info@airtoursholidays.in
ITINERARY
Bienvenue! Your France trip begins in Paris, nicknamed Ville Lumière or the City of Lights, the pulsating, vibrant and yet elegant capital soaked in centuries of history, as well as art, fashion, and romance welcomes you.
Upon arrival, you'll be met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel. Take some time to head out and familiarise yourself with your surroundings. Watch the Eiffel Tower sparkles for 5 minutes every hour on the hour in the early evening and finally make sure you get a good rest before exploring the streets of Paris next day.
This evening, you can opt for the spectacular extravaganza – Le Lido!
Overnight in Paris
This morning, after breakfast at your hotel, get ready to explore the city with a local guide. This full-day tour gives you plenty of time to experience the highlights starting with the Royal Palace, the Sainte Chapelle, and Notre Dame. From here, wander through the streets of the trendy Le Marais district and explore symbolic places within such as the Place des Vosges.
After a lunch on own, it's time to explore the Louvre - the largest museum in Europe, with skip-the-line-access, where you can get up close to Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa. After this cultural visit, relax with some fresh air in the Tuileries Gardens, and then continue to the Champs Elysees and the majestic Arc de Triomphe.
Finally, visit the architectural wonder that is the Eiffel Tower. Enjoy the beauty of this monument before ending the epic tour with a boat cruise along the Seine.
Overnight in Paris
After breakfast this morning, for splendor with a capital S, visit the magnificent Palace of Versailles. A symbol of flamboyance, it was the royal palace for two centuries right up to the French Revolution. Take a stroll around the Versailles Gardens to follow in the footsteps of Louis XIV, the infamous Sun King.
Inside the palace, you’ll find extravagance in every room. Don’t miss out on the Royal Apartments and the fabulous Mirror Hall (Galerie des Glaces). Visit the Hall of the Battles (Galerie des Batailles) to see France’s military history in paintings and in sculptures.
Alternately, if history is not your thing then head to Euro Disney on a full day excursion to discover the child in you as you visit the Studios and the Park.
Overnight in Paris
This morning, after breakfast in your hotel, check out and board your hight speed TGV from Paris to Provence. The journey to the south of France takes about three hours. Once you arrive at the station, you will be transferred to your hotel in the center of Aix-en-Provence.
During your first moments in Provence, take notice of the city's rich heritage, art, and culture. "Aix" and its surrounding villages have an exceptional geographic location, and these picturesque landscapes have been immortalized by painters such as Cezanne, Picasso, and Kandinsky.
In the afternoon, discover the beauty of the city by taking a two-hour walking tour around its labyrinth of narrow streets and fountains with a private guide. Visit the Cathedral, Hotel de Ville, Cours Mirabeau, and some hidden gems. Make sure to ask your guide for the best restaurants in town before you explore the dining scene on your own.
Overnight in Aix-en-Provence.
After breakfast this morning, break away from the ordinary and grab the chance to experience Provence's rich way of life with a foodie tour and cooking class!
This full-day adventure starts with a shopping trip in the food markets of Aix's Old Town. Meet local purveyors and choose fresh regional produce and products like herbes de Provence, olive oil, truffles, figs, honey, and more.
Next, carry the fresh produce to your host's country estate, which follows a route that passes through the scenic Montaiguet Forest with a stop at a local chateau to select some great Provençal wine to pair with your meal.
Take a stroll around the estate and search for wild aromatic herbs, before you join the cooking class—this is where you and a group of culinary enthusiasts will actively participate in the preparation of various recipes. After two hours of cooking, sit at the long communal table for a fun and rewarding meal as you interact with the other participants.
Overnight in Aix-en-Provence
This morning, an early breakfast and early start with a visit to the Provençal markets of Aix where you can find plenty of local specialties such as macarons, calissons, goat cheese, olive oil, honey, and fantastic local wines to take home as souvenirs—or, instead, shop for clothes in the city's stylish boutiques.
