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Ted Blank
France - Normandy, Paris & Barging in Burgundy
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Ted Blank

Woodbury, MN Travel Agent
Super Agent

Ted Blank

Woodbury, MN Travel Agent
A full-service Travel Leaders Associate Agency
44 reviews
100.00% Recommended
14 Years of Experience
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COUNTRIES VISITED:France
PLACES VISITED:Burgundy, Giverny, Normandy, Paris
SUGGESTED DURATION:12 Days
France offers something for everyone - history buffs, foodies, wine aficionados, art lovers, and more! This customized itinerary brings a foodie's angle to a visit to three of France's top destinations - Normandy, Paris, and the Burgundy wine region. By combining a luxury barge cruise with a personally guided tour, this 12 day itinerary combines cultural immersion with an opportunity to visit some of France's top sights.
Close All Days
DAY1
Normandy
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Arrive at your Luxurious Chateau Hotel
You'll be met on the jetway of your flight to Paris, and a VIP host will help you skip the lines and personally escort you through customs and baggage claim. Your private driver will be waiting to whisk you away from the hustle and bustle of the airport. Enjoy a stop for lunch and a chance to visit the famous Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the Norman conquest of Britain by William the Conqueror in 1066. Arrive at your luxurious chateau hotel, where you can refresh after your long journey with a visit to the spa or a gourmet dinner in the hotel's restaurant.
HIGHLIGHTS:
VIP Arrival Service - skip the airport lines
Visit the Bayeux Tapestry
Stay in a luxurious chateau hotel
DAY2
Normandy
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Visit the D-Day Landing Beaches
Explore D-Day landing beaches of Normandy and gain insight into Europe’s World War II with an expert, local guide-driver. Visit key battle sites including Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Sainte-Mère-Église, and Utah Beach with your guide, and learn of the sacrifices made during WWII. Read the names of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. Stop for lunch at a charming regional restaurant, perhaps enjoying some local Camembert cheese or Calvados cider. Return to your chateau hotel for the night.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Visit the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer
Enjoy a typical Norman lunch in a local restaurant
DAY3
Giverny
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Paris
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Monet's Gardens at Giverny and Paris
Your driver-guide will meet you at your hotel for a scenic drive to Paris. Along the way, you'll stop for a guided visit and lunch at Monet's Gardens in Giverny. Claude Monet lived for forty-three years, from 1883 to 1926, in his house in Giverny. With a passion for gardening as well as for colours, he conceived both his flower garden and water garden as true works of art. Walking through his house and gardens, you can still feel the atmosphere which reigned at the home of the Master of Impressionnism and marvel at the floral compositions and nymphéas, his greatest sources of inspiration. Continue to Paris, where you'll arrive at a luxurious boutique hotel carefully selected with you in mind. Enjoy a VIP welcome before settling in for the evening.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Tour Monet's Gardens at Giverny
Stay in a luxurious boutique hotel in the heart of Paris
DAY4
Paris
Close Day
Discover Paris
Today is a busy day to exploration in France's amazing capital city, Paris! Meet your driver at your hotel for a driving tour of Paris' main attractions. You'll see the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame cathedral, Champs-Elysees, and much, much more. After lunch, meet an art historian for a privately-guided visit to the Musée d’Orsay. Just across the river from the Louvre, discover the Realists and Impressionists and appreciate the unique qualities of the building, which was converted from a train station in the 1980s. Visit works by Monet, Manet, Courbet and Degas and gain a new understanding of their distinct individual styles. This evening, a highlight - enjoy a private cruise along the Seine River, where you'll be able to see Paris' landmarks illuminated for the evening.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Driving tour of Paris
Art historian-led tour of the Musee d'Orsay
Private evening cruise along the Seine River
DAY5
Paris
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Burgundy
Close Day
Board Your Canal Barge in Burgundy
After a leisurely breakfast, you'll meet the staff from your luxury canal barge at the hotel in Paris. You'll be transferred by comfortable mini van to Burgundy, where you'll embark on your home for the next six nights. Step aboard a comfortable canal barge, a floating country inn where you enjoy gourmet food and wine every day while only having to unpack once. Relax on deck as the lovely scenery flows by, or borrow a bicycle for a serene pedal along the towpath. There are a wide variety of canal barges and itineraries available; this represents a sample itinerary in the heart of the Burgundy wine region. Canal barges carry between 4 - 12 passengers in comfort, allowing for a total cultural immersion in the lovely French countryside.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Board your canal barge in Burgundy
DAY6
Burgundy
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Burgundy Chateau Visit
After a morning cruise along the charming canals, visit the historic Château de Commarin for a private visit hosted by Count Bertrand de Vogue that includes a falconry display. This evening, a gourmet meal specially prepared by your onboard chef awaits you.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Visit a historic chateau in Burgundy
DAY7
Burgundy
Close Day
Fontenay Abbey and Ravieres
Visit 12th-century Fontenay Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its peaceful gardens and beautiful cloisters. Return to the barge for a relaxing afternoon cruise to the small town of Ravières, where you can enjoy a relaxing stroll before dinner.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Abbey of Fontenay
DAY8
Burgundy
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Champagne Tasting and Lunch with the Baroness
Visit Maison Alexandre Bonnet in Les Riceys for a Champagne tasting. Then drive to Château de Ricey-Bas for a private gourmet lunch ashore with the Baroness. After a stroll through the gardens, return to the barge for a leisurely cruise to Ancy-le-Franc with opportunities for walking or cycling on the towpath.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Private Champagne Tasting at Masion Alexandre Bonnet
Lunch with a Baroness in her authentic French chateau
DAY9
Burgundy
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Visit a Renaissance Chateau with Stunning Gardens
Visit historic Château d'Ancy-le-Franc, dating from the 16th century. With stunning gardens and a recently-completed restoration, Ancy-le-Franc is a hidden Gem in the beautiful Burgundy countryside. Rejoin the barge for a leisurely afternoon cruise to Lezinnes.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Visit a restored renaissance chateau
Burgundy wine tasting
DAY10
Burgundy
Close Day
Chablais Wine Region
Cruise to the final mooring at Tanlay today. Visit the vineyards and town of Chablis for a private tasting at Domaine Laroche that includes a tour of the 1,000-year-old monastic cellars. This evening, enjoy a special farewell dinner to celebrate the cruise week.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Visit the vineyards of Chablais
Gourmet farewell dinner
DAY11
Burgundy
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Paris
Close Day
Disembark Barge and Return to Paris
This morning, bid a fond farewell to your dedicated barge crew before a mini van transfer to Paris. Spend your last night in France at a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Paris, or alternatively, enjoy an evening at one of the luxurious chateau hotels near Charles de Gaulle Airport. These amazing hotels offer an oasis of luxury and calm, and are very convenient to the airport for your flight home tomorrow.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Enjoy a final evening in Paris or a luxury chateau hotel stay near the airport
DAY12
Paris
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Return Home to the USA
It's time to bid "au revoir" to France with your flight home. A private transfer to the airport will make the last step of your journey a comfortable one.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Private airport transfer
FINAL THOUGHTS
There's so much to see and do in France that it's tough to narrow the options and select the best experiences. That's where I come in - as an expert in tailormade travel, I can help you create your own personalized French adventure!