HIGHLIGHTS

• Paris Three nights in the City of Light, with guided highlights including Notre-Dame and the Latin Quarter, a Seine River cruise, the Musée d'Orsay, Montmartre and a classical church concert.

• Loire Valley The Loire Valley's finest chateaux over three days, including the extraordinary Château de Chenonceau built across the Cher River, the vast Château de Chambord set within its forested estate, and the Château du Clos Lucé where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years. A Loire wine tasting rounds out the experience.

• Sarlat and the Dordogne Three nights based in one of France's best-preserved medieval towns, with time to settle into the rhythms of the Périgord. Highlights include a Dordogne river cruise from the beautiful village of La Roque-Gageac, the famous Sarlat market, an artisan walnut experience and a day trip to the hilltop bastide of Domme.

• Carcassonne A guided half-day inside the UNESCO-listed citadel, followed by a cruise along the ancient Canal du Midi.

• Montpellier A winery visit in Languedoc wine country, and a day out to the Camargue, including the medieval walled town of Aigues-Mortes and the seaside village of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.

• Avignon Three nights in the walled papal city, with the Palace of the Popes, a leisurely day in the Luberon village of Gordes with lunch, and an optional visit to Sénanque Abbey.

• The French Riviera Antibes, then Nice as your base for a day combining a perfume workshop at Parfumerie Fragonard in Èze and a tour of Monaco.

DAY 1

Paris, France

Welcome to Paris. On arrival, you are met by your guide and transferred to your hotel near the Eiffel Tower. This afternoon, enjoy a guided walk along the Seine River, taking in the city's famous streetscapes before some free time to settle in at your own pace. This evening, we gather for our welcome dinner together — the first chance to meet your fellow travellers over a classic Parisian bistro meal.

Meals:  Welcome Dinner

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Guided walk along the Seine River
• Welcome dinner at a traditional Parisian bistro

DAY 2

Paris

Encounter Moment  Paris reveals herself slowly. A morning on foot, a boat on the river, and an evening of music in a centuries-old church.

We begin with a walking tour of Île de la Cité, including the exterior of Notre-Dame and the Latin Quarter, before boarding a Seine River cruise with Bateaux Mouches for views of the city from the water. The afternoon is yours to explore — whether that means a café terrace, a gallery, or simply wandering. This evening, we attend a classical concert in one of Paris's historic churches followed by dinner together.

Meals:  Breakfast, Dinner

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Walking tour of Île de la Cité, Notre-Dame exterior and the Latin Quarter
• Seine River cruise — Bateaux Mouches
• Classical church concert
• Post concert dinner

DAY 3

Paris

Encounter Moment  Monet's Paris. Montmartre's bohemian laneways. A day to absorb the city at your own pace.

This morning, we take a walking tour through Montmartre, visiting the hilltop Sacré-Coeur Basilica and exploring the neighbourhood's winding streets. In the afternoon we also visit the Musée d'Orsay for a self-guided exploration of one of the world's finest collections of Impressionist art. The remainder of the day is free.

Meals:  Breakfast

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Admission to the Musée d'Orsay (self-guided)
• Walking tour of Montmartre and Sacré-Coeur Basilica

DAY 4

Paris - Loire Valley - Tours

Encounter Moment  Leaving Paris behind, the Loire Valley opens up — wide skies, chateaux and the unhurried rhythm of provincial France.

We depart Paris this morning and travel south into the Loire Valley. En route, we stop for an in-depth visit to one of the valley's most celebrated towns Blois before continuing to our base in Tours. After checking in, the evening is yours.

Meals:  Breakfast

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• In-depth visit to Blois or Orléans

DAY 5

Tours-Chenonceaux-Amboise-Tours

Encounter Moment  A chateau built by women, a castle where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years. The Loire Valley at its most captivating.

We drive to Chenonceaux this morning to visit the famous Château de Chenonceau, built across the Cher River and one of France's most visited landmarks. After a chateau lunch experience, we continue to Amboise to explore the Château du Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci lived and worked until his death — a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a Renaissance genius. We return to Tours for a free evening.

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Admission to Château de Chenonceau with audioguide
• Chateau lunch experience
• Self-guided tour of Château du Clos Lucé, grounds and galleries

DAY 6

Tours- Chambord - Tours

Encounter Moment  The grandest chateau in the Loire Valley — a Renaissance masterpiece rising from the forest.

