Paris

 

On arrival at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Insight’s Airport Shuttle Service departs for your tour hotel at 08:30, 11:00 & 13:30. The afternoon is yours to relax and settle in. Tonight, join your Tour Director for a Welcome Drink. Hotel: Pullman Bercy

 

DAYS 2 & 3 – PARIS.

In the mid 19th century, Baron Haussmann transformed much of medieval Paris into something more modern; admire his work along the elegant, tree lined boulevards on your included orientation tour. You see Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, Place de la Concorde, Champs Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower. Introductions over, it’s time to make the French capital your own. You’ve got two full days to visit the great galleries, take side trips, stroll by the Seine, window-shop in the Faubourg St-Honoré or enjoy a pleasant hour or two watching the passers-by from a Parisian café. ( BB )

 

Scratch beneath the surface of the French capital, and it’s not about what you know, it’s who you know! On our ‘Paris Experience 1’ our qualifi ed guide introduces you to Monet and other great impressionists in the Musée d’Orsay. Next it’s a short drive into the country to visit the impressive Palace of Versailles. Built by Louis XIV, enjoyed by Louis XV and paid for with his life by Louis XVI. Enjoy the formal gardens designed by Le Nôtre and the State Apartments including the Hall of Mirrors on your guided tour before returning to Paris where the dazzling nightlife beckons. *

 

Should you wish to continue your introduction to Paris for a second day then our ‘Paris Experience 2’ with our expert guide will introduce you to the great works of the sculptor Auguste Rodin, including The Thinker and The Kiss. Later drive through the Latin Quarter along the Boulevard St. Michel, past the Sorbonne University and by the Luxembourg Gardens to the bohemian quarter of Montmartre. Ascend by funicular to the Place du Tertre for lunch in a typical Parisian bistro. Local street artists can capture your likeness in minutes - a great souvenir to take home – and close by you can appreciate the view from the steps of Sacré-Coeur Basilica. 

 

After dark, the City of Light really lives up to its name when the monuments, buildings and bridges are lit up in all their glory and we have great options for touring, dining and cabaret. Whether you opt for fi ne dining at a top class restaurant, or the more rustic bistros, brasseries and cafés, you can’t go wrong at dinner time - you’re in the gastronomic capital of the world. Magnifi que!

 

Transfer to the Paris station to board a comfortable TGV train for a journey through fertile vineyards and agricultural lands to Lyon, built at the meeting of two of France’s great rivers, the Rhone and the Saone. After an orientation tour of the city drive south, stopping at the greatest of the Roman remains, the incredible three-tiered Pont du Gard, before arriving in the old Roman city of Nîmes. Hotel: Imperator Concorde. (BB)

 

Gazing at the Roman Arena you’ll see it’s more complete and better preserved than even Rome’s Colosseum. Your included orientation tour concludes in the shadow of the 2,000 year old Maison Carrée, one of Europe’s fi nest Roman temples. From here you can soak up the atmosphere at an outdoor café and plan your day. Across the square stands the modern Carré d’Art, built to complement its ancient neighbour. You could start with the art museum there, return to the Arena for an audio guided tour or cool off amid the canals and shady walks of the Jardin de la Fontaine. It’s up to you.(BB)

 

The surrounding countryside is not only replete with historic towns, Roman remains and grand scenery, but it also played a key role in the development of modern art. This all becomes clear on our ‘Expérience de la Provence’ which

takes you through the charming village of St Remy, noted for its associations with Nostradamus and Van Gogh, and into the jagged peaks of the Alpilles. Visit medieval Les Baux-de-Provence, perched atop a rocky spur, and crowned with a ruined castle. After taking in the magnifi cent views, taste the local produce at a nearby olive oil mill. Continue to Arles where you follow in the

footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh on a guided tour of this beautiful town. The Camargue begins at the gates of Arles and you return to Nimes through part of this unique landscape.

 

If you wish, continue the following day with our ‘Avignon & Rhone Experience’, where a little train ride gives an overview of this papal city, with its medieval battlements and 39 towers. After time to explore or shop for fragrant Provençal souvenirs, head towards the Rhone river and the village of

Châteauneuf-du-Pape to taste the renowned wine. À votre santé!

 

Your evenings are completely at leisure to do as you please. The Spanish influence is palpable by night, evidenced by the lively tapas bars and bodegas - why not join the locals for a glass of sangria and the sound of fl amenco or perhaps take an excursion to the fortifi ed town of Aigues Mortes, completely encircled by ramparts

 

Join the highway to “the most beautiful town in France after Paris”, Aix-En-Provence. After some time to appreciate the elegant mansions and bustling cafés of the Cours Mirabeau, continue to the fantastic Cote d’Azur and its capital city, Nice. On arrival, enjoy an orientation tour before checking into your hotel. Hotel: Radisson SAS ( BB )

 

Two days to relax and rub shoulders with the jet-set on the glamorous Cote d’Azur! To help you get your bearings, join an included walk with your Tour Director through Old Nice, with its colourful farmers market displaying fresh produce and perfumed fl owers. From here, you are free to become better acquainted with the Old Town and the hinterland. Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais or enjoy a game of Pétanque, a great favourite with the locals. History buffs can visit the excavations in the hilltop suburb of Cimiez, while sun lovers can laze on the beach. Maybe devote some time to the excellent museums, sample the cuisine at a seaside restaurant, or go wild in the elegant boutiques.(BB)

 

Of course, during your relaxed stay, you just might want to venture further afield. Insight has a ‘Riviera Experience’ where we take you to the magnifi cent villa of the Baroness Rothschild, situated on Cap Ferrat. Then travel along he ‘Corniche’ roads to Monaco, ruled by the Grimaldi family since the 13th century. After enjoying lunch, cross the Italian border and drive along the glorious coastline to San Remo, on the Italian Riviera of Flowers. Enjoy late afternoon Mediterranean vistas on your return to Nice

 

The following day maybe join our ‘Cote d’Azur Experience’ where you visit fashionable Cannes before touring through Saint Raphael and Sainte Maxime to glamorous St Tropez for lunch and exploration. This afternoon traverse ‘La Provençale’, the inland highway, to reach the hill-top village of St Paul de Vence where contemporary painters perpetuate art as a living tradition.

 

There’ll be time to shop and explore before descending to the coast and Nice. As the sun starts to set, Nice offers a wide range of pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés. You could join the stylish crowd at an aperitif bar before tucking into local Niçoise specialities at a nearby restaurant. One evening you might enjoy a meal in a hill top village with sweeping views of the Mediterranean, another night could be dinner by the sea with local wine.

 

Bid au revoir to the sunny French Riviera this morning. Insight’s Airport Shuttle Service arrives at Nice Airport at 06:15 & 09:00. ( BB )