Villages of France

Welcome to Paris. After settling in, you’ll join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for dinner – the perfect chance to get to know each other over classic French flavours. If you’re keen to see the city from a different angle, join an Optional Experience Seine river cruise and take in the sights of France’s capital.

Follow the story of Joan of Arc and her role in the city’s siege as you explore Orléans at your own pace, visit the medieval centre or browse the local boutiques. In Bourges, join a guided walking tour and visit two of its most impressive landmarks – the UNESCO-listed Cathédrale Saint-Étienne and the 15th-century Palais Jacques Cœur. If you’re looking for something special this evening, you can choose an Optional Experience that includes a regional dinner.

• Visit Orléans
• Walking Tour of Bourges

Travel through the Bourbonnais countryside, where vineyards and fortified villages shape the landscape. Stop at Château de Vieux Chambord for a Be My Guest experience hosted by Marie and Stéphane Devaulx de Chambord. Set within their 14th-century family estate, you'll learn about the château’s history and everyday life in rural Burgundy, followed by lunch served in one of the original towers. Later, continue to Beaune, wine capital of the region. Join your Travel Director for a walk through the town centre, known for its colourful rooftops and medieval streets. Visit the Hôtel-Dieu museum, a historic former hospital, and then Dive into Culture at the Moutarderie Fallot, where you’ll learn how mustard is made and enjoy a tasting. The evening is free to spend as you wish.

• Enjoy Lunch with the Devaulx de Chambord Family at Château de Vieux Chambord
• Explore Beaune
• Visit Hotel-Dieu Museum - Hospices de Beaune
• Moutarderie Fallot

Join your Travel Director in the mustard capital of France for an orientation of Dijon’s historic centre, where elegant streets, timber-framed buildings and local delicacies come together. On market day, visit Les Halles – the covered market designed by Gustave Eiffel – and see Burgundy’s food culture in full swing. Spend the rest of the day at leisure or delve deeper into the area’s culinary scene by choosing an Optional Experience at a local vineyard, where you’ll experience a Burgundy wine tasting and sit down to a delicious typical lunch.

• Dijon Orientation including Les Halles on Market Day

In Colmar, your Travel Director leads a walking orientation through canal-lined streets and colourful timber-framed houses. In Strasbourg, explore a city where you’ll see both French and German influences – from its open squares and historic centre to the architecture that reflects its blended past.

• Colmar Orientation

Explore the city with a Local Specialist on a guided walk through its historic centre. Visit Strasbourg Cathedral, stroll through Petite France and see landmarks like Place Kléber, each revealing the city’s unique character. As part of your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, stop in at Cafe Joyeux, where your visit helps champion equal access to employment through hospitality training. Your afternoon is yours to explore, relax or join an Optional Experience cruising Strasbourg’s canals before visiting the European Parliament. This evening, another Optional Experience takes you across the Rhine for dinner and drinks at a much-loved Gasthaus.

• Guided Walking Tour of Strasbourg
• See Quartier de la Petite France, River Rhine and Place Kléber
• Visit Strasbourg Notre-Dame Cathedral
• Visit Cafe Joyeux

Travel to Metz, where you can take in the cathedral and explore the city’s historic centre. Continue into the Champagne region and arrive in Épernay for a tasting of the drink that made the region world-famous. In Hautvillers, stop to see the statue of Dom Pérignon, the monk whose name lives on through one of Champagne’s most prestigious labels. The day ends in Reims, where you’ll gather with your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a final dinner, toasting to the journey through Paris, the French countryside and villages.

• Visit Metz and Epernay
• See the Vineyards of Champagne
• Taste Champagne in the Champagne Region
• See the Statue of Dom Pérignon in Hautvillers

Visit a cheese dairy in Meaux and Dive into Culture as you learn how Brie de Meaux is made using traditional methods. Enjoy time to explore the local farmers’ market, where stalls are filled with fresh produce and regional specialities. Back in Paris, spend the afternoon your way. You might explore landmarks like the Eiffel Tower or Notre-Dame Cathedral. As the city lights up, a choice of Optional Experiences invite you to enjoy dinner and a Parisian cabaret show or a meal in Montmartre, the hilltop artists’ quarter.

• Visit Meaux including Farmers Market
• Guided Tour of The Meaux Saint Faron Cheese Dairy

So, it’s “adieu Paris,” and farewell to your Travel Director and fellow travellers who’ve shared this journey through France.