France Balanced schedule Tours & Trip Packages

France Balanced schedule Tours & Trips

1,328 France trips. Tours from 195 tour companies. 2,216 reviews. 4.6/5 avg rating.

578 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Balanced schedule
Highlights of France and Barcelona (Barcelona)
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By Trafalgar
preferred
4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Why we love them
Their travelers enjoy 24/7 travel expertise and dedicated service throughout the trips - everything is taken care of.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Themes

Cultural, Education / Learning, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"we enjoyed it very much. So much fun"

Trip dates & details
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Ultimate Southern France (Bordeaux, 2024)
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4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Why we love them
They understand that true luxury lies not only in lavish hotels and gourmet dining but also in the immersive experiences that leave a lasting memory.
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Like the two days at each stop. gave time to set everything. The Tree walk, zip lining and the glow worm caves were a highlight"

Trip dates & details
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Dordogne Valleys and Villages Cycling
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
With a huge range of trip styles and themes, they cater to basically every type of traveler out there- even those with super specific interests.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Discover dramatic scenery
  • Visit historic, prehistoric and UNESCO sites
  • Stay in excellent hotels with pools

Themes

Cycling & Biking, High Adventure

What travelers are saying

"Discover Costa Rica is a great itinerary, covering varied habitats around the country and staying 2 nights each at 6 centres. Their birdwatching specials are led by local experts who really know their stuff."

Trip dates & details
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Health Safety +

Generous cancellation

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Noël à Paris: Festive Magic in the City of Love
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5/5 Excellent
47 reviews
Group Tour
Why we love them
They discover the best local partners, providing trips that are both efficient and authentic.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Bar, Fes, Paris

Themes

Family Friendly

What travelers are saying

"Everything was pretty much perfect."

Trip dates & details
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Health Safety +

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Discover Europe by Rail
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By TruTravels
preferred
4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Amsterdam, Berlin, Budapest, Lake Bled, London, Milan, Paris, Prague, Venice, Vienna

Highlights

  • Paris exploration
  • See the eiffel tower
  • Visit montmartre & climb the dome at the sacre coeur
  • Visit amsterdam’s red light district & bar crawl
  • Underground amsterdam tour
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What travelers are saying

"My experience with TruTravels has been one of the best travel experiences to date. I was a little concerned about having a small group - but the tour leaders have made every activity fun and engaging. I would definitely say they are friends. The organisation and local knowledge was great, they were great fun whilst remaining professional and in control. The nights out in Canggu were great, getting to meet the other tour leaders and Tru staff meeting the other tour groups is a great idea. I really cannot stress enough how much of a great trip I've had with TruTravels. From booking, to pre-tour communications, through to the last 10 days - it has been well organised, managed and delivered by amazing guides. Thanks so much to Rianna, Marta and Jonny for their enthusiasm throughout the tour, their concern for when I was sick and generally for everything they did to make this an amazing Bali Experience. Much love for the tour guides!!!I would definitely recommend a trip with TruTravels!!"

Trip dates & details
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Country Roads of France (Summer, Classic)
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Why we love them
They really care about everyone's individual needs on each tour and they have an incredible attention to detail.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Visit Monaco and Monte Carlo, St Paul de Vence, the Pont du Gard, Carcassonne walled city and the prehistoric caves of Lascaux.
  • See the Royal Palace and cathedral of Monaco.
  • Dijon: Explore Dijon with your Travel Director to learn all about the history of this fascinating city, famous for its mustard and wines.
  • Chamonix: Explore the charming streets of Chamonix during your stay in France's mountaineering capital.
  • Annecy: Enjoy free time in the Little Venice area.
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Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"excellent travel director Maria Dias and the driver Nuno."

Trip dates & details
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Tour du Mont Blanc Hotel Trek
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
With a huge range of trip styles and themes, they cater to basically every type of traveler out there- even those with super specific interests.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Chamonix

Highlights

  • Stay in a variety of small, friendly hotels and pensions
  • Walk in the shadow of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in western Europe
  • Enjoy the spectacular scenery of this world-famous route
  • Three rest days to explore the alpine towns of Courmayeur, Les Contamines and Chamonix.
  • No camping

Themes

Cultural, Hiking & Walking

What travelers are saying

"Discover Costa Rica is a great itinerary, covering varied habitats around the country and staying 2 nights each at 6 centres. Their birdwatching specials are led by local experts who really know their stuff."

