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10 Day itinerary in France, Europe

Superb set of city-breaks - Paris to Nice

An easy trip through France by train and private driver. We I suggesting 9 nights, 10 days – Paris (2), Lyon (2), Avignon (3) and Nice(2)

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WilliamJustineStephen

By William, Justine and Stephen

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
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Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English, French

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Paris

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Visit markets

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Driver pickups and direct trains, with easy to find meeting spots.

2

Centrally located lodgings.

3

Diverce experiences with guides we know and love.

4

Four seperate regions, and detailed discovery of each.

Itinerary

Hotels expand_more

Day 1

place Welcome to Paris

Ah, Paris: the architecture, the food, the art, the iconic sights. Two days in Paris may not be enough to work through a long wish list of what to see in the city, but don’t worry–you can indeed get a fantastic glimpse of Paris in a short time. It focuses on the must-sees and doesn't leave you waiting in line. Here’s how to see the best of the city in a limited time–you’re guaranteed to walk away dreaming of your next visit. You'll be picked up by a private driver and taken to your hotel in the heart of the city. Check-in, or bag drop. Explore the city with a hop-on, hop-off bus. This is a fun outdoor way to get your bearings and see it all. The loop will allow you to stop and visit, and we have included the Arc de Triomphe as Day one highlçight. The night is at leisure, depening on your jetlag.

Accommodation:

  • Hotels: Hotel Beaumarchais
Day 2

place Culture and outdoor treats

Make your way to the Louvre, for a short guided visit. You'll be there at opening! After the visit , we have a walking foodie tour of the MArais planned. it is tasty and an unforgettable way to discover right bank. The afternoon is at Catacombs, before evening journey to Montmartre.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Hotels: Hotel Beaumarchais
Day 3

place TGV to Lyon and silk industry tour

Pick up by private driver and transfer to station. Direct TGV under 2 hours to Lyon. Pick up and transfer to hotel. Explore the city and take lunch. Meet your private guide in central meeting spot, for a private tour focusing on Lyon and the history of the silk industry, once a major industry in Lyon. From the Croix-Rousse with its traboules till workshops in Vieux-Lyon, you will meet passionate artisans who will show you the Jacquard loom, the bombyx moths, the softness of velvet scarves ... Many surprises await, between chemistry, techniques, history, fashion, zoology, at one of the very last firms that still makes Made in France silk! This tour includes : - Demonstration of handmade painting on velvet - Demonstration of weaving on Jacquard loom - Exhibition of silkworms (Apr. to Nov.)

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Hotels: Hotel de l'Abbaye
Day 4

place Foodie discovery of Lyon + hinterland discovery of the Beaujolais

Make your way to the meeting point near the hotel. On the Secret Food Tour: Lyon, you'll find out why Since 1935, the city has been considered the world capital of gastronomy, primarily due to the famous "Mères Lyonnaises" (Lyonnaise Mothers). Many of the recipes around the city are unchanged from their humble beginnings, you'll have the opportunity to taste the culture and history that has turned Lyon into the culinary hub it is today. All the food will be served with quality wines. You will start the tour by exploring the old paved streets of the Vieux Lyon area, and we'll make our first stop in one of the most exclusive sweet shops of the city to sample a delicious local pastry. After crossing the Saône River, you'll then explore the Presqu'île district, discovering amazing monuments, statues, and fountains along the way. You'll love the seasonal traditional hot dish at our next stop. You'll discover local cheeses as you stop at a historic monument. There's of course a delicious Secret Dish. In the afternoon you'll explore southern Beaujolais and appreciate the diversity of this area. Often compared to Tuscany, this hilly region dotted with hilltop villages built in golden stone offers a gentle pace of life. Our cultural and gourmet itinerary leads you around the southern part of Beaujolais. A few kilometers to the north of Lyons, the region is green and hilly. Known around the world for its famous Beaujolais Nouveau, it is also the land of golden stone that offers its charming villages a unique style. Your driver guide and wine lover will pass on his passion for the region to you during our rural excursion. An introduction to wine and a meeting with a winemaker who will also invite you to enjoy a tasting experience. Evening at leisure back in Lyon.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Hotels: Hotel de l'Abbaye
Day 5

place Lyon to Provence and into the heart of french antique hunting + visit by electric bike

Pick up by a private driver and transfer to the station. Direct TGV to Avignon in Provence. Pickup and drive to Ile Sur la Sorgue. L'Isle sur la Sorgue is one of those places in Provence that one has to see. This "island city" lies at the foot of the Vaucluse plateau in the plains of Comtat Venaissin and is famous for it's antique markets. The "bargain hunters", lovers of beautiful objects, flea markets and art galleries will be delighted, as there are indeed nearly 300 antique dealers in this small town. After checking in, you will have a guided visit of a local luxury wool mill. this is a place where ancient savoire-faire oozes from the walls and the family traditions. Evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Hotels: Grand Hôtel Henri - Hôtel Restaurant
Day 6

