Paris, the Loire Valley & Provence

DAY 1, Monday - Arrive in Paris & Transfer to Loire Valley
Arrive in Paris and transfer to the Château d'Eslcimont, set near Chartres and the idyllic Loire Valley. This tranquil castle, complete with moat, turrets, and gardens set in a 150 acre estate, was built by the Archbishop of Tours in 1543. In the evening, meet the group at the hotel for a welcome drink and reception followed by dinner.
Overnight: Saint-Symphorien-le-Château
Meals: Dinner
 
DAY 2, Tuesday - Loire Valley Excursion
Today begins with a full day exploration of the Loire Valley. The "Ladies Castle," home of Catherine de Medici, Chenonceau will be the first visit. Continue to Chateau d'Amboise, where Leonardo da Vinci is buried, and view the stunning Chambord Castle Estate. Return to Chateau d'Esclimont for dinner.
Overnight: Saint-Symphorien-le-Château
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
 
DAY 3, Wednesday - Chartres, French Cooking Class
Today visit Chartres with a cathedral renowned for its stained glass windows. View the workshop where this amazing craft is still practiced. Return to the Chateau d'Esclimont for a cooking class with a top French chef and enjoy the fruits of your labors tonight for dinner.
Overnight: Saint-Symphorien-le-Château
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
 
DAY 4, Thursday - Versailles Palace Tour, Paris Orientation Tour
Depart today for Paris. On the way, stop at Versailles to admire the Palace of Louis XIV, the Sun King. Experience the grandeur of French Baroque architecture on an exciting guided tour to the world-famous Palace of Versailles, Europe's most influential chateau. Visit the beautifully decorated State Apartments, Queen's Apartments, and the Hall of Mirrors in equally daunting arcades. Stroll around the palace halls before visiting the beautifully landscaped grounds featuring extensive gardens, beautiful fountains, and an enormous Grand Canal, making it one of the largest formal gardens ever created. On arrival in Paris enjoy an exciting orientation viewing the Eiffel Tower, the celebrated Avenue Montaigne and Avenue George V, where many stylish shops and fashion houses boast big-name designer brands. Learn the history of haute couture and of the many famous designers who helped make Paris one of the world's premier fashion capitals. Check into your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure to discover the city by night.
Overnight: Paris
Meals: Breakfast
 
DAY 5, Friday - The Louvre, Notre Dame, Fashion Show
After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a full day sightseeing in Paris, with photo stops along the way. Begin with a drive down the Champs Elysees, Paris' most decorated avenue, lined with theaters, cafés, restaurants, shops, and several important architectural monuments, including the famous Arc de Triomphe. Continue for a guided visit to the Louvre Museum, one of the largest, oldest, and most historically significant museums in the world. Your tour begins outside the Louvre with a walk through its commercial square, and continues inside the museum, where an experienced guide will present various exhibitions and many of the museums's most famous holdings, including da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Enjoy lunch on your own at a nearby sidewalk café, before visiting the renowned French Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral, the building made immortal by Victor Hugo's 19th-century novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This afternoon attend a fashion show and enjoy shopping in the shopping district of Boulevard Haussmann and the Opera district.
Overnight: Paris
Meals: Breakfast
 
DAY 6, Saturday - Montmartre, Flea Market, Left Bank
This morning, enjoy a stroll through the largest and most notable public park in Paris city, the Luxembourg Gardens, in the heart of the Latin Quarter. Populated with intricate statues, calming fountains, colorful flowers and a large basin, the formal garden is a rare delight. The Left Bank was a 12th-century scholastic center and is world-famous for its vibrant atmosphere, classy boutiques and bistros, and many prestigious educational establishments, including the Sorbonne. Next, drive north to Montmarte to see the Sacre Coeur Basilica high on the Hill of Martyrs. With artists in the Place du Tertre sketching vistas at nearly every turn, you are constantly reminded of the time when Montmarte was the centre of artistic life in Paris. Later, enjoy time exploring the stalls in the charming scene of Paris' most famous flea markets. Hunt for antiques and bargains among the lively crowd and shop for some unique wares.
Overnight: Paris
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
 
DAY 7, Sunday - Travel to Aix-en-Provence
Transfer to the Paris train station for your journey to Provence. Upon arrival in Aix-en-Provence, transfer to the hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure, and in the evening, meet your group at the hotel for a reception and dinner.
Overnight: Aix-en-Provence
Meals: Breakfast, Reception, Dinner
 
