DAY 1: UK - Paris.
Fly or take the Eurostar to Paris where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for one night.

DAY 2: Paris - Rouen - Honfleur - Deauville - Caen.
First stop is the handsome city of Rouen, famous for its magnificent cathedral, one of the finest Gothic churches in France. Next we visit the charming little seaport of Honfleur, an old maritime city with a lively harbour, picturesque narrow streets and old houses, before continuing up the coast to the elegant 'fin de siecle' seaside resort of Deauville with its stylish Art Nouveau hotels. Overnight in Caen, the capital of the Calvados department. (B, D)

DAY 3: Caen - Normandy Landing Beaches - Bayeux - Mont St Michel.
Time to see Caen before we visit the Normandy beaches where Allied troops landed on D-Day in 1945, as well as the moving experience of the American Cemetery at Omaha. Then it's on to Bayeux, home of the famous medieval tapestry depicting the Norman Conquests (entrance fee extra), before we travel to the environs of one of France's most famous landmarks, Mont St Michel for an overnight stay. (B)

DAY 4: Mont St Michel - Angers - Tours.
The day begins with a visit to Mont St Michel, a stunning granite islet topped with an imposing ancient monastery. Next we travel through the rolling vineyards of Anjou to the charming riverside town of Angers, where we visit the Cathedral of St Maurice with its beautiful stained glass. We then head along the bank of the Loire to the historic city of Tours for two nights. (B)

DAY 5: Châteaux Country. At leisure.
A chance to spend a day relaxing and enjoying the glorious countryside of the Loire Valley. Or why not join our optional excursion to see some of the region's world-famous chateaux, ranging from imposing feudal fortresses to splendid palaces, surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens. (B, D)

DAY 6: Tours - Poitiers - La Rochelle - Cognac - Bordeaux.
First stop is the quaint old town of Poitiers, situated where the rivers Clain and Boivre meet. Next stop is the picturesque town of La Rochelle, situated on the Atlantic Coast. We then head west into the Cognac region for a visit to the museum and a chance for a tasting, before travelling south to France's wine capital, Bordeaux for one night. (B, D)

DAY 7: Bordeaux - Dordogne - Rocamadour - Toulouse.
Today starts with an orientation walk around Bordeaux. This historical city is home to three world heritage sites and the 18th Century architecture, wide tree lined avenues and well kept open spaces give the city a regal feel. We then travel into the heart of one of France's most beautiful regions, the Dordogne, stopping off in the small town of Rocamadour, dramatically perched on a clifftop. Driving via the Roman town of Cahors in the Midi-Pyrenees, we arrive at Toulouse, for one night. (B)

DAY 8: Toulouse - Carcassonne - Nîmes - Avignon.
First on the itinerary today is a sightseeing walk around Carcassonne, built more than 1,000 years ago and divided by the picturesque Aude River. Then it's west to Nîmes, an elegant city famed for its busy boulevards, shaded by lotus trees. You'll get a splendid view of the Maison Carrée, one of the best preserved Roman temples in the whole of France, before we travel on to the medieval walled city of Avignon, with its famous bridge on the Rhône, for one night. (B, D)

DAY 9: Avignon - Arles - Aix-en-Provence - French Riviera.
After a visit to the well-preserved Roman amphitheatre in Arles, we head for Aix-en-Provence to see the tree lined boulevard of 'Cours Mirabeau', its 17th-century palace, elegant town houses and cascading fountains. Then it's on to the sun-kissed Riviera coast for two nights. (B)

DAY 10: French Riviera. At leisure.
The day is yours to explore the chic Côte d'Azur resorts such as Cannes and Nice. Why not stroll along the promenade or relax with a glass of wine in one of the many terrace cafés and soak up the sophisticated atmosphere? There's also the option to take a trip up into the hills to the small town of St Paul-de-Vence and, in the evening, to glamourous Monte Carlo. (B)

DAY 11: French Riviera - Grasse - Route Napoleon - Lyon area.
Our first stop is Grasse, centre of the French perfume industry, where we'll visit a perfume workshop. We then travel through the lovely Provence countryside, following the route Napoleon took on his return from Elba in 1815. Passing the lively town of Grenoble we travel to Lyon, the third largest city of France, for one night in the area. (B, D)

DAY 12: Lyon area - Beaune - Paris.
We travel through the picturesque vineyards and fields of Burgundy to medieval Beaune, the region's wine capital since Roman times, where we will visit one of the famous Bourgogne wine cellars and taste some of its production before continuing to the French capital and 'City of Light', Paris, for two nights. Don't miss the optional evening cabaret show - a real Parisian spectacle! (B)

DAY 13: Paris. Included sightseeing.
A full day to discover the enthralling city of Paris, home to exquisite cuisine, cutting edge fashion, world renowned art and timeless architecture. Our included city sightseeing tour begins with a visit to the celebrated Notre Dame Cathedral, after which we tour many of the city's major attractions, including the Eiffel Tower, the Opéra, the Champs Elysées and the Rue de Rivoli. There's also the chance to join our optional excursion to the spectacular Palace of Versailles. (B)

DAY 14: Paris - UK.
Join your Eurostar service to the UK or transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK. (B)