviera Today we will take a day trip to Monaco. the city of Nice is known for many Measuring a grand total of 499 acres the attractions including its scenic microstate of Monaco resides just a short drive walkway, the Promenade des Anglais outside of Nice. Be sure to notice the that stretches alongside the shore for 7 dramatic views of the Mediterranean while we km. There is also the Matisse Museum, drive along the Grande Corniche. Once in Monaco the Nice Lighthouse. Russian we will have the opportunity to explore Old Town, Cathedral and Vieux Nice (Old Town an area rich in local history. Take advantage of Nice) that should not be missed. . Be the many spectacular botanical gardens in the sure to climb Castle Hill for sweeping area and be sure to spot the hundreds of yachts views of the city as well as the Bay of docked in the Monte Carlo Harbor, it is definitely Angels. a sight worth seeing. ITINERARY

DAY 20: NICE - PARIS

After a scenic train ride through the heart of France we will arrive back in the bustling capital. With the remainder of the day enjoy any number of iconic Parisian attractions. Use the day to create your own adventure. Perhaps take the time to check out the catacombs, the Pantheon, Rodan Museum or Sainte-Chapelle. The is also incredible, as is Le . Whatever you decide we will make sure to gather one last time this evening for a farewell dinner. DAY 21: PARIS - TOUR ENDS

Breakfast will be provided although there will be no group activities for the day. Your Volant representative will escort you to the Charles de Gaulle International Airport and bid you adieu. Au Revoir and thank you for choosing Volant. CONTACT VOLANT

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