France Flexible schedule Tours & Trip Packages

France Flexible schedule Tours & Trips

1,408 France trips. Tours from 195 tour companies. 2,470 reviews. 4.6/5 avg rating.

346 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Flexible schedule
Snow break in Val Thorens, the French ski resort that offers the best of skiing
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4.7/5 Excellent
32 reviews
Vacation / Holiday Package
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Geneva

Highlights

  • Stay in a beautiful 5-star hotel
  • Take advantage of a complete package with ski equipment rental, skiwear and ski pass
  • Private transfers from the airport to your hotel; enjoy one full day Ski Guiding to discover the station

Themes

Family Friendly, High Adventure, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Skiing / Snowboarding

What travelers are saying

"We really loved Bordeaux and would definitely visit again! Such a beautiful city and everyone was so friendly. We did a wine tasting in 2 châteaux and got an explanation on how the wine is made. It was really interesting and so peaceful out there. The staff in both places were lovely, and our guide was super friendly and chatty! The local agency arranged it for us rapidly and were very attentive with getting back to us. Everything was handled professionally and we were very happy with what had been chosen. (Our hotel was really beautiful also.) Thanks team!"

Trip dates & details
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Burgundy and Provence
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4.4/5 Great
64 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Arles, Avignon, Burgundy, Lyon

Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"they are taking too long to refund our cancelled holiday from May 2020. cannot get any info from them when it will be refunded back to us."

Trip dates & details
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essential cruise - Summer Gardens & River Seine Experience
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4.4/5 Great
64 reviews
Large Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Dublin, Isles of Scilly, Rouen

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"they are taking too long to refund our cancelled holiday from May 2020. cannot get any info from them when it will be refunded back to us."

Trip dates & details
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A Virtuous Line
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4.6/5 Excellent
66 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Barcelona, British Museum, Buckingham Palace, Eiffel Tower, London, Madrid, Paris, Rouen

Highlights

  • Explore London, stroll in the centre of Rouen to admire its magnificent cathedral
  • See the Rouen historic centre
  • Visit with a boat cruise along the River Seine
  • City tour in Paris

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"No travel with then completely desaster First and last Hotel accommodations really cheap, they mix you with 40 people in the same bus"

Trip dates & details
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Treasures of the Rhine
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4.4/5 Great
64 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Basel, Koblenz, Strasbourg

Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"they are taking too long to refund our cancelled holiday from May 2020. cannot get any info from them when it will be refunded back to us."

Trip dates & details
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French Ring
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4.6/5 Excellent
66 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Amboise Château, Angers, Bordeaux, Paris, Rouen

Highlights

  • Discover the history, main boulevards and the breathtaking monuments of Paris and visit Versailles palace
  • Visit Monet’s House and its impressive gardens
  • Explore this Breton village full of charm.
  • Visit the castle that houses the largest medieval tapestry on the Apocalypse.

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"No travel with then completely desaster First and last Hotel accommodations really cheap, they mix you with 40 people in the same bus"

Trip dates & details
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Short ski break to Chamonix Mont-Blanc Valley
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.7/5 Excellent
32 reviews
Vacation / Holiday Package
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Geneva

Highlights

  • Stay in a beautiful 4-star hotel
  • Complete package with ski equipment rental, skiwear and ski pass.
  • Private transfers from the airport to your hotel.
  • One full day Ski Guiding to discover the station

Themes

Family Friendly, High Adventure, Skiing / Snowboarding

What travelers are saying

"We really loved Bordeaux and would definitely visit again! Such a beautiful city and everyone was so friendly. We did a wine tasting in 2 châteaux and got an explanation on how the wine is made. It was really interesting and so peaceful out there. The staff in both places were lovely, and our guide was super friendly and chatty! The local agency arranged it for us rapidly and were very attentive with getting back to us. Everything was handled professionally and we were very happy with what had been chosen. (Our hotel was really beautiful also.) Thanks team!"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Discover the Heart of France
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4.4/5 Great
64 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Paris

Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"they are taking too long to refund our cancelled holiday from May 2020. cannot get any info from them when it will be refunded back to us."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
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346 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Flexible schedule

France Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
2,470  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 ...

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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.

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