EUROPE - Scenic Tours

FRANCE AND
RIVER CRUISING
Mont St Michel
Day 1 Paris You will be met at Charles
de Gaulle airport by your Scenic Tours
Representative before being transferred to your
centrally located hotel. Enjoy a welcome drink
this evening with your Tour Director. Two Night
Special Stay : The Westin Paris.
Day 2 Paris Paris, the capital of France, is
situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at
the heart of the Île-de-France region. Today join
your Tour Director on your Included sightseeing
tour of all the major sights of Paris. See the Arc
de Triomphe, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Concorde
Square and the famous Champs Elysées. Tonight
journey to the Eiffel Tower and ascend to the
second level for unforgettable views. It’s a short
walk to your spectacular dinner venue, 58 Tour
Eiffel, just one floor below, where you will dine
overlooking the Paris skyline. Meals: FB,HD
Day 3 Paris – Amiens Today rejoin history
as you travel through the Somme, home of the
Battle of the Somme which claimed the lives of
more than 150,000 soldiers from Britain and
the Commonwealth in WWI. Visit the Australian
museum in Villers-Bretonneux before continuing
to nearby Le Hamel and Thiepval. This afternoon
stop in Bullecourt home to the largest Australian
Memorial Park and the emotive bronze ‘Bullecourt
Digger’. Tonight, dine in a charming local
restaurant with your fellow travellers. Overnight
Stay: Amiens Cathedrale Mercure. Meals: FB,D
Day 4 Amiens – Bruges Our first stop
for the day is nearby Fromelles, the scene of
Australia’s worst loss of life in all wars on July 19,
1916 where over 2,000 men were killed. We
visit the VC Corner Cemetery and the moving
“cobber” memorial. Visit Hill 60 which features
the best observation point in the region. This
afternoon arrive in the gorgeous medieval town
of Bruges in Belgium. Enjoy time to explore
the treasures of this UNESCO listed city often
called the Venice of the North. Overnight Stay:
Kempinski Hotel Dukes’ Palace. Meals: FB
Day 5 Bruges – Caen Travel to the medieval
city of Rouen, see the cathedral so wonderfully
painted by Monet and the spot where Joan of
Arc was tried for heresy and burned at the stake
in 1413. Continue towards the Normandy coast
to Caen, a city which played a crucial role in
Normandy’s history since it was founded in the
11th century by William the Conqueror. Set
alight on D-Day during the allied invasion of Nazi
occupied France to liberate Europe. Overnight
Stay: Chateau d’Audrieu or similar. Meals: FB,D
Day 6 Normandy Beaches – Saint
Malo This morning visit Bayeux to see the
Queen Matilda’s Tapestry depicting the Norman
invasions of Britain in 1066. There are poignant
reminders of WWII as you drive along the
beaches of the D-Day landing. Stop in Omaha
Beach before following the route of the Rangers
depicted in Saving Private Ryan and visit the
bunkers and Rangers Memorial at Pointe du Hoc.
Continue this evening and enjoy dinner in a local
restaurant on your way to Saint Malo. Two Night
Stay: Hotel Oceania St. Malo. Meals: HB,D
Day 7 Saint Malo Located on the Brittany
Coast, Saint-Malo is a romantic city dedicated to
the sea. Once an island, enclosed within granite
ramparts that remained intact for centuries, in
spite of the highest tide in Europe the old city
is still alive. Visit nearby Mont St Michel and the
amazing hill top abbey surrounded by sea. This
afternoon enjoy time at leisure in this quaint
seaside village, where fresh local markets, cider
and Celtic music all make up the charm of this
coastal lifestyle.
Meals: HB
Day 8 Saint Malo – Loire Valley Enter
into the enchanted land of vineyards and rolling
green hills that is the Loire Valley. Its’ fairytale
castles are rich in the Renaissance architecture that
was in vogue during the period that saw French
royalty and nobility call them home. Visit the
Castle of Sleeping Beauty with its romantic turrets
and pointed towers in Usse. On arrival in Tours
visit Azay-le-Rideau, one of the earliest
Normandy coastline war memorial
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