Le Grand Voyage

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: Trouville

Arrive in Paris and meet your ACIS Tour Manager before you journey to Trouville on the picturesque Normandy coast.

Day 3: Trouville

Visit the Caen Memorial Peace Museum this morning to relive the heroism of the 1944 liberation of France. Then drive to Colleville-sur-Mer where you can pay tribute to the heroic fallen at the American Cemetery and Memorial before descending from the bluff to walk along Omaha Beach, where American troops suffered some of the heaviest D-Day losses. Continue to Pointe du Hoc to visit the battle-scarred landscape of a crucial US victory on D-Day.

Day 4: Loire Valley

Journey south into the magnificent Loire Valley today and stop in Amboise, a delightful town alongside the Loire River. Here you will visit the Château du Clos Lucé, the great Leonardo da Vinci's final residence. Then view the picturesque moat, drawbridge, towers and turrets that make up the nearby Château de Chenonceau. Built across the Cher River, it is an impressive achievement of Renaissance architecture—and full of riveting stories about resistance to the Nazis.

Day 5: Paris

Depart this morning for Chartres Cathedral to see the beautiful stained glass windows and learn about its Gothic architecture. Continue to Versailles to visit the intricate gardens and stunning palaces of the Sun King, Louis the XIV. 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 his vast palace. The best stuff is all in the gardens and grounds: all 1,976-acre gardens, 200,000 trees, 50 fountains and 620 jets of water worth. After leaving the gardens, it is a short journey into Paris.

Day 6: Paris

Paris is known as the “City of Light” for its role as a center of learning during the Age of Enlightenment. It was also one of the first cities to install street lighting. A morning sightseeing tour with an expert local guide shows you the city's most impressive monuments, from the magnificent Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Champs-Élysées to Napoleon's tomb at Les Invalides to the Gothic wonder of Notre Dame. Later, 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. After, ascend to the top floor of the iconic Eiffel Tower for spectacular views over Paris. Tonight's highlight is a traditional French crêpe dinner.

Day 7: Provence

Travel to Avignon this morning aboard the high-speed TGV, one of the fastest trains in Europe. Explore beautiful Avignon as you see the imposing Papal Palace and the famous Pont Saint-Bénézet. Then drive to see the Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct preserved in almost perfect condition. A true marvel of Roman engineering, the 161-foot tall bridge aqueduct is still standing nearly 2,000 years after its construction. Our tour offers an exclusive guided visit to the third floor for a closer look at the structure's architecture and exceptional views. Continue to your hotel in Provence for the evening.

Day 8: Cote d'Azur

Drive to Aix-en-Provence in the morning and discover the beauty that makes this city a favorite sojourn for painters. Artists from a local atelier will teach you the techniques of painting during a Be Cézanne workshop. They will also provide canvases and materials for you to be inspired, as he was, to paint your own masterpiece. Then admire the rugged limestone of majestic Mont Sainte-Victoire, a favorite and frequent subject of Cézanne, as you continue to Nice. An orientation tour led by your ACIS Tour Manager will introduce you to the city's history and culture as you enjoy its many fine attractions, from Place Massena to the winding streets of the Old Town to dazzling Mediterranean views.

Day 9: Cote d'Azur

This morning discover the city's hidden gems from a different perspective during a bicycle tour showcasing areas such as the port, Place Garibaldi, Place Massena and the Old Town. Then drive along the corniche to the perched village of Eze with its castle ruins and steep streets. Enjoy sweeping vistas from the fragrant Jardin Exotique, an amazing cliffside botanical garden, and tour the Fragonard Perfume Factory, where you'll learn about the centuries-old French art of making parfum. The scenic drive back to Nice will cap off a full day and an exceptional week.

Day 10: Departure

Depart for the USA.



Optional Extensions and Extra Nights:

Enhance your European experience with a two-night extension to historic London with included sightseeing and the Eurostar to Paris, at the beginning of your tour.