Paris, Normandy & The Loire Valley, 10 Days Paris Return with A&K

Day One

Arrive Paris

Arrive Paris. Arrive into the French capital where you are met by your Abercrombie & Kent ‘Guardian Angel’ and privately transferred to your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel Lutetia (Grand Superior Room)

Day Two

Design Your Day Paris

Discover the ‘City of Light’ your way. Choose a guided exploration of some of the most iconic landmarks and museums in the world. Get your bearings on a drive past the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysées and wind up in the romantic Ile de la Cité, the historic and spiritual heart of Paris where you explore the stunning Notre-Dame Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece that has become one of the most recognisable places of worship in the world.

Or wander the narrow streets of the Marais, one of Paris’ most historic and aristocratic districts. Once a favourite of Henri IV and Louis XIII, this bourgeois district fell to ruin after the Revolution in 1789 and began its revival in the 1960s. Nowadays the Marais is a lively neighbourhood with plenty of bars, boutiques and the oldest part of Paris’ Jewish community. Stroll on to the Place des Vosges, formerly called Place Royale. This square is lined with pink brick and covered arcades and is a unique example of early 17th century architecture. One of France’s most famous writers, Victor Hugo, wrote a large part of Les Misérables whilst he lived here from 1832 to 1848.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Lutetia (Grand Superior Room)

Day Three

Paris

Take to the streets on a gastronomic walking tour of the city with a local foodie. Visit specialty providores and fresh produce vendors, perhaps a world-renowned boulangerie where you will meet the baker to learn about the French art of bread making or a boutique chocolaterie to get the inside word on French chocolate. Taste the products along the way and you’ll understand why French cuisine is widely regarded as the best in the world. Afternoon at leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Lutetia (Grand Superior Room)

Day Four

Paris – Giverny – Port-en-Bessin

The journey takes you west today into Normandy stopping on the way at Giverny to see the house and gardens that inspired painter and gardener Claude Monet. The house is decorated in the original colour schemes so admired by him and in the gardens you can see the famous Japanese bridge and lily pond, immortalised by him on canvas. You will also stop in Rouen, a city rich in Medieval buildings, to visit the magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral and see the giant Renaissance clock, Gros Horloge.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Château La Chenevière (Deluxe Room)

Day Five

Design Your Day Normandy

Tailor the day to suit. Choose from a poignant visit to the D-Day landing beaches, site of the largest seaborne invasion in history.
Explore some of the important places which made history on Tuesday 6 June 1944 when the allied forces invaded. Visit Sword Beach, the furthest east of the beaches strategically important due to its proximately to Cae, the memorial at Pegasus bridge, where the first liberators to arrive in Normandy crash landed by glider under the cover of dark and secured this vitally important bridgehead. After lunch visit to the Juno Beach Centre where the Canadian forces fought fierce opposition before pushing inland to link up with British troops. Next stop is Arromanches, one of the command centres of the whole operation, where you see remains of the famous portable Mulberry harbours still floating incongruously in the sea, part of the ½ million tons of concrete that was floated across the Channel at a speed of 4mph to supply a floating roadway from the supply ships to the shore. The memorial museum contains fascinating scale models and film footage of this great expedition and in the Arromanches 360-degree circular cinema you see more dramatic footage telling the story of the terrible Battle of Normandy.

Or savour the cuisine and culture of Normandy starting in the medieval town of Bayeux home of the famous Bayeux Tapestry, a vast embroidery which depicts the story of William of Normandy’s conquest of England in 1066. You also have time to see the impressive Norman-Romanesque cathedral, consecrated in 1077. In the afternoon drive through the countryside to visit La Ferme de Billy for a cider and calvados tasting. Explore the cellars to see the calvados ageing and walk through the bucolic orchards before returning to the hotel where the chef will show you the best way to prepare oysters, followed by sampling some delicious Normandy cheese and wine.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Château La Chenevière (Deluxe Room)

Day Six

Port-en-Bessin – Mont St Michel – Port-en-Bessin

Visit one of France’s most recognisable landmarks, Mont St Michel, a village perched on a tidal island located in the mouth of the River Couesnon. Surrounded by water and sand flats, the granite outcrop is crowned by an abbey that took more than 500 years to construct. Legend has it that Archangel Michael appeared to the Bishop of Avranches in 708, inspiring him to build it here. Explore the steep, narrow, cobblestone streets and climb over 350 steps to reach the abbey, whose spire is more than 150-metres tall, and as a whole is an outstanding architectural achievement. You may also like to explore the charming village of Mont St Michel with its narrow passageways, historic houses and little shops.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Château La Chenevière (Deluxe Room)

Day Seven

Port-en-Bessin – Onzain

Head south today to the Loire Valley passing through the scenic Swiss Normandy region and stopping en route in Falaise. Falaise, with its impressive medieval churches, was the birthplace of William the Conqueror and the castle named after him towers above the town. Continue on to Alencon, a town famous for its lace, before arriving at your hotel in Onzain.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Domaine des Hauts de Loire (Superior Room)

Day Eight

Loire Valley

This morning set off on a full day sightseeing in the Loire Valley. Starting in Amboise visit the Clos Lucé, a handsome Renaissance manor where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last four years of his life. The museum contains working models of some of da Vinci’s inventions. Continue to Château de Chenonceau which straddles the river and is one of the best-known in the Loire. Finally, visit the largest of the Loire châteaux, the Château de Chambord.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Domaine des Hauts de Loire (Superior Room)

Day Nine

Onzain – Paris

Today you are transferred to St Pierre des Corps railway station to board your first-class TGV service to Paris. On arrival you are met by your Guardian Angel and transferred to the hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Lutetia (Grand Superior Room)

Day Ten

Depart Paris

Private transfer to Paris airport for your departure flight.
Meals Included: Breakfast