France A la Carte

Upon arrival, meet your driver for a private transfer to your selected hotel. Your driver and guide will take you on an introductory tour of the French capital by showing you the most famous sites of Paris. Following your tour, you’ll enjoy a typical lunch at a local brasserie before being dropped off at your hotel for check-in. (L)

Meet your guide at your hotel and get ready to explore Paris. The Louvre Museum is the world's most visited museum and an historic monument in Paris with nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century exhibited. Your private guide will help you navigate the maze-like museum while pointing out to you the most famous and influential artworks housed here. Montmartre, a large hill in Paris, is primarily known for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Cœur and its nightlife! Explore this area where many artists also had studios, including Salvador Dalí, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso. (B)

This morning you will meet your driver for a private transfer to Lyon, historically an industrial city, now a vibrant university city with four universities and several “Grandes Ecoles.” Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant then head to the Old Town of Lyon for a privately guided tour. Lyon has preserved an important architectural heritage ranging from the Roman period to the 20th century, landing the districts of Old Lyon on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Following your tour, you’ll return to your hotel for dinner at your leisure. (B,L)

After breakfast, meet your driver and guide at your hotel to depart for your private tour of the Maison des Canuts, a heritage interpretation center revealing Lyon’s silk industry. The Maison is proud to display a city-owned collection following in the footsteps of the finest gold and silversmiths and silk weavers. Following your tour of the Maison, you will have a private transfer to Avignon with a wine tasting at a local establishment en route. You will arrive in Avignon this evening for dinner at your leisure. (B)

Your guide will meet you at your hotel this morning for a privately guided tour of Avignon, situated on the left bank of the Rhone River. The historical center, which includes the Pope’s Palace, the Cathedral and the remains of the ancient bridge of Avignon, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. In 2015, Avignon established a wine tourism complex like no other, a showcase for the Rhone Valley’s wines, in the Pope’s Palace Square. After your tour, you’ll enjoy a lunch at a local restaurant in Avignon.  This evening, continue to the Carrieres de Lumierers, an old stone quarry, which hosts an extraordinary multimedia show. Return to your hotel this evening for dinner at your leisure. (B,L)

Today you will explore the mountaintop city of Luberon. You will be seduced by the sinuous roads linking the perched villages to each other and the famous Cucuron, Lourmarin, Bonnieux and, above all, Lacoste, where the Marquis de Sade once lived. Luberon has been an endless source of inspiration for painters, writers, and even recent film directors. You will continue on to the Ochre Trail of Rousillon, with a photo stop at Senanque Abbey en route. Rousillon is a highlight of Luberon, beguiling visitors with its vivid colors and enchanting scenery carved out by wind and weather. Following a privately guided journey along the Ochre Trail, you’ll visit a Provencal estate for an unexpected private wine and olive oil tasting. Tonight, check-in to your hotel in Aix-en-Provence and enjoy dinner at your leisure. (B)

Meet your guide at your hotel this morning to begin your culinary experience of Provence. Known all over the world for its tasty cuisine, Provence is a cornucopia of fresh produce and high-quality products. Strolling through the famous market, you’ll have the opportunity to understand why the cuisine of the region is so genuinely delightful. You’ll be stunned by the intense colors of the produce and spices and the enticing scent of meats, cheeses and wines. After your privately guided walk through the market, enjoy a lunch at a local restaurant before continuing on to Sainte Victoire Mountain. Here you’ll witness the spectacular scenery, which makes Provence so special and have a private tasting at a local winery. (B,L)

This morning you will meet your driver and guide for a private transfer to Nice, the opulent city along the coast of Mediterranean France. Here you will be lost with delight in the narrow streets, admire the square Saracent Tower, magnificent mansions and stunning villas, and the Belle Epoque Casino. Soak in this beguiling city with gurgling fountains, picturesque squares and welcoming terraces all painted in the ochre, red or yellow. After your time in Nice, continue to your hotel for check-in and dinner at your leisure. (B)

Meet your driver and guide for a private city highlights tour of Nice including the Promenade des Anglais and Carnival. Explore this unique city, discovering why it is commonly known as the “Capital of the Cote d’Azur.” Following your tour of the city, you will transfer to the airport or train station to continue on to your next destination. (B)