France Local Immersion & Homestays Tours & Trip Packages

France Local Immersion & Homestays Tours & Trips

1,383 France trips. Tours from 195 tour companies. 2,427 reviews. 4.6/5 avg rating.

101 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Local Immersion & Homestays
Normandy, Brittany & Chateaux Country
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.1/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Paris

Highlights

  • Visit two of France's most eye-widening castles, Chateau Chambord and Chenonceau in Chateau Country!
  • Indulge in delicious dinners and taste local wine and cider throughout the countryside.
  • On your very first night, you'll see an unforgettable view of Paris from the second floor of the illuminated Eiffel Tower.
  • Immerse yourself in history as you visit the world-famous Normandy Beaches.
  • Enjoy coastal views during your stay in majestic Mont St. Michel.

Themes

Culinary & Wine, Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, Relaxing Retreats

What travelers are saying

"Great Value did an amazing job with the basic outline for the itinerary and the hotel choices were excellent."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
London to Venice by Rail
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.9/5 Excellent
25 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Alps, Amsterdam, Berlin, Bruges, Budapest, Krakow, London, Paris, Prague, Venice, Vienna, Zagreb

Highlights

  • Contrast the booming city of paris with time to see the city's world famous sights - such as the eiffel tower and the louvre - without having to rush
  • The beating heart of modern germany, berlin is packed with history, arts and culture. the city's poignant memorials serve not just to recognise the past, but to educate new generations into the future
  • Soak up the royal history of krakow's wawel castle and step back in time with a stroll through its medieval main square
  • Immerse yourself in the history, architecture and bohemian vibes of the czech republic. soak up the smooth sounds of jazz at a low-lit bar in prague before stepping right into a fairytale of cesky krumlov
  • Escape to the country and visit lake balaton, where you can sail across emerald waters, try your hand windsurfing, or savour a (very) lazy afternoon wine tasting.
Show more

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"FANTASTIC. Start to finish it is such a fantastic taste of Central America, all the destinations are interesting and you can do as much or as little as you choose."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Provence Luberon Biking
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.9/5 Excellent
74 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Aix En Provence, Avignon

Highlights

  • Visit the fairytale gothic hilltop village of Les Baux
  • Experience Peter Mayle's Provence by bike, passing the picturesque villages of Gordes
  • Experience awesome Ride through the beautiful Vaucluse Mountains
  • Visit the fairytale gothic hilltop village of Les Baux

Themes

50 plus, Cycling & Biking, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"Butterfield and Robinson just planned and executed a great, great trip for us to the Amalfi coast. All the services and hotels were wonderful and the guides were great fun and and well informed. Many nice surprises along the way and an itinerary we would have had trouble putting together on our own was effortless. All guides were well trained the transportation and drivers were polite and on time. The recommended hotels were amazing. We loved every minute of our vacation."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
London to Athens by Rail
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.9/5 Excellent
25 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Athens, Belgrade, Berlin, Bruges, Budapest, Krakow, London, Paris, Prague, Skopje, Thessaloniki, Vienna

Highlights

  • Contrast the booming city of paris with time to see the city's world famous sights - such as the eiffel tower and the louvre - without having to rush
  • The beating heart of modern germany, berlin is packed with history, arts and culture. the city's poignant memorials serve not just to recognise the past, but to educate new generations into the future
  • Soak up the royal history of krakow's wawel castle and step back in time with a stroll through its medieval main square
  • Immerse yourself in the history, architecture and bohemian vibes of the czech republic. soak up the smooth sounds of jazz at a low-lit bar in prague before stepping right into a fairytale of cesky krumlov
  • Wander through belgrade’s bohemian quarter and grand 19th-century boulevards, before launching yourself into its animated nightlife.
Show more

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"FANTASTIC. Start to finish it is such a fantastic taste of Central America, all the destinations are interesting and you can do as much or as little as you choose."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
London to Rome by Rail
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.9/5 Excellent
25 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Alps, Amsterdam, Berlin, Bruges, Budapest, Cinque Terre, Eiffel Tower, Florence, Krakow, La Spezia, London, Paris, Prague, Rome, Tuscany, Vatican City, Venice, Vienna, Zagreb

Highlights

  • The beating heart of modern germany, berlin is packed with history, arts and culture. the city's poignant memorials serve not just to recognise the past, but to educate new generations into the future
  • Amsterdam has been developed with cyclists in mind, so hire a bike and hit the charming streets with the locals (just watch out for those canals)
  • Soak up the royal history of krakow's wawel castle and step back in time with a stroll through its medieval main square
  • Enjoy a scenic walk along the banks of the river danube in budapest. threaded with bridges and hemmed in by castles and historic city buildings, europe's second longest river is also one of its most beautiful
  • Escape to the country and visit lake balaton, where you can sail across emerald waters, try your hand windsurfing, or savour a (very) lazy afternoon wine tasting.
Show more

