France for Foodies: Paris, Loire Valley & Bordeaux

Upon arrival in Paris, meet your driver and be transferred to your hotel in Paris. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

After breakfast, this comprehensive Paris tour allows you to discover the attractions of Paris at your own pace. Whether it is shopping, dining, history, or romance that brought you to the city of lights, this tour will help you to discover your perfect Paris. Your pass allows you unlimited hop-On, hop-Off access over a one-day period. There are 4 routes and more than 50 stops to choose from on this wonderful tour. All 4 routes are interconnected, allowing you to switch between them easily.

Your day also includes a boat cruise on the Seine River. The Seine is the epicenter of Paris, flanked by the emblematic monuments of the French capital, making it a real essence of the city. The modern riverboat "Bateau Parisien," with accessible terraces and outdoor walkways, will take you on a smooth boat ride along the river. Enjoy the beautiful panorama on this one-hour cruise and learn about the city's secrets and fascinating history. An audio guide available in 14 languages will keep you entertained. Glide past the Notre Dame cathedral and under the famous Pont Neuf. Keep your eyes peeled for some of the most iconic landmarks in Paris: Louvre Museum, Tuileries Garden, Orsay Museum, Grand Palais, Trocadero, Conciergerie, and many more.

With this 3-hour walking tour in Montmartre, you will visit some of the best bread and pastry shops in town! You will learn why the best baguettes are in Montmartre, taste some unusual bread such as squid ink/ curry baguette or blue cheese ficelle, some financiers or fruit tarts, and much more. In this tour, be sure to learn how to recognize a good shop from an industrial one or how to find the best croissant so that you won't make the mistake again! This tour will also be the occasion to discover the streets of Montmartre village, its grapevine, and mills, as well as its best restaurants and shops. As we don't like crowded itineraries, we will use a different way from Rue Caulaincourt to Rue des Abbesses, and try to stay off the beaten path!

Later in the day, take an introduction to the French cheese and wine experience as you visit a 17th-century cheese maturing cellar in the heart of Paris. You will learn the skill of tasting exceptional cheeses and pairing them with wonderful wines. Ooh, la la! Learn and enjoy the art of tasting and pairing exceptional cheeses with wines in a historic Parisian cellar - you will never taste cheese and wine like this again! This tasting includes seven types of cheeses, two glasses of wine, and a fresh baguette.

Say Au Revoir to the City of Light and take a private transfer to the airport or train station.

Upon arrival in Tours at St. Pierre des Corps railway station, meet your driver and be transferred to your hotel in Tours. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Your guide will meet you at your hotel in Tours and take you for a memorable walk to discover the interesting places of the city. Declared a "City of Art and History" more than 20 years ago, Tours stays true to its title boasting rich cultural and historical heritage dating back to the second century BC. During your walk, you will have the chance to stop and have an aperitif with local wine at a local producer. Finally, you will reach Place de la Cathedrale, which is a beautiful little square with two impressive religious landmarks. The first is the Cathedrale Saint-Gatien, a masterpiece of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The second is the beautiful Cloitre de la Psalette, a cloister completed in the same architectural style as the cathedral. Your guide will take you inside the cathedral to explore the architecture and also share some stories and anecdotes about the area.

In the afternoon, you will get to visit two superb estates of the Vouvray Appellation, admire the wonderful vineyard landscapes and learn how to taste these elegant wines produced from one of the most well-known terroir of the Val de Loire area! You will get to meet a genuine French winemaker in a charming family-run estate! Visit the traditional vat room where hundreds of barrels are lined up. During this visit, you will improve your knowledge regarding wine-making and of course winetasting! After this, your guide will drive you to a grand wine house situated just along the Loire River. All along the afternoon, you will get to know and understand better the diversity of Loire Valley wines. Your guide will help you to learn the different steps of wine-tasting and train your nose to identify many wine aromas. And before saying goodbye, you will get to share an aperitif with a stunning view.

Spend the day discovering the Loire Valley while visiting two of its most prestigious castles: the majestic Chateau de Chambord and stunning Chateau de Chenonceau. Chateau de Chambord is a glorious historic site that will take you to the heart of the Loire Valley and the Renaissance era. Your guide will make this trip back in time a fun and captivating experience by sharing with you various facts and anecdotes about its history. We will stop for lunch off the beaten path, in a lovely and private Loire Valley chateau that was built by Jean le Breton. Start with a tour of this unique family château, where you will meet the family and discover all the authentic rooms and lovely surroundings of this haven of peace and tranquility. Next, the Château de Chenonceau is the most visited historical monument in France after the Chateau de Versailles. You will get to admire this stunning château and its unique gallery, built on a bridge across the Cher River. With your guide, take a stroll through the gorgeously-manicured gardens a la Francaise named after the famous ladies who lived there: "Catherine de Medicis" and "Diane de Poitiers". After this memorable visit, your tour guide will share with you a delightful aperitif with local products in a secret spot with a magnificent view.

Say goodbye to the Loire Valley and take a private transfer to St Pierre des Corps railway station to your onwards journey in France or beyond.

Upon arrival in Bordeaux at the main train station, meet your driver and be transferred to your hotel in Bordeaux. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

You will start your day in the city center of Bordeaux nearby the cathedral at a bakery, where you can smell the flavors of the fresh bread just coming out of the oven and share this moment with the baker. You will have the opportunity to enjoy a canelé, the traditional sweet pastry from the area of Bordeaux. Your next stop is a "Tour de France of Cheese and Charcuterie" at a cheese store, where you will receive a detailed explanation of the production and character of famous cheeses and charcuterie.

Today you'll visit the charming village of Saint-Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a historic city dating back to the 9th century. The village is located on a hill and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding vineyards. Just outside of town, you'll get to sample the region's famous wines at a chateau that produces grand cru classé vintages. Walk through the vineyards and tour the cellars to learn about the winemaking process. The visit includes two tastings and is accompanied by hors d'oeuvres.

A picnic lunch is served at the chateau. Next, explore Médoc's famous Route des Chateaux and pass by legendary Bordeaux appellations. This specific terroir is known for its powerful reds. A visit is to an intimate estate. It's been owned and run by the same passionate family for generations. Walk in the vineyards, tour the traditional vat room, and learn the steps of a proper wine tasting in the cellars. You'll get to practice training your nose to identify wine aromas. The final visit of the day is to an estate that produces grand cru classé. Learn about winemaking from the grape through to the bottle. End the visit with a tasting paired with local specialties.

Say goodbye to the Bordeaux and take a private transfer to the train station to your onwards journey in France or beyond.