Compare Normandy, Brittany & Chateaux Country by Great Value Vacations vs World War I Battlefields - Small Group Small Group by Insight Vacations
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| Trip |
4 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 9 days | 4 days |
| Price From | $ 4,131 | $ 1,575 |
| Price Per Day | $ 459 | $ 394 |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | Airfare included | Airfare included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
This is an escorted tour. It’s perfect if you prefer not to do your own driving and want to see as many sights as you can during your vacation. GOOD NEWS - The local tour operator will no longer require a COVID-19 vaccination for travelers as of March 1, 2023. For travelers departing before March 1, the tour operator requires that travelers aged 12 and older provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy), in English, for all vacations. Proof of vaccination must be completed at least 14 days prior to the tour start date. *Exceptions apply to children who do not qualify for vaccination. Savor the flavors of French cuisine, sip on local wine, visit Paris' most iconic landmarks, and explore the countryside beauties of Normandy, and Chateaux Country. Immerse yourself in history, visit storybook-like castles, and stroll through cobblestoned villages. Looking for a full, authentically French experience? You've found it! Start your adventure in the City of Lights - the always elegant Paris! Gawk at the Arc de Triomphe, shop the day away on Champs-Elysees, and see once-in-a-lifetime views from the second floor of the Eiffel Tower! Enjoy scenic rides to Rouen, Caen, and more. See history books play out before your eyes on the beaches of Normandy, then retreat to the coastal gem of Mont St. Michel! Visit magnificent castles in Chateaubriant and see the marvelous sights of the Loire Valley. Your journey comes full circle, as it ends with one last amazing night in Paris. What better way to say "au revoir" to France, than a sunset picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower? |
Live through the history and grit of World War I during this 4-day guided tour of its key battlefields and monuments. Journey from Paris to the Ypres Salient battlefields and see the Passchendaele Memorial and Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, the largest cemetery in the world for Commonwealth forces. Later, visit the Australian Fromelles Military Cemetery, where 250 British and Australian soldiers were buried after the Battle of Fromelles. Meet a Local Expert for a tour of the key battlefields of the Somme and see the church in Albert where many weary soldiers stopped for comfort on the way to those battlefields. On the way to Paris, visit the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux and the Franco-Australian Museum in the local Victoria School. |
Day 1 Welcome to Paris!
Arrive in the twinkling city of elegance, style, and sophistication! Enjoy a comfortable transfer to your first luxurious accommodation, then get ready for an exciting night. At 5:30 pm, you'll meet your tour director and traveling companions for a lovely welcome dinner at one of Paris' posh restaurants. Clink glasses, enjoy local wine, and get to know each other! Then comes the icing on the cake - take the elevator to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower and enjoy a dazzling view of the "City of Light."
Day 2 Paris
Ahh, wake up smiling - you're in Paris! Enjoy breakfast, then join your local guide and venture out for a day of sightseeing. Stand in front of the Arc de Triomphe, strut down the Champs-Elysees, see the Courtyard of Les Invalides, and more! Later tonight, enjoy dinner and a lively cabaret show at one of Paris' nightclubs!
Day 3 Paris - Giverny - Rouen - Deauville
Recharge with a quick breakfast, then set off on a scenic ride through France! Start the day with a visit to Claude Monet's House and Gardens. In Rouen, admire the ornate facade of the magnificent cathedral, which was one of Monet's favorite subjects for his paintings (many of which you can find today in Paris' Musee d'Orsay). Stroll along the charming cobblestoned Rue-du-Gros-Horloge and find yourself at the very square where the Joan of Arc was burned in 1431! Arrive in Deauville, the seaside resort famous for its international film festival. you may enjoy visiting the Promenade des Planches before you leave!
Day 4 Deauville - Normandy Beaches - Caen
Take a day to walk through world history as you visit Pointe Du Hoc and Omaha beach today. You'll visit the cemetery and see the Monument to the Braves. After, continue on to Fold Beach to see the Mulberry Harbour remains at Arromanches. After a day of exploration, you'll finish the trip to Caen for your overnight stay.
