France 13 Day Tour

* Visit: Étretat, Bayeux, Mont Saint Michel, Saint Malo, Chenonceaux, Paris & Honfleur
* Giverny: Best known for the Impressionist painter Claude Monet
* Honfleur: A port town with old charm beauty, characterized by its houses with slate-covered frontages.
* Mont Saint Michel: Perched on a rocky islet in the midst of vast sandbanks, a UNESCO World Heritage
* Saint Malo: The most charming harbor town in Brittany
* Castle tour in Loire Valley, visit the most famous ones: Chambord Castle & Chenonceaux
* UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Mont Saint Michel, Chambord Castle & Château de Fontainebleau
* Arles: Steeped in provençal culture, much scenery can be found in Van Gogh’s canvas.
* Experience southern French culture of Aix en Provence & Avignon
* Senanque Abbey: A lovely medieval abbey in France
* Carcassonne: A fortified medieval walled city perched on a rocky hill. The castle is laid out in a concentric design with double walls and defensive towers
* Louvre Museum–one of the most important museums in the world with numerous art collections of great masterpieces and timeless treasures
* Monte Carlo: Renowned for luxury casinos
* Eze Village: Also known as “eagle’s nest”
* Nice: One of the most popular destinations and the fifth largest city in France
* Marseille: The largest harbor in France
* Travel from Marseille to Paris by TGV (high speed train)
* Provide one bottle of mineral water per person per day on the coach
* Provide headset service for 15 and more guests per group for better sightseeing experience

★ Entrance Fee & Transportation Included

Today, we will take overnight flight to Paris, arrive the next day.

Upon arrival, sightseeing tour will follow: Arc-de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Plaza de la Concord and Eiffel Tower. Continue to ★The Louvre, where you will be amazed by many great masterpieces and timeless treasures that include Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory.

Meal : Dinner／French Cuisine (escargot menu)
Hotel : Evergreen Laurel Hotel Levallois Perret Parisor similar

Today, we will take you to ★Claude Monet’s House & Garden in Giverny. Claude Monet was the leading light of the Impressionist movement. Impressionism is derived from the title of his painting “Impression, Sunrise”. Monet had painted many famous paintings such as” Water Lilies”. After lunch, head to Étretat–best known for its cliffs, including three natural arches and the pointed “needle”. These cliffs and the associated resort beach attracted artists including Claude Monet. And also was featured prominently in the 1909 Arsene Lupin novel “The Hollow Needle. Continue to Honfleur located in lower Normandy. Honfleur is a picturesque harbor town beloved by many artists such as Claude Monet, Renault and Pissarro. We will walk around harbor and the Sainte-Catherine Church & wooden bell tower.

Meal : American Breakfast at hotel             Dinner／Western Cuisine 3 Courses
Hotel: Mercure Hotel Honfleur or similar

After breakfast, depart for Beuvron–the most beautiful village in France. We will tour the oval central square surrounded by glorious ensemble of multicolored half-timbered houses. Continue to Omaha Beach, where the allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings during World War II. Then to Bayeux, we will visit ★Bayeux Tapestry–a 70-yard-long embroidered art that brings to life William the Conqueror’s victory over the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Tonight, we will overnight in Mont Saint Michel.

Meal : American Breakfast at hotel                 Dinner／Western Cuisine 3 Courses
Hotel : Mercure Hotel Mont Saint Michel or similar

Mont Saint Michel—Timeless, picture-perfect island. After breakfast, we will visit ★the Abbey–a Romanesque church, whose gilded statue decorates the top of the abbey’s spire, was the patron saint of many French kings. Continue to Saint Malo, a walled city, you can stroll along to the top for spectacular view. Later, to Rennes, we will visit Cathedral Saint Pierre.

Meal : American Breakfast at hotel                    Dinner／Western Cuisine 3 Courses
Hotel : Mercure Centre Rennes Centre Gare or similar

After breakfast, scenic drive to Loire Valley, the land of thousand castles. We will visit ★ magnificent Chambord Castle, one of the most recognizable chateaux in the Loire region. It was built to serve as a hunting lodge for King Louis XIV and Napoleon. There are many distinctive architectural characters: The roofs cape, towers, chimneys and spectacular double helix open staircase. Later to elegant, river-straddling Renaissance castle ★ Chenonceaux, the beloved home of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medics. We will overnight in Tours.

