[HOLD] Great road trip from Paris to the Atlantic coast

Day 1: Amboise - Saint Pierre des Corps - the Lady Iron and Seine cruise

Morning private transfer to the train station of Saint Pierre des Corps. 
Train to Paris.
Greeting on arrival and transfer to your accommodation in central Paris.
Drop off your luggage and check-in (rooms are usually available from 03:00PM)

The City of Lights will reveal all its treasures to you. Let yourself transported by the magic and the romance of the capital and discover unique places just like a local. ‘La vie à la française’ will hold no secrets for you. Paris is a capital of art and history and there is so much to do and to see. You can stroll in the gardens of Versailles and discover the beauties of the palace. Go admire the Mona Lisa smile at the Louvre or just take a walk in the Marais district and learn about its treasures with a guide by your side. What about a tour to discover the underground of Paris and its famous catacombs?

• Included for this afternoon :
  Eiffel tower skip the line tickets (access to the summit / no guide)
  Seine Promenade cruise with commentary (01 hour 15 minutes). 

Your hotel in Paris : 
2 nights from 20th to 22nd
Royal Saint Michel 4* (in the heart of Quartier Latin)
Double Room King Size Deluxe
Breakfast included

Day 2: A stroll in Montmartre

Today you will enjoy a guided walking-tour of 2 hours in the famous district of Montmartre.
[[[As one of the true must-see neighborhoods of Paris, Montmartre offers a romantic glimpse into an era when raucous cabarets, bohemian soirées, and unbridled creativity were the norm. You'll be transported back to those days by revealing things like the naughty origins of the Moulin Rouge, the majesty of the Sacré Coeur Basilica, and the secluded addresses of the Impressionists that added such mythos to this district.]]]

Day 3: Rendez-vous with the Iron Lady

This day is free for you to explore the capital on your own and to discover its secrets. But tonight, you will have an important meeting with The French icon: The Eiffel Tower.
With your skip-the-line tickets included, you will enjoy a visit to the top of the Iron Lady. The best way to experience it is at sunset when the lights of the capital are slowly changing in the sky and on the streets.
[[[From the esplanade to the summit you will experience a whole series of emotions. Soak in the breathtakingly unique views of Paris from every floor, feel the goose bumps as you walk the glass floor on the 1st floor, experience the incredible ascent by stairway or lift, the indescribable awe at the tonnes of iron above you as you stand on the esplanade. And the Eiffel Tower always has something to offer, day or night, summer or winter!]]]

Day 4: Delicious Paris

This morning, you will meet your guide for a delicious walking tour in Paris.
If the best way to your heart is through your stomach, then the best way to discover the heart of Paris is through its food. [[[Where do Parisians go to find the best cheese, charcuterie, wine, bread and pastries? Well, we know a few top merchants waiting to tantalize your taste buds! After exploring the North Marais & Temple district, stroll along the picturesque Canal Saint Martin, where your foodie fantasy concludes in a fromagerie for a mouth-watering cheese & wine pairing.]]]

In the evening we will have booked and paid for you a time slot on the Eiffel Tower summit elevator. Let us know what time suits you!

Day 5: Travel to the Atlantic coast

Today you will leave Paris to start your adventure on the Atlantic coast. Your private driver will pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the train station in Paris.  After a two-hour train ride you will arrive in Caen where you will pick up your rental car to start your great road trip through the region.
After a 30-minute drive, you will arrive in the city of Bayeux where you will check in to your new accommodation in the afternoon. 
[[[Two cross-Channel invasions, almost 900 years apart, gave Bayeux a front-row seat at defining moments in Western history. The dramatic story of the Norman invasion of England in 1066 is told in 58 vivid scenes by the world-famous and quite astonishing Bayeux Tapestry, embroidered just a few years after William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy, became William the Conqueror, King of England.]]]

Day 6: The Landing Beaches

This day is dedicated to memory and to retrace the past of the brave soldiers who fought for the freedom of our country in 1944.  Your driver/local guide will pick you up in Bayeux for your tour.
This is a vibrant excursion to the major US D-Day sites.
[[[You’ll head to the Pointe du Hoc, a stunning place of natural beauty scarred by heavy aerial and naval bombardment. You will walk the lunar landscapes. The resulting craters underscore the infamous feat carried out by US Rangers, who scaled the 100 foot cliffs to boot out the enemy, thus securing this imposing strongpoint.
You will then reach Normandy's coastal battlefield grounds.
Discover Omaha Beach, one of the two US landing areas. where the Americans lost so many, and finally concludes at the American cemetery in Colleville: a site of over 170 acres housing 9387 tombs and a wall of the missing. This unforgettable stop, inspiring respect and somber reflection, rounds out your trip of the D Day Beaches US sector.]]]

