Overview
History buffs are sure to be amazed by the many historic towns and attractions on this tour. Immerse yourself...read more in ancient Roman history with a stop at Pont Du Gard bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 1st Century. Visit the amphitheatre in Arles, the city with the most Roman remains outside of Rome. Go back in time to the Middle Ages with a visit to the clifftop town of Rocamadour. Walk by the ancient battlements in the beautifully preserved, medieval town of Carcassonne; and visit Beaune’s Hôtel-Dieu charity hospital, built in 1443 after the Hundred Years’ War left many of the town’s population destitute. Coming to recent history, see Normandy’s landing beaches, where Operation Neptune was launched on June 6, 1944.
Art history fans will enjoy a visit to Aix-en-Provence, the birthplace of painter Cézanne, and a stroll around the 17th-century Cours Mirabeau, a lively area with fountains, elegant homes, and famous cafés. Spend time in the Loire Valley with its spectacular vineyards and castles. Discover Dordogne, one of France’s most picturesque regions, showcasing many charming villages. Of course, no France tour is complete without visiting the French Riviera, and you’ll have plenty of time to explore this beautiful area on the Mediterranean Sea. This value-minded tour through France is truly a holiday of a lifetime!
Itinerary
Check into your hotel and spend free time strolling around Paris. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travel companions.
Drive first to the historical capital city of Normandy, Rouen-one of the most prosperous cities of medieval Europe. Walk through its centre, rich in Gothic architecture. Next, visit lovely Honfleur, known for its picturesque port and houses with slate-covered facades. Continue to Caen. Today's Distance: 186 mi/ 300 km (B)
Embark on an emotional journey to the legendary beaches where the Allied troops landed more than 75 years ago and experience the most moving site of the American Cemetery at Omaha. Travel through the Normandy countryside and stop to marvel at the unique beauty of Mont St. Michel, which stands on an island accessed via a causeway. Overnight in St. Malo. Today's Distance: 147 mi/ 236 km (B)
Time for a stroll on the shores of St. Malo, a popular seaside resort, then depart for Angers to visit its cathedral. Continue along the banks of the Loire River to reach the enchanting Chateaux Country. This evening, join an optional dinner at a local restaurant. Today's Distance: 224 mi/ 360 km (B)
Spend the day at leisure or take an optional excursion to see some of the most spectacular castles of the Loire Valley, steeped in the history of noblemen and kings since the 11th century. Gothic spires, medieval turrets, great fortresses, and beautiful châteaux make for splendid panoramas. (B/D)
Enjoy a scenic drive through the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, rich in agricultural resources including vineyards, forests, and cereal fields, and stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Pyrenees in the South. On arrival in Bordeaux, discover the city on the included guided city sightseeing tour and consider an optional wine tasting excursion. Today's Distance: 230 mi/ 370 km (B)
Discover one of France's most scenic regions, the Dordogne. Stop in the sacred medieval town of Rocamadour, dramatically perched high upon a cliff. Built on three successive levels, Rocamadour is both a place of legend and history where old stone houses, majestic towers and an impressive castle were built on the cliff edge of the Alzou Canyon. Continue southwards to Toulouse. Today's Distance: 267 mi/ 430 km (B/D)
Travel to Carcassonne, immerse yourself fully in the medieval atmosphere of the city and discover its secrets on a guided tour. Then, stop for a picture at the famous Pont du Gard, one of the wonders of Antiquity, and the finest remaining example of an ancient aqueduct built 2000 years ago by the Romans. This architectural gem, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is set in a beautifully pristine natural setting. Upon arrival in Avignon, free time to explore the old quarter featuring an amazing architectural and historic heritage, such as the Palace of the Popes. Today's Distance: 217 mi/ 350 km (B)
Visit Arles, known all over the world for Van Gogh's paintings. Admire the famous Roman amphitheatre, then continue to Aix-en-Provence. Walk down its main street, the Cours Mirabeau, lined with plane trees in the French tradition, and the 17th-century palace, houses, and fountains. Finally, head to the French Riviera on the shores of the Mediterranean. Today's Distance: 186 mi/ 300 km (B)
Take time to enjoy all the amenities of the French Riviera at your own leisure. Tonight, maybe join the optional "Monte Carlo by Night" excursion to see the Principality of Monaco. (B)
See more of the Provence region today and stop in Orange, a town surrounded by beautiful countryside. It boasts Roman and Celtic heritage, as well as first class wines and original culinary and craft products. Next is Lyon, located at the confluence of the Rhone and Saone Rivers. On arrival, enjoy an orientation tour. Today's Distance: 298 mi/ 480 km (B/D)
Travel through the picturesque vineyards and fields of Burgundy to medieval Beaune, the region's wine capital since Roman times. Stop to visit the famous Hôtel-Dieu. Return to the French capital of Paris. Today's Distance: 304 mi/ 490 km (B)
Discover the glorious ville lumieres (City of Lights) and its many boulevards and monumental buildings. On your included sightseeing tour, a local expert will guide you through Parisian history, tradition, and modern living. Optional excursions are also available to complete your experience. *
* Note: for operational reasons, changes to the Paris program cannot be excluded (B)
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- 13 Breakfasts
- 3 Dinners
- Paris Tribe Paris La Defense Esplanade (First-Class)
- Caen Ibis Styles Caen Centre Gare (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Saint Malo Ibis Styles Port St Malo (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Amboise Novotel Amboise (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Bordeaux Ibis Styles Bordeaux Meriadeck (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Toulouse Ibis Pont Jumeaux (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Avignon Ibis Avignon Centre Ponte De l'Europe (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Nice Ibis Styles Nice Vieux Port (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Lyon Area Mama Shelter Lyon (First-Class)
- Paris Novotel Paris Charenton Le Pont
- Airport transfers at your arrival and departure destination are not included in the price of the tour.
- Itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and specified internal flights. International flights not included.
Enjoy inside visits to Europe's the must-see sites with a great mix of included excursions, free time and affordable value. Read more
Cosmos build free time into every one of their holidays, so you can eat, shop, and explore the way you want. Read more
Cosmos' easy going, fun-filled and multilingual Tour Directors and Local Guides love exploring as much as you do. Read more
Trip Reviews (52) View All Most Recent 'Grand Tour of France' Reviews
Hotels 3* with very basic facilities (missing hot water/coffee facilities and fridge in all hotels, except one) and medium/small size room, but comfy. Great beds! Some were quite distant from the city center but most were manageable. Hotels' staff were good and fluent ...read more in English. Our Guide was a lovely guy, gentle, polite and calm. Good basic knowledge about touristic sites, however some times the communication of plans with the group were not so clear, generating some frustrations amongst some (and almost "forgotten luggage at lobby of hotel" one one occasion!), but in general very responsible and caring in all aspects. Always trying to help as he could in some unplanned bad situations. eg. Forgotten mobile on highway restaurant!
Our Driver was polite and a good driver, I suppose, despite a bit of more opening to help, maybe bending a bit the time schedule, could have saved a lot of stress on the "forgotten mobile situation", but in part understood due to the "highway possible difficulties".
Our route and attractions : great towns and attractions but quite in a hurry. Major difficulty was coordinating the meals and available time around visited towns to avoid missing the coach. Some of the major attractions, despite described on tour, were in fact independently done, not really part of the tour, like Mt Michel visit.
Included dinners were the low part of the tour, except for the last hotel, the included dinners were extremely poor in quality. Disappointing french cuisine in fact quite "uneatable" and ridiculous in some occasions. (My suggestion is to pleases revise the quality of meals before including it as dinner..for the sake of tour name!). Breakfasts were good in my point of view in all hotels (but I'm sure not complete for those who are used to hot bkf..)
A big failure of the planned trip that made me think twice for possible next trip with Cosmos was the badly explained beforehand and unexpected bad surprise on last tour day. Example: Last Paris day with 2 optionals for the same day, included on same day of a quick Paris Bus city Tour, where, whoever wouldn't be signed for the optionals were left on their own to find their way back to the hotel, for the sake of the optional tours to be completed. This was a bad surprise. About 12 travelers tried to sort Metro station/lines, walking literally 40 min to the right spot, relying in continuous street people advices and google maps, in Metro peak hour, some with mobility difficulties. (One couple separated due to fullness of metro train had to wait for next one alone).Seriously??!! The minimal expected would have been to drop who was not on" optional " tour , back at the hotel or at the very least close to the exact Metro Station. (They should be a priority in my point of view as a client paid to be"spoiled by a preorganized tour. This transport "adventure" was explained only on the last day. Maybe some people wouldn't even bother to go to the rushy bus city tour if were aware that optional tour would have priority above the regular clientele).
In general tour gives an idea of country France, superficially, as expected for quick moving tour, but a taste of France. Food and hotels will always have + /- ,all accepted as "expected"..but the last day arrangement I believe it is a big failure in planning, that should be reviewed.
Several times we were at locations early in the morning (before 10am) and sites and shops were not always open. Lunch breaks were sometimes rushed trying to fit as much sightseeing in as possible as well as lunch, shopping and finding bathrooms! Very good Tour Director: Camille (fun and full of energy) who always provided maps and marked them up with directions. Coach driver: Tom, very safe driver, very clean coach.
I really enjoyed the French countryside, My favourite place was Chenonceau chateau in the Loire valley. Paris at the end of our tour was extremely busy. I felt this tour provided a great introduction to France.
Availability
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you enquire. Additional savings may apply. We guarantee the lowest price in Australia. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Cosmos. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Cosmos. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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