Meal : American Breakfast at hotel                Dinner／Western Cuisine 3 Courses
Hotel : Mercure Nord Hotel Tours or similar

After breakfast, an excursion to Saint-Emilion, one of the principal red wine areas of Bordeaux. We will stop at ★winery to sample many kinds of fine quality wines. Continue to Carcassonne, a fortified medieval walled city perched on a rocky hill top. Its medieval atmosphere and ancient monuments attracts millions of tourists year round.

Meal : American Breakfast at hotel                  Dinner／Western Cuisine 3 Courses
Hotel : Mercure Hotel Carcassonne Porte de la Cite or similar

After breakfast, we will drive to Arles; visit L’Espace Van Gogh, the hospital where he was taken after he cut off a portion of his ear. Then to Roman Arena and Le Café Van Gogh. Later, to Avignon, a medieval town often referred as the “City of Popes” because ruled by Roman Catholic popes in the 14^th century. We’ll visit Papal Palace –the biggest Gothic palace in the world. Then to St-Benezet bridge, built in the 12^th century and best known for the famous children’s song “Sur le pont d’Avignon”

Meal : American Breakfast at hotel            Dinner／Chinese Cuisine 8 dishes and 1 soup
Hotel : Mercure Hotel Avignon Palais des Papes or similar

Today, depart for Gordes, a very beautiful old village, perched on the southern edge of high Plateau de     Vaucluse. We will visit ★Senanque Abbey, established in 1148 under the patronage of Alfant and impoverished monks. They grow lavender and tend honey bees for their livelihood. (Lavender season: late June to mid July). Later to Fountaine de Vaucluse, also known for its karst, a geological formation shaped by the dissolution of layer of soluble bedrock. Stroll along in this medieval town, you will find cafes, old paper mills. Later, depart for Aix en Provence.

Meal : American Breakfast at hotel                  Dinner／Western Cuisine
Hotel : Mercure Aix en Provence Saint Victoire Hotel or similar

Aix-en-Provence, a city known for its arts and architecture & fountains. After breakfast, city tour will follow.

Stroll along cours Mirabeau, where many cafes, restaurants and grand mansions are located. Paul Cézanne used to spend time at Les Deux Garçon Café. Continue to Monaco, we will visit Cathédral de Monaco, where many of the ruling kings were buried here. Then to Palais Princier (Prince’s Palace), it offers breathtaking panoramic view of the harbor and city. Continue to Eze village, also known as “eagle’s nest” because of its location overlooking high cliff above sea level on French Mediterranean. Shortly after, depart for Nice, renowned for year-round sunshine and beaches. In old town, stroll along Promenade des Anglais for stunning sunset view.

Meal : American Breakfast at hotel                    Dinner／Western Cuisine
Hotel : Mercure Nice Centre Notre Dame or similar

After breakfast, depart for St Paul, a beautiful medieval fortified village perched on a narrow cliff between two deep valleys. Continue to Cannes, a world renowned seaside town , especially during Cannes Film Festival, you might spot actors, celebrities in person. Later, depart for Marseille; we will visit ★Notre Dame de la Garde, a Neo-Byzantine church, ornamented with colorful marble, murals. It offers panoramic city view. Later, we will take ★boat excursion to the ★ Chateau d’If, built on a small island. Best known for its place in the novel “The Count of Monte-Cristo “by Alexandre Dumas.

Meal : American Breakfast at hotel                    Dinner／Western Cuisine
Hotel : Novotel Marseille Centre Prado or similar

After breakfast, we will take ★TGV (high speed train) to Paris. Upon arrival, to Fontainebleau located 55 km southeast of Paris. We’ll visit ★ Château de Fontainebleau–one of the most beautiful castles in France. You can enter the Château through the stately Courtyard of the White Horse, the famous horseshoe-shaped staircase dates from the reign of Louis XIII. This sprawling palace is a veritable showcase of French Renaissance architecture from 12^th to 19^th century. UNESCO declared the castle a World Heritage Site in 1981.

Meal : American Breakfast at hotel                    Dinner／Chinese Cuisine 8 dishes and 1 soup
Hotel : Mercure Hotel Paris Montmartre Sacre Coeur or similar

After breakfast, transfer to airport for homebound flight to US and ends this unforgettable journey.

Meal : American Breakfast at hotel