in Burgundy, Dordogne, Bordeaux, Loire Valley & Normandy
Wine Tasting Tours
Villages & Markets Tours
Gourmet Food Tours
This itinerary is for independent travelers who may already know the southern coast of France and who are looking for discovering the “inside” of the country. Five regions that are totally different from each other, showing you the diversity of France.
We were planning a trip to the Ryder Cup and looking for other places to visit while in France. I happened upon the France Just for You website and started some planning with …
We were planning a trip to the Ryder Cup and looking for other places to visit while in France. I happened upon the France Just for You website and started some planning with Emilie. She took over and gave us great plans for every day and great accomodations. All of her suggestions were perfect, actually too much for us to do each day. Her travel book is sublime and her attention to detail made us feel that we were her only customer. I had concerns about traveling to France, but with Emilie's help we had no issues and found the French people friendly and very helpful. France Just For You, and Emilie made this an outstanding vacation.
#6 - A cozy house by a castle in the Loire ValleyStart your day with a delicious home made breakfast.
#6 - A cozy house by a castle in the Loire ValleyEarly Birds will have the windows opening onto the castle
#7 - An Medieval Manor in the Norman countrysideA medieval manor between Bayeux and the landing beaches
#7 - An Medieval Manor in the Norman countrysideAfter a day visiting, relax in the Norman countryside
#7 - An Medieval Manor in the Norman countrysideEnjoy a very spacious room with all the modern amenities
#7 - An Medieval Manor in the Norman countryside...and amazing home-made breakfasts
#8 - A Gorgeous Mansion on the hill above Giverny townStay away from the crowds only 2 miles to Monet's house and gardens
#8 - A Gorgeous Mansion on the hill above Giverny townRest in a spacious room, lavishly decorated...
#8 - A Gorgeous Mansion on the hill above Giverny town...or in the welcoming living room
Step by step
Welcome to Burgundy
As you will probably land in a Paris airport, we plan for you to pick up your rental car right at the airport and drive 3 hours to Burgundy. We will plan for a nice lunch stop on the way.
You will reside for 4 nights in a beautiful mansion, surrounded by a vast park in the Côtes de Nuits vineyards. 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 hosts.
Authentic Burgundy is much more than the vineyards: winding roads leading to tiny timeless villages - some of them "Most Beautiful Villages of France" - will give you a real feel for this region.Dijonhas kept a lot of ancient monuments and houses, yet it is a modern and lively city full of charm. Taste some local cheese, the "Epoisse" at the cheese factory or stroll around Beaune, from the cellars to the ramparts.
For the "Gourmets", you will meet with Olivier who was a chef in star-rated restaurants. He will teach you how to cook some typical Burgundy dishes revised to make them some very sophisticated courses. A great cooking class !
Prehistoric & Medieval Dordogne
On the 5th day, you will drive across the Massif Central to reach the Dordogne region.
In Dordogne, history is around every corner. In the lush river valley, you will spend the following 5 nights in a beautifully restored stone house. Your lovely hosts will cook a delicious dinner inspired by local traditions. We'll tell you where to find the most typical goat cheeses - and if you like outdoor activities, you'll be in paradise.
Dordogne is famous for the prehistoric caves such as Lascaux and we will recommend to you much more intimate visits, in 20,000 year old caves. If you are interested in history or if you are a JM Auel reader, these are a must!
The Bordeaux Wine Region
Get acquainted with the Bordeaux region, staying first for 3 nights in the Médoc, in a house surrounded by the vineyards. Your lovely hosts will be happy to share with you all the wine places that they keep selecting all year long.
Visit a Medoc wine estate with an English-speaking guide: from the vineyards near the castle to the wine storehouses. After the tour, you'll make your own blend with different varieties and end this 2hr tour with a wine tasting, but of course!
You will then spend 2 nights in downtown Bordeaux and enjoy discovering this lively city and within walking distance from the historical district.
Built along the banks of the Garonne river, the opulent merchants' homes are very specific to Bordeaux. The rise of colonial trade together with the growth of the wine industry contributed to the amazing expansion of the Gironde region during the 18th century.
The Northern Loire Valley
On the 15th day, you will move to the Northern Loire Valley and treat yourself with 2 nights in a charming and romantic Renaissance castle in the heart of the Loire Valley. The perfect place to be introduced to the "castle country" while enjoying the warm welcome of the owners themselves.
From Amboise, you will explore the Loire Valley's most famous sites: Chambord or Chenonceau, Chaumont gardens and if you want to do some shopping, you may enjoy Tours.
The Southern Loire Valley, off the beaten paths
Your trip continues to the wilder part of the Loire Valley. Stay for 5 nights in a lively town between Saumur and Tours, along the Loire River, across the street from a gorgeous Middle Ages castle. At night, you can walk to one of the best restaurants in the whole region, relax in the courtyard or at a bistro terrace.
One day, let the owner of a 12th century royal abbey guide you in this amazing and totally off the beaten tracks historical site.
You will also wander into tiny villages dotted along the Vienne and Loire rivers and get a taste of French gastronomy in restaurants and local markets we have tested for you.
Normandy – World War & Middle Ages
For 3 nights, taste the Norman quietness in a manor from the 11th century. Jump into the Middle Ages while still enjoying all the modern amenities . . . and amazing breakfasts cooked by your lovely hostess.
Perfectly located between Bayeux and the WWII beaches, you will get a real feel for the Norman history, from William the Conqueror to the Second World War.
To help you better understand the events of the Battle of Normandy and bring them to life, we have planned a guided tour with a specialist in WWII history. You will be shown all the main landing sites and learn in detail about what happened here on D-Day.
Last night in Giverny
Spend your last night in Giverny, which is only a 1hr drive to Paris and to CDG Airport, so very convenient. Get a last feel for Normandy and if you are interested in painting, you will enjoy Monet’s house and gardens very much.
We can plan for you to return the car where it is the most convenient for you.
In this tour, you will uncover the Many Facets of France !
Activities included
Burgundy Cooking Class
Meet with Olivier who was a Chef in star rated restaurants. He will teach you how to cook some typical Burgundy dishes revised to make them some very sophisticated courses.
Bordeaux Wine tasting & blending
Visit a Medoc wine estate with an English speaking guide: from the vineyards to the wine storehouses. After the tour, you'll make your own blend with different varieties.
Guided Tour of a 12th c. Abbey
Get totally off the beaten track and explore each nook and cranny of this 12th century jewel. The owner, who will guide you, is passionate about local history and is totally dedicated to the conservation of this site.
D-Day Sites Tour
Get a better feel for what happened during the Battle of Normandy in 1944, with a local specialized guide. Spend half a day to visit several US or Canadian sites. You will be in a group of maximum 8 travelers. If you wish, we can also hire a private guide.
Emilie's services are amazing!! I contacted her after my one year anniversary trip planning fell through with another agency. She quickly picked up the reins from where they left off, listened to our budget requests and organized an absolutely fantastic trip for us! From Paris to Provence to the French Riviera, everywhere we stayed was wonderful …
Emilie's services are amazing!! I contacted her after my one year anniversary trip planning fell through with another agency. She quickly picked up the reins from where they left off, listened to our budget requests and organized an absolutely fantastic trip for us! From Paris to Provence to the French Riviera, everywhere we stayed was wonderful and in the perfect location. The activities were ones we will remember for the rest of our lives and we would have never thought to do them ourselves...learning how to play pentanque was a blast and making our own perfume was really interesting and fun! We told her exactly the type of trip we were looking for and she really delivered - we couldn't have done this without her! Our trip had some structure but we were also free to explore as we wanted. I even got to stay at a horse farm B&B in the french countryside bc I told her I love horses. This is the type of service you will get with Emilie. Also, the personalized guide book she provides is incredible - we used it throughout the duration of our trip and it was super informative beforehand as well. All of our hosts knew Emilie and spoke very highly of her too. We didn't have any issues with all of the reservations she made which was great. You absolutely can't go wrong working with Emilie; each trip is tailored to your individual likings and she knows all of the best spots. Thank you, Emilie, for planning the perfect 1 year wedding anniversary for us!! Highly Recommend France Just For You!
Kimberly
Planning our trip via France Just For You was an amazing experience from beginning to end! Emilie's professionalism, attention to detail, thorough and thoughtful communication, and expertise made our recent trip to France one of the smoothest and most enjoyable we've ever experienced. France Just For You truly cares about the individual needs …
Planning our trip via France Just For You was an amazing experience from beginning to end! Emilie's professionalism, attention to detail, thorough and thoughtful communication, and expertise made our recent trip to France one of the smoothest and most enjoyable we've ever experienced. France Just For You truly cares about the individual needs, wishes and hopes of their customers, and Emilie made every effort to ensure that this personalized trip would be the trip of a lifetime! The travel book (which we affectionately dubbed our travel "bible") was extremely well-organized and informative. The advice, recommendations, and guidance provided therein was invaluable and, as we have just returned home, is now a treasured memento of our magical travel experience. I highly recommended France Just For You, and have already been spreading the word to family and friends! If you are planning a trip to France, do not hesitate to work with Emilie and Guillaume from France Just For You. Their knowledge of and appreciation for their French culture and heritage, professionalism, impressive attention to detail, and personalized commitment to providing a meaningful and memorable travel experience are exceptional! France Just For You is a travel company you can trust, and I will most certainly work with Emilie and France Just For You again in the future!
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!
