Tour Inclusions

9 Nights
14 Meals 9 Breakfasts, 5 Dinners
Hotel
Driver
Tour Leader

La Belle France

10 days
France
Max 18 Passengers

Overview

Step into a land of renowned artists and royal crusaders, hilltop monasteries and valley castles. This tour takes us from France’s dramatic northern shores to château-sprinkled countryside, breaking off to see WWII sites, explore centuries-old villages and sample home-grown delicacies.

Tour Starts/Ends
1 Overnight Stop
Day Stop

Tour Highlights

Wander the enchanting island village of Mont Saint-Michel
Enjoy a tasting session at a local winery set amidst the rolling vineyards of the Loire Valley
Be inspired by the vivid colours of Claude Monet’s estate in Giverny

Gallery

Tour Itinerary

Expand Full Itinerary

Day 1 - Paris (France)
Welcome to the City of Lights. After meeting the group at our hotel, we’ll get to know each other over a sumptuous welcome dinner. Bon appétit! Accommodation: Maison Axel Opéra (or similar)
- Meals
  - Dinner
Day 2 - Paris – Honfleur
Our first impressions of France will be formed in Giverny at the home of Claude Monet – one of the world’s most celebrated artists. The vivid colours in every room paint a picture of his life, and the surrounding gardens host flowers in every shade. Our home for the next two nights will be the charming port town of Honfleur – which you may recognise as the subject of a fair few Impressionist paintings. We’ll spend the evening at our leisure, soaking up the rugged maritime atmosphere of this quaint town. Accommodation: Hôtel l'Écrin (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 3 - Honfleur – Normandy – Honfleur
This morning we’ll visit Honfleur’s bustling market and wander past its historic buildings and 17th-century harbour on an orientation tour. Then: we’ll track the Route du Cidre in Normandy, pausing at a local calvados producer to sample the fruits of the region’s orchards. From cool, crisp ciders to heady, amber-hued calvados – it makes for a delicious end to our day of exploration! Back in Honfleur, we’ll have the evening to spend at our leisure. Accommodation: Hôtel l'Écrin (or similar
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 4 - Honfleur – Normandy Beaches and Bayeux – Arromanches-les-Bains
Today we’ll turn our attention to the windswept shoreline of the Normandy beaches, where we’ll visit the sites of the 1944 D-Day landings. Afterwards, there’s the opportunity to pay a poignant visit to the American Cemetery and Memorial at Colleville-sur-Mer, where we’ll take some time to reflect on history overlooking Omaha Beach. An awe-inspiring Tapestry awaits in Bayeux and after taking some time to inspect this masterpiece, we’ll move on to Arromanches-les-Bains – our home for the night and setting for tonight’s included dinner. Accommodation: Les Villas d’Arromanches (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Dinner
Day 5 - Arromanches-les-Bains – Mont Saint-Michel and Dol-de-Bretagne – Dinan
This morning we’ll drive on to the enchanting Mont Saint-Michel, crossing the walkway to wander the buzzing island village and explore the Abbey. As we make our way to Dinan, we’ll stop off for a photo opportunity at Dol-de-Bretagne – where we’ll see the famous Menhir de Champ-Dolent. Tonight, an included dinner awaits us in a traditional Breton crêperie. Accommodation: Hôtel Le d'Avaugour (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Dinner
Day 6 - Dinan
Today is yours to spend however you wish in the medieval town of Dinan. Wander cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses, take a closer look at the Basilique St-Sauveur, visit the old bridge or stroll along the Rance River – whatever you decide, you certainly won’t be short of things to do! Accommodation: Hôtel Le d'Avaugour (or similar
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 7 - Dinan – Angers – Chinon
Today will find us deep in fairytale territory as we travel towards the Loire Valley. Here, the landscape’s skyline is peppered with the turrets of castles. Our first port of call will be Angers, which was once the medieval stronghold of the Plantagenet kings. After spending some time absorbing the history of the castle, we’ll move on to Chinon – where we’ll dine together at a local restaurant. Accommodation: Hôtel Le Plantagenêt (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Dinner
Day 8 - Chinon – Château de Villandry – Chinon
Next stop: Château de Villandry. Famous for its impeccably manicured gardens and architectural elegance – this mesmerising château is one of the last built during the Renaissance in the Loire Valley. Taking in so much beauty is thirsty work, so on our way back to Chinon we’ll enjoy a detour at a local winery – where we’ll visit the vineyard and cellars before sampling a glass or two. Accommodation: Hôtel Le Plantagenêt (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 9 - Chinon – Château de Chenonceau and Amboise – Montlouis-sur-Loire
Today’s château? One of the Loire Valley’s finest: Château de Chenonceau. Here we'll take some time to stroll through the idyllic gardens and explore the fascinating museum. We’ll make a brief stop in Amboise – the town where Leonardo da Vinci lived out the last years of his life. This evening, we’ll enjoy a delicious final dinner together. Accommodation: Château de la Bourdaisière (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Dinner
Day 10 - Montlouis-sur-Loire – Chartres – Paris
Before we say our final goodbyes, we’ll have the opportunity to visit the medieval city of Chartres. The celebrated Chartres Cathedral is believed to be one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in France – and it’s a beautiful image to take with us back to Paris.
- Meals
  - Breakfast

Tour Inclusions

Accommodation

- 9 nights in hand-picked accommodation

The Crew

- Experienced Tour Leader and Driver

Transport

- Premium mini-coach transportation

Reviews

8 reviews

Reviews Rating

26th June 2023
Review rating

Very enjoyable trip. Would not hesitate to go on a similar trip in different location. I think a lot depends on the guide and driver and we struck gold standard there. It would have been our preference to have slightly roomier accomodation but we understand back roads trying to keep within a budget.
2nd June 2023
Review rating

Great itinerary. Wonderful sites. Wonderful to explore the incredible towns of Normandy and Brittany.
25th May 2023
Review rating

Great destinations, excellent driver, hotels good, but, unfortunately our guide did not speak French. He had no experience of the tour or destinations. Indepth input on any of the cultural nuances in France was non existent, ie. food, French culture, traditions, language etc. (The meals that were provided were disappointing. In some cases we had to choose from poorly translated menus with limited choice and then when dishes arrived that were not what we ordered - we were told the chef had changed his mind.) We were very disappointed with the tour. If you are touring in a foreign country it is essential that the guide is fluent in the language and understands the way of life and culture of the country you are in. Our expectations of a "Back Roads Tour" were to be able to immerse ourselves in the culture of the country and this did not happen.