Trip dates & details
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Health Safety +

Generous cancellation

More
London and Paris Explorer (Summer)
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By Trafalgar
preferred
4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Why we love them
Their travelers enjoy 24/7 travel expertise and dedicated service throughout the trips - everything is taken care of.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
  • 8 Breakfast (B)
  • 1 Be My Guest (BMG)
  • 1 Farewell Dinner (FD)
  • Paris: Experience a classic old style quintessentially Parisian Bistro, run by Daniel and his family, at your Be My Guest Dinner. This is where the locals come and is one of our favourite places for rustic and soulful French cuisine.
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Themes

Cultural, Education / Learning

What travelers are saying

"we enjoyed it very much. So much fun"

Trip dates & details
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France Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
2,216  Reviews
See all France tour reviews
Excellent
1,039
Great
349
Average
60
Disappointing
19
Terrible
17
A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Walking the French Riviera

Stunning scenery. Walks a little slow as we stopped a lot to look at the flora but sufficiently challenging. Views and visiting Eze which was optional at lunch stop...

A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Menton

This was another delightful walking trip with a good group. The leader Jessica was born locally and is passionate about the history of her region, so that we now ...

A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Walking French riverra

Excellent guide, Sandrine. Exodus must retain her!! Routes, excellent variety, interest and length. Good hotel. Below average breakfast. I had a very good room, b...

A

Anonymous

Nov 2017

Provided byExodus Travels

Walking The French Riviera 2017

Perfect break away - good capable leader - perfect hotel and wonderful location in Menton. We had a good week and walked to some super places. We enjoyed great ...

A

Anonymous

Jul 2017

Provided byExodus Travels

Wonderful hiking trip, great guide Stephanie

The trip was great, really nice group of people ands very knowledgable guide with a great sense of humour. The location was beautiful and the hikes very satisfyi...

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France Tour Selection Trips

  • France is so rich in cultural opportunities and activities of all sorts that you can’t expect to see it all in one trip. Pick a tour that visits a region or two and get to know that area well, then return to other regions you want to visit on subsequent tours.
  • On a tour of France, you can choose anything from luxury on down to basic accommodations, dining, and transportation -- something to fit every budget.
  • Specialty tours are a good way to experience France: culinary, wine, art and architecture, walking, biking, World War II history, even religious pilgrimages are all available.
  • Don’t overlook river and barge cruises, which offer a convenient, leisurely way to see the country, stopping both at important ports such as Rouen and Lyon and small villages as well.
  • Don’t be put off from visiting France by the reputation of French people -- especially Parisians -- as rude to visitors. A simple greeting such as “bonjour, madame,” and a smile will almost always win you good service and a return
  • When planning your tour, keep in mind that almost all of France goes on vacation during the entire month of August, so for the full French experience you may want to pick a different month.

Additional details

Weather in France

The geographic diversity of the French regions, as you might imagine, lends itself to diverse weather patterns. In general, it will be temperate with summer averages ranging 61-75°F and winter averages ranging 32-46°F. 

Winter weather is gray although milder in the south uness the wind is blowing; colder and wetter in the north. Snow could be an issue during the winter months if you are in higher elevations. 

As for the summer, recall the record heat France sweated out during the summer of 2019 when temperatures reached 115°F in Verargues, Southern France while even further north in Paris, thermometers hit 108°F! 

