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Food & Wine: France through Burgundy & Champagne

with Aix-En-Provence extension

Duration: 11 or 14 days
Group size: 14-28
Reviews: 52

Discover the ingredients of French culture.

Treat your taste buds to a mouthwatering array of local specialties. Sip and savor the best of French cuisine as you travel through rustic vineyards, historic cities, and charming villages in Champagne and Burgundy on your way to Lyon.

Your tour package includes

9 nights in handpicked hotels
9 breakfasts
2 lunches
4 dinners with beer or wine
3 wine tastings

Included highlights

Eiffel Tower photo stop
Parisian food markets
Champagne cellar tour
Burgundy wine tasting
Château de Cormatin

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Day-by-day itinerary

Overnight Flight1 night

Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to Paris today.

Paris2 nights

Day 2: Arrival in Paris

Included meal: Dinner

Get acquainted with Paris before meeting your Tour Director and fellow travelers at a welcome dinner.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Paris

Included meal: Breakfast

A guided sightseeing tour introduces you to the architecture, scenery and cuisine of the City of Light's many neighborhoods, called arrondissements.

• Drive down the Champs-Élysées to view the Arc de Triomphe

• Pass the legendary Notre-Dame Cathedral, on an island in the Seine River

• See the Eiffel Tower, the Palais Garnier opera house and Place de la Concorde

• Marvel at the eclectic and iconic architecture of the Louvre

• Sample traditional French pastries and cheeses on a culinary walk

Enjoy a free evening or add an excursion.

Dinner in Paris & Seine River Cruise

Excursion (additional cost)

Champagne Region2 nights

Day 4: Reims via Chantilly

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

On your way to Reims, part of the famous Champagne region, stop in Chantilly for a tour of the magnificent château and taste of the town’s famous vanilla whipped cream.

Day 5: Sightseeing tour of Reims

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Explore Reims, home to the world’s most renowned Champagne estates.

• Visit the Gothic-style Reims Cathedral, a UNESCO-recognized site

• Step inside the Basilica of Saint-Rémi, the oldest church in Reims

• Pass by the Palace of Tau, a palatial 13th-century Gothic chapel and hall

• Tour one of the most reputed wine cellars in Champagne, where you’ll enjoy a tasting of the famous bubbly

Burgundy Region2 nights

Day 6: Dijon via Troyes & Chablis

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Travel through the world-famous Burgundy region.

• Stop in the medieval town of Troyes to admire the unique architecture on a walking tour, followed by free time for lunch

• Visit Chablis, the center of Burgundy’s winemaking heritage

• Enjoy a Chablis tasting paired with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses

Arrive in Dijon, home of the famed mustard, for an included group dinner.

Day 7: Sightseeing tour of Dijon

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Soak in Dijon’s sights and sample its fare on a guided tour.

• Stop at the Palace of the Dukes and Estates of Burgundy

• Take in the Church of Notre-Dame de Dijon and Dijon’s medieval streets

• At lunch, feast on boeuf bourguignon, a classic French dish

Enjoy a free afternoon or add an excursion.

Historic Beaune & Burgundy Cellars

Excursion (additional cost)

Lyon3 nights

Day 8: Lyon via the Burgundy & Beaujolais Regions

Included meal: Breakfast

Make your way to Lyon, the gourmet capital of France, with a few stops along the way.

• Journey to the Burgundy region where you’ll take a tour of the Château de Cormatin, an elegant private castle surrounded by a moat and formal gardens

• Visit nearby Tournus to see the town’s Benedictine abbey

• Stop in the Beaujolais region to taste some of the area’s rustic red wines

Day 9: Sightseeing tour of Lyon

Included meal: Breakfast

A local guide introduces you to the country’s culinary capital on a sightseeing tour.

• Take in the Gothic and Renaissance architecture as you pass by the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière

• See Lyon Cathedral and walk through centuries-old traboules, or underground passages

• End your tour in the city’s famous indoor market, Halles de Lyon

• Learn the French art of pastry-making during a cooking lesson with local chefs

Day 10: Free day in Lyon

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Spend the day exploring on your own or add an excursion. Later, say goodbye to your fellow travelers during a farewell dinner at a traditional bouchon restaurant.

Medieval Village of Pérouges

Excursion (additional cost)

Flight Home

Day 11: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay to explore Aix-en-Provence.

Extension to Aix-En-Provence

Aix-en-Provence offers travelers the quintessential charms of Southern France. An ideal city to sit back and enjoy your surroundings in, this extension gives you the chance to savor France’s exceptional scenery and cuisine for three more days.

Aix-en-Provence Region3 nights

Day 11: Travel to Aix-en-Provence

Included meal: Breakfast

Take the high-speed TGV train to Aix-en-Provence, and enjoy a free afternoon or add an excursion.

Provençal Dinner & Wine Tasting

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 12: Sightseeing tour of Aix-en-Provence

Included meal: Breakfast

Embark on a guided walking tour of the city to uncover the quintessential charms of Southern France.

