A Week In… The French Riviera, Provence & Paris

Tour begins: 3:30 PM, Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée. A transfer is included from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport to Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée. Explore Old Town on a guided walk this afternoon, then join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at your five-star luxury hotel, occupying a former Art Deco casino located on Nice's legendary Promenade des Anglais. Stay Two Nights: Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée (D)

A marvelous day in southern France begins with a panoramic tour of seaside Nice, whose "Old Town" recalls the days when aristocrats and royals spent their winters here; see the Port and the Promenade des Anglais and the Cimiez District, a leafy, upscale neighborhood in the north of the city known for its historic, elegant apartment buildings, expansive gardens and Roman ruins. Here, you'll enjoy a visit to Musée Marc Chagall, a national museum spotlighting religious-inspired works by the Russian-born painter who made France his home.

Next, head for Monaco to get a taste of life in glamorous Monte-Carlo, including lunch on the terrace of the elegant Fairmont Monte Carlo. Then spend some free time in Monaco-Ville, the oldest part of the city (also known as Le Rocher, or "The Rock"), where you can visit either the Prince's Palace, home of Monaco's ruling Grimaldi family since the 13th century, or the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate (Monaco Cathedral), completed early in the 20th century. Return to your hotel in Nice for an evening spent as you please. (B/L)

From Nice, begin the day with a visit to the picturesque walled town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a Provençal hilltop town that was built in the 13th century, for an orientation tour led by your Tauck Director; you'll be taken with its medieval look and easily understand why it became an artists' enclave.

After some free time to explore Saint-Paul-de-Vence on your own, continue on for an afternoon spent among the fountains, squares and medieval center of lovely Aix-en-Provence; imagine great artists like Paul Cézanne and others at work amidst the spectrum of colors found in "Aix" as you explore and enjoy lunch as you please in town, and join your local guide for a walking tour. Arrive late afternoon in St-Rémy-de-Provence to spend the next two nights at charming Le Vallon de Valrugues & Spa, where you'll enjoy dinner this evening. Stay Two Nights: Le Vallon de Valrugues & Spa (B/D)

No journey in Provence is complete without exploring the landscapes that inspired Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh, where olive groves, cypress trees, and flowers the colors of the rainbow greet you. You'll do just that when you join your Tauck Director for an introductory tour of St-Rémy-de-Provence, where van Gogh spent a year of his life at a monastery that served as an asylum – a period of creativity that produced 150 of his most beloved paintings, including Starry Night, Wheat Field with Cypresses and Irises.

This afternoon, en route to Avignon, visit an olive oil estate for a tour and tasting. Avignon has reigned as one of Europe's most beautiful medieval cities since the 14th century when it was briefly the capital of Christendom and the home of the Roman Catholic popes.

Following an orientation tour of this well-preserved riverside city, explore the four-towered, fortress-like Palais des Papes with a local guide, revealing the treasures and lifestyles of the pontiffs who reigned here for almost 70 years. Join us this evening for a memorable dinner at one of Avignon's top restaurants, featuring a wine tasting, before returning to your hotel in St-Rémy. (B/D)

Depart St-Rémy this morning and travel to the Pont du Gard – a testament to human ingenuity. The three-level, 164-ft.-high "bridge" was built by the Romans to carry fresh water over the River Gardon nearly 2,000 years ago; a very rare opportunity to cross the very top of the bridge through the aqueduct where the water once ran and a visit to the museum.

After a boxed lunch, board the high-speed TGV train in Avignon for a rapid rail journey in first class to inimitable Paris and a three-night stay at the newly renovated Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra; dine at the hotel this evening. Stay Three Nights: Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opera (B/L/D)

A guided orientation tour today gives you a great overview of Paris and includes the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower and more. Then, combine two Parisian pleasures as you feast on a sumptuous lunch from the kitchen of Chef Alain Ducasse while gliding along the River Seine aboard Ducasse sur Seine, a floating restaurant created by the famous chef.

Ducasse sur Seine is the only electric restaurant boat on the Seine... from an environmental perspective, it emits significantly less noise and no pollution. As the soul of Parisian cuisine comes to life on your plate, the city's landmarks float by, each one a unique confection. Explore more of the amazing French capital as you wish for the rest of the day and evening. (B/L)

Join our local guide this morning for a visit inside the legendary Musée du Louvre, where you'll view some of the world's most famous art masterpieces, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. Spend the afternoon at leisure, then join us for our farewell dinner tonight at a venue affording memorable views of this remarkable city – and bid adieu to Paris in true Tauck style! (B/D)

Tour ends: Paris. Fly home anytime. Your transfer is included from Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra to Charles de Gaulle International Airport, Orly Airport or a Paris train station. You should allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in. (B)