On this journey through northern France, you’ll experience some of the world’s most historical sights—from the 12th century to the 21st. Begin your trip with a stay in romantic Paris, the City of Light, then visit the best parts of the French countryside where authentic sweets and treats await.
Trip costs include:
- Round-trip transatlantic air transportation with a major airline, airport transfers and escorts
- The services of a bilingual Go Ahead Tour Director
- A licensed local city guide in Paris, Rouen and St. Malo
- 10 nights accommodation in comfortable, well-located hotels with twin beds and private bath or shower
- All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling and local taxes
- Buffet breakfast daily; 5 three-course dinners
- Private deluxe motorcoach
- Guided sightseeing and entrance fees to select sights as described
- Go Ahead travel bag and membership in our World Traveler Club, which includes credit toward your next tour
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 - Paris
Your trip begins with an overnight flight to Paris aboard an internationally recognized airline.
Day 2 - Paris
Welcome to Paris! A Go Ahead representative greets you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore the City of Light on your own. You’ll meet your fellow travelers at a Welcome Dinner this evening.
Included meals: breakfast (in flight), dinner
Day 3 - Rouen
This morning, you’ll travel to Giverny (seasonal) to visit Claude Monet’s Gardens. Next, continue on to Rouen where a professional local guide leads your tour of this medieval city. See the enormous 16thcentury Renaissance clock on Rue du Gros-Horloge and view the two-towered Notre Dame Cathedral. You’ll also see the Church of Joan of Arc, which stands in the market square where Joan of Arc was executed, and the multi-turreted Palais de Justice.
Included meals: breakfast
Day 4 - Rouen
Continue your explorations of Rouen today on your own or join our optional Honfleur and Calvados excursion for a guided tour and a calvados (apple brandy) tasting at a local distillery.
Included meals: breakfast
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$59 USD |
Honfleur & Calvados
Journey to Honfleur for a guided tour. You’ll quickly discover why this picture-perfect seaport is popular with artists, writers and musicians. After your tour, pass the Normandy Bridge, an engineering marvel whose construction lasted for six years and was completed in 1995. Later, visit a distillery to taste the namesake apple brandy of the Calvados region.
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Day 5 - Normandy Coast
Continue along the rugged Normandy coast into Lower Normandy. Pass through the Auge region with its picture-perfect cottages and manors nestled into the rolling countryside. Stop in the town of Lisieux, where St. Theresa spent her childhood, and see the basilica constructed in her honor. Upon arrival in Caen, your tour director leads an orientation of the town, which William the Conqueror chose as his French headquarters. Continue to your hotel where dinner is included.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Day 6 - Normandy Coast
Explore the Normandy Coast at your leisure today, or you might choose to join an optional excursion to the evocative Normandy beaches, where World War II history was made during the bloody battles of the Allied invasion. On your excursion, visit the Caen Memorial, commemorating the D-Day soldiers responsible for the liberation of France in World War II.
Included meals: breakfast
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$75 USD |
D-Day Beaches of Normandy
Travel to the memorial of Caen and visit the Caen Memorial Museum, commemorating the D-Day soldiers responsible for the liberation of France in World War II. Next, stop at the American Cemetery in Colleville—the burial place for more than 9,000 American soldiers who lost their lives in the D-Day invasion. Visit Pointe du Hoc to view the evocative granite monument erected by the French in honor of the American Second Ranger Battalion.
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Day 7 - St. Malo
Journey through the village of Bayeux to view the famed Bayeux tapestry, an ancient work of art depicting the Battle of Hastings. Continue on to the rocky seaport of St. Malo for an included dinner tonight.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Included entrances: Bayeux tapestry
Day 8 - St. Malo
From the rocky Atlantic outpost of St. Malo, pirates once set sail, as did explorer Jacques Cartier on his way to eastern Canada. On your fully guided tour, take in the narrow streets, tall granite homes and medieval ramparts, and learn how the town’s seamen fought Barbary pirates and plundered English, Dutch and Spanish merchants. This afternoon, opt for an excursion to the spectacular Mont-St.-Michel monastery, situated on a tiny islet surrounded by dramatic tides.
Included meals: breakfast
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$69 USD |
Mont-St.-Michel
Tour the breathtaking islet monastery of Mont-St.-Michel, one of the wonders of the Western world. Perched high on a granite rock, this 8th-century abbey is surrounded by water at high tide and quicksand at low tide. See too the picturesque medieval houses within the town’s surrounding fortifications.
Please note: This excursion involves extensive walking, some over uneven terrain.
