France Only ground transport Tours & Trip Packages

France Only ground transport Tours & Trips

1,408 France trips. Tours from 195 tour companies. 2,481 reviews. 4.6/5 avg rating.

390 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Only ground transport
French Hotel Barge – Burgundy from the Saône-et-Loire to the Côte d’Or on board the Jeanine
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.8/5 Excellent
24 reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Burgundy, Dijon, Paris

Highlights

  • The Cirque du Bout du Monde and the Mont de Sène
  • Wine tasting at Santenay
  • Chalon-sur-Saône with a guided walking tour
  • Saint-Jean-de-Losne
  • Canal du Centre
Show more

Themes

Train & Rail Journeys

What travelers are saying

"My husband and I recently booked a holiday via Planet Rail and what a good call that turned out to be. We gave Guy and the team little time to arrange the holiday as it was a fairly last minute decision by us to travel. Planet Rail found the right balance between being very helpful and friendly but also remaining professional. The customer service offered is personal and you definitely feel that it’s important to Planet Rail that they get your holiday right - and for us they most certainly did. Our holiday exceeded our expectations, and I don’t mind admitting that I am not always easy to please. The travel arrangements went without a hitch; the hotels we stayed in were spot on. Locations - breathtakingly beautiful - attention to detail was second to none. It can sometimes be unwise to recommend something as one persons delight is another’s displeasure - but in this instance I fail to see how anyone would not be impressed by the service offered by Planet Rail - I would book with them again in a heartbeat."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Three Operas, Five Countries by First Class Rail
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.8/5 Excellent
24 reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Paris

Highlights

  • Iconic Paris
  • Stylish Milan
  • Attractive Zurich
  • Glorious Vienna
  • Medieval Nuremberg
Show more

Themes

Cultural, Train & Rail Journeys

What travelers are saying

"My husband and I recently booked a holiday via Planet Rail and what a good call that turned out to be. We gave Guy and the team little time to arrange the holiday as it was a fairly last minute decision by us to travel. Planet Rail found the right balance between being very helpful and friendly but also remaining professional. The customer service offered is personal and you definitely feel that it’s important to Planet Rail that they get your holiday right - and for us they most certainly did. Our holiday exceeded our expectations, and I don’t mind admitting that I am not always easy to please. The travel arrangements went without a hitch; the hotels we stayed in were spot on. Locations - breathtakingly beautiful - attention to detail was second to none. It can sometimes be unwise to recommend something as one persons delight is another’s displeasure - but in this instance I fail to see how anyone would not be impressed by the service offered by Planet Rail - I would book with them again in a heartbeat."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
El Transcantábrico Clasico – 9 night tour from London by First Class rail on daytime trains
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.8/5 Excellent
24 reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Avignon, Madrid, Santiago de Compostela

Highlights

  • Scenic rail journeys – including 4 nights on the El Transcantábrico Clásico
  • Avignon
  • Madrid
  • Santander
  • Santiago de Compostela
Show more

Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Train & Rail Journeys

What travelers are saying

"My husband and I recently booked a holiday via Planet Rail and what a good call that turned out to be. We gave Guy and the team little time to arrange the holiday as it was a fairly last minute decision by us to travel. Planet Rail found the right balance between being very helpful and friendly but also remaining professional. The customer service offered is personal and you definitely feel that it’s important to Planet Rail that they get your holiday right - and for us they most certainly did. Our holiday exceeded our expectations, and I don’t mind admitting that I am not always easy to please. The travel arrangements went without a hitch; the hotels we stayed in were spot on. Locations - breathtakingly beautiful - attention to detail was second to none. It can sometimes be unwise to recommend something as one persons delight is another’s displeasure - but in this instance I fail to see how anyone would not be impressed by the service offered by Planet Rail - I would book with them again in a heartbeat."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
The Leonardo da Vinci grand tour of Europe
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Amboise Château, British Museum, Buckingham Palace, Florence, Kensington Palace, Loire Valley, London, Milan, Paris, The Louvre

Highlights

  • Examine the Mona Lisa with an expert local guide in the Louvre in Paris.
  • Stroll through Leonardo’s chateau and gardens in the Loire valley where he died.
  • Visit the Queen’s Gallery in Buckingham Palace to view the Royal Collection of da Vinci drawings.
  • Explore a room dedicated to Leonardo’s work on a guided tour of Uffizi Gallery.

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"It's hard to describe how lucky we are to have been able to work with Stephanie in planning our honeymoon to Japan. From the very beginning, Stephanie was friendly, flexible, and an absolute wealth of knowledge. We had several meetings with her leading up to our trip to come up with the perfect itinerary. Throughout this, Stephanie was mindful of our budget, without sacrificing anything. During our trip, Audley was available at all hours to help with anything and everything which was such a relief to know we had that resource available to us. I truly cannot imagine having planned this trip without all of Stephanie's guidance and knowledge- and cannot imagine taking another big trip like this without the help of Audley. Thank you again!"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
London & Paris Discovery
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

London, Paris

Highlights

  • Discover Hampton Court’s historic treasures and tour Windsor Castle with a private guide.
  • Tour the treasures of the Louvre and the majestic Palace of Versailles.
  • Take in the sights of London with the help of a private guide and driver.
  • Overlook Paris from the perfect vantage point as you dine at the Eiffel Tower.
  • Stay at a handpicked selection of premium accommodations.