• Discover Aix’s beautiful boulevards, the intricate medieval cathedral and enter the former studio of Cézanne

• Depending on the season, your tour may end with a stroll through the city’s vibrant markets to admire fresh flowers, sample the region’s famous herbs and seek out calisson, a traditional Provençal candy

Day 13: Free day in Aix-en-Provence

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend the day exploring on your own or add an excursion.

This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.

Marseille & Cassis: Coastal Cuisine & Cruise

Excursion (additional cost)

Flight Home

Day 14: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the Marseille airport for your flight home.

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Reviews

4.5 average

A PICTURE = 1000 WORDS

09/27/2018 by 3rd time traveler Richard Z.

GREAT FOOD & WINE

Great trip but needs some changes

09/27/2018 by 3rd time traveler Anonymous

Overall I really enjoyed the Food and Wine trip. Our guide, Thiery, was fabulous. Very helpful, patient and also courteous. Since it was a food an wine tour, I expected better food and wine. The first dinner in Paris when we met the group was fabulous. Duck or salmon, all perfectly prepared a...

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High Quality Food?

09/27/2018 by 4th time traveler Joseph K.

We went on a Food and Wine Tour in the Burgundy region. While many of the tour aspects were good to excellent, the promise of "high quality food" did not materialize. Several meals were NOT very good at all and only one was what I would call "Very Good" cuisine. What happned to the quality of French...

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09/26/2018 by 2nd time traveler Peter L.

Food definitely could have been better. Winery visited also should have been higher rating wines. Did enjoyed the itinerary.

Great Guide, Group and country!

11/06/2017 by 3rd time traveler Jennifer H.

We were busy all the time seeing amazing sites. We saw diverse and important sites in the country. The food was excellent. Our Guide Suzanne really made the trip outstanding, along with Emmanuel our driver. I didn't expect to fall in love with France but I certainly did! GoAhead makes traveling s...

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Our reviews are authentic and unedited.

Hotels, flights, & FAQ

Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

Hotels

We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.

Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel

This modern hotel is located in Montparnasse. Guests enjoy a fitness center, restaurant, and free Wi-Fi in the lobby. Nearby, you'll find Luxembourg G...

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Mercure Reims Cathedrale

Centrally located, the Mercure Reims Cathedrale is at the center of the liveliness or the city, and close by to the Reims Cathedral, the "Champagne Ho...

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Flights

Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.

Add our airfare package and you'll get:

Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes

Find out more about flights

FAQ

Passport & visa requirements

In order to enter France, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Tour pace

You will walk for about 3.5 hours daily across moderately uneven terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets, with some hills and stairs.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.

Transportation & arrival information

Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Paris and depart from Lyon (or Marseille on the tour extension). A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival. For more details, please reference the Paris transfer information included in your Go Kit.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
The tour extension includes a high-speed TGV train ride between Lyon and Aix. Please note that porterage is not included during this transfer.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

Baggage allowance

Airlines have varying weight restrictions on baggage. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you check any baggage; be advised that you are responsible for any such costs.
Contact your airline for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flight, but please note that our travelers are restricted to one checked bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
One carry-on bag of 45 total inches (length + width + height) is also permitted.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.

Clothing & packing tips

We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).

Health

There are no major health risks associated with traveling to France.
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at [cdc.gov](https://www.cdc.gov).
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

Cuisine

For a picnic with French flair, stop at a small grocery store for cheeses, pâtés, cured meats, fresh-baked bread, and fruit. In the cities, sidewalk vendors are known for their steaming crepes, while mouthwatering pastries and hot café au lait beckon from cafes. In restaurants, the prix fixe option is a popular way to enjoy a set three- or four-course menu for a good price.
Although lunch is generally served from noon until 2pm, dinner is served from 7:30pm onward. Those wishing to eat earlier can stop at a cafe, where light entrées and sandwiches are available throughout the afternoon and evening.
Some of the must-try local foods on this tour include crepes, croissants, cheeses, Dijon mustard, beef bourguignon, macarons, and lyonnaise potatoes (which you can try at a traditional restaurant, or bouchon, in Lyon).
France's wine regions offer some of the most famous varietals in the world, from sparkling white wine in Champagne and fruity reds in Beaujolais to pinot noir and chardonnay in Burgundy.

Electricity & air conditioning

France operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses Types C, E, or F plugs with two small, round pins.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other electrical device without a built-in converter.
The majority of the hotels on this tour will have air conditioning. The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

Time zones

France is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm in Paris.

Currency

You will use the euro in France.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.

Purchasing excursions on tour

Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on your tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa or MasterCard as payment for optional excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information. International travel is, by its very nature, unpredictable. We must therefore reserve the right to change this itinerary, without advance notice, to meet with local conditions at the time of travel. We appreciate your understanding. Please refer to our website for Terms & Conditions, dates, and prices.