There are four climate zones in France:

  1. Oceanic (Atlantic) climate of western France - Brittany, Normandy, Loire Valley, Western Loire - average rainfall spread over many days and modest average temperature variations

  2. Continential, or transitional, climate of central and eastern France - Champagne, Alsace, Burgundy, Ile de France (Paris) - cold winters, hot summers 

  3. Mediterranean climate of southeastern France - Provence, Cote d’Azur, Corsica - hot, dry summers and while damp but mild, rainfall between October and April 

  4. Mountain climates above 2,000’ see heavy rainfall with snow falling 3-6 months a year  

Best Time to Visit France

Late Spring and Fall

Late Spring and Fall is the time to avoid crowds while still being relatively assured of good weather. You will miss the summer festivals but for those that are crowd averse, this may not be a factor. 

Note that a few National Holidays fall in May: Labor Day and WWII Victory Day are May 1st and 8th respectively; Ascension Day falls 39 days after Easter Sunday. 

July or August 

Traveling in July and August? Be prepared for hoards of crowds in the Riviera, coast of Brittany, Dordogne and Alps as these are hot spots for vacationing Europeans. In August, businesses often close although not to the degree noticed by tourists. If you enjoy festivals, there are plenty to choose from!

Winter 

Winter has its own beauty but during the winter months, some tourist sites and information offices might not be open or they might have limited hours. Smaller towns and villages might also be hunkered down with closed restaurants and shops. 

Is France Expensive?

If you’re wondering how much it costs to vacation in France, like anywhere you may travel, it depends on how you plan your trip. France is one of the top destinations in the world and Paris, in particular, does have a reputation for being expensive. 

But so does New York and just like France, traveling there for the budget minded can be accomplished. 

Some things to consider when traveling to France on a budget

  1. Factor in the time of year you’re traveling - shoulder seasons are less costly for air and hotel; regardless, book flights well in advance

  2. Factor in your mode of travel: barge, river ship, self-guided, cycling, train, etc.

  3. Exchange rates

  4. To avoid inflated tourist rates while dining out, first look at the menu posted outside then take note: if locals are eating there, it’s most likely a good choice

  5. Sit at the bar, where prices are cheaper, not at a table

  6. Most expensive French cities: Nice, Paris, Bordeaux and Lyon 

  7. Most expensive French regions: the Dordogne, Meditteranean and the Loire Valley

  8. Less costly: central France 

  9. Shop at local open air markets and second hand flea markets (brocantes)

France tours on Stride features per day costs. Using the price filter from lowest to highest you’ll find 4 day trips for as low as $71/day and on the higher end, ultra luxury 7 day trips costing over $7,000/day. 

Who Will Enjoy Traveling to France

Perhaps the question is, who wouldn’t enjoy traveling to France?! There is so much for the French traveler to experience, it’s no wonder that France is a top worldwide destination. 

Beaches, mountains, valleys of grapes and lavender, rivers to cruise, 45 natural and cultural world heritage sites, Disneyland Paris, gastronomy, wine and shopping...there’s something for just about everyone.

If mobility and / or walking on uneven ground is a concern, speak with your tour operator as many of the smaller towns and villages have uneven cobblestone which may not be suitable, depending on your situation. If traveling through subways, they involve quite a bit of stair climbing and while many of the accommodations are historically charming, they might not be fully accessible for those using a walking aid.   

While it’s hard to go wrong with a trip to France, if you’re not curious about the language, people and its customs you might have a harder time making meaningful connections. Of course, this isn’t unique to France. Be respectful and courteous. Say “hello” and even better, “Bonjour” (“hello” in French) to start a conversation. 

Make an effort to speak the most basic of phrases - this can go a long way. Just as Americans don’t expect a foreigner visiting America to speak English, we shouldn’t expect the French to speak to us in English. Many do speak English by the way, especially in Paris, so be mindful - if you are complaining about something, a local might be listening. And do keep in mind that Americans have their own reputation, one that isn’t always positive. 

Learn some French etiquette, a word derived from French after all. Doing so will give you a much deeper appreciation - and connection to - the country and its people, as will learning some common phrases.

Always Find the Best

On Travelstride you can find 1328 trips to France and more than 20,000 trips worldwide ranging from budget to luxury and private guided to group tours and everything in between. Only on Stride can you find and compare expert-planned trips from 1,000+ tour operators, cruise lines and local experts. Read traveler and professional reviews so you can confidently find your perfect trip.

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