Bike enthusiasts around the world don’t have to just admire the French countryside from your TV at home. See it up close and in person on a guided tour of France with Globus Journeys.
France is a diverse country with so much beauty that it takes a trip like Globus Journey’s Beautiful France 16-day guided tour to fully soak in all the treasures this delightful country has to offer.
On an escorted tour with Globus, you’ll get to see the entire country. From Paris, you’ll travel south to the Mediterranean Sea, and along the southern border of France before your start heading north to Bordeaux near the Atlantic Coast. It’s a full circle of France. And if you follow the Tour de France bicycle race, you’ll recognize three of the cities this tour visits that the race passes through: Paris, Nimes, and Carcassonne.
Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect on this Ultimate Tour de Beautiful France
DAY 1 & 2: The tour begins and ends in the City of Light, Paris.
You’ll visit the Notre Dame Cathedral and enjoy panoramic views from the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. You may want to take advantage of the optional excursion to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles.
DAY 3: Visit the Roman settlement in Troyes, châteauxs in Burgundy and try the regions famous wines, and settle in at the Château de Chailly for two nights.
DAY 4: Learn the history of Dijon on your walking tour, enjoy a scenic drive through the vineyards in Beaune, visit the inner court of the Gothic Hotel-Dieu, and the evening wouldn’t be complete without a wine tasting at the famous Marche Aux Vins wine cellar.
DAY 5: Take a scenic drive through the French Alps to Mont Blanc and the Chamonix ski resort (1924 Olympics), and try a traditional Fondue Savoyarde dinner.
DAY 6: Explore the town of Chambery and visit the sulphur springs at Lake Bourget.
DAY 7: Follow the route of Napoleon and enjoy amazing views of the Alps as your travel south. Visit the perfume factory in Grasse, and relax on a sunbed on the private beach at your hotel in Cannes (for two glorious nights).
DAY 8: Visit the flower market during your guided walking tour of Nice and put your toes in the Mediterranean Sea.
You may want to take an optional excursion to St. Paul de Vence and Monte Carlo to visit the casino.
DAY 9: Art enthusiasts will appreciate the stop in Aix-en-Provence. Walk the maze of cafes, bakeries and fountains. Then cross the Rhone River to the city of Avignon a town completely surrounded by water.
DAY 10: Spend the day exploring Avignon including a guided tour of the Palace of the Popes.
DAY 11: A stop at the Pont du Gard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a visit to the Roman settlement Camargue, including the amphitheater, in Arles, will give you a fascinating historical tour before settling in Nimes for the night.
DAY 12: Explore the ancient battlements in the beautifully preserved town of Carcassonne.
DAY 13: You must try the black truffles during your visit to the Dordogne region. A stop in Cahors, and learn its history from the Hundred Years’ War and the Black Death, and stop in Rocamadour, the city built on a cliff.
DAY 14: Tour the medieval quarter in Perigueux and take the optional excursion to the castle Chateau de Hautefort.
DAY 15: Enjoy the views as you ride the high-speed TVG train from Bordeaux to Paris.
End the tour with all your new friends during the farewell dinner sipping on France’s spectacular selection of wines.
DAY 16: Your Tour de Beautiful France end today after breakfast, but your memories will last forever.
This tour is offered May through September, and prices start at $4,149/pp. If you have questions, or want to know about other available tours through France, please call us at 1-888-804-CRUISE(2784) or visit our website www.CruiseExperts.com.
For more information on other European tours and river cruises, check out these blogs.