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"FANTASTIC. Start to finish it is such a fantastic taste of Central America, all the destinations are interesting and you can do as much or as little as you choose."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
London to Budapest by Rail
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.9/5 Excellent
25 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Berlin, Bruges, Budapest, Krakow, London, Paris, Prague, Vienna

Highlights

  • Contrast the booming city of paris with time to see the city's world famous sights - such as the eiffel tower and the louvre - without having to rush
  • The beating heart of modern germany, berlin is packed with history, arts and culture. the city's poignant memorials serve not just to recognise the past, but to educate new generations into the future
  • Soak up the royal history of krakow's wawel castle and step back in time with a stroll through its medieval main square
  • Immerse yourself in the history, architecture and bohemian vibes of the czech republic. soak up the smooth sounds of jazz at a low-lit bar in prague before stepping right into a fairytale of cesky krumlov
  • Escape city life on the peaceful shores of lake bled in slovenia. visit a church on the tiny island in the centre of the lake and treat yourself to a slice of bled's famous cream cake

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"FANTASTIC. Start to finish it is such a fantastic taste of Central America, all the destinations are interesting and you can do as much or as little as you choose."

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
London to Berlin by Rail
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.9/5 Excellent
25 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Amsterdam, Berlin, Bruges, London, Paris

Highlights

  • See some of the coolest, most progressive big cities in europe. immerse yourself in berlin's art scene, paris' metro system (it's like anart-nouveauswiss watch!) and amsterdam's bike-friendly utopia (just don't immerse yourself in the canal)
  • Taking the train from london to paris through the channel tunnel is a bit like teleporting, only more romantic. and it means you get to spend even more time gaping at the big ben and posing in front of red telephone boxes
  • Bruges is like stepping into a fairytale from 1,000 years ago. it's also a wonderland of chocolate and beer, in other words very hard to tear yourself away from
  • You've read about it, you've seen it on docos, big deal right? but when you see the eiffel tower up close, just you try and stop yourself from taking a selfie and sending it to your mum

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"FANTASTIC. Start to finish it is such a fantastic taste of Central America, all the destinations are interesting and you can do as much or as little as you choose."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Paris: City of Light
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
3/5 Average
2 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Dijon, Palace of Versailles, Paris, Rouen

Highlights

  • Flexible Schedule: Pack your time full of activities or enjoy a more leisurely pace—it’s your choice! Talks led by experts and special themed walking tours are complemented by time to pursue personal interests—solo or with new travel friends. Plus, your resident director is always available to advise on other activities so you’ll feel like a Parisian in no time! Live Like a Parisian: Settle into the modern Adagio Paris Opera apart/hotel, located in a historic and bustling neighborhood. Plus, your Paris museum and metro passes provide easy access to the city’s treasures. Walking Tours: Take walking tours featuring Le Marais, the Latin Quarter, and historic sites of World War II, and a special cruise along the Seine, all of which provide a deeper appreciation of Paris. Day Excursions: Go beyond Paris to the Palace of Versailles, the Burgundian town of Dijon, and Rouen, the capital of Normandy on special day excursions.

Themes

Cultural, Education / Learning, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"My wife and I were on the Smithsonian Journeys Splendors of Australia and New Zealand between April 13 and May 2, 2018. Smithsonian is rated by this site as Luxury travel. However, Smithsonian "farms out" the logistics for their trip to Odysseys Unlimited. Odysseys booked within country air travel with the lowest cost air carriers. Flights were cancelled from Ayers Rock to Sydney and from Queenstown New Zealand to Rotorua. Another flight was significantly delayed so that we did not arrive at our Christchurch destination until 2:00 am, making for a really tired next day. Odysseys Unlimited compensated us $400 per person for missing a day in Sydney and paid for an excursion in Auckland for missing Rotorua. This was wholly inadequate, given that these were highlights of the trip. In addition, our tour guide was rude to several people on the trip. If Smithsonian Journeys is truly a luxury travel outfit, as we had believed, then they would not be farming out travel logistics to such a chinch company as Odysseys Unlimited. We will think twice about traveling with Smithsonian again, and so should others."

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
101 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Local Immersion & Homestays

France Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
2,427  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 1383 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!