Paris, Tours, Lyon, Nice, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Toledo
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to Paris.
Day 2 - Arrive Paris (2 nights) Welcome to Paris, the elegant capital of France! After check-in you are free to explore this beautiful city or just relax. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Drink with your Tour Director and meet your fellow travelers.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Paris La Villette
Day 3 - Paris sightseeing & at leisure Today’s sightseeing tour with a local guide includes the ascent of the Eiffel Tower to its second level for wonderful views over the city. Other highlights include views of Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde and the Champs Elysées before we enjoy a visit of Les Invalides with its golden dome. As part of the Army Museum, its most important relic is the tomb of France’s most influential ruler, Napoleon Bonaparte. For the rest of the day you may choose to stroll through the Luxembourg Gardens, visit the Louvre or relax over a ‘café au lait’ in a sidewalk café. (Buffet breakfast)
Day 4 - Paris – Loire Valley Chateaux – Tours First we drive to Chartres – famous for its mighty Cathedral with its blue stained glass windows. Built on a ley line, this spot has always been said to have mystical power! Then down to the valley of the quiet River Loire with its many beautiful villages and resplendent castles, home to French royalty over the centuries. We’ll stop at Chambord to see the impressive chateau, and then visit fairytale Chenonceau, straddling the River Cher, before continuing to our hotel. This evening we enjoy a ‘Be My Guest’ dinner of mouth-watering specialties in a local restaurant. (Buffet breakfast / Be My Guest dinner)
Hotel: Holiday Inn Tours City Centre
Day 5 - Tours – Bourges – Lyon Today’s journey takes us through the very center of France. First we stop in Bourges, to see the Palais Jacques Coeur, the Cathedral of St. Stephen and the delightful archbishop’s gardens. Then into the very center of the ‘hexagon’, as the French often call their homeland, to stop at the village of St. Amand Montrond. We continue via the volcanic hills around Clermont Ferrand and on to Lyon – a gourmet’s paradise on the Rhone and Saône Rivers. A walking tour of the old city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, reveals the city’s rich and cultural past. It is the largest Renaissance district in France with its narrow streets, inner courtyards and ‘traboules’. We will also drive up the Fourvière hill to admire awe inspiring views over the city. Then on to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: Park & Suites Part Dieu
Day 6 - Lyon – Châteauneuf du Pape – Avignon – Nice (2 nights) Our first stop this morning is in the wine village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape where we stop to see the amazing vistas from the ruined fortress and visit one of the Cote du Rhone wine cellars to sample some of the delicious wine. Then on to Avignon, where we see the Papal palace and famous ‘Pont’ (bridge) over the Rhone. Finally we arrive in Nice where an orientation drive shows us the Promenade des Anglais and the Place Massena, before we continue to our hotel for the next two nights. (Buffet breakfast)
Hotel: Boscolo Park
Day 7 - Nice – Excursion to Monte Carlo A free morning to relax and perhaps take a stroll along the Promenade or shop in the trendy boutiques! Later this afternoon we will enjoy a scenic drive along the Côte d’Azur to visit Monaco and Monte Carlo. Here we’ll see the beautiful casino built by Charles Garnier in the 19th century and our Tour Director will show us a Hidden Treasure as we explore the Principality. Later we will enjoy a Highlight Dinner together in a local restaurant. (Buffet breakfast / Highlight dinner)
Day 8 - Nice – Cannes – Barcelona (2 nights) A short drive to ‘la Croisette’ in glamorous Cannes where we have time to admire the yachts in the marina and go celebrity-spotting! We’ll see the Film Festival Center before re-joining the highway to drive through Provençal landscapes reminiscent of Van Gogh paintings. Then on past the Camargue National Park and to the border with Spain. We cross over the foothills of the Pyrenees and are soon in the region of Spanish Catalonia. Past olive groves and vineyards we approach the ‘avant-garde’ city of Barcelona – a cosmopolitan port on the Mediterranean. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: Alexandra
Day 9 - Barcelona sightseeing & at leisure Our morning sightseeing tour with a local guide takes us on a walking tour of the Gothic Quarter with its impressive cathedral. We also see Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia plus many of his other eccentric architectural masterpieces. Later, we’ll view the Columbus Monument and the Ramblas. Afterwards enjoy time at leisure in this sophisticated city, or perhaps an optional excursion to mystical Montserrat to see the Black Madonna? (Buffet breakfast)
Day 10 - Barcelona – Madrid (2 nights) We start our day with a drive through the arid Aragon hills to the city of Goya’s birth – Zaragoza on the River Ebro. It is here where the Virgin Mary met St. James, leaving the pilar as testimony to the event – hence the name of the cathedral dedicated to him – El Pilar. We will visit this pilgrimage church and see the ancient Cathedral of La Seo before continuing into the heart of Spanish Castile and Spain’s capital, Madrid. Tonight maybe try one of Madrid’s many open air restaurants and enjoy the night time atmopshere of this vibrant capital city. (Buffet breakfast)
Hotel: Rafael Ventas
Day 11 - Toledo excursion & Madrid sightseeing First we enjoy an included excursion to Toledo, capital of Castile. Here sightseeing with a local guide includes a visit to the synagogue, the Church of Santo Tome and a steel workshop. Then we return to Madrid where our guided tour shows us the Plaza España, the Puerta del Sol, the Cibeles Fountain and Gran Via. Then time to join our newly made friends and Tour Director for a Farewell Dinner in a typical restaurant. (Buffet breakfast / Farewell dinner)
Day 12 - Madrid – USA This morning it is time to bid farewell to Madrid, our Tour Director and fellow travelers as our vacation comes to an end. Airport transfers are available, conditions apply. (Buffet breakfast)
What's Included
Sightseeing Highlights
Paris: Ascent of the Eiffel Tower by elevator to the second level. Visit of Les Invalides to see the tomb of Napoleon.
