This is the best itinerary to thoroughly discover the Northern part of France: Burgundy vineyards, Loire Valley castles, Normandy WWII history . . . and ending in the most famous and beautiful capital in the world - Paris.
Without a doubt one of the best vacations my friend and I have ever taken! We keep raving to all about how authentic the trip was. Not only was every aspect of this trip gorgeous …
Without a doubt one of the best vacations my friend and I have ever taken! We keep raving to all about how authentic the trip was. Not only was every aspect of this trip gorgeous from the grape vineyards to the lavender fields to the mountainous towns and cathedrals, but the details were second to none. Emilie and Laura provided my friend and I with the perfect girls getaway. When we first planned this trip, we had no idea what an amazing trip would lie ahead.
The B&Bs were absolute perfection, and their owners were lovely and catered to all of our needs. The pools on the grounds of the B&Bs were just beautiful. We loved the delightfully French cuisine laid out on the breakfast tables and the opportunity to meet other travelers. The ten wine tasting with Francois in his range rover and the cooking class with Jacques were highlights for sure! Every day held beautiful travel memories.
The guide book is AMAZING!!! Its easily the best replica we will now have long after the trip was over. Awesome to read long after the trip concludes. The details, the care, and the time put into the plans of our trip were unbelievable. Pictures even how to insert money into the tolls on the highways!! Every question was answered. Note to all: beware the speed check zones!! There are no police on the highways, only boxes with cameras checking speeds randomly and you will get a ticket later on if you exceeded the speed! : ( But that was the only surprise..France was so driveable, packed with roundabouts and gorgeous scenery to see every day!
We cannot thank Emilie and Laura enough for the time and attention they paid to our trip. We were truly blown away by the details in our itinerary, and the beautiful sights we experienced on our travels in France. Thank you again!!!
#1 - A family house right between Dijon and BeauneA beautiful mansion in the Burgundy vineyard
#1 - A family house right between Dijon and BeauneWith spacious and comfortable rooms with a view over the park
#1 - A family house right between Dijon and BeauneEnjoy meeting with your very friendly hosts
#1 - A family house right between Dijon and Beaune...and having breakfast outside on a sunny day
#2 - A 14th century house in the Loire ValleyA charming house, nestled in a lovely hamlet
#2 - A 14th century house in the Loire ValleyRelax in a cozy room, after a day sightseeing.
#2 - A 14th century house in the Loire ValleyYour lovely hosts will take good care of you...
#2 - A 14th century house in the Loire Valley...and will take you to their vaulted cellar for the apéritif.
#3 - A Romantic Castle in the Loire ValleyDiscover the Loire region, staying in a castle
#3 - A Romantic Castle in the Loire ValleyRelax at night in a gorgeous room
#3 - A Romantic Castle in the Loire ValleyTake the time to settle in one of the lovely sitting rooms...
#3 - A Romantic Castle in the Loire Valley...or stroll the park & garden
#3 - A Romantic Castle in the Loire ValleyJust sit, relax, enjoy !
#4 - A 19th century typical stone Normandy homeThe lovely garden inspires your hostess for watercolors
#4 - A 19th century typical stone Normandy homeEnjoy a mix of decoration inspiration coming from your hosts previous lives
#4 - A 19th century typical stone Normandy homeYour hosts in the garden
#4 - A 19th century typical stone Normandy homeAfter breakfast drive 20 minutes to reach Mont Saint Michel
#5 - A beautiful house in NormandyStay in the old Bayeux...
#5 - A beautiful house in Normandy...with very comfortable suite-room equipped with a small kitchen
#5 - A beautiful house in NormandyWe'll recommend where to taste Normandy's famous seafood
#6 - A 4* Boutique-Hotel in Saint Germain des PrésIsn't this street "typiquement Parisienne ?"
#6 - A 4* Boutique-Hotel in Saint Germain des PrésEnjoy a large room with a nice reading area
#6 - A 4* Boutique-Hotel in Saint Germain des PrésBreakfast is served in the comfortable lobby
Step by step
Burgundy - La Bourgogne
As you will probably arrive at CDG airport, we have planned for you to pick up your rental car at the airport. It can be another location based on where you arrive in France. From Paris, drive 3 hours to Burgundy. We will recommend a very nice resting stop on your way.
You will reside for 3 nights in a beautiful mansion, surrounded by a vast park in Côtes de Nuits vineyards.
We will provide you with the detailed itineraries you need to discover the authentic and charming region of Burgundy. This region is much more than its vineyards: winding roads leading to tiny timeless villages - some of them the "Most Beautiful Villages of France" - will give you a real feel for this region.
Dijon has kept a lot of ancient monuments and houses, yet it is a very lively modern city and full of charm. Taste some local cheese, the "Epoisse" at the cheese factory or stroll around Beaune from the cellars to the ramparts.
One day, let Alex, a local guide, take you on a nice walk in the vineyards of Meursault to better understand Burgundy wines from the vine culture to the glass. You will end this afternoon with the visit of a family-owned winery you could not visit on your own, andtaste 5 of their wines.
The Loire Valley hidden beauties
On the 4th day, you will drive about 4 hours to get to the Southern Loire Valley. You will reside for 4 nights in the outbuildings of a disappeared monastery dating back to the 14th century. Your charming hosts know this region very well and will be happy to share some tips with you. If you wish, you can have diner at the B&B. Located on the south banks of the Vienne River, this charming B&B is within short driving distance of Chinon and Saumur, beautiful historic cities.
One day, let Anne take on you on Joan of Arc's footsteps in Chinon medieval city and dicover its amazing history and architecture on a private tour.
On the 8th day, you will move to the Northern Loire Valley. Stay for 3 nights in a gorgeous Renaissance castle . . . the perfect place to explore the "castle country" in a very romantic setting.
Touraine is also famous for its vineyards – Chinon, Bourgueil, Vouvray and many more – and we have planned a special wine tasting for you. You will have the opportunity to taste different wines - in a privately owned 16th century castle - accompanied by some local specialties.
Normandy : the Mont Saint Michel
On the 11th day, you will be on your way to the Mont Saint Michel!
Spend 2 nights in a 19th century typical stone Normandy home surrounded by a lovely garden, located 20 minutes from the famous Mont Saint Michel.
Here, you will enjoy a peaceful environment - away from the touristy crowds, in a home decorated around nostalgic roses, engravings, and Indonesian furniture.
The property is surrounded by a lovely garden where you can relax, and it is walking distance from several restaurants.
We will give you tips to discover this very touristy site while avoiding most of the crowds.
Normandy: from Bayeux to Giverny
Continue your trip nearby, in Bayeux, the heart of the Calvados region. Spend 4 nights in a very old mansion downtown Bayeux, at a stone throw from the gorgeous Cathedral. You will be walking distance to all shops and restaurants and enjoy this lovely typical French town.
From here, you can visit Bayeux and its famous tapestry, all the landing beaches (from Sainte Mère Eglise to Pointe du Hoc), Caen and the typical fishing ports.
The Normandy back country might not be advertised abroad but is much worth a detour: the typical half-timbered villages, the Cider road, the beautiful English style gardens, the apple brandy traditional manufactures . . . and of course the cheese. A trip to Normandy would not be complete without tasting Camembert or Livarot cheeses!
Deauville and Honfleur are within driving distance. Honfleur really deserves a visit for its picturesque harbor and art galleries, and Deauville for its famous Grand Casino, its horse track and luxury cars. This part of Normandy is also famous for its seafood, especially scallops from Port en Bessin and oysters from Asnelles.
On day 17, visit Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny, on your way back to Paris. We have included in this itinerary cut-the-line tickets to avoid waiting to enter.
Paris landmarks
You will drop off the rental car downtown Paris at the nearest agency to your hotel and then become a pedestrian traveler to explore the city of lights.
For the last 3 nights of your trip, you will be living the Parisian life. Comfortably accommodated in an intimate 10 room 4* boutique-hotel in the lively Saint Germain des Prés, you will discover the French capital city’s must sees and hidden beauties.
Being based less than 5 minute walk from Notre Dame Cathedral, you can explore Paris by foot, by boat or using public transportation with different and unique itineraries we have planned for you. We also recommend our favorite restaurants and boulangeries in different districts of the city so you’ll know where to take a break.