Themes

Cultural, Hiking & Walking

What travelers are saying

"Overall pretty decent tours and guides but an epic failure on planning. They didn’t book 2 of of our 5 in country flights and I had to chase them multiple times to get these booked. They also missed an express visa in Cambodia and I got a random rebate with no explanation or apology. I expected some sort of contact on return but tempo weeks home and they are totally disinterested which is amazing at 435k. Not looking at this Mickey Mouse company again."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Provence: The Art of Living
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Arles, Avignon

Highlights

  • Explore the 14th-century palace of the popes in Avignon
  • Gain rare access to one of the oldest family ranches in the Camargue, France’s national wildlife reserve near Arles
  • Enjoy a taste of local life in Aix-en-Provence
  • Peruse the stalls overflowing with fresh flowers and produce on market day and sit down to dinner with professionals who live in the city

Themes

50 plus, Education / Learning

What travelers are saying

"Because I have Stage 4 cancer, I chose to spend the extra money for trip insurance in case my cancer recurred. When a scan showed that it had, I cancelled my trip. I sent to them the medical documents from the Mayo Clinic confirming my new diagnosis. They sent me an email telling me my oncologist needed to fill in a form. I asked my oncologist to do that and I submitted it by fax on April 6th. When I didn’t hear anything, I sent them more medical documentation and asked them to please push forward my refund as I have travel expenses from a clinical trial coming up. Several days later I received an email that they needed further documentation from my doctor. How much more documentation do you need than the patient has stage 4 metastatic cancer and is starting a clinical trial??? This is heartless to me. Please don’t plan to travel through Road Scholar if you’re medically vulnerable!!"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More

Unlock Community Benefits

Travel better together

  • Save favorite trips and itineraries
  • Get insider insights
  • Receive personalized recommendations
  • ... and much more
Join community
Exploring the Seine from Paris to Normandy With Your Grandchild
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Giverny, Normandy, Paris, Rouen

Highlights

  • Join experts who introduce you and your grandchild to the City of Light on fascinating discoveries of the world-famous landmarks in the historic heart of Paris
  • Learn with your grandchild about the Allied invasion of Normandy
  • Explore Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy’s famous island monastery and site of a succession of monastic establishments for the last 13 centuries

Themes

50 plus, Education / Learning

What travelers are saying

"Because I have Stage 4 cancer, I chose to spend the extra money for trip insurance in case my cancer recurred. When a scan showed that it had, I cancelled my trip. I sent to them the medical documents from the Mayo Clinic confirming my new diagnosis. They sent me an email telling me my oncologist needed to fill in a form. I asked my oncologist to do that and I submitted it by fax on April 6th. When I didn’t hear anything, I sent them more medical documentation and asked them to please push forward my refund as I have travel expenses from a clinical trial coming up. Several days later I received an email that they needed further documentation from my doctor. How much more documentation do you need than the patient has stage 4 metastatic cancer and is starting a clinical trial??? This is heartless to me. Please don’t plan to travel through Road Scholar if you’re medically vulnerable!!"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Off-the-Beaten Path in Paris & Bordeaux
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Bordeaux, Paris

Highlights

  • View the largest collection of masterpieces of Monet at the Marmottan, and delight in the private collection at the Musée Jacquemart-André
  • Join an expert for a walk through Bordeaux to learn about the architecture of its historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Savor the flavors of Bordeaux wines and traditional cuisine of the southwest and Paris

Themes

50 plus, Education / Learning

What travelers are saying

"Because I have Stage 4 cancer, I chose to spend the extra money for trip insurance in case my cancer recurred. When a scan showed that it had, I cancelled my trip. I sent to them the medical documents from the Mayo Clinic confirming my new diagnosis. They sent me an email telling me my oncologist needed to fill in a form. I asked my oncologist to do that and I submitted it by fax on April 6th. When I didn’t hear anything, I sent them more medical documentation and asked them to please push forward my refund as I have travel expenses from a clinical trial coming up. Several days later I received an email that they needed further documentation from my doctor. How much more documentation do you need than the patient has stage 4 metastatic cancer and is starting a clinical trial??? This is heartless to me. Please don’t plan to travel through Road Scholar if you’re medically vulnerable!!"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Travelstride Gift Card
One card, thousands of extraordinary trips
Gifts Card

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip
390 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Only ground transport

France Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
2,481  Reviews
See all France tour reviews
Excellent
1,039
Great
349
Average
60
Disappointing
19
Terrible
17
A

Adrianne Cote

Apr 2024

Written on

Highlights of France and Barcelona

More days in Paris would be nice No Novotel in Nice this was not up to par Loved Arnaud our trip director-very rich with history and charming Loved the tango dancer...

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

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 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

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 ...

Write a Review

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 1408 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.

Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >
Sign in to reveal savings up to $700 per person!