Day-by-Day Details

DAY 1:  Overnight Flight

• Overnight flight to Paris.

DAY 2: Paris 

• Arrive in Paris and meet your travel director. Transfer to your centrally located hotel.

• A panoramic guided tour shows you some of the iconic sights for which Paris is famous such as Place de la Concorde, the mighty column in Place Vendôme, the Opéra Garnier, the temple-like La Madeleine church, and the Champs Elysées.

• Welcome Dinner

DAY 3: Paris

• Excursion on the RER to Versailles to visit the palace and ostentatious gardens of the “Roi Soleil”, King Louis XIV. 

• In the afternoon during your free time you can choose to ascend the Eiffel Tower or visit one of the many art museums or galleries of Paris. Options include the Musee d’Orsay, Musée Rodin, Musée de l'Orangerie

• Dinner this evening will be at a local Crêperie.

DAY 4: Paris

• This morning wonder at the masterpieces in the Musée du Louvre.

• Later, be inspired by the beauty of Paris as you work on your own masterpiece. Armed with your metro pass make your way to the location of your choice where you will have free time for painting, sketching or a photo shoot.

• Take in the City of Light while cruising the Seine.

DAY 5: Avignon

• This morning travel by TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse / high speed train) south to Avignon.

• Continue to the Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct preserved in almost perfect condition.

• Journey to Nîmes, a city full of Roman history, included, is a visit to the beautiful amphitheater.

• Arrive at your hotel where you will also have a delicious dinner.

DAY 6: Aix-en-Provence

• Journey to the Provençal countryside to Aix-en-Provence, the town where Cézanne lived.

• Take part in a sketching or painting Workshop with a local artist.

• At dinner this evening enjoy a regional favorite. Ratatouille is made with tomatoes, eggplant, bell peppers, and zucchini and a special mix of herbs known as herbes de Provence.

Day 7: Nice

• Continue on to Nice, the Côte d'Azur's cosmopolitan capital.

• Before checking in to your hotel you will drive up to Cimiez to see the wonderful views of the city.

• Your Travel Director leads a walking tour along the Promendae des Anglais and a stroll down the charming streets of the Old Town (Vielle Ville).

• Dinner

Day 8: Nice 

• This morning visit Monaco, the glamorous residence of the rich and famous and home of the Grimaldi royal family.

• Continue along the corniche to the perched village of Eze with its castle ruins and steep streets. Enjoy sweeping vistas from the fragrant Jardin Exotique and tour the Fragonard Perfume Factory.

Day 9:  Nice

• On your last day enjoy some free time to savor your last moments in France. You may want to check out the Chagall or Matisse museums or simply take a dip in the Mediterranean.

• Farewell Dinner.

Day 10:  Return Home

• Transfer to airport for return flight to the United States