As a general rule we are quite unfavorable to the idea of staying in Paris and visiting regions around.

Accommodation in Paris is more expensive and you will spend a lot of time in transportation and reach the sites to visit with all the "Paris Day Trips" - and be in the crowds. 

Our philosophy of travel is to maybe see less places in France but really take the time to enjoy and experience them. 

Nevertheless, there are some sites very near Paris, which are worth a visit - if you can afford to take a full day out of Paris from your Paris program. 

 

 

Gorgeous Castles near Paris

Day Trips to Normandy from Paris

We warmly discourage you to visit Normandy - the WWII landing sites or Mont Saint Michel - from Paris. It won't leave you any time to experience and understand the sites. You will spend 6 hours in a bus just to get there and get back.

It would take only an hour from Paris to reach Giverny and see Claude Monet's house. But be ready to take a train + a bus. 

Driving to Normandy is, for sure, the best way to enjoy this area of France. You can easily spend one to 2 weeks there without getting bored or you can mix it with the near Paris and Loire Valley areas which makes a great loop. Visit Normandy, the Loire Valley & Paris at your own pace.

 

Day Trips to the Loire Valley from Paris

To follow the steps of the kings and queens of France in chateau of the Loire Valley, we will also recommend you to stay there. Chambord or Chenonceau day trips from Paris may seem appealing but you will be visiting the castles with the Paris crowds and you will have to endure about 6 hour bus ride on that day...difficult to enjoy.  If you still want to do it, this is an idea of a day tour to the Loire Valley.

 

 

Take a look at our self drive tour to Normandy & the Loire Valley

 

We are here to help you find the best way to experience France.

Share with us your wishes and dreams !

 

 

Day Trip Sample Tours - From Paris

Duration
1 day
Price
US$ 620
Region
in Loire Valley

How to Get There If you are already in the Loire Valley, we can plan your day from your accommodation. If you are in Paris, you may take a 1 hour high speed train to Tours train station. For this special day, we plan for you to get an overview of the diversity of the Loire Valley.

Wine Tasting
Heritage & History
Duration
1 day
Price
US$ 800
Region
in Normandy

Spend a memorable day exploring the mythical Mont Saint Michel! How to get there This tour starts in Avranches, near Mont Saint Michel. You may take a train or a bus from Paris. If you stay in the area, we may also meet you directly in Mt St Michel parking lots. Mont Saint Michel is one of the most visited sites in France and many travelers are caught in the crowds. We will plan your day for you to enjoy this unique site at its best. ppen in the morning or in the afternoon.

Heritage & History
French Countryside
Duration
1 day
Price
US$ 720
Region
in Normandy

Get immersed into the Battle of Normandy and Bayeux history. How To Get There This Day Tour starts in Bayeux. From Paris, you can take a direct train. Bayeux Old City Bayeux may not be well known compared to Omaha Beach but the city has a lot to interest travelers. We plan for you to walk around Bayeux old city in the morning. We will provide a detailed map and information: restaurants, special shops, streets you don’t want to miss. You will also see the famous Bayeux Tapestry which is a beautiful testimony of the Middle Ages and William the Conqueror history. The WWII Landing Sites In the …

WWI & WWII Battlefields
Heritage & History

Our Travelers’ Reviews

Dan
An experience OF France, not just a trip TO France. For over 30 years my wife has dreamed of visiting the Loire region of France. Emilie and Laura not only made this a reality, they made it truly a dream trip. The multi-hundred page guidebook not only guided our daily itinerary, it prepared us for what we needed to know for a successful self-guided …
Ed
This is the third year in a row that we have traveled to France, as part of a two country vacation. Because of our positive experiences with Emilie's help in the past, and our desire to be relatively independent, we chose to have her craft our French trip again this year. In a word, she is incredible! We have such a high level of confidence in her …
Kathy
We are preparing to do our second trip with Emilie to the Loire Valley, October 2018. Our first trip was to the region of Provence which was perfectly guided and gave us a most memorable experience. I highly recommend Emilie’s ability to put together a fabulous and memorable France just for you holiday.

Our Travelers’ Photos

Julie, Mary-Jo, Ben & Kevin
From the US
In the Loire Valley
Carolyn & Harry
From Australia
Cycling in the Loire Valley
Patricia, Brandon, Alyssa & Anika
from Canada
in a cellar in the Loire Valley
Georganna, Caroline & Julia
In Etretat cliffs
Naomi
From the US
In Villandry gardens in the Loire Valley
Michele, Jacques, Nicole, Gaetan, Joanne & Keith
from Canada
In the Loire Valley
Scott & Linda
From Australia
In Mont Saint Michel
David
From the US
Celebrating his 80th birthday at a cooking class in Burgundy
Sonia & Peter
from Canada
in Carcassonne Medieval City
Yvette & David
from the US
on the French Riviera, near Nice
Young Nam, Albert & Myoung from the US
In the Dentelles de Montmirail, in Provence
Bill & Leslie
from the US
Visiting a wine cellar in the Loire Valley

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