DAY 8, Monday - Aix-en-Provence Sightseeing, Luberon Winery
The morning's orientation tour brings you to the charming Cours Mirabeau, a wide thoroughfare that harmonizes 16th, 17th, and 18th-century houses with plane trees and decorative fountains. The tour continues to visit a studio dedicated to Paul Cézanne, the famous French Post-Impressionist painter who lived and worked in Aix. See the elegant square of the Palace of Justice as well as views of the Montagne St. Victoire before a delightful excursion to Luberon National Park, with its hilltop villages and rolling green hills, reminiscent of Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence. From here, jaunt to a nearby wine estate for a guided tour of the winery and gardens, followed by a tasting of some of the winery's most prized vintage wines. Enjoy a flavorful lunch with paired wines in the estate's courtyard, before continuing to visit the village of Lourmarin, located at the foot of the Luberon Massif. Enjoy time at leisure to walk the village's old stone streets, which wind round typical Mediterranean architecture and beautifully shaded public squares. From here, travel to the enchanting hilltop village of Gordes, considered the "Parthenon of Provence".
Overnight: Aix-en-Provence
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
 
DAY 9, Tuesday - Avignon, Cote du Rhone Wine Tasting, Pont du Gard, St. Rémy-de-Provence
This morning, enjoy a short drive to the Provençal town of Avignon, home of the historical Avignon Papacy. Upon arrival, enjoy an orientation tour of the town, including the famous broken bridge, the Papal Palace, one of the largest and most historicly significant medieval Gothic buildings in Europe, and the lively Place d'Horloge. From here, drive to the Cote du Rhone vineyards and the lovely town of Chateauneuf du Pape, where we will enjoy a sampling of some of the wines for which Rhone is famous. Following the tasting, proceed to view the Pont du Gard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the most ancient Roman aqueduct in France. The tour continues to St. Rémy-de-Provence to see the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, the asylum where Van Gogh spent some of his troubled last days.
Overnight: Aix-en-Provence
Meals: Breakfast
 
DAY 10, Wednesday - Van Gogh's Arles, Les-Baux-de-Provence Cooking Class
Today's journey leads into the heart of the Camargue to Arles, where you will see the Roman Arena and the 12th-century Cathedral of St. Trophime among other sights. From here, drive north along densely forested slopes to Les Baux, a gorgeous hilltop town in the French countryside. Often labeled "the most beautiful village in France," due to its rich cultural heritage and medieval history, Le Baux is a truly fascinating town that blends the Renaissance with the contemporary. Then, enjoy a private cooking class that highlights the delicate flavors of Southern France, followed by a lunch with drinks included.
Overnight: Aix-en-Provence
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
 
DAY 11, Thursday - French Riviera, Cannes & Nice Excursion
After breakfast this morning, depart for the French Riviera, passing the Abbey of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume en route to St. Maxime, the stylish resort of the Esterel Coast. From here, board a small ship to cruise across the Mediterranean from St. Maximim to St. Tropez. Enjoy time at leisure in the land of the rich and famous, people-watching from one of the terrace cafés, before heading for Cannes, with a drive along the Boulevard de la Croisette to see the Film Festival Center. The tour continues to Nice where the evening is yours to pursue whatever piques your interest.
Overnight: Nice
Meals: Breakfast
 
DAY 12, Friday - Nice Orientation, Monte Carlo Excursion
This morning's tour takes you into the heart of Nice to see such sights as the famous Promenade des Anglais, a "must see" for travelers due to its history and nightlife, the Old Town, and Place Massena. Then take a mini-train up to the "Colline du Château" for panoramic views of the city and Bay of the Angels below, which is a favorite way to view Nice. The tour continues to Eze to visit a perfumery and attend a perfume-making class. Dive nose first into a world of scents and discover the basic processes of fragrance design. Have fun creating your very own fragrance, which you may take home in a personalized perfume bottle with your name or the name you have chosen for your creation. Each of these newly created perfumes will be classified and conserved to facilitate possible re-ordering. Later, drive to Monaco to visit the world-famous Monte Carlo Casino, one of the Riviera's most frequented landmarks. Undoubtedly the true highlight of this 8-day getaway, Monte Carlo is the epitome of wealth and glamour, a prime destination for royalty and some of Hollywood's most famous actors and actresses. At the hotel this evening, celebrate your final night in France together with a farewell dinner.
Overnight: Nice
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
 
DAY 13, Saturday - Depart for the USA
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast