France

One of the most dreamed of destinations, every corner of the country is filled with cultural, culinary, and every other kind of delight. From the fabled Riviera and colorful Provence to elegant Paris and everything in between, the marvels of France will never cease to amaze.

The French wrote the book on la vie en rose and gave the world champagne and camembert, de Beauvoir and Debussy, the Tour de France and the Tour Eiffel. There’s a term for their seductive lifestyle – Douce France (Sweet France) and you’ll find yourself using it often.

These are just a few of our many itineraries. We can customize a trip to meet all your travel needs. Our travel advisors will be happy to work with you to create the trip of your dreams.

Customized Itineraries Honeymoon River Cruising Guided Tours Hotel Recommendations

The Grand Tour: 8-Day Sample Itinerary

Days 1 & 2: The French Riviera

Enjoy the marvels of the Mediterranean Sea in the capital of the French Riviera, Nice. Complete with pebbly beaches and an average of 300 sunny days a year, Nice has breezy promenades, social squares, and a glamorous attitude befitting a Mediterranean gem.

Continue onto Monaco, capital of the glitsy Monte Carlo and long a symbol of the rich, the famous, and the royal. Travel onto the tranquil Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, a favorite holiday spot for European aristocracy.Visit the lavish and opulent Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.

Days 3 & 4: Provence

Explore the historic Old Town of Arles, noted for its narrow streets and medieval stonework. Winding streets and colorful houses lend Arles its artsy ambience. The olive gardens and vineyard that inspired Van Gogh still cover the limestone hills.

Continue to St. Remy-de-Provence, where Vincent Van Gogh spent one year in an asylum. The surrounding olive groves, fields of lavendar, cypress trees, and colorful flowers served as invaluable inspiration for the 150 paintings he produced during this time, including Starry Night, and Wheat Field with Cypresses and Irises. Tour the hospital where he stayed and the surrounding countryside before heading to Pont du Gard, the tri-level Roman aqueduct.

Day 5: Avignon

Made famous by the popes who reigned here during the 14th century, the walled city of Avignon thrives today as a cultural center. Visit Pont St-Benezet, the medieval bridge that spans the Rhone, and Palais des Papes, the gothic fortress that was the home of seven popes. Exit on a TGV (a French high-speed train) bound for Paris.

Day 6: Paris

Just mentioning Paris is enough to conjure images romantic cafes lining breezy boulevards, and artisan shops filled with the finest cheeses, chocolates, or wines. Tour the city and view its lauded landmarks: the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, the Champs Elysees, and Place du Palais Royal.

Day 7: Musee du Louvre

Originally a fortress and royal residence, the Musee du Louvre houses some of the world’s best-known artworks, such as Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Madonna of the Rocks, Bosch’s Ship of Fools, Raphael’s Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist, and countless others.

Day 8: Journey Home

Enjoy your last warm French pastery before boarding your plane for a safe flight home.

Paris, the Loire Valley, and Burgundy: 11-Day Sample Itinerary

Days 1, 2, & 3: Paris

Spend a day at the renowned Musee du Louvre. Originally a fortress and royal residence, the Louvre houses some of the world’s best-known artworks, such as Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Madonna of the Rocks, Bosch’s Ship of Fools, Raphael’s Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist, and countless others.

Day 4: Chartres & Versailles

Travel to Chartes and see Cathedrale de Chartes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its soaring architecture and scintillating stained-glass windows, the cathedral is truly a glorious site. Continue to Versailles, Paris’s dazzling neighbor. Visit King Louis XIV’s palace, the opulent residence that continues to hold its air of aristocracy.

Day 5: Loire Valley – Chateau Azay-le-Rideau

Head to the famed Loire Valley. Located along the Loire River and surrounded by vineyards, this beautiful stretch of land is filled with opulent chateaux built by France’s royalty and nobility. Begin at Chateu Azay-le-Rideu, the resplendant castle that rises from the Indre River and whose roof is topped by pointed cones.

Day 6: Loire Valley – Chateaux de Cheverny & de Chenonceau

Contine along the Loire River, passing by Chateux Amboise and Blois, to Chateau de Cheverny. This castle is renowned for its lavish furnishings, tapestries, and objets d’art, including a fireplace decorated by artist Jean Mosnier, tapestries depicting the abduction of Helen of Troy, and a stone stairway of carved fruit and flowers. Visit then the romantic Chateau de Chenonceau, the gorgeous palace built on arched stone vaults that span the entire Cher River.

Day 7: Burgundy – Chablis & Noyers

Enter Burgundy, whose landscape is marked by castles, vineyards, and medieval churches. Once an autonomous province, Burgundy has great wine and cuisine. Have lunch in the quaint red-roofed village of Chablis, famous for its light dry white whines. Continue onto the medieval village that time forgot, Noyers-sur-Serein.

Day 8: Burgundy – Dijon & Beaune

Perhaps most well-known for its mustard, Dijon was the ancient capital of Burgundy. Explore Dijon’s old town and sample its exquisite cuisine. Travel down Route des Grands Crus (Wine Road) to Beaune, a wonderfully well-preserved medieval city that is capital of the Burgundy wine country. Here you can go on a delicious wine tasting tour.

Day 9: Burgundy – Vezelay & Basilique Ste-Madeleine

Journey up the sacred hill of medieval Vezelay and enter Basilique Ste-Medeleine, the Romanesque church that holds relics of St. Mary Magdalene. The narthex of this venerated church beautifully depicts biblical scenes, such as Christ giving the apostles the Holy Spirit, and the preaching of the Good News at Pentecost.

