Europe Private Tour (FRA018) France - Bordeaux - Loire Valley (8 Days 7 Nights)

We will meet you at Paris airport (Charles de Gaulle Airport) and then take you to Orleans, a distance of 156 km, about 1 hour 50 minutes by road. Orleans stands on the banks of the Loire River. We will take you to see the shopping district and Orleans Cathedral, a beautiful example of Gothic architecture, and stop for photos at Hotel Groslot d'Orleans. You will also visit the gardens of Parc Floral de la Source.

Next, we will travel south to Limoges, a distance of 268 kilometers, about 2.5 hours. We will visit Limoges Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church built in Renaissance and Romanesque styles. Limoges is famous for its porcelain production, which began in the late 18th century. We will take you through the shopping district, where you can choose beautiful porcelain souvenirs to buy.

hotel Overnight Limoges : Hotel Mercure Royal Limousin ***

Today we travel south to the Perigord region, which is rich in green countryside, with forests, mountains, gorges and a rich history. We head to Rocamadour, a town set on a striking high cliff. Take the elevator up to the top of Rocamadour, a sacred place for pilgrims. Visit the church at the top, stroll around the old town and enjoy the beautiful views of the town on every side.

Then we continue to Bordeaux, a distance of 260 kilometers, about 2 hours 50 minutes by road. Bordeaux is a coastal city located on the Garonne River, an important trading port since before the Roman era, and it has been listed as a World Heritage Site.

hotel Overnight Bordeaux : Mercure Bordeaux Centre ****

Today we visit one of France's famous wine-growing regions and travel to Saint-Emilion, a distance of 48 kilometers, about 50 minutes by road. Enjoy beautiful scenery along the whole route. We visit a vineyard where grapes are grown for wine, watch a demonstration of the winemaking process, and taste the wines.

Afterwards we return to Bordeaux to explore the city. Bordeaux has good soil, a river running through it and a location close to the sea, which makes it ideal for winemaking and has made Bordeaux widely known for its wine.

We visit the Pey Berland Tower and climb to the top for a high view over Bordeaux. We stroll in front of the city's Exchange Palace, where there is a water mirror, a pool that reflects the sky like a looking glass. It is another very interesting piece of landscape design. When mist rises from the ground, visitors have great fun playing in it. We see the beautiful Pont de Pierre, especially lovely at night, and the Grand Théâtre, the city's grand opera house. You can stroll and shop to your heart's content along a very long street. We then visit the Saint Michel district, which has an old-fashioned feel. Here you can see the way of life of immigrants from Africa, India and Asia. The Saint Michel bell tower is the landmark of this area.

hotel Overnight Bordeaux : Mercure Bordeaux Centre ****

Travel north to the Loire Valley, a fertile region well suited to growing grapes for famous wines. Continue to Chenonceaux, a distance of 372 kilometers, with a travel time of 3.5 hours.

In Chenonceaux, visit the Chateau de Chenonceau, also known as the “Ladies’ Castle.” The grounds around the castle are beautifully landscaped with gardens, and we will also visit the Caves of Father Auguste. Then continue to Amboise, just 18 km away, a town set on the banks of the Loire River, where we will visit Foret d'Amboise. After that, continue to Tours, which also lies on the banks of the Loire River, a distance of 35 kilometers.

Visit Tours Cathedral, Chateau de Tours, the Basilica of Saint Martin and the museum Musee des Beaux Arts de Tours.

hotel Overnight Tours : Best Western Plus l'Artist Hotel ***

Set off to visit the abbey of Le Mont Saint Michel, a distance of 273 km, with a travel time of 3 hours. Mont Saint Michel is an important historic site and a World Heritage Site. Mont Saint-Michel is the most visited place by tourists outside Paris. The abbey covers an area of about 1 kilometer around, on a rocky island 80 meters high, with buildings from the 11-16 centuries at the base. It was built by Bishop St.Aubert, starting in the year 708.

Mont Saint-Michel is considered one of the finest pilgrimage sites in France. It began as a pre-Romanesque church built more than 1,000 years ago, and was extended over many eras until construction finished in the 18th century. It was also used as a prison during the Revolution. Afterwards, the abbey became a historic monument in 1874 and was opened to the public, and the causeway connecting it to the bay was built in 1879.

Next we travel to Rouen, a distance of 256 kilometers, about 3 hours by road. Rouen is the capital of Upper Normandy, an ancient old city on the banks of the Seine and the birthplace of Claude Monet, the world-famous painter. We visit Notre-Dame de Rouen, or Rouen Cathedral, in the heart of Rouen, which was once the tallest structure in Europe. Inside the cathedral is an important tomb holding the "heart" of King Richard the Lionheart of England. Only his heart is here, while the rest of his body is buried in Anjou.

In front of the cathedral is a pedestrian street, the city's liveliest, full of shops, with well-preserved old houses. We see the Le Gros Horloge astronomical clock, built by Jourdain del Leche in 1389. At the end of the pedestrian street is the Place du Vieux-Marché, where the heroine Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431 at just 19 years old, accused of heresy. We also stop to see the Palais de Justice of Normandy.

hotel Overnight Rouen : BEST WESTERN Hotel Litteraire Gustave Flaubert ****

Today we travel to La Villa Village Outlet, a distance of 180 kilometers. Shop to your heart’s content at this outlet with discounts of 30-80% before traveling on to Paris.

At the appropriate time, we travel to Paris, the great capital of France, the most beautiful and romantic city in Europe.

See the Eiffel Tower, the well-known symbol of Paris. See Place de la Concorde, a large square in central Paris that was once the site of many executions, including King Louis 16 and Queen Marie Antoinette. As for the Obelisk, it is said to have been given to France as a gift by the Egyptian government in 1893.

See the Arc de Triomphe. Climb 284 steps to the very top of the arch, where you will see the Champs-Elysees, the Eiffel Tower and La D?fense. It is well worth the climb. Then see Notre Dame Cathedral, located in the heart of the city beside the River Seine.

hotel Overnight Paris : Korner Opera (Ex. Hotel Cyrnos) ***

In the morning, visit the Palace of Versailles located on the outskirts of Paris—a magnificent royal residence constructed of white marble that was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

In the afternoon, visit the Musee du Louvre. Nearby, stroll through the Jardin des Tuileries, the former site of the Tuileries Palace. Directly opposite the Jardin des Tuileries is the Musee d'Orsay, a former railway station converted into a world-famous museum.

If time permits, visit Sacre-Coeur Basilica (The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris), known as the “Sacred Heart of Paris,” a top northern Paris attraction set atop the hill of Montmartre (La butte Montmartre).

Enjoy shopping for luxury brands on the Champs-Elysees, where locals come to dine, shop, and see theater performances.

hotel Overnight Paris : Korner Opera (Ex. Hotel Cyrnos) ***

Today is the last day of the trip. We take you to the airport 3 hours before your flight to check in for your return to Bangkok. If your flight is in the afternoon or evening, you will have free time in the morning. We can take you around Paris to catch anything you missed or to shop for souvenirs before leaving, as you wish. Then we take you to Paris airport (Charles de Gaulle Airport).