EUROPE - Scenic Tours

FRANCE AND
RIVER CRUISING
Château de Chenonceau
Day 1 Paris Welcome to Paris. You will be met
at Charles de Gaulle airport and transferred to your
centrally located hotel. Scenic Enrich this afternoon
we visit the world’s largest museum, the Louvre,
where our Louvre-trained art expert will show us
many famous works including the Mona Lisa. (Please
schedule fl ights to arrive before midday.) Two Night
Special Stay : Scribe Hotel.
Day 2 Paris This morning we enjoy an Included
orientation trip around the capital, where we’ll get
to see the famous landmarks, travel up the Champs
Elysée to the Arc de Triomphe, drive along the left
bank of the Seine to the Hotel des Invalides and fi nally
on to Saint Germain and the Latin Quarter. There is
some time at leisure to enjoy the sights and sounds
of this romantic city before we explore the bohemian
centre of Paris, Montmartre, where the artist’s quarter
and the Sacre Coeur Basilica will be reached by a
funicular to the top of Montmartre Hill. We journey
to the Eiffel Tower and ascend to the second level for
unforgettable views. Scenic Enrich It’s a short walk to
our spectacular dinner venue, 58 Tour Eiffel, just one
fl oor below, where we dine above the Paris skyline.
En-route back to our hotel we enjoy a short tour to see
the city landmarks illuminated at night. Meals: FB,HD
Day 3 Paris – Dijon – Beaune A bubbly
start to the day awaits in the town of Reims, where
some of the fi nest champagnes in the world are
produced. Scenic Enrich We stop at one of France’s
fi nest champagne houses, Taittinger, where we shall
sample the local vintages amongst their atmospheric
underground caves. There is time to discover this
historic town before our journey continues through
the vineyards of Burgundy to the medieval town of
Dijon for a short stroll of the old town en route to
Beaune. This evening savour some of Burgundy’s
fi nest cuisine at the renowned Hostellerie Le Cedre
Overnight Stay: Hostellerie Le Cedre. Meals: FB,HD
Day 4 Beaune – Chamonix Today visit the
famous Bouchard Aîné and Fils winery for a tasting,
an institution in Burgundy for 250 years. After a
short stop in Bourg-en-Bresse to see the ornately
ornamented Monastery of Brou, we ascend the
French Alps to our hotel. Two Night Stay: Hotel des
Alpes Chamonix.
Meals: FB,D
Day 5 Chamonix Choose one of the Included
Scenic FreeChoice options: (1) Board a cable-car in
Chamonix for the ascent of the Aiguilles du Midi to
admire majestic 360 degree views over the French,
Swiss and Italian Alps from an altitude of 3,842
metres; or (2) In nearby Annecy take a picturesque
lake cruise followed by an Included walking tour of
the medieval old town which will include the 12th
century Palais de l’Isle, among the most photographed
monuments in all of France. The rest of the day is
yours to enjoy at leisure.
Meals: FB
Day 6 Chamonix – Monte Carlo This
morning we depart Chamonix and head south to the
glittering Cote d’Azur and journey to the glamorous
Principality of Monaco. Two Night Special Stay :
Fairmont Monte Carlo.
Meals: FB
Day 7 Monte Carlo Choose one of the
Included Scenic FreeChoice options: (1) a guided
visit to the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, which includes
entry to the Palace State Apartments where you will
be amazed at the ornate furnishings and beautiful
frescoes of each of the distinctly decorated rooms;
or (2) Visit to the Prince’s Private Car Collection.
This afternoon is at leisure for you to enjoy this ritzy
location; perhaps stroll the foreshore observing the
super-yachts or celebrity-spot from a sidewalk café!
This evening we explore chic Monte Carlo, visiting
the old town to see the Palace of the Grimaldi Royal
family, rulers of Monaco for over 700 years and visit
the Cathedral to see the tombs of Princess Grace
and Prince Rainier. Scenic Enrich Dinner is at the
prestigious Café de Paris before entering the famous
Casino, where you will have the chance to make your
fortune – or lose it!
Meals: FB,HD
Day 8 Monte Carlo – Avignon Our fi rst
stop this morning is in nearby Nice where we will
explore the famous waterfront area, before a brief
orientation trip through Cannes. We continue on to
the ancient Roman spa resort and regional capital,
Aix-en-Provence, where it is still possible to enjoy the
thermal springs. We drive through the pretty Luberon
National Park before arriving in Avignon, set on the
banks of the Rhône River and former residence
of seven popes during the religious schism of the
14th century. Two Night Stay: Hotel D’Europe or
Auberges de Noves hotel.
Meals: FB,D
Day 9 Avignon This morning enjoy an Included
guided visit of the Pope’s Palace and famous bridge.
Choose one of the Included Scenic FreeChoice
options: (1) a mini-train ride through the ancient
streets and parklands of this picturesque city; or (2)
a visit to the beautiful mountain village of ‘Les Baux’
which has a spectacular position atop a rocky outcrop.
Meals: FB
Day 10 Avignon – Carcassonne This
morning we venture to the Roman aqueduct Pont du
Gard, built in the fi rst century A.D. We continue on
to Arles, founded in the 7th century BC, where we
visit the still used Roman arena with our local guide.
The major sites are integrated amongst the town
buildings, creating a unique blend of past and present.
We follow the steps of Vincent Van Gogh, who spent
over a year creating many of his fi nest works in Arles.
Then across the Camargue National Park to Europe’s
largest remaining fortifi ed city, Carcassonne. Our hotel
is situated among the medieval towers and turrets of
this fairytale setting. Two Night Special Stay : Hotel
de la Cité.
Meals: FB,D
Day 11 Carcassonne Today we travel to the
Canal du Midi, UNESCO world heritage site. From
here we will take a private boat along the canals. As
you fl oat through the rolling country side you will see
vineyards and pass barges while learning about the
history of the canals and life on the rivers. Enjoy an
afternoon back in Carcassonne to explore and stroll
the streets of this medieval gem. Meals: FB
Day 12 Carcassonne – Dordogne Valley
– Saint Emilion Today we travel past picturesque
villages in the valleys of the Dordogne and Vezere.
Time to soak up the charm of Sarlat and see restored
medieval and renaissance houses made of yellow
and honey-coloured stone in the old town. Continue
through bucolic landscapes to the quaint village of St
Emilion. Enjoy an exquisite dinner in the lavish château
dining room. Two Night Special Stay : Grand Barrail
Château.
Meals: FB,D
Day 13 Saint Emilion Join your local guide
for an Included walking tour of the city including St
Emilion’s monolithic Church. We then visit a local
French Chateau for a private wine tasting of their
current vintages. Back in your own grand château
this afternoon,you may wish to take a walk through
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