Toujours en France

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, Monday July 6: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2, Tuesday July 7: 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. (D)

Day 3, Wednesday July 8: 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. Then channel your inner artist with a Sketch Paris drawing lesson and walking tour of Île Saint-Louis. A local artist will not only explain the history behind the island's idyllic bridges and charming Parisian buildings, but also show you how to sketch them like a pro. In the afternoon, ascend to the top of the iconic Eiffel Tower for breathtaking views of Paris. Then gain a completely different perspective of the city as you enjoy a serene evening boat cruise on the Seine. (B,D)

Day 4, Thursday July 9: Paris

This morning local experts will teach you how to play the traditional French game of pétanque. 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, you may choose an optional excursion to Giverny, the inspiration for Claude Monet's water lily paintings, where you will see Monet's house with its famous pink walls, green shutters, sunflower-yellow furniture and Japanese prints, open after April 1. After dinner, be dazzled by the shops and energy of the world famous Champs-Élysées on an evening stroll. (B,D)

Day 5, Friday July 10: Loire Valley

This morning, travel 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 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 explore the palace's surroundings beyond the gardens on a Versailles by bike tour. In the afternoon, drive to Chartres Cathedral, famous for its precious stained-glass windows. Continue to the Loire Valley for dinner. (B,D)

Day 6, Saturday July 11: Loire Valley

Our first stop is in the town of Amboise, where Leonardo da Vinci is buried. From there, we visit Chenonceau, the château of six women, built over the River Cher in an exquisite Renaissance design. It features a moat, drawbridge, towers and turrets—and great stories about resistance to the Nazi army. Then we stop to marvel at the mighty Chambord, the sprawling creation commissioned by François I, towering over its deer-filled park. (B,D)

Day 7, Sunday July 12: St Malo

Drive to the Normandy coast and visit the lovely island monastery of Mont St. Michel. This medieval abbey, once an important pilgrimage site, is surrounded by water at high tide. Continue to the St. Malo area for the evening and stretch your legs with an evening walk around the quaint streets of this walled city. (B,D)

Day 8, Monday July 13: Paris

Today walk in the footsteps of history as you visit many of Normandy’s important World War II sites. See what is remaining of the temporary Mulberry harbor constructed at Arromanches to help offload cargo during the invasion. Entrance to the Arromanches 360 Cinema is included. Next pay tribute at the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer before descending from the bluff to walk along Omaha Beach. Then return to Paris for your final evening in France. (B,D)

Day 9, Tuesday July 14: Paris

Today is free to explore Paris at your leisure. Don't forget to stop at a pâtisserie and pick up some of the pastries that make France so famous! Or how about catching up on your last-minute shopping at the Galeries Lafayette or window shopping down the exclusive Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré? (B,D)

Day 10, Wednesday July 15: Departure

Depart for the USA.



Optional Extensions and Extra Nights:

Further immerse yourself in the culture and wonders of La Ville Lumière with an extra night in Paris, including the services of your ACIS Tour Manager. (B)