Paris Lumière

This itinerary is the starting point for your tour, but it’s not set in stone. If there are days you would like to change, or specific places you’d like to go, we can work with you to create a personalized program that fits the needs of you and your students.

Day 1: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2: Paris

Your ACIS Tour Manager greets you with a warm Bienvenue à Paris! Paris is called the “City of Light” for its role as a center of education during the Age of Enlightenment (it was also one the first cities to adopt streetlights). As you begin to explore this enchanting city's famed sites, immerse yourself in local culture by practicing your French with painters and vintage book sellers along the storied Seine. Then gain a completely different perspective of the city as you enjoy a serene evening boat cruise on the river.

Day 3: Paris

Your day begins with a guided sightseeing tour that takes you past some of the most famous attractions in Paris. Your expert local guide will show you the magnificent Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Champs-Élysées, Napoleon's final resting place at Les Invalides and the Gothic wonder of Notre Dame. Later you'll see the soaring stained-glass windows of Sainte-Chapelle. You'll have some free time in the afternoon to explore Paris' arrondissements at your own pace. In the evening you may choose to participate in a tasty cultural exchange—separate into small groups and be welcomed into the homes of local Parisians to enjoy an authentic dinner and lively conversation.

Day 4: Paris

Start your day with a lesson led by local experts in the traditional French pastime of pétanque. Later today sharpen your sense of smell during a tour of the Fragonard Perfume Museum. Discover the 3,000 years of history, science and art that goes into each bottle of perfume.

Day 5: Paris

When available, we've arranged a visit with local students at a Paris area school today. Depending on time of year (only when French schools are in session) our visit may include lunch in the canteen and an afternoon sporting or social activity. If a school visit is not available, we spend the morning at a hands-on École de Boulangerie baking class for aspiring boulangers and pastry chefs. Under the direction of an instructor, you'll learn to make a brioche and leave with a sample to enjoy. In the afternoon, breeze by the crowds with your timed entrance to the Louvre and discover the many famous masterpieces that call it home. Insightful commentary from your local guide highlights the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo and more as you wander through the galleries. From its beginnings as a royal fortress to its current status as the world's most visited art museum, the Louvre has long been at the center of Parisian culture and home to a collection of 35,000 works of art from around the world. Tonight we provide restaurant vouchers and insider suggestions so you can dine with the locals at a neighborhood bistro.

Day 6: Paris

This morning board an RER commuter train to visit the ornate palace at Louis XIV's Versailles. Your visit includes the Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed, and the breathtaking surroundings. Don't worry if you don't have time to cover every room of this vast palace. The best stuff is in the gardens and grounds: all 1,976-acre gardens, 200,000 trees, 50 fountains and 620 jets of water worth. After wandering about the exquisite and intensely manicured gardens on two feet, hop on two wheels and experience Versailles by bike, exploring the palace's surroundings beyond the gardens. This evening you may choose to attend our optional night at the French theater—a unique cultural experience alongside the locals made accessible with English surtitles (translations shown above the stage).

Day 7: Paris

The morning is yours to explore any lesser-known attractions of your choice, such as the Musee Marmottan-Monet, which is home the famous artist's Impression, Sunrise, from which the Impressionist artistic movement purportedly drew its name. This evening enjoy a traditional French crêpe dinner. After your meal, be dazzled by the shops and energy of the world famous Champs-Élysées on an evening stroll, before you ascend to the top of the Arc de Triomphe for breathtaking views of Paris.

Day 8: Departure

Depart for the USA.



Optional Extensions and Extra Nights:

Enhance your European experience with a two-night extension to London via Eurostar, including a city sightseeing tour with an expert local guide, entrance to the Tower of London and an Oyster Card to help you get around.