Journey through one of France’s most picturesque regions during this 10-day tour. From the bright blue waters of Provence, this gorgeous country will continue to amaze and charm you—especially once you immerse yourself in history, culture and cuisine in three of France's most stunning regions.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 - Paris
Your trip begins with a regularly scheduled overnight flight to Paris aboard an internationally recognized airline.
Day 2 - Paris
Welcome to Paris! After clearing customs, you’ll be greeted by a Go Ahead representative, who helps you with the transfer to your hotel. You’ll then have some free time to explore Paris at your leisure. Stroll along its quaint streets or sit at a café and people-watch over a café crème. Tonight, meet the rest of your fellow travelers at an included dinner.
Included meals: breakfast (in flight), dinner
Day 3 - Paris
This morning, you’ll meet our local guide for a detailed sightseeing tour of the French capital. You’ll motor along the fashionable Champs-Élysées and view the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Opera House, the Place de la Concorde, the Louvre and the banks of the River Seine. The afternoon is free to explore Paris on your own. You might browse the wares offered by the bouquinistes along the Seine’s Left Bank or peruse the designer boutiques on the Rue du Faubourg St.-Honoré or Avenue Montaigne. Or join an optional excursion to Versailles, the opulent estate of Sun King Louis XIV, where you can stroll through the Hall of Mirrors, which symbolized the power of the absolute monarch, and enjoy the beautifully landscaped gardens.
Included meals: breakfast
 |
$89 CAD |
Versailles
It took 50 years and 35,000 workers to turn Versailles into the most magnificent château in all of France. On this excursion, you will see the palace in all its glory. Tour the State Apartments and the glittering Hall of Mirrors. Then stroll through the lavish gardens with their fine statuary, splendid fountains and colorful flowerbeds.
Please note: This excursion requires advanced reservation and must be booked by 45 days prior to departure.
|
Day 4 - Paris
The day is free to continue discovering Paris on your own. You might learn about Impressionist masters at the Musée d’Orsay or view Rodin’s The Thinker at the Musée Rodin. Alternatively, join an optional excursion to Giverny (seasonal; in the offseason, an excursion to Auvers Sur Oise and Van Gogh may be offered instead), where Claude Monet lived and created his Impressionist masterpieces. Step inside his home and workspace, before strolling through the surrounding gardens. This evening, join an optional Evening in Paris, which includes dinner followed by a romantic cruise on the Seine.
Included meals: breakfast
 |
$99 CAD |
Evening in Paris
The event begins with dinner at a favorite local restaurant. After you dine, board a boat cruise along the Seine, an unforgettable experience. Coast along the water and under the many famous bridges of the Seine and take in the gloriously illuminated monuments of Paris—including Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower—an enchanting sight
|
 |
$85 CAD |
Giverny
The Norman town of Giverny was home to Claude Monet from 1883 until his death in 1926. Absorb the intricate palette of colors that the “Father of Impressionism” so magically depicted in paintings such as the Water Lilies series as you stroll through Giverny’s home and gardens.
Please note: This excursion is seasonal and runs April through October.
|
Day 5 - Avignon
In Paris, board the high-speed TGV train bound for Provence. Enjoy the views of the French countryside, lauded in literature and film. Arrive in Avignon, known as the city of the popes. Pope Clement V moved the papal court to Avignon from Rome in 1309 and commissioned the construction of the Palais des Papes. Your Tour Director introduces you to the town, leading you through the old town’s narrow streets to the iconic 14th-century Papal Palace. You’ll visit many of the interior rooms and halls, including the Banquet Hall, the Stag Room (depicting 14th-century hunting scenes) and the Great Audience Hall.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Included entrances: Papal Palace
Day 6 - Avignon
Enjoy a free day in Provence to discover the region on your own, or join our Roman Empire optional excursion. This journey covers Provence’s important Roman heritage, dating back to a time when the Empire extended through Southern France and most of Western Europe. Few towns have safeguarded their Roman heritage as well as Arles, where you’ll see a number of ancient Roman sites, including the town’s well-preserved amphitheater. You’ll also stop at the Pont du Gard, the threetiered aqueduct, whose grandeur and beauty will transport you back to a civilization at its greatest heights. Please note that this optional excursion involves extensive walking.
