Transport

Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available). If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport. Enjoy the comfort of Insight’s luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.

Hygieneprotocol

All guests travelling with Insight Vacations through December 31, 2022 are required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, which may include a booster shot to keep the vaccination status current and valid, depending on the travel destination. Children not eligible for vaccination and/or booster at the time of travel must provide a verifiable and negative Covid-19 test result, taken within 72 hours prior to the start of the tour (taking time zones into consideration) for all tours departing until December 31, 2022. While highly recommended, COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are no longer required for guests traveling with us from January 1, 2023 onward. It is your client’s responsibly to comply with specific vaccine and/or booster requirements imposed by airlines and/or authorities in the destinations visited, as well as requirements for accessing restaurants and venues, which may be more restrictive than the above. No refunds will be given if they are unable to undertake some or all of their vacation due to failure to comply with these requirements.

Others

Arromanches-les-Bains: Visit the Bayeux Tapestry Museum in the heart of the Old Town. Arromanches-les-Bains: Visit the D-Day Museum in Arromanches and see the remnants of the artificial port in the bay. Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert’s fascinating commentary. Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you’ll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels. We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door. Loire Valley: Discover the sustainable gardens of Château de Villandry. In the scenic Loire Valley, explore France’s finest formal gardens. Now a hub for sustainability preserving the estate’s biological diversity, learn all about the a sea of fragrant green herbs, silvery cabbages, and purple basil, all grown organically to re-generate the local ecosystem. Their aim is to preserve a remarkable garden, maintained with meticulous care, while incorporating maintenance work into a balanced ecosystem. They have partnered with a local university to bring biodiversity back into the gardens. Villandry Gardens advance UN Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life On Land. Rouen: See the cathedral, the Great Clock, the Old Market square and Place du Vieux-Marché where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. Honfleur: See this charming fishing town. Omaha Beach: Follow the route of the Rangers, visit the bunkers and the Rangers Memorial. Omaha Beach: With a Local Expert, spend a few reflective moments at the American Military Cemetery of Saint-Laurent. Mont-Saint-Michel: Savour your first sight of the fortified island of Mont Saint-Michel. Cross the causeway for a guided tour with your Local Expert through the maze of halls and vaults of the abbey. Saint-Malo: Your Local Expert guides you through the streets of the walled city to arrive at the cathedral. Later enjoy the chance to walk along the fortifications and explore the cities nightlife at your leisure. Angers: See the imposing château. Azay-le-Rideau: During your visit to Château de Cheverny, your Local Expert will show you the château’s decor and aristocratic costumes of the family through the centuries. Inhabited by the same family for more than 6 centuries, the castle, its gardens and its connection to Tintin will provide an unforgettable experience. Paris: Explore the iconic sights and streets of Paris. See famous landmarks including Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower and the facades of the Louvre. Stroll the banks of the River Seine and admire romantic bridges, and enjoy a drive along the Champs Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

Accommodation

7 nights in twin-share rooms at hand-picked hotels

Meals

2 Dinner with Wine (DW) 7 Breakfast (B) 2 Dinner (D) Paris: Join your Travel Director and fellow guests at a local restaurant in the heart of the city for a delightful dinner served with wine. Saumur: Learn about local grape varieties and regional wine-making traditions as you sample wines of the Loire Valley.

Guide

From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.

Not included:

Flights

International flights are not included

Others

Other activities and services not included

Insurance

Insurance is not included

Optional

Other activities and services not included

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Day 1 Day 1: Welcome To Paris
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Welcome To Paris

After checking in, the capital’s grand boulevards and world-famous landmarks are yours to explore. Meet your Travel Director and fellow guests at the hotel before enjoying a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant with cuisine inspired by fresh home-made recipes.
Day 2 Day 2: Rouen, Honfleur And Deauville
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Rouen, Honfleur And Deauville

Follow the River Seine to Rouen, capital of Normandy, to admire its ancient cathedral - a masterpiece of Gothic style and the subject of a series of paintings by Claude Monet. Wander through the narrow streets beneath the Great Clock to the Old Market Square. Here, a superb modern church memorialises the burning of Joan of Arc on this very spot in 1431. Continue to the charming fishing town of Honfleur and wander along the harbour or stroll through the colourful streets. Close by, meet a farming family who grow apples to produce local juice, cider and calvados of Normandy. Sample the local produce paired with Normandy cheese. Later, arrive at your luxurious hotel, located in the chic seaside resort of Deauville.
Day 3 Day 3: Normandy Beaches And D-Day Landings
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Normandy Beaches And D-Day Landings