This morning we drive to Château de Chambord, the architectural centrepiece of the Loire Valley, built for François I and set within a vast forested estate. After exploring the chateau and gardens, we enjoy a wine tasting of six local wines paired with regional appetisers. We return to Tours with the late afternoon free to wander the riverside town, browse boutiques or settle into a café. Before dinner, your guide will organise an informal gathering for drinks — a relaxed chance to catch up with the group.

Meals:  Breakfast

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Admission to Château de Chambord and gardens
• Wine tasting — six local wines paired with regional appetisers

DAY 7

Tours - Limoges

Encounter Moment  A slower road south. Limoges, where porcelain has been a way of life for three centuries.

We depart Tours at 9:30am and travel south through the gentle landscapes of the Creuse to Limoges, arriving in time for lunch. This afternoon, we visit a porcelain workshop for an immersive guided tour through the original production process, from raw materials through to finished pieces. The remainder of the afternoon is free before dinner together this evening at a local restaurant.

Meals:  Breakfast, Dinner

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Porcelain heritage experience — guided workshop tour
• Dinner at a local restaurant

DAY 8

Limoges-Sarlat

Encounter Moment  Into the Dordogne. Medieval Sarlat is one of the best-preserved old towns in France.

We travel south-east this morning through rolling countryside to Sarlat-la-Canéda, arriving in time to enjoy a guided orientation walk through its exceptional medieval centre. The rest of the afternoon is yours to wander the laneways, find a café and discover the town at your own pace. This evening, your guide will organise an informal gathering for drinks before dinner.

Meals:  Breakfast

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Guided orientation walk through Sarlat's medieval centre

DAY 9

Sarlat - La Roque-Gageac- Sarlat

Encounter Moment  One of France's most beautiful villages, reflected in the Dordogne River. Then, onto the water.

This morning we drive to La Roque-Gageac, a village dramatically set between golden cliffs and the Dordogne River, and one of the most photographed spots in France. We take time to wander before boarding traditional flat-bottomed gabarres for a one-hour river cruise along the Dordogne. We return to Sarlat with a free afternoon before a group dinner featuring the flavours of the Périgord.

Meals:  Breakfast, Dinner

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Wander through La Roque-Gageac village
• Dordogne river cruise
• Group dinner — Dordogne cuisine

DAY 10

Sarlat- Domme- Sarlat

Encounter Moment  Markets, walnuts and a hilltop village with views that go on forever.

The day begins at Sarlat's renowned covered market, housed in a former church — where local producers bring the Périgord to life: truffles, foie gras, walnuts, cheese and more. We then visit a local artisan to discover the region's celebrated walnut industry, including the oil-making process and a complimentary tasting. From there we drive to Domme, a bastide village perched above the Dordogne with sweeping panoramic views. The afternoon in Sarlat is free.

Meals:  Breakfast

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Sarlat covered market experience
• Artisan walnut experience — production, harvesting and complimentary tasting
• Visit to the hilltop village of Domme

DAY 11

Sarlat - Toulouse

Encounter Moment  The pink city of Toulouse

We leave Sarlat this morning and travel south to Toulouse, France's fourth-largest city, where we take time for a city tour through Place du Capitole, the pink-brick old town and the Romanesque Basilique Saint-Sernin. 

Meals:  Breakfast, Dinner

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Toulouse city tour — Place du Capitole, Basilique Saint-Sernin and the Garonne riverfront
• Group dinner 

DAY 12

Toulouse - Carcassonne

This morning we explore the Cité de Carcassonne — a UNESCO World Heritage fortress — with a half-day guided tour through its castle, towers and double ring of ramparts. After lunch beside the Canal du Midi, we board a boat for a 90-minute cruise along this 17th-century engineering masterpiece, a UNESCO-listed waterway shaded by centuries-old plane trees. The remainder of the afternoon is free within the fortified city.

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Half-day guided tour of the Château and Ramparts of Carcassonne
• Lunch at a canalside restaurant
• Canal du Midi cruise

DAY 13

Carcassonne- Montpellier

Encounter Moment  Languedoc wine country, then Montpellier — vibrant, youthful and full of life.

We depart Carcassonne and travel east towards Montpellier, stopping en route at a local winery for a guided tour and tasting of six wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Arriving in Montpellier, we take an orientation walk through the Écusson old town, with its elegant mansions and lively squares. The evening is free to explore the city's spirited restaurant scene around Place de la Comédie.

Meals:  Breakfast, Dinner

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Guided winery tour and tasting; six Languedoc wines
• Orientation walk through the Écusson, Montpellier's old town
• Time at leisure for lunch
• Group dinner.

DAY 14

Montpellier -Aigues-Mortes - Camargue - Montpellier

Encounter Moment  Salt flats that glow pink, flamingos, wild horses and a medieval walled town rising from the marshes.

We drive south-west to Aigues-Mortes, a perfectly preserved medieval walled town surrounded by salt lagoons. We walk the ramparts for panoramic views over the marshes before a scenic drive through the pink-hued salt flats of the Camargue. After lunch by the sea, we spend the afternoon in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, the Camargue's main village, exploring the seafront promenade and browsing local artisan shops. We return to Montpellier with the late afternoon free.

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Walk along the medieval ramparts of Aigues-Mortes
• Scenic drive through the Camargue salt lagoons
• Seaside lunch
• Free time in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

DAY 15

Montpellier - Pont du Gard - Avignon

Encounter Moment  Two thousand years old and still standing. The Pont du Gard is Roman engineering at its most breathtaking.

We travel north-east this morning to the Pont du Gard, a three-tiered Roman aqueduct spanning the Gardon River and one of antiquity's finest surviving structures. A guided tour brings its history to life. We continue to Avignon with time at leisure for lunch, then check into our hotel in the historic walled city. The late afternoon is free to begin exploring on your own.

Meals:  Breakfast

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Guided visit to the Pont du Gard

DAY 16

Avignon

A full day in Avignon. We visit the Palais des Papes, the largest Gothic palace in Europe and seat of the medieval papacy, before a city tour taking in the iconic Pont Saint-Bénézet, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame des Doms and the relaxed square of Place de l'Horloge. The afternoon is yours for café culture and boutique browsing. We gather this evening for a group dinner with live music for a memorable night in one of Provence's great cities.

Encounter Moment - Popes, palaces and the bridge everyone has sung about. Avignon at its historic heart.

Meals:  Breakfast, Dinner

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Admission to the Palace of the Popes
• Avignon city tour — Pont Saint-Bénézet, Cathedral of Notre-Dame des Doms and Place de l'Horloge
• Group dinner with live music

DAY 17

Avignon - Gordes - Avignon

Encounter Moment  A village clinging to a clifftop, lavender fields in the distance, and lunch in the heart of Provence.

We drive into the Luberon this morning to spend a leisurely day in Gordes, one of the most iconic and beautiful villages in France. Perched dramatically above the valley, Gordes rewards slow exploration — its stone streets, Renaissance chateau and panoramic views are best enjoyed without a timetable. We have lunch together here, and there is time to visit the nearby Sénanque Abbey, where Cistercian monks tend their famous lavender fields. We return to Avignon in the late afternoon.

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Leisurely day in Gordes village
• Lunch in Gordes
• Optional visit to Sénanque Abbey and lavender fields

DAY 18

Avignon- Antibes - Nice

Encounter Moment  The Riviera arrives — the sea, the light, and the effortless elegance of the Côte d'Azur.

We travel east along the Provençal coast to Antibes, one of the Riviera's most charming old towns. After lunch, we explore the Vieil Antibes;  its Venetian-style ramparts, colourful market and narrow lanes before continuing along the coast to Nice, where we check into our hotel. This evening, your guide will lead an orientation walk through the old town, with the opportunity to discover the local food scene at your own pace.

Meals:  Breakfast

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Lunch in Antibes
• Antibes old town exploration
• Orientation walk through Nice old town

DAY 19

Nice - Èze - Monaco - Nice

Encounter Moment  A perfumery carved into a clifftop village. Then Monaco — glamour, history and a harbour full of superyachts.

This morning we drive up to the medieval perched village of Èze for a guided tour and perfume workshop at Parfumerie Fragonard's cliff-top factory laboratory, a fascinating look at the art of fragrance-making using traditional methods. We continue to Monaco for an afternoon city tour taking in Casino Square, the Japanese Garden, Port Hercules, the Prince's Palace (exterior), Saint Nicholas Cathedral and Monte Carlo Beach. We return to Nice in time for our farewell dinner together.

Meals:  Breakfast, Dinner

SNAPSHOT — WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Guided perfume workshop at Parfumerie Fragonard, Èze
• Monte Carlo city tour; Casino Square, Port Hercules, Prince's Palace exterior and Saint Nicholas Cathedral
• Farewell dinner in Nice

DAY 20

Nice

After breakfast, the tour concludes. Transfer arrangements are independent own arrangements. 

Meals:  Breakfast

Itineraries may be subject to change, due to circumstances outside of our control. If there is any itinerary change prior to departure of significance we aim to inform you prior to travel.  Itinerary changes while on tour will be informed by your tour leader/guide while on tour.