Springtime in Paris, the Loire
Valley, Versailles & Giverny
March 27th-April
4th, 2010
$1,299 land package or $2,099* with airfare
Day one: Departure from Minneapolis International Airport.
Day two: Arrive at Charles de Gaulle, and
transfer to the gentle
Loire Valley, for our countryside immersion
experience. Neighborhood orientation and castle visit of Blois, dinner in small
groups. Overnight in Blois.
Day three: After our morning café au lait and croissant, we’ll
visit two storybook castles in the Loire
Valley: Chambord,
a Renaissance Masterpiece designed by Leonardo Da
Vinci in the early 1500’s, with its 440 rooms & 344 fireplaces. In the
afternoon, we’ll travel to Cheverny: a little marvel
from the early 1600’s, that is still in the same
family today. Overnight in Blois.
Day four: Ready to
go to Paris? Today we will pack our bags and go
to our final home base: the City of Lights.
Lace up your comfy shoes, as we’ll be exploring the center of town: the banks
of the Seine, Notre Dame church, a stop at the Conciergerie,
Sainte Chapelle, Hotel de Ville and Pompidou
Center…Stroll through the Luxembourg gardens, and Rue de la Huchette
on the Left Bank, in the student district…Enjoy this activity filled day!
Day five: After our delicious
Parisian breakfast,
we’ll take the subway to the Orsay museum. This former train station was renovated to accommodate
XIX th century
art
work. Its architecture alone is a
masterpiece. After its visit, we’ll have a picnic lunch in the Tuileries gardens. We’ll spend the afternoon in Montmartre. Visit
of Sacre-Coeur church & painters’ square on Place
du Tertre. How about a spin on the carrousel?
Day six: Today we’ re
heading to the largest museum of the City of Lights: the Louvre. Mona Lisa, Winged
Victory, the Venus of Milo and so many more are expecting your visit
today. After our visit, we will meet at
the glass pyramid and stroll through the Tuileries Gardens, cross Place de la Concorde:
site of the beheadings during the French
Revolution, and
up the
Champs Elysees, all the way to L’Arc de Triomphe: Napoleon’s tribute to his faithful officers.
Today is another day filled with history.
Day seven: Another full day on the schedule: we’ll
go to Versailles
and immerse ourselves in palace life. If
weather permits, we’ll walk thru the gardens, all the way to Marie-Antoinette’s
hamlet. (Comfortable shoes necessary.) A countryside visit to Giverny, to visit Monet’s home and gardens will allow you
to enjoy springtime at its best. Your camera will be dancing, as colorful
flowerbeds will beg to be captured on film. Late return to Paris for an evening at the Eiffel Tower. Watch the Iron Lady in the night skies as she
twinkles like a Christmas tree while Paris
is all aglow.
Day eight:
Free day for our adults to enjoy Paris
or other destinations, such as D-Day beaches . Fun day for junior
travelers. Paris by night adventure as we share our last evening together.
Day nine: Time to enjoy one last croissant &
café au lait before closing our bags. How about
stopping at our neighborhood bakery to bring a few pastries home to family
members, and share with them the fragrance of Paris? Afternoon return to Minneapolis. Au revoir la France!
Included:
- Airport transfers in Paris
- Hotel with breakfast
- Transportation to Loire Valley
& back.
- Transportation to Versailles & Giverny
- All guided walking tours
Not included:
- Lunch & dinner
- Museum & castle entry fees. Please note
that museum visits in Paris
are free to students, and their castle visits are at a reduced rate,
adults will be encouraged to purchase a museum pass to avoid long lines.
- Subway tickets, short commutes and whatever adventure you are planning on our free day.
- *Airline
fuel charges of $243 which are subject to change.
Events listed may occur in a different order.