place Electric bike discovery of Provence

Meet your guide, pick up your bikes and ride towards Fontaines de Vaucluse, you will be on mountain bikes with an electric battery of course. You will push up to the Château de Saumane-de-Vaucluse, and with a private guide, receive a tour of the grounds and interior. This was the childhood home of the Maquis de Sade and is now the jewel in the crown of this small community. The gardens are alive with exclusive concerts in summer. Lunch should be taken here, before the short ride to Fontaines de Vaucluse! Renowned for the resurgence of water (scientists still don’t know where the beginning of the underwater cave system starts) the site is exceptional for the clarity and beauty of the river, and even more exciting during and after the regular floods, or resurgence from the cave below. There are idyllic spots to rest next to the river, and superb dining too. Your guide will stick with you in the afternoon, for a real discovery of the countryside behind Fontaines. You can choose the ‘sport’ and ‘active’ functions while exploring 25kms of dense forest behind town on electric mountain bikes. The key discoveries, are bories. These are iconic dry stone cabins that shepherds built around the fields in times gone by. In an area with little seismic activity, take the time to enter and explore while your guide explains the construction methods and history. There are adrenalin filled downhills on the offer, but also calm sections near canals and over bridges. Evening back in Ile sur la Sorgue.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Hotels: Grand Hôtel Henri - Hôtel Restaurant
Day 7

place Provence - French Riviera

Pick up by a driver and transfer to nearby Avignon. Two hours free to enjoy the city while your bags are being looked after. Guided visit of the Palais des Papes and the bridge to nowhere! Your direct train will be just after lunch, and take you to Nice - the capital of French Riviera. Pickup and transfer to hotel next to the sea. The views are always superb from here. Evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Hotels: Hôtel West End Nice
Day 8

place Eastern Riviera - Eze, Monaco and the Corniche.

We will come and pick you up at your hotel in Nice. You will be welcomed by your English speaking guide and he/she will go over the program and itinerary of the day with you. Then, board your comfortable, air conditioned minivan and begin to make your way to Eze. You’ll take the Moyenne Corniche, enjoying a panoramic view of Nice and the Bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer, before arriving at Eze village. Discover Eze Village and Fragonard perfume factory Hanging over the Sea, the Medieval village of Eze has retained all its charms throughout the centuries. From the ruins of its medieval fortress to its charming, narrow streets, the small village now attracts a multitude of artisans and artists. Established in what used to be barns or sheepfolds, they definitely contribute to the local ambiance of this peaceful area. Celebrated for the calm that can be found here, numerous writers have also decided to settle down here, one of the most famous being Nietzsche who it is said to have written Thus Spoke Zarathustra in Eze. Visit of the village and then discover the Fragonard perfume factory. The famous perfume company Fragonard was established in 1926 by Eugène Fuchs who named his company after the 18th c. French Painter and to pay homage to the town of Grasse (the French capital of perfumes) for having greeted the famed painter and his family. During the visit, discover the manufacturing secrets of the products: perfumes, soaps and cosmetics developed from the best raw materials using an expertise which combines traditional methods and modern techniques. Enjoy Monaco - Monte Carlo After the visit, head towards Monaco and walk in the small streets of the old town. You will also have the possibility of visiting the Neo Romanesque Cathedral as well as the Memorial dedicated to Princess Grace & Rainier of Monaco. Or take in the spectacular views offered on either side of the rock! Evening back in Nice.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Hotels: Hôtel West End Nice
Day 9

place Westwards following artists and stars

Pickup and transfer towards Cannes. Exploration of Cannes, and then boat to the Lerins Islands. Explore freely until after lunch. A short boat ride from Cannes, find yourself in the midst of nature on Ile Saint-Honorat. Spend a day combining culture, with tours of the island and its monuments, and relaxation, enjoying the pleasures of the sea. Have an enjoyable time on the boat crossing towards the Lérins Islands. You will discover an exceptional view over the Bay of Cannes. In the afternoon, back on the mainland, pickup by private driver guide for 1/2 day in the footsteps of artists. Immersed in greenery 6km southeast of St-Paul-de-Vence, Le Domaine des Collettes in Cagnes-sur-Mer was home and studio to an arthritis-crippled Renoir (1841–1919) from 1907 until his death. On display are a handful of original paintings, including a version of Les Grandes Baigneuses (The Women Bathers; 1892), as well as a number of sculptures, letters, photos, documents and the artist's wheelchair. The villa's gardens are delightful, awash with colourful flowers and olive and citrus groves. Many visitors set up their own easel to paint. A short visit to St Paul de Vence (full of galleries), before exploring the Fondation Maeght, and then coming into Antibes. Visit the Picasso museum with your guide. Evening at your leisure. in Nice

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Hotels: Hôtel West End Nice
Day 10

place Homeward Bound

Pick up by driver and transfer to the airport. End of our services.

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Hotel Beaumarchais
  • Hotel de l'Abbaye
  • Grand Hôtel Henri - Hôtel Restaurant
  • Hôtel West End Nice

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (9)

About William

TEAM LEAD

+2 Local experts

verified Baboo Certified

star_outline 5 (2 reviews)

Expertise: 

Cycling

Hiking

Visit markets

Outdoors & Nature

An avid walker and traveller with a love for the outdoors and the mountains, I share my time between the UK and France. I have been creating and organizing unique active trips with a truly local experience for the last 13 years or so.

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$1,650.00 USD