Day 7: Exploration in Normandy

This day is at leisure for you to explore the area on your own. We recommend you to drive North to the beautiful city of Honfleur and to the Etretat Cliffs to see the landscapes that inspired many impressionist artists.
You could also take the opportunity to visit Bayeux and its museum where the famous tapestry is displayed.

Day 8: Discovering Normandy gastronomy

Your day is dedicated to the gastronomy of Normandy.  Your driver/guide will pick you up in Bayeux and will make you discover the region and its specialties.
[[[Going on a full day guided food tour is the best way to really enjoy Normandy and its way of life.
During the morning you will get to know everything about Camembert cheese. You will go to one farm making
camembert cheese. You will taste all Norman cheeses, see the production, see the cows... in the end of the morning you will know more about cheese than most of the French .
You will then have lunch in a very nice farm with terroir products: Seasonal salad, andouille, baguette, teurgoule, butter, cheeses, ciders...
In the afternoon you will let yourself guided in the farms and estates where hard apple cider and calvados brandy are made. You will try old brandys up to 45 years old.
By the end of the day Normandy way of life won't have any more secrets for you.]]]

Day 9: From Normandy to Brittany

Take your car and continue your adventure to the second stop on the Atlantic coast: Brittany! After a 2-hour drive you will arrive in the city of Saint Malo right on the shore. Check in to your hotel in the afternoon and spend the rest of the day exploring the old city.
[[[The enthralling mast-filled port town of St-Malo is a dramatic sight. With one of the world's greatest tidal ranges, brewing storms under blackened skies see waves lash the top of the ramparts ringing its beautiful walled city. Hours later, the blue sky merges with the deep cobalt sea as the tide recedes, exposing broad beaches and creating land bridges to granite outcrop islands.]]]

Day 10: Mont Saint Michel, the jewel of the ocean

Enjoy a trip to one of France's most iconic monuments.
[[[Surrounded by an immense bay, the Mount houses a religious sanctuary dating from the 8th century. Since then, the Abbey has evolved through time into a multi-storied, awe-inspiring edifice. This is the platform in front of the Abbey church and from here your leg muscles will be rewarded with a wonderful view of the bay.
Upon entering the Abbey, you’ll effectively ascend through time as you wander along the cloister, getting a feel for the monastic life by continuing through the refectory and the visitor’s hall. The tour takes you through several other rooms before leading to the north-south staircase which is the main pathway through the heart of the Abbey and which leads to the walking room. You’ll cross through the Knight’s hall and end up in the chaplaincy.]]]
After such a trip through history you’ll want to have a bite to eat in one of the many restaurants on the mount. Afterwards you may enjoy a circular trip along the ramparts to enjoy the stunning views and explore numerous hidden architectural elements of this magnificent site.

Day 11: On the road to the Loire Valley

After your discovery of Brittany, your last stop will be the Loire Valley. Self-drive from Saint Malo to the city of Amboise were you will check in your beautiful hotel in a restored chateaux.
Brimming over with charm and character, the six towns of Loire Valley will delight you with their picturesque architecture and their authenticity. Four of them - Orléans, Blois, Amboise and Tours - are set on the banks of Europe's last untamed river, listed as WorldHeritage by UNESCO.
They reflect the history of the kings of France and still have a very close bond with the Loire, which was for a long time France's main economic artery. Chartres and Bourges also have plenty to interest you! With their cathedrals, also listed as World Heritage, and their pedestrian streets bordered by half-timbered houses, these two medieval towns are absolutely ideal for a stroll. Nestling on the left bank of the Loire, Amboise has kept traces of its royal past. In summer the town's majestic Château with its terraces overlooking the Loire Valley is cleverly illuminated.
Gasp in wonderment when you see the fairytale aspect of Chambord, the purity of Chenonceau or the proud bearing of Château d'Amboise standing over the Loire River. Contemplate the colourful landscapes from the top of Chartres and Bourges Cathedrals. Discover the royal river during a boat trip by taking the famous Briare canal-bridge over the Loire.

Day 12: The treasures of the Loire Valley

You will spend your day discovering some of the treasures of the Loire Valley... [[[impressive Château de Chambord and stunning Château de Chenonceau. Learn about the intimate little secrets of the French Kings who once lived there. Enjoy off-the-crowd panoramic views thanks to your local guide, benefit from wealth of thrilling genuine details and funny anecdotes and make the most of this exciting day. One of the highlights will definitely be a restful lunch away from tourist groups in a beautiful privately-owned chateau still inhabited by the family.]]]

Day 13: Explore the Loire Valley

Today is at leisure for you to discover the area and its beauties on your own. Take your rental car and go on an adventure to explore the beautiful Loire Valley region.

Day 14: Time to say goodbye

Today it's your last day in France. Pack your bags and self-drive from your hotel to the train station where you will return your rental car. You take the train back to the airport CDG in Paris where you catch your international flight and begin your journey home.