Trip Overview

 

This 14-day trip will explore my favorite regions in France- Paris, the Loire, the Dordogne, Languedoc, and Provence. We will visit gorgeous gardens in various styles, see art in musuems and in artist's studios, and taste delicious regional treats.

 

We will begin in Paris. You will be picked up at the airport by our transportation service and brought directly to our hotel. You will have the afternoon for rest or exploration, and we will all meet for a delightful Welcome Dinner.

 

Over the next two days, we will enjoy the treasures of the City of Lights. Visits will include the Musée D'Orsay, which holds an incredible collection of Impressionist art held in a gorgeous converted train station, and the Rodin Museum, which exhibits The Thinker and The Gates of Hell. We will take a romantic evening cruise down the Siene, reveling in the lights of the city. One morning will find us at Monet's Garden in Giverny, and we will take an afternoon to explore the charming neighborhood of Montmartre- where artists like Dali, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Pissarro spent their days and nights.

 

From Paris, we will drive in the comfort of our mini-van to the Vallée de la Loire, home to the incredible châteaux of France's glorious and royal past. We will visit various castles and their gardens, and enjoy wine tastings in famous Vouvray.

 

The Dordogne (my favorite region!) will welcome us with its stunning panaramic views, perfect ancient villages, and earthy foods such as truffles, foie gras, and wine. We will stay in this region for four days, staying in a villa, and exploring the region. Boat tours, famers markets, and floating gardens await us, as well as a visit to an illustrated prehistoric cave. 

 

The Dordogne is our gateway to the ancient and rugged Languedoc-Rousillon, an area filled with mountain-top castles, walled cities, and tiny villages steeped in history. We will stop at the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum in Albi on our way to the incredible medieval city of Carcassonne, which will be our home for two days before moving through the flamingo-filled wild country and into Provence.

 

This will be our final region. Staying in a villa, we will have day trips to visit Van Gogh's room in Arles, Cezanne's studio in Aix-en-Provence, and the Roman ruins of Nîmes. The Pope's Castle in Avignon will take us back in time, and the light show at Les-Baux-de-Provence will bring us back to the 20th century.  

 

We will find our way back to Paris, where we will have a Farewell Dinner. Our driver will take you back to the airport on your departure day. If you choose to extend your visit, you will receive an airport transfer voucher for later use.