Tour Itinerary: Day 1 Saturday April 13 Arrive at Paris Charles DeGaulle Airport. Drive to Honfleur, Normandy, and check into beautiful villa in the center of the old town. Explore Honfleur and relax at the villa. Enjoy a delicious dinner on the waterfront. Day 2 Sunday April 14 Take an excursion to Etretat on the coast. Take a spectacular cliff walk for a magical view of the Channel and the harbor. This is the famous view you've seen in many pictures of Normandy. After working up an appetite, enjoy a seaside lunch of fresh seafood and a glass of Norman beer or cider. On the scenic route on the way back to Honfleur stop at an ancient cider distillery to see how they use a centuries-old recipe to make their Calvados, Normandy's signature brandy distilled from apples. Returning to Honfleur, stroll around the harbor before enjoying a gastronomic dinner. Day 3 Monday April 15 Today will be an emotional journey back to D-Day, June 6, 1944. We begin our World War II lesson with a visit to the renowned museum, "The Caen Memorial", where you will experience a profound educational window into the events of that historical day in history when the Allies landed on the Norman coast. This museum is a powerful display recording the history of that day, what happened, what it meant, and what it will mean to the future of mankind. We then head toward the Landing Beaches with an expert local guide, who will elaborate on the historical events, helping us to grasp the significance of what occurred here a mere sixty-eight years ago. We'll see Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery, Arromanches, and Saint Mère Eglise, an emotional journey through World War II history. We return to Honfleur to celebrate the wonders of present-day peace. We begin the next step of our adventure with a cocktail party on board the riverboat docked in Honfleur's harbor. After checking into our cabins, we enjoy dinner on board and then overnight on the riverboat. Day 4 Tuesday April 16 This morning we enjoy a history lesson on Honfleur's ancient neighborhoods. After lunch on board our riverboat, we embark upon an excursion into the countryside to visit a dairy farm where we see the age-old process of cheese-making, and sample the famous cheeses for which Normandy is so well known. We return to relax in Honfleur before a wonderful dinner onboard. As we relax in our cabins, the boat departs the harbor of Honfleur along the Seine River toward Caudebec en Caux. Day 5 Wednesday April 17 This morning is free to explore the village of Caudebec en Caux. This medieval village has a beautiful church built in the 15th century, a Templars' House, dating from the 12th century, and several interesting buildings on the "Abbeys Trail", impressive Romanesque ruins, showing us an important slice of history from the centuries when the Church ruled the world. Our optional tour continues to Jumièges, which boasts one of the most beautiful abbeys in France and the church of St Pierre, one of the finest examples of 10th century Norman architecture. After lunch on the boat, we sail along the Seine towards Rouen, passing steep cliffs at the foot of which nestle quaint little villages. We arrive in Rouen around 4.00 pm. Lovers of history can take an optional guided tour of the town, taking in the cathedral, historic quarters and the old market place where Joan of Arc was burned alive at the stake. Dinner on board, and the evening is free to explore this charming medieval city. Day 6 Thursday April 18 We depart Rouen early morning and have breakfast while sailing along to Mantes la Jolie. We have the option of joining an excursion to the Château of Versailles, or visit Mantes la Jolie and take a guided tour of this town that attracted the French Impressionists Cézanne, Renoir, Sisley and Monet. Back on board we continue along the Seine into the center of Paris, where we dock at the Quai des Grenelles. After dinner on our riverboat we are free to explore Paris nightlife! Day 7 Friday April 19 After breakfast on board, we bid adieu to our shipmates and check into our Paris hotel. We have the whole day to explore this fascinating City of Lights! Dinner tonight is a very special restaurant Chef Ron has chosen to show us the very finest French cuisine. Day 8 Saturday April 20 Today we'll follow a trail of interesting culinary sites throughout this amazing city. Paris is known for oysters, for gourmet coffees, for its markets, for its elite cafés on quaint streets, for its haute cuisine. We'll taste it all! This is a day of surprises! Our farewell dinner is a night to be remembered. Day 9 Sunday April 21 After breakfast we head for the airport for the return flight. Notes: Price Includes: 
Supplier Information
Out-Of-The-Ordinary Ranking
Also see tour packages in: Europe France Local Culture Cultural Journey Food & Wine Email it to a friend: Click here to email this vacation to a friend |
 US:  , ext: 07510Outside US, please use a number below and enter the extension "07510" when prompted: UK: 01865 52 2588 Australia: 08 8121 5884
Note: If unavailable, leave a voicemail for the supplier to call you back. 
|
|||||||||||||||||||