Included meals: breakfast
 |
$55 CAD |
Roman Empire
This excursion introduces you to the rich Roman heritage and ancient
sites of Arles. A local guide escorts you through Arles with a visit to
the town’s famous Roman amphitheater built in 46 B.C. Then marvel at
the historic engineering feat of Pont au Gard, the three-tiered Roman
aqueduct and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Please note: This excursion involves extensive walking.
|
Day 7 - Avignon
Today’s excursions take you outside Avignon to the lavender-scented gardens and villages that make up Provence. Author Peter Mayle fell in love with the region during his Year in Provence. Before him, artists such as Vincent van Gogh migrated here to paint and live because of the spectacular quality of the light. You’ll visit the small town of St. Remyde- Provence, renowned for its Roman ruins, and the asylum that served as van Gogh’s sanctuary at the end of his life. Tonight, opt for a luxurious Chateauneuf du Pape dinner and wine tasting.
Included meals: breakfast
Included entrances: Les Baux-de-Provence
 |
$85 CAD |
Chateauneuf-du-Pape Dinner and Wine Tasting
This evening, sample some of the region’s most acclaimed vintages during a wine tasting in a local wine cellar before continuing on to a nearby restaurant for dinner, featuring a selection of Provençal dishes.
|
Day 8 - Nice
Leaving Avignon, travel along the Côte d’Azur to Nice. Along the way, stop in Aix-en-Provence, home of the artist Paul Cézanne. Your Tour Director leads an orientation of this quaint Provençal town, one of the most beautiful in the region. Look up for views of Mount Saint-Victoire, which inspired Cézanne to produce 44 oil paintings and 43 watercolors of the mountain. Arrive later in Nice, the cultural center of the French Riviera. Discover the city as you drive through the streets past the modern boutiques and historical sites of this coastal city. Catch a glimpse of the glamorous Promenade des Anglais, which runs parallel to the blue-green Mediterranean Sea. Dinner is included tonight, followed by a free evening on the French Riviera.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Day 9 - Nice
Today, an optional excursion takes you to a famous Riviera hot spot, the artist colony of St. Paulde- Vence. Or stay in Nice for a free day to spend at your leisure. Relax by Nice’s beach or check out one of the city’s many modern art museums. This evening, experience the glamorous but tiny principality of Monaco, home of the fabled Monte-Carlo Casino, on our Monaco by Night optional excursion. The trip includes dinner.
Included meals: breakfast
 |
$115 CAD |
Monaco by Night
Travel on winding roads to Monaco, a tiny principality ruled by the Grimaldis, Europe’s oldest royal family. Monaco has retained its independence for more than 700 years, and became famous when its reigning prince married Grace Kelly. Your tour director introduces you to the Old Town, with a stop outside the Royal Palace. After an included dinner, try your luck at the famous Monte-Carlo Casino.
Please note: This excursion requires some walking to the casino.
|
 |
$99 CAD |
St. Paul-de-Vence
Venture to the rustic hill town of St. Paul-de-Vence. Your tour director shows you the sights of St. Paul-de-Vence, which is now a popular enclave for artists. Then, enjoy and included lunch with your group, followed by free time to browse the many boutiques and galleries.
|
Day 10 - Nice
This morning, a Go Ahead representative helps you transfer to the airport for departure. Board your flight home.
Included meals: breakfast
(In the case of early morning departures, breakfast may not be included.)
Extend Your Stay
Add 2 nights in Nice for only $349 CAD (Single room: add $140 CAD)
The cultural center of the French Riviera, Nice is a wonderful starting point for those looking to explore the beaches and seaside towns of the Riviera, the medieval villages of Provence and the cobblestone streets of Nice itself. Drawing actors, musicians, travelers and artists to its shores for centuries, Nice has developed a grand allure that keeps them coming back, year after year.