Spend one week exploring France's capital, Paris, and relaxing at a wellness retreat in the countryside. Start with a free day in the city, then go on a hop-on, hop-off bus tour to visit landmarks like the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. Cycle around the Latin Quarter and one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, Le Marais, before heading to Ecolodge Instants d'Absolu. At this peaceful hotel and spa, nestled on the serene shores of Lac du Pêcher, you'll enjoy rejuvenating treatments like a massage and yoga class.

Highlights

  • Visit the Louvre on your own to discover the collection of over 35,000 works of art
  • Head to the top of the Eiffel Tower for panoramic views of Paris and the Seine
  • Drive through the Auvergne countryside to the Ecolodge Instants d'Absolu
  • Enjoy a thala-source treatment featuring a volcanic sand scrub and clay wraps
  • Release tension with an intuitive massage by an experienced practitioner

Brief Itinerary

Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Paris, Explore the Capital at Leisure Paris
Day 2 Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour of Paris, Visit the Eiffel Tower  Paris
Day 3 Bike Tour of the Latin Quarter & Le Marais Paris
Day 4 Train to Clermont Ferrand, Drive to Ecolodge Instants d'Absolu Neussargues-moissac
Day 5 Enjoy a Thala-Source Treatment Neussargues-moissac
Day 6 Enjoy an Intuitive Massage, Reconnect With a Yoga Class Neussargues-moissac
Day 7 Drive to Clermont Ferrand, Train to Paris, Depart  

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Paris, Explore the Capital at Leisure

Enter the Louvre through the famous glass pyramid and discover its vast collection of art

Welcome to Paris, France's vibrant capital, where history, art, and culture blend seamlessly with modern life. Meet your driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel to check in. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore the city on your own. A good place to start is the Louvre, the world's largest art museum and home to over 35,000 works of art. Enter through the central glass pyramid and discover the grand galleries that stretch in every direction. Each gallery focuses on specific themes, such as ancient civilizations, classical Greek and Roman art, and Mesopotamian sculptures. 

After seeing iconic works like the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci and the Venus de Milo by Alexandros of Antioch, head outside to discover the Jardin des Tuileries. These historic gardens were originally designed in the 16th century as private gardens for the French royal family. Stroll past vibrant flowerbeds, manicured lawns, tall topiary trees, and ornate statues. When you've worked up an appetite, make your way to a French restaurant to try local delights like steak frites (tender steak paired with crispy french fries).

Day 2: Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour of Paris, Visit the Eiffel Tower 

Ride a hop-on, hop-off bus to the Eiffel Tower and ascend to three observation decks 

One of the best ways to see Paris is on a hop-on, hop-off bus tour, where you can sit back and admire the city's many landmarks or jump off for a closer look. Choose between a 24-hour ticket and a 48-hour option, which includes a river cruise along the Seine. When the bus arrives, climb aboard and head to the open upper deck for the best view of landmarks like the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris and Palais Garnier, a 19th-century opera house. The tour includes an audio guide, so you can learn about each location you pass and decide where to hop off. 

Consider a stop at La Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower) for panoramic views of the city from one of the world's most recognizable landmarks. As you ascend in the elevator, you'll stop at three different levels, each offering unique perspectives of the city. The first deck features a glass floor and a small museum that details the tower's rich history. Moving up to the second deck, you'll enjoy a wider city view, perfect for spotting landmarks like L'Arc de Triomphe. Finally, step out onto the highest accessible point at the summit, where you can marvel at the views that stretch for miles. 
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Day 3: Bike Tour of the Latin Quarter & Le Marais

Explore two vibrant Parisian neighborhoods on a bike tour

Get ready for an active adventure this morning as you set off on a bicycle tour of two vibrant neighborhoods. Start in the mazelike Latin Quarter, where you'll pedal along narrow medieval streets lined with quaint bookstores, the prestigious Sorbonne University, and landmarks like the Panthéon, where many celebrated figures, including Voltaire and Marie Curie, are entombed. Continue to Le Marais, one of the city's oldest neighborhoods. Cycle past a mix of medieval and Renaissance architecture and landmarks like Place des Vosges, the oldest planned square in the city.

