La Fête Française

The itinerary is the starting point to your tour, but it’s not set in stone. Your group leader may make changes leading up to departure.

Day 1, Friday March 26: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2, Saturday March 27: Paris

Bienvenue à Paris! Meet your ACIS Tour Manager and get acquainted with this graceful city's cobblestoned streets, charming cafés and vibrant neighborhoods. 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). After settling in, immerse yourself in local culture by practicing your French with painters and vintage book sellers along the storied Seine. Enjoy an evening boat ride along the Seine. (D)

Day 3, Sunday March 28: Paris

Enjoy a full-day excursion to Louis XIV's palace at Versailles. Your visit includes the Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed, and Marie Antoinette’s Hameau and Petit Trianon. These “small” cottages are delightful for their scale and grounds. (B,D)

Day 4, Monday March 29: 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 iconic Eiffel Tower, Napoleon's final resting place at Les Invalides and the Gothic wonder of Notre Dame. Then 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 dinner your tour manager will show you the dazzling shops, cafés and bustling sidewalks of the Champs-Élysées before you ascend to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. Enjoy the spectacular view of twelve of Paris' grand avenues which extend from the monument like spokes on a wheel to the Place de la Concorde and the Louvre. (B,D)

Day 5, Tuesday March 30: Paris

Start your day with a Paint Paris painting lesson and walking tour of Montmartre. As you explore this artistic haven—once the haunt of luminaries like Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Claude Monet—a local artist explains the area's history and instructs you in painting techniques important to French art history for capturing its streets and buildings. You may even dine with some real artists this evening at an authentic French dinner on the Place du Tertre at the heart of Montmartre. (B,D)

Day 6, Wednesday March 31: Provence

You'll have time this morning to discover more of Paris's famed sights and arrondissements on your own. Or if you feel like savoring the flavors of France, perhaps choose an optional Taste of France cooking workshop, an authentic experience with professional local chefs who will introduce you to classic Parisian ingredients and dishes, let you try a few of the techniques that French cooking is famous for, and delight your tastebuds with plenty of samples. We then journey via high-speed TGV train to Avignon. (B,D)

Day 7, Thursday April 1: Provence

Visit the Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct preserved in almost perfect condition. A true wonder of Roman engineering, the 161-foot tall bridge is still standing nearly 2,000 years after its construction and your ticket includes access to the wealth of information available on the structure's history, architecture and more in the excellent on-site museum. Continue to Nîmes, a city full of Roman history and known for textiles. In fact, denim, the fabric of blue jeans, derives its name from Nîmes. Get to know the city and its Roman Arena with an audio-guided tour, then dive even more deeply into the Gallo-Roman period of history with a visit to the Musée de la Romanité. (B,D)

Day 8, Friday April 2: Nice

Arrive in Nice and begin your day by practicing your sporting French vocabulary with local experts who teach you how to play the traditional French game pétanque. Similar to lawn bowling, the sport dates back to the early 1900s. Then enjoy an orientation tour led by your ACIS Tour Manager. As you explore Nice's history and culture, soak in the city's many fine attractions, from Place Massena to the winding streets of the Old Town to dazzling Mediterranean views. Tonight, perhaps take an evening stroll along the waterfront. (B,D)

Day 9, Saturday April 3: Nice

This morning take a scenic drive to Monaco, the glamorous residence of the rich and famous and home of the Grimaldi royal family. Continue 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. Then return to Nice for your final evening in France. (B,D)

Day 10, Sunday April 4: Departure

Depart for the USA. (B)