14 Days • 13 Nights
Grand Tour of France
Tour Includes
About the Trip
You'll climb the Eiffel Tower and stroll the Seine, marvel at Chambord and Chenonceau, taste in the great chateaux of Saint-Emilion, walk the papal city of Avignon and the perched villages of the Luberon, and finish among the azure coves of Nice and Monaco. Fast trains and comfortable drives link it seamlessly.
With a rich mix of city and country hotels, guided touring and the great experiences arranged, this is France in full — the trip of a lifetime.
Trip Highlights
- Paris — the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Versailles and the Seine
- The Loire chateaux of Chambord and Chenonceau
- Bordeaux and the wine town of Saint-Emilion
- The papal city of Avignon and the Pont du Gard
- The perched villages and lavender of the Luberon
- The Riviera — Nice, Monaco and the perched village of Eze
- Thirteen nights across five celebrated regions
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner and wine-country and Riviera meals
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 14-day journey.
Arrive in Paris and settle into your central hotel, with a welcome dinner to begin your grand French journey.
A guided tour of the Eiffel Tower and the grand boulevards, then a Seine cruise past Notre-Dame and the floodlit monuments.
Skip-the-line into the Louvre for its masterpieces, then the opulent Palace of Versailles and its gardens.
Travel south to the Loire Valley, visiting the vast Chateau de Chambord with its rooftop of chimneys and famous double staircase.
Visit graceful Chenonceau arching over the river, with a Loire wine tasting and a country lunch among the vines.
Travel southwest to the elegant wine capital of Bordeaux, settling in along its neoclassical waterfront.
A guided Bordeaux tour, then out to the medieval wine town of Saint-Emilion for a chateau tasting and lunch among the vineyards.
Travel east to Provence and the medieval papal city of Avignon, settling in for three nights beneath the southern sun.
Tour the vast Palais des Papes and the famous bridge of Avignon, then the honey-gold Roman aqueduct of the Pont du Gard.
A day among the perched stone villages of the Luberon — Gordes, the ochre cliffs of Roussillon and lavender country in season.
Travel to the Cote d'Azur and Nice, settling in along the seafront with a Riviera dinner tonight.
A Riviera day tour to the perched village of Eze, the principality of Monaco and Monte Carlo's harbour and casino square.
A free day on the Cote d'Azur — the old town and markets of Nice, chic Cannes or Antibes, or simply the beach.
A final Mediterranean breakfast before your transfer to Nice airport, two glorious weeks behind you.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- Private arrival and departure transfers
- 13 nights in hand-picked city and country hotels across five regions
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner, wine-country lunches and a Riviera dinner
- A guided Paris city tour, Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Versailles
- Guided visits to Chambord and Chenonceau in the Loire
- A Bordeaux city tour, Saint-Emilion and a wine tasting
- Avignon, the Pont du Gard and a Luberon villages day
- A Riviera day tour to Monaco, Monte Carlo and Eze
- Scenic TGV rail links, local guides and all listed entry fees
Exclusions
- International airfare to and from France
- Schengen visa or ETIAS fees
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Additional domestic flights beyond those stated
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- City tourist tax (taxe de sejour), payable at your hotels
- Optional excursions, experiences and upgrades
- Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa: Non-EU visitors generally need a Schengen visa, and many visa-exempt nationalities will need the EU's ETIAS travel authorisation. Your passport should be valid at least three months beyond your stay — we can point you in the right direction
- Language: French is the language, and a warm bonjour and merci go a long way. English is widely understood in hotels and tourist areas
- Currency: The currency is the euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere; carry a little cash for markets, small cafes and tips
- Tipping: Service is included by law, so tipping is not expected. Rounding up or leaving small change for good service is a kind gesture
- Best seasons: France is wonderful year-round. Spring and early autumn are ideal for touring, summer is warm and lively, and Provence and the Riviera shine from May to September
- Etiquette: Dress a little smartly for dinner, and cover shoulders and knees inside churches. A greeting when entering shops is always appreciated
- Getting around: France's TGV high-speed trains connect cities beautifully, and some legs of your tour may travel by comfortable, scenic rail
- Meal times: Lunch runs roughly noon to 2pm and dinner from about 7:30pm. Many kitchens close between services, so we time meals to suit
- Museum closures: Many museums close one day a week — the Louvre on Tuesdays, Versailles on Mondays — and your itinerary is arranged around this
- Safety: France is safe, but as in any big city keep an eye on your belongings on the Paris metro and at busy attractions
Frequently Asked Questions
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included throughout, along with a welcome dinner and the specific lunches and dinners named in the itinerary, such as a wine-country lunch or a Riviera dinner. Other meals are left free so you can enjoy France's superb restaurants and cafes.
Are transfers and touring arranged?
Yes — your sightseeing, transfers and day tours are arranged with local guides, so there are no logistics to worry about.
Do I need a visa for France?
Most non-EU visitors need a Schengen visa or the ETIAS authorisation. We can guide you to the right one for your nationality.
When is the best time to visit?
Spring (April-June) and early autumn (September-October) are ideal for touring, with mild weather and fewer crowds. Provence and the Riviera are at their best from May to September.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. Durations, hotels and experiences can all be tailored, and we can extend your stay or combine regions. Just tell us what you have in mind.
How do we travel between cities?
Depending on the route, you travel by comfortable private vehicle or by France's excellent TGV high-speed trains, all arranged for you.
How do we cover so much of France?
A mix of comfortable private drives and France's superb TGV high-speed trains links the regions, so the long legs are swift and scenic rather than tiring.
Is fourteen days too much?
Not at all — with multi-night stays in each region, the journey feels indulgent rather than rushed, and it truly shows you the whole of France.
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