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Day 9 - Loire Valley
Depart St. Malo and head south in to the lush Loire Valley, now a major wine-producing region and once France's "Playground of the Kings." Upon arrival in the Loire Valley, your first stop is Fougeres, a fortified city and military stronghold in medieval times. You'll also top to view the Chateau Amboise. Arrive later at your hotel and enjoy an included dinner with your group.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Day 10 - Paris
Today, explore the Loire Valley’s Renaissance castles. Experience a fully guided tour of romantic Chenonceau, arching gracefully over the River Cher. You’ll also stop to admire the impressive Chambord, before transferring back to Paris. Upon arrival, you can enjoy an optional Evening in Paris that begins with dinner at a favorite local restaurant and ends with a cruise along the Seine.
Included meals: breakfast
Included entrance: Chenonceau
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$99 USD |
Evening in Paris
The event begins with dinner at a favorite local restaurant. After you dine, board a boat cruise along the Seine, an unforgettable experience. Coast along the water and under the many famous bridges of the Seine and take in the gloriously illuminated monuments of Paris—including Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower—an enchanting sight
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Day 11 - Paris
An expert local guide introduces you to the historical and cultural landmarks of the City of Light. Drive down the sycamore-lined Champs-Élysées, one of the world’s most celebrated avenues. You’ll pass the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World’s Fair. See Place de la Concorde, where the guillotine once stood, and absorb the haute couture of the Opera district.
In the afternoon, join an optional excursion to Versailles, a small hunting lodge turned magnificent château. Designed by Europe’s most talented 17th-century architects and landscape designers to be the envy of royalty worldwide, Versailles is a sight to behold. Tonight, enjoy a Farewell Dinner with your group.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
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$89 USD |
Versailles
It took 50 years and 35,000 workers to turn Versailles into the most magnificent château in all of France. On this excursion, you will see the palace in all its glory. Tour the State Apartments and the glittering Hall of Mirrors. Then stroll through the lavish gardens with their fine statuary, splendid fountains and colorful flowerbeds.
Please note: This excursion requires advanced reservation and must be booked by 45 days prior to departure.
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Day 12 - Paris
Board your flight home or prolong your vacation with two additional nights in Paris.
Included meals: breakfast
Extend Your Stay
Add 3 nights in Paris for only $ USD (Single room: add $ USD)
Ah, Paris, the city of life, love and light. From the Eiffel Tower to the Mona Lisa, from the bustling Champs Elysées to the winding streets of Montmartre, you'll find magic, romance and history as you sip a café au lait, stroll manicured parks and watch the sun set over the Seine.
Protect your investment with affordable travel protection
Basic Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage
Protect yourself in the event you need to cancel your trip or leave your tour unexpectedly due to an emergency. Or choose one of the comprehensive packages below, and receive a discounted rate!
TravelSafe Plus — For one low price, you’ll receive:
- Trip cancellation & interruption protection
- Medical & accident protection
- Baggage & property protection
TravelSafe Gold with Flight Cancellation Protection
Take advantage of the best possible deal for your investment dollar. For $60 USD more, you’ll get all of the above plus additional coverage (up to $1,000 USD) if the flight to your tour is cancelled due to reasons beyond your control.
Purchase your travel protection package early and receive an added benefit!
Purchase one of the above TravelSafe packages within 14 days of reserving your tour, and you’ll automatically receive AnyTime Travel Protection at no additional charge. This means you can cancel for any reason up to 72 hours prior to the departure of your initial flight and still protect your investment. You will be provided with a credit voucher towards your next Go Ahead tour.
What’s unique about these protection plans?
- Most primary travel protection companies don’t cover international travel.
- Under the AnyTime Travel Protection Plan, you can cancel for any reason and your investment is protected in the form of a credit voucher.
- Efekta travel protection covers lost or stolen cash while on tour.
- Efekta travel protection covers the cost towards replacement of valuable documents—such as passports, airline tickets and visas while on tour.
- In the event that your roommate cancels for a reason covered under the policy, you will be reimbursed for the single supplement fee, should you still choose to travel.
- The following policies are also available to be purchased separately:
- Medical & Accident: $70 USD
- Baggage & Property: $60 USD
Extended Protection Plan
The Extended Protection Plan allows you to purchase extended coverage for any travel you do before or after meeting up with your Go Ahead Tours tour group (with flights arranged by Go Ahead Tours).
For more detailed descriptions of the benefits available under Efekta Insurance International LTD's Travel Protection Plans please call 1-800-597-0350 or download a PDF copy of the Efekta Travel Protection booklet here.
Clothing & Packing Tips
Light, loose-fitting clothing that provides comfort when exploring the sights is essential for your tour. A sun hat, sunglasses and a sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers are recommended for sightseeing. It’s always a good idea to be prepared for any eventuality—a lightweight sports jacket and emergency rainwear are advised. If you plan to visit an especially elegant restaurant or attend the opera or theater, you will probably feel more comfortable with something more formal to wear. Also, remember that it is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
Be sure to visit
www.travelsmith.com, official outfitters for Go Ahead Tours. Please enter JY9220 in the field for Catalog Key Code when creating your account!