On your last day, a private driver will take you to the airport.
This is "la belle France" !
Activities included
Burgundy Vineyards with a Private Guide
Let Alex, a local guide, take you on a nice walk in the vineyards of Meursault to better understand Burgundy wines from the vine culture to the glass. You will end this afternoon with the visit of a family-owned winery you could not visit on your own, and taste 5 of their wines.
Guided Tour of Chinon
Explore Chinon medieval town with a private guide who will take you on Joan of Arc footsteps.
A Wine Tasting in a castle in the Loire
Visit a family-owned 16th century castle and winery surrounded by over 100 acres of vineyards and forests.
Enjoy a commented tasting of the wines with some local-product snacks.
Monet's House & Garden
Avoid wasting time standing in line, use the by-pass line to visit the house of Monet and its famous gardens. Follow in the footsteps of this painter and the American Impressionists in the small town of Giverny.
Wherever possible we prefer to travel on our own as opposed to going on a tour package. With France - Just For You, they arranged for a vehicle and booked us into a couple of lovely B&B’s and a great Boutique Hotel in Paris and booked a couple of activities that we were interested in. Besides that, they put together a book for us with everything we …
Wherever possible we prefer to travel on our own as opposed to going on a tour package. With France - Just For You, they arranged for a vehicle and booked us into a couple of lovely B&B’s and a great Boutique Hotel in Paris and booked a couple of activities that we were interested in. Besides that, they put together a book for us with everything we would need for a safe and hassle free trip. This included general information about France, common French phrases, suggested daily itineraries, recommended restaurants, etc, etc.
It was a wonderful holiday with the flexibility to see and do what you wanted at your own pace.
I would not hesitate to recommend France - Just For You. Truly amazing!
Sheena
My friend and I decided to do a trip to Paris and then drive down to Nice. I was initially going to plan it however I got busy with work and did not have the time. This is when I found, France Just for You, and read the amazing reviews on Trip Advisor and decided to book. Emilie was great! She was thoughtful and paid great attention to detail. We …
My friend and I decided to do a trip to Paris and then drive down to Nice. I was initially going to plan it however I got busy with work and did not have the time. This is when I found, France Just for You, and read the amazing reviews on Trip Advisor and decided to book.
Emilie was great! She was thoughtful and paid great attention to detail. We thought everything was well organized, and easy to follow. This was from making the initial payment, to working together to make our itinerary and budget work. The guidebook was great for a little history lesson, and great attractions.
Overall the trip was well planned and all we literally had to do was pack our bags and follow our guidebook. Emilie had our tour maps dated and it was beyond easy to follow. We also knew that Emilie was available had we any questions. There was a personal touch to every place we visited. Emilie's warm and friendly personality seemed to be felt even in the hotels/BnB's we stayed at.
There was a lot of thought, consideration and attentiveness that was put into the planning that made the trip extremely special. We truly enjoyed our time in France, and we want to thank you again for such a great trip!
Janet
We have traveled in Europe a dozen times. Our trip to France, the Loire Valley and Normandy was one of the very best. Their custom self-guided tours are based on places and activities that interest you. Emelie listened to what we wanted and created an itinerary that was just what we wanted as well as some suggestions for other things we might try …
We have traveled in Europe a dozen times. Our trip to France, the Loire Valley and Normandy was one of the very best. Their custom self-guided tours are based on places and activities that interest you. Emelie listened to what we wanted and created an itinerary that was just what we wanted as well as some suggestions for other things we might try. Emelie created a spiral bound book with information about traveling in France as well as detailed information about the B & Bs, maps, directions and all the places we planned to visit. The B & Bs were lovely old stone buildings with modern comforts. A private cooking class, a private tour of an ancient church in the mountains, and a guided tour of Normandy were features we really enjoyed. The chateaus and gardens [my personal favorites] were magnificent. Normandy was so moving. I am glad that we had a guide who spent the entire day with just us. We learned and saw so many things we would have missed on our own. We would urge you to consider France Just for You. We loved our trip and would use them again. GPS was a life saver.