Day 5 Caen - Mont St. Michel
After breakfast, you'll have the chance to see the history of D-Day, June 6, 1944, right before your eyes. Drive by Juno Beach and stop at Gold Beach for a view of the Mulberry Harbor remains at Arromanches. Visit the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach, then continue to Sainte Mere Eglise, where American soldiers parachuted into the town the night before D-Day! Grab your camera, join your guide, and get ready for an afternoon of sightseeing. Even enjoy a guided visit of the famous Abbey of Mont St. Michel, perched on a rocky isle in the Gulf of Saint Malo! Breathe in the salty sea air and enjoy a relaxing night on the coast near Mont St. Michel.
Day 6 Mont St. Michel - Cheverny (Loire Valley)
Rejuvenate with a pleasant breakfast, then enjoy a scenic ride across Brittany, via Chateaubriant, to Angers! Don't worry, you will definitely be able to stop for pictures of the stunning 13th-century castle. Continue your journey to the picturesque Loire Valley, a whimsical region of manicured gardens, storybook-like castles and homes, quaint villages, and lush greenery. Tonight, treat yourself to some authentic French cuisine at one of the area's amazing restaurants.
Day 7 Cheverny (Loire Valley)
Waking up in the Loire Valley is like waking up in a fairy tale. After breakfast, visit two of the most important castles in the area! You'll start at the "jewel of the French Renaissance," Chateau Chambord, then you'll move on to 16th-century Chenonceau, the 16th-century chateau of Catherine de Medici. Sip and swirl during a wine tasting at the Pere August wine cellar in Civray de Touraine, where you'll learn all about local wines. Return to your chateau and enjoy a delightful dinner!
Day 8 Cheverny (Loire Valley) - Paris
You'll eventually head back to the beautiful city of Paris today, but not before you do more exploring in the French countryside! Stop in Chartres and see its superb 13th-century gothic cathedral - a medieval architectural gem. Upon arrival in Paris, enjoy the freedom to roam around on your own! Revisit your favorite sights or discover new ones. Why not treat yourself to dinner at a romantic restaurant or a lively cabaret show at one of Paris' nightclubs? Make your last night one to remember.
Day 9 Depart France
Enjoy one last flaky croissant for breakfast, then enjoy a convenient ride to the airport (CDG). Spend your relaxing flight home scrolling through photos and dreaming about your next vacation!
Day 1: Ypres Battlefields and Lille
Depart Méridien Etoile Paris at 09:00 bound for Flanders Fields. Visit the Ypres Salient battlefields, including Hill 60, Polygon Wood, the Passchendaele Memorial and Tyne Cot Cemetery. In the town of Ypres, hear the Last Post sounded at the Menin Gate. Continue to your hotel and join your Travel Director for a Welcome Drink.
Day 2: Fromelles and Vimy Ridge
See the Australian cemetery of Fromelles, commemorating one of the darkest days in Australian military history. Explore Arras with Insight Choice. Spend time at Vimy Ridge and walk among original trenches or learn about the efforts of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Continue to Amiens and perhaps visit the impressive cathedral?
Day 3: The Battlefields of the Somme
Meet your Local Expert to explore the key battlefields of the Somme. Visit the Lochnagar Crater, the South African and New Zealand Memorials at Longueval, Newfoundland Memorial and Museum and the Franco-British Memorial at Thiepval. Enjoy a stop in Albert to see the church and hear the legends of the Golden Virgin statue atop - once a beacon to many soldiers who passed through the town during the Battle of the Somme. Afterwards, explore Beaumont-Hamel, one of the largest allied offensives of the war, and return to Amiens where you will have the afternoon at leisure. Maybe do a little shopping or spend some time in the historic Saint-Leu district?
Day 4: Return to Paris
Visit the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux and the Franco-Australian Museum in the local Victoria School. Stop to explore Le Hamel and then continue to Péronne. On return to Paris, a stop is made at Charles De Gaulle Airport. For those departing in the evening, please do not schedule flights before 20:00. Alternatively, the coach will drop you at the Méridien Etoile Paris hotel.
