Gems of Normandie & the French Riviera

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart from Tours heading towards the world-renowned Mont Saint Michel*, a Unesco World Heritage site. The car park stands approximately 1.5 miles away from the island. On leaving the coach, head for the Place des Navettes, where shuttle buses called Passeurs transfer to the mount itself. The Mount was consecrated to St-Michel from the year 708. The Benedictine Abbey** presents a grand panorama of medieval architecture from the XI-XVI centuries. Spend some time exploring the village built on the slopes in the shadow of the fortifications. Head towards the Normandy Beach area, checking in at the hotel in Caen. Overnight in Caen.

*Please bear in mind that the transfer from Tours to Mont St Michel will be around 280km, approximately 3 hours of driving. 

**Entry to the abbey included. Guests will have the option to pay for an audio-guide separately.

After breakfast, enjoy a guided tour of WW-II’s major sights. Visit, learn about and pay homage to Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach and the Colleville-Sur-Mer Cemetery of the Allied Forces. After this solemn educational tour, spend a tranquil afternoon on your own exploring Caen. Located near the English Channel, Caen is a historic city replete with mediaeval architecture and the tomb of William the Conqueror. Overnight stay in Caen.

After breakfast, learn more about the best food and drink that this rich region of France has to offer, starting with a visit to the Village du Fromager. See all stages of cheese production and enjoy tasting the different types of cheese on offer. After the visit, head to Honfleur in time for a lunch break. This small city and harbour dates back to the Vikings invasion in the 11th century. After a couple of hours exploring the city, continue eastwards until reaching Paris. Overnight stay in Paris.

Please bear in mind that the transfer from Caen to Paris will be around 240km, approximately 3 hours of driving.

Breakfast* at the hotel. Make your own way to Paris Gare de Lyon station. Embark on a High Speed Train to Nice, that sits beautifully on the pebbly shores of the French Riviera. Self-transfer to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to begin exploring this stunning city on the Cote d’Azur. Overnight stay in Nice. 

* Depending on the train schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast.

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide in the lobby and depart on your half-day Èze to Monaco excursion. Enjoy a panoramic view of Nice and the bays of Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Enjoy the unique opportunity to visit the stunning medieval village of Èze, which sits atop the hill like an eagle's nest, and take-in the epic views of the French Riviera. Your driver-guide will then take you to Monaco, where you will walk to the emblematic Old Town perched on the rock. Discover the Prince's Palace and Romanesque-Byzantine Cathedral. Admire the famous Casino Square, the Grand Casino, luxury boutiques and Café de Paris. For a bit of adrenaline, ride on the Monaco Grand Prix circuit that sits between Monaco and Monte Carlo. Upon your return, the rest of the day is free to explore Nice at your leisure, visiting museums or enjoying the beach. Overnight stay in Nice.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy the day discovering Nice at your own pace. We recommend making the most of your day by taking part in one of the following optional excursions (due to timings you are only able to do one of the two). If you prefer touring the countryside of Côte d'Azur* you’ll love our optional half-day tour, if you prefer a coastal discovery you will enjoy our full-day trip to Saint-Tropez and Port Grimaud**. Overnight stay in Nice. 

*Optional half-day tour to the countryside of Côte d'Azur: Head to the Old Town of Grasse, the historic center of French perfumery since the late eighteenth century, where you’ll have the opportunity to visit Fragonard Perfumery. Next, head to Gourdon, one of the most beautiful villages in France where you’ll admire the panoramic view of the Côte d'Azur, from the Alps to the coast. Visit the 9th century castle and its opulent, Lenôtre designed gardens. Continue to Gorges du Loup, to admire the 130 ft waterfall. Next, visit the medieval village of Tourette-sur-Loup, also known as the ‘City of Violets’ as it became a meeting place for musicians, painters, writers and poets in the mid-1920s.The tour will end in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a real Provencal jewel that has become the favorite garden of many painters over time.

*Optional full-day excursion to Saint-Tropez and Port Grimaud: Set-off early this morning, ready for this exciting sightseeing tour of two iconic locations. Kick-off your adventure on a boat ride from Port Grimaud, a picturesque lakeside town also known as "Little Venice", to the distinguished town of St. Tropez. Discover this legendary coastal town on the French Riviera that has attracted many international stars from the world of fashion, cinema and literature since the 1920s. Enjoy some free time in the picturesque old town for some shopping at the provincial market and maybe have lunch on a sun terrace. Enjoy the return journey to your hotel along the wonderful coastal road. Contemplate some of the most beautiful views of all France, stopping along the way to soak up these fantastic views.