Activity description
Let yourself be amazed during this three-day tour, which will immerse you in the heart of France's cultural richness, accompanied by an interpreter guide. Discover the Landing Beaches, before passing through two Normandy cities: Honfleur and Rouen. Continue your itinerary with a visit to Saint Malo and Mont Saint-Michel. End your trip in the Loire Valley with a visit to the Châteaux of Langeais, Chenonceau, and Chambord.
DAY 1
Board our air-conditioned bus at 6:45 a.m. in front of our agency located near the Louvre Museum. Departure at 7:15 a.m., heading towards Normandy, after crossing the western neighborhoods of Paris. After about two hours on the road, there's your first stop in Rouen. Your guide will take you on foot to explore the historic center, featuring the magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral and the famous Gros Horloge (the Great Clock), its timber-framed houses, and its pedestrianized medieval streets, which give it an authentic charm. Rouen inspired many Impressionist painters, including Claude Monet, who painted his series of paintings of the Cathedral there.
The late morning continues with a roughly one-hour drive to Honfleur, where you can admire the incredible Normandy suspension bridge that spans the Seine estuary. The stop in Honfleur offers free time to explore this typical port town with its picturesque streets and colorful houses. Enjoy lunch at one of Honfleur's restaurants, whose terraces offer a delightful seaside setting.
After lunch, the bus resumes its journey along the Normandy coast. Discover the most famous D-Day landing beaches, must-see sites from World War II, which witnessed the arrival of the Allies on June 6, 1944. Enjoy a moment of contemplation at the Colleville-sur-Mer American Cemetery, located near Omaha Beach. A symbolic site of the Battle of Normandy, the cemetery is impressive for its 70-hectare area and the thousands of white marble tombs it contains.
This visit is followed by a stop at the Normandy beach at Arromanches (25 min from Colleville-sur-Mer), which has preserved visible traces of the platforms of the artificial port built in England and towed there to aid the landing, despite attacks at sea.
The first day ends at the Novotel de Caen hotel (or similar), where dinner will be served before everyone leaves.
DAY 2
Start the second day with a buffet breakfast. The tour continues to Saint-Malo, located about 170 km from Caen. Admire the ramparts, the Château, Saint-Vincent Cathedral, and even the national fort during a guided tour of Saint-Malo, a historic heritage site. Afterwards, there will be free time for lunch in the Breton city.
The day continues towards one of the must-see places during your trip to France. Discover, with your guide, the majestic Mont Saint-Michel, perched on a rocky peak and surrounded by a splendid bay. Enjoy the climb to the village along the Grande Rue, which runs through it and houses most of the shops, museums, and typical medieval houses. You'll arrive at the 8th-century Benedictine Abbey at the top of the mountain. Enjoy a guided tour of Mont Saint-Michel Abbey to discover this Gothic splendor with its cloister and garden, offering panoramic sea views. After the visit, enjoy some free time to stroll through the lively streets, admire the incredible view of Mont Saint-Michel Bay flowing down from the ramparts, or savor the delicious crepes.
Departure from Mont Saint-Michel is scheduled for Angers around 4:30 PM. After a roughly three-hour drive, you'll check into your Angers Centre hotel (or similar) for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3
The third day begins with a brief stop at Angers Castle to admire the exterior of this medieval fortress, after breakfast at the hotel.
The tour continues to the Loire Valley and makes its first stop at the Château de Langeais, which has retained its fortified castle character. Your guide will take you inside the monument, where a recreation of everyday scenes from the period, created with highly realistic wax figures, will immerse you in French history.
After the guided tour of Langeais, enjoy lunch in Amboise at your leisure. Your guide will recommend several places to eat near Amboise Castle.
The afternoon begins with a guided tour of Chenonceau Castle, located about 20 kilometers from Amboise. A Renaissance masterpiece with fairytale architecture, situated on the Cher River bridge, Chenonceau Castle is a symbol of French history. Also known as the Ladies' Castle, it was built and decorated over the years by numerous French celebrities (Diana de Poitiers, Catherine de Medici, among others). During the guided tour, admire the wonderfully decorated and flower-filled rooms, which embody the refined French life of the time.
The journey continues for approximately another hour, taking you to Chambord Castle. The guided tour will allow you to discover this majestic Loire Valley Château, with its exceptional architecture and rich artistic heritage. During your visit to Chambord, you'll see the imposing double-helix staircase, the former king's chamber, and other rooms located on the castle's floors. Admire the view of the Chambord surroundings from the large terrace, with its impressive chimneys dominating the park.
The bus leaves Chambord at around 6:30 pm for central Paris, arriving at 9 pm.
Notes:
Please note that the tour DOES NOT include pick up from your hotel.
Please check in 30 minutes before the activity starts with your ID and reservation number.
We recommend wearing comfortable shoes during tours.