Follow the route of the Rangers and visit the bunkers and the Rangers Memorial at Pointe du Hoc. Then with a Local Expert, spend a few reflective moments at the American Military Cemetery of Saint-Laurent, near Omaha Beach. Explore Normandy with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the D-Day Museum in Arromanches and see the remnants of the artificial port in the bay. Alternatively, visit Bayeux Cathedral in the heart of Old Bayeux and a jewel of Norman Medieval architecture. This evening you are treated to a delightful dinner, which promises creative cuisine, seasonal ingredients and delicious wines.
Day 4 Day 4: Mont Saint-Michel And Saint-Malo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Mont Saint-Michel And Saint-Malo

Journey through bocage country and explore the hilltop abbey of Mont Saint-Michel with your Local Expert. Situated on an island, the abbey is reached by a bridge across the shining sands. Behind the outer ring of defences huddles the small town – its singular street containing shops, cafes and hotels. Continue along the Emerald Coast to stunning Saint-Malo, situated on the Rance Estuary and one of the most charming places in France. A Local Expert will take you on an exploration of the City of the Corsairs. Walk through the maze of streets of Intra Muros, the walled city, home of Jacques Cartier and other celebrated voyagers. At your leisure, you can wander around the ramparts of the thick city walls, offering fantastic views over the old town and the bay. By night, the town’s medieval maze of winding streets is abuzz with quaint bars and restaurants. Alternatively, you may wish to join an optional experience to Cancale, known throughout France for its oyster beds, for a delicious meal of fresh seafood and other Breton specialties.
Day 5 Day 5: Villandry Experience
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Villandry Experience

Head south to follow the valley of the Loire, passing the moated Angers Castle. Cross the Loire to Saumur, where a local vintner will guide you through tastings of the region’s delicious wines. Head to Château de Villandry, the jewel of the Loire, to visit the glorious sustainable gardens on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Ensure you don’t miss the water, ornamental and kitchen gardens. This stunning sea of fragrant green herbs, silvery cabbages and purple basil is grown organically to re-generate the local ecosystem. Continue to your very own castle hotel and admire its extensive gardens and potager.
Day 6 Day 6: Scenic Drive Along The Loire Valley
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Scenic Drive Along The Loire Valley

Journey to the fairytale Château d’Azay-le-Rideau where your Local Expert will show you the château’s decor and return to your turreted château for relaxation. This evening, your dinner starts with a glass of local sparkling wine and continues with excellent service and delicious Farm-to-Table dishes in the most wholesome setting, ensuring the memory of your meal will linger long after you’ve returned home.
Day 7 Day 7: La Beauce And Chartres To Paris, City Of Light
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: La Beauce And Chartres To Paris, City Of Light

Travelling through the vast wheat fields of the the Beauce region, Chartres Cathedral, nicknamed the ’Acropolis of France’ by August Rodin, looms large on the horizon. Enjoy a guided tour of this architectural delight.From here, return to the French capital where your Travel Director introduces you to the fabulous sights of Paris, including the vast Place de la Concorde, where the guillotine once stood. Travel up the Champs Élysées to Napoleon’s Arc de Triomphe. After dark, the City of Light really lives up to its name, when the monuments, buildings and bridges are lit up in all their glory. For that special touch of excitement and glamour, don’t miss the chance to experience a world-famous cabaret show.
Day 8 Day 8: Au Revoir Paris
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Au Revoir Paris

Today, bid farewell to your journey through the French countryside as you transfer to the airport.

8 days tour

Normandy, Brittany & The Loire Valley (Small Groups, 8 Days)

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip Normandy, Brittany & The Loire Valley (Small Groups, 8 Days)

Day 1: Welcome To Paris

Day 2: Rouen, Honfleur And Deauville

Day 3: Normandy Beaches And D-Day Landings

Day 4: Mont Saint-Michel And Saint-Malo

Day 5: Villandry Experience

Day 6: Scenic Drive Along The Loire Valley

Day 7: La Beauce And Chartres To Paris, City Of Light

Day 8: Au Revoir Paris

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