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(9 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Giverny, Rouen, Honfleur, Pays d’Auge, Deauville, Bayeux, Caen,
D-Day Beaches, Mont St. Michel, Paris
This tour combines the urban sophistication of Paris and the romantic landscapes, quaint villages, and important historic sites of Normandy.
Arrive in Paris and transfer by private car to Normandy, stopping first at Giverny. Monet lived and painted in Giverny in his final years and his house, gardens and lily ponds now operate as a museum. Alternatively, visit Rouen, the vibrant capital of Normandy, whose cathedral Monet immortalized in his paintings. Explore the medieval old town and the excellent museums. Spend two nights at a luxury hotel near the old fishing port town of Honfleur, an ideal base for exploring Normandy’s thatched cottages, orchards, and charming towns. Sample the gourmet cheeses of the Pays d’Auge in the villages that give them their names: Livarot, Camembert and Pont l'Eveque. Follow the Cider Route, visiting cellars and sampling Calvados and Pommeau. Also spend time in the upscale resort town of Deauville. Walk along the boardwalk, admiring the Beaux Arts and half-timbered buildings facing the beach, and stroll the town’s exclusive shopping streets. Visit the morning market and perhaps attend a horse race or polo match.
Continue deeper into Normandy and stay two nights near the English Channel at an 18th century château surrounded by ancient parkland. En route, visit the war memorial in Caen and the historic town of Bayeux to see the famous tapestry illustrating the Norman invasion of England in 1066. With your private Normandy expert, visit the D-Day landing beaches and the associated war attractions.
Continue to the fishing port of Cancale, in Brittany, for an overnight stay at an acclaimed gourmet retreat. En route, visit Mont St. Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of France's true wonders, this majestic ancient abbey emerges from a rocky islet in the bay. Time permitting, also visit the town of St. Malo and other small villages.
Finally, continue to Paris for three nights. If desired, stop en route to tour the ancient town of Chartres, famous for its stunning cathedral. With your own private guide and driver—sophisticated experts who will share the very best of Paris with you—explore Paris according to your interests. First-time visitors to Paris may wish to visit major attractions such as Notre-Dame, St-Chapelle, the Eiffel Tower, the Luxembourg and Tuileries Gardens, and major museums such as the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay. Other possibilities include an epicurean tour of specialty chocolate shops, fromagerie, copperware stores and tea sellers; walking tours through the exclusive residential streets on Ile St-Louis, the old Jewish quarter in the Marais, the former art colony of Montmartre, the medieval streets of the Latin Quarter, or to Left Bank cafes made famous by poets and philosophers; and shopping for antiques in flea markets or haute couture in fashionable boutiques.
Itinerary Overview
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| Day 1 |
Paris - Normandy (Honfleur)
Private transfer with driver-guide to Normandy. Visit Giverny or Rouen en route. 2 nights near Honfleur |
| Day 2 |
Normandy (Honfleur)
Full-day tour with driver-guide of Honfleur and Deauville |
| Day 3 |
Normandy (Honfleur - Port-en-Bessin)
Private transfer with driver-guide to Port-en-Bessin for 2 nights. Tour villages of Pays d'Auge and Caen en route |
| Day 4 |
Normandy (Port-en-Bessin)
Private tour with driver-guide of D-Day Beaches and Bayeux |
| Day 5 |
Normandy (Port-en-Bessin) - Mont St. Michel
Private transfer with driver-guide to Mont St. Michel for tour with local guide. Continue to Cancale, Brittany, for overnight. Time permitting, visit St. Malo |
| Day 6 |
Mont St. Michel - Paris
Private transfer with driver-guide to Paris for 3 nights with touring en route, as desired |
| Day 7 |
Paris
Half-day private tour with guide and driver in Paris. Evening dinner cruise on Seine |
| Day 8 |
Paris
At leisure |
| Day 9 |
Depart Paris
Private airport transfer |
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Hotels
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| Honfleur or Deauville: |
La Ferme Saint Simeon or Normandy Barriere |
| Port-en-Bessin: |
Chateau La Cheneviere |
| Cancale: |
Maisons de Bricourt Chateau Richeux |
| Paris: |
Four Seasons George V or Hotel Plaza Athénée |
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Cost
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| $12,755 |
Per person (double occupancy) |
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All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.
Call us at (800) 214-8144 for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.
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