Your guide will also point out different areas that highlight the neighborhood's diverse cultural roots, like the vibrant Jewish quarter that has plenty of bakeries serving up traditional treats like challah (slightly sweet, braided bread). After the four-hour tour, you're free to explore more of the capital at your own pace. Visit landmarks you may have missed or seen only from a distance, like the Notre-Dame Cathedral. This iconic cathedral is a masterpiece of medieval engineering, with its towering spires, flying buttresses, and ornate stained-glass windows. 

Day 4: Train to Clermont Ferrand, Drive to Ecolodge Instants d’Absolu

Escape to an ecolodge in the French countryside (photo courtesy of Ecolodge Instants d’Absolu)

Leave the bustling capital behind this morning and escape to the French countryside as you travel to Ecolodge Instants d'Absolu. Your journey starts with a three-hour train ride to Clermont Ferrand. From there, you'll pick up your rental car and drive for 1.45 hours to the prestigious ecolodge, a sprawling stone farmhouse nestled on the shores of Lac du Pêcher within the Auvergne region. Take in the serenity of the lake, surrounding forests, and open spaces before checking into your room, carefully furnished with natural fabrics and calming muted color schemes.

Settle in, then take a walk in the forest or around the lake to ground yourself after traveling. The lodge is within the Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne, known for its distinctive volcanic landscape, including Chaîne des Puys—a range of more than 80 dormant volcanoes. After exploring, enjoy unlimited access to the spa's sauna, meditation room, steam bath, and essential oil shower. You can also book a treatment, like a relaxing massage or facial, for an additional fee.

When you get hungry, visit the on-site restaurant for a delicious dinner featuring local ingredients, many of which come from the lodge's own bio-garden. Or, if the weather is warm, enjoy a no-frills meal at the outdoor Chalet-Grill. 

Day 5: Enjoy a Thala-Source Treatment

Enjoy a thala-source treatment featuring a body scub with volcanic sand

Spend four hours this morning relaxing at the spa and enjoying a thala-source treatment with your partner. This treatment uses natural healing techniques and elements to detoxify, refresh, and rejuvenate the body. Since the ecolodge is near the Puy de Dôme volcano, your treatment will feature exfoliating cream made from volcanic sand, body wraps with a natural mixture of clay and volcanic silt, and mineralized spring water. After the treatment, enjoy a nourishing lunch to complete your wellness journey, then step outside in the afternoon to soak in the hot tub overlooking the lake.

Day 6: Enjoy an Intuitive Massage, Reconnect With a Yoga Class

Reconnect with your body through a two-hour yoga class

Begin your penultimate day with a one-hour massage in the spa's treatment cave. Let go of stress as the experienced massage practitioner, trained in intuitive massage, focuses on your energy flow and areas of tension using a mix of soft, gentle strokes or deeper work to release tight muscles. After the one-hour massage, you'll feel lighter, reconnected to your vital energy flow, and more at ease as you head off to your room to relax before changing into comfortable clothes for yoga.

Take advantage of an 8:00 am or 5:00 pm yoga class with a certified teacher who has practiced several styles of yoga, like Vinyasa and Yin. Throughout the two-hour class, you'll flow through various poses, focusing on your breathwork, flexibility, and strength, thus helping you release physical tension and calm mental stress. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced practitioner, the teacher will tailor the class to your needs and skill set. Afterward, cozy up with a book in front of the inglenook fireplace in the ecolodge lounge or sit outside and watch the herons and egrets wading in the lake.

Day 7: Drive to Clermont Ferrand, Train to Paris, Depart

Enjoy a scenic train ride back to Paris to catch your flight home

After a relaxing three days, it's time to return to Paris for your flight home. Drive back to Clermont Ferrand and drop off your rental car. Then, catch the train to Paris, enjoying one last look at the French countryside as you pass through rolling hills and picturesque villages. When you arrive in the capital, head straight to the airport to catch your flight. Safe travels!

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Map of Discover Paris & Relax in the French Countryside - 7 Days
Map of Discover Paris & Relax in the French Countryside - 7 Days