Day 10: Paris

Return to Paris and tour Musee d’Orsay, the magnificent museum renowned for its collection of Impressionist paintings. Here you can see works such as Monet’s La Gare St-Lazare, Van Gogh’s Church at Auvers-sur-Oise, and Renoir’s Bal au Moulin de la Galette, Montmartre.

Day 11: Journey Home

Board your plane for a safe flight home.

Paris and Provence: 8-Day Sample Itinerary

Just mentioning Paris is enough to conjure up images of romantic cafes lining breezy boulevards, and artisan shops filled with the finest cheeses, chocolates, and wines, and some of the world’s most lauded landmarks: the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, and many other magnificent monuments.

Provence is well known for its flourishing fields of lavender and its soothing aromas. Sites include St. Remy de Provence, a former retreat for Vincent Van Gogh, and the Cathedrale Notre-Dame des Doms in Avignon; the Chateau d’If, the island that Alexandre Dumas used as a setting for his novel, The Count of Monte Cristo; and Marseilles, a medieval village with a 2,600-year-old port and wonderful seafood.

Normandy and the Loire Valley: 8-Day Sample Itinerary

Deauville, Normandy is a thriving vacation spot known for luxury hotels, casinos, race tracks, golf courses polo grounds, wide sandy beaches, and the Deauville Festival of American Film. A few miles north of Deauville is the picturesque city of Honfleur, which has been painted by numerous impressionists.

The historic D-Day grounds feature open-air museums, memorial tributes, and eight routes that bring the events of World War II leading to the June 6, 1944 liberation of northwest Europe back to life.

Throughout the Loire Valley is where you’ll discover lush, rolling countryside that enchanted kings and nobles for centuries. In this realm of romance and mystery are many cathedrals, museums and magnificent royal chateaux.

Provence and the French Riviera: 8-Day Sample Itinerary

The French Riviera, located along the southern coast of France, is one of the most glamorous locations in the world. Nice is popular destination for couples, honeymooners, and sun-worshipers; and has rich shopping, splendid dining, and art-deco faÃ§ades. Cannes, famous for the Cannes International Film Festival (Le Festival de Cannes), is a haven to those seeking fun in the sun on the French Riviera and a lively nightlife.

Food: 8 Days Touring the Vineyards of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Cotes du Rhone, Alsace, and Champagne

Embark on a gastronomic adventure to top-quality wineries, the very finest wine estates, and gourmet restaurants. Enjoy the fruits of Bordeaux and Burgundy. Taste the wines of Cotes du Rhone, Alsace and Champagne vineyards. Indulge in the edible treasures along Route des Grands Crus. Whether your interests lie in wine, gastronomy, history, art, architecture, cooking, or playing golf, this trip will exceed all your expectations.

Karen

France Specialist

Karen’s first-hand experience and long-term relationships with hoteliers & tour guides around the world allows her to create highly specialized, tailor-made itineraries for her clients.

Meet with Karen

Embark on a honeymoon to France where you will be spoiled by its allure and decadent lifestyle. France is overflowing with romantic cities and villages. Indulge in a rendezvous to the City of Love, Paris, traverse down to the elegant French Riviera, or roam the fairytale-esque Loire Valley. France is full of cultural and culinary delights that will surely impress. Contact one of our agents at E. Clarke Travel to customize your honeymoon to France today. Here is a sample of a French honeymoon:

7 Days in Paris:
Just mentioning Paris is enough to invoke images of romantic cafes lining breezy boulevards and artisan shops filled with the finest of cheeses and chocolates. A week in Paris will fulfill all your honeymoon desires. Imagine seeing the sunrise on the top of the Eiffel Tower when the city is waking up wrapped in the arms of your love. Take a French pastry class, to then stroll through the avenues where upscale boutiques dot the streets for souvenirs galore. Pack a gourmet picnic for a romantic afternoon in the Luxemburg Gardens. Shop along the Champs-Elysees, take a magical horse-drawn carriage ride past the Arc de Triomphe, and get dropped off for a champagne dinner cruise along the Seine River for the evening. Here you will be wined and dined with glittering city lights as a backdrop.

May we suggest hiring a Parisian chauffeur to take you around the city in a vintage car? See all the sites in style. Stop at the Sacre-Coeur, tour Sainte-Chapelle, and grab a sweet at A La Mere de Famille to share with your partner. After a decadent multi-course meal at one of Alain Ducasse’s restaurants, enjoy an exclusive tour of the Louvre Museum at night. Share a bottle of wine in Les Saves du Louvre, under the museum, or dress up for an opera at Palais Garnier. Capture your honeymoon with a Parisian photo shoot by a local photographer where the cityscape will highlight the love that is in the air.

To venture out of the city, here are several suggested day trips:

Day Trips:
Visit Normandy, where rich WWII history awaits. See Omaha Beach, Gold Beach, and Pointe du Hoc, to name a few. Walk along the beach with an oyster farmer where you can catch, shuck, and enjoy fresh oysters. For a further trek, wander around Mont Saint-Michel. This magical rocky island hosts a medieval monastery. On your way back to Paris, stop in Giverny, where you will see the gardens that inspired the world-renowned Monet.

A short jaunt to Reims or Epernay is a must! Visit the champagne region of the world where you will sip bubbly with the love of your life. Learn the history behind making this delicious beverage as well as having a relaxing day exploring the region by a hired car. While here, you can experience a private champagne estate tour with the vineyards House Ambassador for a more intimate experience.

The Palace of Versailles is the epitome of luxury. If you aren’t paddle boating with your significant other in the palace’s pond, have a picnic in the gardens under the sun. For an elite opportunity, we can open the gates of Versailles for an after hour guided tour with access to the private apartments if you so wish!

Ingredients for a memorable honeymoon:
To make your honeymoon experience distinct, let us coordinate the details for these unique Parisian experiences: