This itinerary takes you to Eastern France from North to South. After spending a few days in Paris, you will enjoy the Alsace region on the German border and then drive your way south all the way to Provence.
The best itinerary to discover l'Est de la France !
We began planning this trip over a year before our departure date. We have done a lot of traveling but this trip was for our 25th wedding anniversary! Once we decided upon France …
We began planning this trip over a year before our departure date. We have done a lot of traveling but this trip was for our 25th wedding anniversary! Once we decided upon France as our destination all that was left was to get all the details taken care of. Based on previous adventures, we knew that we wanted to drive ourselves on a self- directed adventure. Extensive searching and research led us to France for You. Yes, Emilie and France for You had wonderful reviews but we needed/wanted to speak with her. Emilie is a great listener. My wife and I had each been France on our own, years before we had met and hadn’t been back since. We enjoyed a few conversations and exchanged many emails as the three of us discussed and planned our adventure. We thought we had arranged and thoroughly planned our 15 days. We never could have imagined how AMAZING this trip turned out to be, absolutely a trip of a lifetime!!! Emilie had come to know us well enough to understand exactly how to assist us in planning every detail of the trip. Emilie of France for You obviously does extensive research and stays current with every aspect of anything she suggests. Every aspect of our adventure was far above and beyond our expectations. I couldn’t more STRONGLY recommend working with Emilie and France for You!
#1 - A 4* Boutique-Hotel in Saint Germain districtA charming place run by the same family for several generations
#1 - A 4* Boutique-Hotel in Saint Germain districtStay in a comfortable superior room and enjoy walking everywhere in Paris
#1 - A 4* Boutique-Hotel in Saint Germain districtRelax in a cozy salon
#1 - A 4* Boutique-Hotel in Saint Germain districtRely on the friendly staff to make your stay even more enjoyable
#2 - A 4* Boutique-Hotel in the little venice in Colmar, AlsaceStay in the heart of Colmar historical district
#2 - A 4* Boutique-Hotel in the little venice in Colmar, AlsaceEnjoy the Little Venice ambiance
#2 - A 4* Boutique-Hotel in the little venice in Colmar, AlsaceEnjoy a very comfortable room
#2 - A 4* Boutique-Hotel in the little venice in Colmar, Alsaceand why not a drink at the bar or dinner in a nearby Winstub !
#3 - A beautiful house nestled in a lovely town near BeauneStay in a gorgeous valley, in the Burgundy countryside
#3 - A beautiful house nestled in a lovely town near BeauneIn a very typical town
#3 - A beautiful house nestled in a lovely town near BeauneYour charming hosts will turn breakfasts into a very special moment of your trip
#3 - A beautiful house nestled in a lovely town near Beaune..let's not forget about this host as well !
#3 - A beautiful house nestled in a lovely town near BeauneSpend very quiet nights, in a relaxing room
#3 - A beautiful house nestled in a lovely town near BeauneEnjoy a delicious dinner cooked by your host who used to be a Chef
#3 - A beautiful house nestled in a lovely town near Beaune...in a very nicely decorated room
#4 - A Boutique-Hotel in the very center of LyonA lovely Boutique-Hotel in Lyon
#4 - A Boutique-Hotel in the very center of LyonIn the very heart of the Presqu'ile (center of Lyon)
#4 - A Boutique-Hotel in the very center of LyonWith very spacious rooms
#4 - A Boutique-Hotel in the very center of LyonAn great breakfasts to start the day
#5 - A welcoming mas house in the heart of ProvenceStay in a former convent
#5 - A welcoming mas house in the heart of ProvenceAt the gates of Luberon and near Avignon
#5 - A welcoming mas house in the heart of ProvenceIn a very large room
#5 - A welcoming mas house in the heart of ProvenceMeet with fellow travelers around dinner or at the pool
Step by step
Paris, Oh ! Paris !
Start your trip living the Parisian life for 3 nights. For a smooth arrival, a private driver will meet you at the airport and drive you to the hotel.
Comfortably accommodated in a charming 4* boutique-hotel in the Saint Germain disctrict, you will discover the French capital city’s must sees and hidden beauties.
Being based less than 10 minute walk to Notre Dame Cathedral, you can explore Paris by foot, by boat or using public transportation with different and unique itineraries we have prepared for you. We also recommend our favorite restaurants and boulangeries in different districts of the capital city so you’ll know where to take a break.
To get oriented in Paris, we plan for you to follow a private Parisian guide for a half-day. We will craft your itinerary with Raf based on what you already know and want to discover. It may also include museums if you wish.
Alsace's lovely towns & vineyards
Your next step is in Alsace is for 4 nights in a 4* Boutique-Hotel in the very center of Colmar in the little Venice District, walking distance to all bar, shops and restaurants. This hotel is in a 16th century building which was renovated mixing new and old materials - resulting as a charming and cozy ambiance.
Discover the gorgeous town of Colmar, its canal maybe on a barge tour and enjoy a meal in a typical Winstub with a nice beer.
Another day, drive along the Wine Road, stop in some of the most beautiful villages of France with their typical colorful half-timbered houses and the stork nests . . . enjoy the Alsatian wines and the great views over the Vosges foothills.
Alsace has also a very rich history : we include cut-the-line tickets to the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle which dates from the Middle Ages and was rebuilt entirely in the early 20th century. This is a fascinating visit.
Burgundy from Beaune
For 2 nights, you will reside for 4 nights in a beautiful house, nestled in a lovely village of the Burgundy countryside. Situated in the heart of Burgundy, between Dijon and Beaune, you will be perfectly located to tour the region and taste its wines. One night, enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by your host who used to be a Chef !
Enjoy being able to walk everywhere while staying in this quiet B&B nestled in a cool garden. We'll tell you where to go for the best wine tasting in Beaune. After that, you can savor a traditional Burgundy meal or buy a picnic at the market to enjoy in the nearby park.
To discover the Burgundy vineyard trails, we plan for you to spend an afternoon on a bike to discover Burgundy wines. You will make several stops on the way to taste wine at smaller wineries.
The city of Lyon
Spend 2 nights in the very heart of Lyon, in a charming privately owned Boutique-Hotel, located on a quiet street of the most lively part of the city. Laurent and his team take great care of their guests and are always happy to give advice and share tips.
Discover Lyon's amazing history, enjoy quality design shops and trendy restaurants. Gourmet travelers may even enjoy treating themselves to a star-rated Michelin restaurant or two . . . there are so many options in Lyon !
We include home-crafted walking itineraries of the different districts so you will make the most of your stay and enjoy the different facets of the 3rd largest city in France.
Provence
On the 12th day, settle in your central base camp to explore Provence. Stay for 4 nights in a welcoming Provencal stone house, a former convent, perfectly located between Avignon and the Luberon. You will stay in a large room and at night, relax in the garden, by the pool or meeting with fellow travelers around the barbecue, with a glass of wine.
You will enjoy hilltop villages on market day, walking in the footsteps of famous painters such as Cézanne or Picasso. We will also tell you about some hidden jewels, off the beaten track, where you will stroll around charming streets or have a drink at a provencal café with locals. We can also recommend a farmer’s market and wine cellar for each day of the week!
Speaking of gastronomy, let a local man who was born and raised in Avignon, take you on a walking tour to discover the Provençal food specialties - a great way to get acquainted with the local culture, from the Pompe à l’huile to the thyme chocolates.
If you are interested in history, don’t miss the Roman ruins at Arles, Orange and the Pont du Gard. We will also take you to smaller sites – less famous and much quieter.
Activities included
Paris Private Walking Tour
For a half-day, follow a private guide in the heart of Paris to get oriented and learn more about the history, art, culture or architecture. We will taylor make your program based on your wishes.
Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle
Enjoy the visit of the Haut-Koenisbourg fortress with cut-the-line tickets to avoid waiting. This is a Middleages marvel rebuilt in the early 20th century.
Burgundy Wine & Bike Tour
Spend an afternoon with a guide who will take you wine tasting in Côte de Beaune famous vineyards...and wineries of course.
Gourmet Experience in Provence
Let a passionate who was born and raised in Provence, take you to his best addresses in the old city to discover Provence food specialties.
I communicated directly with Emilie who is very serious about their business of providing self guided tours. She prepared a proposal that matched what I had requested. Payment arrangements were easy. We really got to visit with local people. We rarely saw a tour bus. France - Just For You arranged visits with guides (wine tasting day in St. Emilion …
I communicated directly with Emilie who is very serious about their business of providing self guided tours. She prepared a proposal that matched what I had requested. Payment arrangements were easy. We really got to visit with local people. We rarely saw a tour bus. France - Just For You arranged visits with guides (wine tasting day in St. Emilion area and visit to Les Combarelles & Font de Gaume---small historic caves) to places we would never have found on our own. The guides were passionate and knowledgable. The personalized guidebook was essential as most commercially available guidebooks tell you want the author thinks is important which may not be what the reader is interested in. More than once I said ”What does Emilie's book say?” The book is laid out with more suggestions than you can do in one day. This is good because for example it was easy to adjust our plans on the day the weather turned bad. The whole package started at the airport with a car ready as promised and ended with easy car rental return. The B&Bs were exactly as described with enthusiastic hosts who were conversational in English.
Kristina
I can't say enough good things about Emilie and France Just For You! From start to finish, Emilie was responsive, listened to our requests (and changes) and planned a wonderful trip for our 20th Anniversary. Her attention to detail did not go unnoticed and everything was perfect. We will definitely use them again our our next adventure.
I can't say enough good things about Emilie and France Just For You! From start to finish, Emilie was responsive, listened to our requests (and changes) and planned a wonderful trip for our 20th Anniversary. Her attention to detail did not go unnoticed and everything was perfect. We will definitely use them again our our next adventure.
David
It was the best tour ever! Laura did an amazing job to deliver painless and excellent planning and arrangements. Everything promised was delivered and included much more than would normally be seen without ‘INSIDR’ tips. It is obvious that Emilie and Laura have put a lot of thought and effort into the tours they offer. We definitely recommend …
It was the best tour ever! Laura did an amazing job to deliver painless and excellent planning and arrangements. Everything promised was delivered and included much more than would normally be seen without ‘INSIDR’ tips. It is obvious that Emilie and Laura have put a lot of thought and effort into the tours they offer. We definitely recommend FRANCE JUST FOR YOU to all and only wish they provided similar services for other countries.
