3-day excursion Normandy, Mt Saint-Michel, Loire Valley & wine tasting from Paris
This three-day tour will delight you as you the explore France's rich cultural heritage with a guide-interpreter. Tour the Beaches of Normandy after first visiting two Norman towns: Honfleur and Rouen. Continue your journey with a tour of Saint-Malo and Mont Saint-Michel. Finish your trip in the Loire Valley with a visit to Langeais, Chenonceau and Chambord.
DAY 1: Guided Sightseeing Tour of Rouen, Honfleur and the Normandy Landing Beaches
Our air-conditioned bus boards at 6:45 am in front of our agency located near the Louvre Museum. At 7:15 am you will set off on the Normandy highway after passing through the western districts of Paris. After about two hours on the road, the bus will make its first stop in the city of Rouen. Your guide will take you on a walking tour of the historic district featuring the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the Gros Horloge (an astronomical clock that is one of the city's treasures), the half-timbered houses and the medieval pedestrian streets that give the area an authentic charm. Rouen has inspired a number of Impressionists, including Claude Monet who depicted the Cathedral in a series of paintings.
The morning ends with an hour-long drive to Honfleur. During the ride, be sure to look for the incredible Pont de Normandie suspension bridge that spans the Seine estuary. During the stop in Honfleur you will have the chance to explore the town on your own. Enjoy the picturesque streets and colorful houses of this quintessential harbor town. This is the perfect chance to have lunch in one of Honfleur's restaurants on a terrace with a view of the sea.
After lunch the bus will set off again, this time along the Norman coastline. Explore the famous Normandy beaches where the Allies landed on June 6, 1944. These are must-see sites for World War II history. The American Cemetery in Colleville sur Mer, located near Omaha Beach, is a place for quiet reflection. Commemorating the Battle of Normandy, the cemetery is notable for its size, 70 hectares, and its rows of white marble tombstones.
After leaving this site, the next stop is Arromanches beach (25 minutes from Colleville sur Mer), where you can still spy traces of the pontoons used to support the artificial harbor (built in England and towed to this site for the landings) despite the wear and tear inflicted by the sea.
Your first day ends at the Caen Novotel (or a similar hotel) where you will have dinner and spend the night.
DAY 2: Guided Sightseeing Tour of Saint-Malo and the Mont Saint-Michel cities
Your second day begins with a breakfast buffet and the excursion continues in Saint-Malo (located about 170 km from Caen). Admire the city walls, Château, Saint-Malo Cathedral and Fort National during the guided tour of Saint-Malo, a town with a rich heritage. You will then have time for lunch in this Breton town at a restaurant of your choosing.
The day continues at one of the can't-miss sites for any trip to France. Let your guide introduce you to the incredible Mont Saint-Michel, perched on a rocky peak and surrounded by a beautiful bay. You can best enjoy the climb to the top of the village by taking the Grande Rue, where most of the shops, museums and traditional medieval houses can be found. The walk ends at the top of the mountain where the Benedectine abbey that dates back to the 8th century is located. Enjoy a guided tour of Mont Saint-Michel abbey, during which you can take in the incredible Gothic structure featuring a cloister and a garden with a panoramic view of the sea. After your tour, take a moment to stroll the bustling streets, admire the incredible vista of the bay as you walk down along the city walls or sample some delicious crêpes.
The bus leaves for Angers around 4:30 pm. After a ride of about three hours, you will get off at the Angers Centre (or a similar hotel) where you will have dinner and spend the night.
DAY 3: Guided Sightseeing Tour of the Loire Valley Castles of Langeais, Chenonceau and Wine Tasting
The third day begins with breakfast at the hotel.
You will then set off for the Loire Valley and the first tour will take place at Château de Langeais, a well-preserved fortified castle. Your guide will take you through the interior of the château, where depictions of everyday life in the medieval era using highly realistic wax figures will take you on a voyage of discovery through French history.
After the tour of Langeais there will be time for lunch in Amboise at a restaurant of your choosing. Your guide will point out some dining options located near Château d’Amboise.
The afternoon kicks off with a guided tour of Château de Chenonceau, just 20 kilometers from Amboise. This Renaissance masterpiece that spans the Cher river looks like a palace from a fairytale and has played a major role in French history. Also known as the "Château des Dames", it was built and renovated over a period of many years by a number of famous women from French history (including Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de' Medici). During your guided tour you will get the chance to admire the lavishly appointed rooms that embody the refined French way of life in the castle's heyday.
Your journey continues with a wine tasting in the Cave des Dômes in Chenonceaux.
The bus leaves from Chenonceaux at 5.15 pm to arrive at PARISCityVISION in downtown Paris around 8:00 pm.