Chartres: Visit the cathedral.
Loire Valley: See the Château of Chambord, visit the Palace of Chenonceau.
Bourges: See the Palais Jacques Coeur, the cathedral and the archbishop’s gardens.
Lyon: Walking tour of the old city.
Chateauneuf du Pape: Visit a wine cellar.
Avignon: See the Papal Palace and famous bridge.
Nice: See the Promenade des Anglais and the Place Massena.
Monaco: Visit the Principality.
Cannes: See La Croisette and the Film Festival Centre.
Barcelona: Guided walking tour of the Gothic quarter.
Zaragoza: Visit the Cathedral of Il Pilar.
Toledo: Visit the synagogue, Santo Tome and steel workshop.
Madrid: See Plaza España, Puerta del Sol, Cibeles Fountain and Gran Via.
Dining HIghlights
10 hot buffet breakfasts.
2 three-course dinners.
‘ Be My Guest’ specialty dinner with wine in a château near Tours
Highlight Dinner in Nice
Farewell Dinner with wine in Madrid
15 meals in total (see day-by-day itinerary)First Class Travel Highlights
First Class hotel accommodation includes twin-bedded rooms with private facilities, all hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes.
Touring by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and a washroom onboard.
Escorted by one of Trafalgar’s top professional multi-lingual Tour Directors.
A qualified local city guide in Paris, Lyon, Barcelona, Toledo and Madrid.
Airport transfers are provided on Day 2 and Day 12, conditions apply.
A stylish wallet, tour documents and map book journal.
Airport Transfers
London Gateways: Transfers can be expensive, particularly between the airport and your London hotel. But when you book your Trafalgar tour and take advantage of our land and air packages, we have included a FREE transfer to and from London’s airports and your Trafalgar London hotel. For passengers who have their own flight arrangements we offer you the opportunity to purchase inexpensive transfers to and from London’s Heathrow – Trafalgar has negotiated special rates for the Dot2Dot transfer from London’s Heathr
Important – Please Note: Passengers will only be entitled to transfers to and from London Airports providing the following conditions are met:
For included transfers: Your flights must be booked directly by Trafalgar no fewer than 21 days prior to departure. For chargeable transfers: Your Travel Agent provides detailed flight information to Trafalgar no fewer than 21 days prior to departure. Once transfers are booked they cannot be changed.
For London arrivals, you must stay at a London hotel booked by Trafalgar on the night of arrival and the night prior to your departure date.
Trafalgar only includes one inbound and one outbound transfer.
In the event of flight delays outside of Trafalgar’s control, the transfers will be deemed to be cancelled.
All transfers are based on group transfers. No refund is therefore available for missed transfers, or passengers not using this service.
In the event of unforeseen events (such as road or rail works, strikes or demonstrations), Trafalgar will not be responsible for delayed or cancelled transfers.
Heathrow Airport: National Express Dot2Dot will pick up and drop off in time to meet all flights to/from London’s Heathrow Airport. For guests arriving at the Dot2Dot desk after 22.00 hrs please make use of the courtesy phone to arrange your transfer to your Trafalgar hotel
Gatwick Airport Passengers who have booked Trafalgar’s Land and Air packages arriving at London’s Gatwick Airport are provided with a Gatwick Express train voucher. The Gatwick Express train journey from Gatwick Airport to London’s Victoria Station takes 30 minutes. Guests then need to make their way from Victoria Station to their Trafalgar hotel.
European Gateways: With Trafalgar all passengers will receive complimentary arrival and departure transfers on the scheduled arrival and departure day of their tour at the times specified below. Please ensure your Travel Agent reserves your flight to co-ordinate with the transfer times shown.
Trafalgar Bonus - Passengers who book Trafalgar''s Land+Air package and who arrive or depart outside of these specified times on the scheduled arrival and departure day of the tour will also be provided with a transfer.
Passengers arriving before or leaving after the scheduled tour days are not entitled to a transfer but may book and purchase one through Trafalgar providing that they also purchase the additional pre and/or post tour hotel night(s) from Trafalgar. Please ask for prices of transfers at the time of booking your extra night accommodation.
Land only passengers arriving or departing on the scheduled tour arrival or departure days but whose flights don''t coincide with the listed transfer times below may also book and purchase these transfers. Flight details must
The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land prices are guaranteed. Airfares included as part of air-inclusive tour prices are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Air-inclusive prices include air from a major U.S. gateway; air from other U.S. airports is available at an additional cost. Sorry, we are unable to offer air from countries other than the U.S. However, for those international customers who are able to arrange their own transportation to the tour origination city, we are able to offer the land portion of the package or tour, at the price quoted.
For Best Price, Call 1-888-447-8459 Discount Code: 9134#
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Special Offers
The following special offers may be available on one or more of the Departure Dates below. For more information, please call a Trafalgar Tours specialist at 1-888-447-8459 and mention Discount Code 9134#, or click Instant Quote on a Departure Date below.
Unless otherwise noted, fares do not include all applicable taxes, charges and government imposed fees. Click here for more information on air fees and taxes.
