Madrid, Paris and the Coast

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, Sunday May 26: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2, Monday May 27: Paris

Arrive in Paris and meet your ACIS Tour Manager. Learn to ride the Metro and you are set to explore the Cty of Light. Begin your stay by heading to visit Notre Dame Cathedral followed by a trip to ascend to the top floor of the Eiffel Tower for magnificent views over the City of Light. (D)

Day 3, Tuesday May 28: Paris

Sightseeing with an expert local guide gives you a taste of French history, from the monumental Arc de Triomphe to Napoleon’s final resting place at Les Invalides. This afternoon visit Saint-Chapelle. Tonight, enjoy a creperie dinner. This evening's highlight is a scenic boat ride along the Seine. (B,D)

Day 4, Wednesday May 29: Paris

This morning visit Louis XIV's estate at Versailles. Your tour 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. You also get to visit Marie Antoinette’s Hameau and Petit Trianon. These “small” cottages are delightful for their scale and grounds. 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. Enjoy your final dinner in Paris this evening. (B,D)

Day 5, Thursday May 30: Biarritz

After a free morning take in a breathtaking panorama of French provinces as the TGV whisks you south to Biarritz. This seaside resort is famed for its Basque heritage, magnificent ocean promenade and foaming breakers. (B,D)

Day 6, Friday May 31: Biarritz

Enjoy a day in France's Gascony province, snuggled in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Visit Pau, called the Sublime Terrace for its views of the distant snowcapped mountains. Continue to the pilgrimage town of Lourdes, famous for its miraculous spring and sacred Grotto of Massabielle, the site where 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous experienced 18 visions of the Virgin Mary in 1858. (B,D)

Day 7, Saturday June 1: San Sebastian

This morning head to Bilbao. Explore Bilbao during a guided sightseeing tour that shows you the riverside, Parque Etxebarria and Casco Viejo, the beautiful medieval quarter. Then visit the renowned Guggenheim Museum with personal audio guides. In the afternoon, travel along the Atlantic coast and explore San Sebastián, the Spanish resort town of luxurious villas, gardens, and tiny streets. (B,D)

Day 8, Sunday June 2: Madrid

Journey to Burgos, once home of legendary El Cid. Visit El Cid's tomb in the Burgos Cathedral, one of Spain's Gothic marvels, and relive the city's days of glory as the one-time capital of Castile. Then continue to Madrid. (B,D)

Day 9, Monday June 3: Madrid

Madrid’s rich heritage comes alive on your guided sightseeing tour of the classic Spanish boulevards, grand plazas, and diverse architecture that characterizes modern-day Madrid. Highlights include the Plaza de España with its statue of Don Quixote, the majestic Alcalá Gate, and the famous bullring Las Ventas. Later enjoy entrance to the Reina Sofia. Tonight, you’ll feast on a traditional Spanish paella—a spicy tango of rice, seafood and vegetables considered by many as Spain’s national dish. Later enjoy churros and choclate! (D)

Day 10, Tuesday June 4: Madrid

This morning take an excursion ancient Segovia, and tour its impressive 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct and dreamlike Alcázar with your tour manager. Later, in Madrid, you will experience one of Spain's most enduring performance art traditions during a flamenco lesson and show. The show features your instructor making it look easy. We'll cap off our exceptional tour tonight with a stroll down to Plaza Mayor to see the artists and street performers. (B,D)

Day 11, Wednesday June 5: Departure

Depart for the USA. (B)