A Taste of France – 7 Days Tour

Bienvenue! Welcome to Paris for the start of your 7 day Taste of France tour! If you arrive early, take time to explore The City of Lights, stroll the historic boulevards, visit the many museums, shop in charming boutiques or simply people-watch from a Parisian cafe. This evening, you’ll meet your Expat Explore tour leader and fellow travellers at our included welcome dinner. Start point Hotel ibis la Defense, Ibis Paris la Défense Centre, 4 boulevard de Neuilly, Courbevoie, Hauts-de-Seine 92400, France

Leaving Paris behind us, we make our way to the Burgundy region, where we’ll enjoy a wine tasting. If Paris is the place for romance, then Burgundy is the place for two other things France is well-known for: great food and fine wine. Famous ‘Burgundies’ (wines made in this region) include whites made from Chardonnay grapes, and dry reds made from the Pinot noir grape. We’ll then travel on to Lyon, where your tour leader will take you on an orientation tour. The city, itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for its gastronomy, historical landmarks and picturesque riverside setting. This evening, you’ll have the opportunity to join your tour leader for an optional dinner, where you can try classic Lyonnais cuisine.

Our first stop today is at the incredible Chateau de Chaumont. Built in the 15th century, this stunning example of a renaissance French Chateau (castle) stands on a hill above the River Loire, and is known for its summertime garden festival. The ‘Festival des Jardins’ (International Garden Festival) has been held here since 1992, and features up to 30 themed gardens that paint a panoramic picture of landscape design from around the world. After having some time to explore the chateau and the extensive gardens, we’ll head to our accommodation in the Loire Valley, where we’ll enjoy an included dinner.

Enjoy a free day to explore the Loire Valley! This fertile river valley in central France is covered in vineyards, hundreds of chateaux and quaint French villages. The valley is one enormous UNESCO World Heritage Site, testament to the centuries of history and architectural riches offered by this region, and the perfect way to experience these treasures is on the châteaux optional excursion. In addition to experiencing the stunning French countryside, the charming town of Amboise and a wine tasting, you will visit two of the finest châteaux in France; Château de Chenonceau and Château de Chambord.

Our first stop is at magical Mont St Michel. An island commune located just off the coast, it is one of France's most recognisable landmarks, and is another French entry on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. After some time to explore the abbey and monastery we’ll travel on to Bayeux, a commune in north-western France. Bayeux is famous for the bayeux Tapestry, a large embroidered cloth more than 70 metres long which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England. You’ll have free time to see the tapestry in the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux, or alternatively the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy, which offers a great insight into WWII and the prominent role this region played during the Normandy Landings.

This morning we’ll explore ‘Omaha’ D-Day landing beach. It was here that the Allied forces landed in June 1944 during WWII, which eventually led to the liberation of France. You'll have time to explore the area and reflect on all that transpired here, as well as the opportunity to visit the Arromanches 360 cinema. This optional experience tells the story of the Battle of Normandy thanks to archive images gathered from around the world. We’ll then continue back to Paris where your tour leader will lead you on a driving tour of this famous city; you’ll see the must-see sights including The Eiffel Tower, The Champs-Élysées, Notre Dame, the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe. To round off the last day of the tour we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner so you can say your goodbyes and share your memories of the last week with your fellow travellers and tour leader.

This morning, your Taste of France tour concludes after breakfast. Don’t forget to swap details with your fellow travellers before your onward journey home!

End point Hotel ibis la Defense, Ibis Paris la Défense Centre, 4 boulevard de Neuilly, Courbevoie, Hauts-de-Seine 92400, France