Thereafter, time for an exciting day out as you head to the small port of Cassis (nicknamed the small Provençal Saint-Tropez) and its wonderful Calanques National Park—a UNESCO World heritage site with white cliffs and turquoise waters. Enjoy some free time to either explore the town of Cassis, relax on the beach, or check out the scenic trails in the park. You could even rent a kayak. Make sure to check out the exceptional view of the bay from the highest cliff in Europe, called Cape Canaille, located 1312 feet (400 m) above sea level.
Later, this afternoon, your guide will introduce you to Marseille and its Vieux Port where you will visit Basilica Notre Dame de la Garde, Saint Victor Abbey, and a crypt that contains the 4th-century marble sarcophagi. Next, some free time to walk around the Panier, the oldest neighborhood of Marseille, and the 17th century Vieille Charity museum and the Cathedral La Major to complete this afternoon of cultural sightseeing.
At the end of the day, return to Aix-en-Provence.
Overnight in Aix-en-Provence
This morning enjoy a hearty breakfast and then depart Aix-en-Provence with your private driver and make your way to Cannes. But first, take the time to discover the Mediterranean coast by driving through a series of narrow, scenic roads, with hidden creeks and wild beaches.
On your first stop, discover the small town of Saint-Tropez. The place remains a must for celebrities, beach lovers, history buffs, art collectors, and sailors. Your guide will share the town's secret places and intimate beaches before you choose a spot for lunch at the main port where you can enjoy a view of the sea and life as it passes by, here in Saint-Tropez.
Later this afternoon, continue your journey along the coast passing through Port-Grimaud and Theoule sur Mer before landing at your hotel in Cannes in time to relax and enjoy the local dining scene.
Overnight in Cannes.
After breakfast onto Grasse. France is famed not only for its fashion scene, food, wine and romance, but also for the heady perfumes. Make your way to the hills north of Cannes where lies Grasse, a charming village that happens to be the perfume capital of the world. With a private guide, you can visit its historic city center where shops and vendors sell the region's culinary specialties like Provencal stew, aioli, anchoïade, herbes de Provence, olive oil, truffle, figs, honey, and ofcourse wine.
But the real art of Grasse is found in its perfume industry. This local legacy since the 18th century is defined by luxury, refinement, and the supreme quality of ingredients used to make Grasse's famous fragrances. This artisanal trade has been passed down over generations and is revealed in its many perfumeries. You'll discover this seductive art on a visit to one of the premier perfumeries in town. During the visit, make your own fragrance, selecting the "notes" (scents) and combining them on a specialized perfumer's organ to create the perfect signature scent. Your unique formula will then be registered, so you can order your perfume even after returning home.
At the end of the tour, return to Cannes for another night on the town.
Overnight in Cannes
This morning, get ready to finish your French trip near the Italian border. Nicknamed Nissa La Bella -"Nice the Beautiful", Nice is a historic city famous for its artistic spirit, grand plazas, crescent-shaped pebble beaches, and the narrow streets of its colorful old town, Vieille Ville. It is a densely populated coastal metropolis, which means there are plenty of secrets to discover and adventures to be had around every corner.
Enjoy one such adventure on a tour of the city led by an expert local guide. It's an immersive experience that reveals Nice's highlights, landmarks, and legends. Your guide will take you to must-visit sites like the Greek quarter (Nice was actually founded by the Ancient Greeks of the Massalia region in 350 BCE), and the Roman remains of an amphitheater and arena in the historic Cimiez neighborhood. This is also the location of two other notable landmarks: the opulent Excelsior Régina Palace, where Queen Victoria of England used to summer on the French Riviera, and the Musée Matisse, a museum showcasing the works of one of Nice's most famous residents, the expressionist master painter Henri Matisse.
Other highlights of the tour include stops at the Promenade des Anglais, Port Lympia, the aforementioned Vieille Ville, and the ornate St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral. The tour ends, fittingly, with a visit to one of the city's most famous landmarks, the Negresco Hotel, a throwback to France at the turn of the 20th century. Here you can enjoy an aperitif in style and make a toast to your very own slice of the Belle Époque.
Overnight in Cannes
Wake up early to catch the sunrise before breakfast. Soon it is time to say goodbye to France! You will be transferred to either Arles, Avignon, Marseille or Nice for your connecting train ride or departure flight home. Au revoir!