Paris
(3nts) - Avignon (3nts) - Nice (3nts)
Day
1 - London/Paris
Fly with British Airways from London-Heathrow to
Paris and transfer to the Hotel Daniel for a three night stay.
Day 2 – Paris
Venture out and explore the area around the hotel.
Why not take advantage of our expert local guides and enjoy an
orientation tour. The tour will include a behind the scenes Eiffel
Tower visit, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysées and the
Ile de la Cité, where you will visit the beautiful Notre Dame
Cathedral and the Sainte Chapelle, a pearl of Gothic architecture.
Alternatively enjoy a private guided tour of the Opera de Paris housed
in Garnier Palace since its completion by architect Garnier in 1875
following the orders of Napoleon III. Its beauty is its marble Grand
Staircase; the gold, the mosaics and the magnificent painted ceiling
of the Grand Foyer; the immense crystal chandelier and Marc
Chagall’s ceiling of the Italian-style Auditorium that are renowned
all over the world.
Day 3 - Paris
With a wealth of world-renowned museums on offer no
visit to Paris would be complete without a visit to the Musée
d’Orsay and the Louvre. The Louvre is housed in a magnificent
building, which was originally built for use as a royal palace for
King Francis I. It is home to one of the most important art
collections in the Western world, spanning the period from remotest
antiquity, through to about 1850. Housed in a converted railway
station, the Musée d’Orsay’s main attraction is its
collection of works by the Impressionists: Renoir, Sisley, Pissarro
and Monet are all well-represented.
Day 4 – Paris/Avignon
Travel by TGV train from Paris to Avignon and enjoy
the beautiful French countryside en route. Transfer into the heart of
the town for your three night stay at Hotel la Mirande nestled in the
shadow of the imposing Palais des Papes.
Day 5 - Avignon
Why not enjoy a walking tour of Avignon with one of
our local guides. Visit the Clock Square before entering the huge
Palais des Papes, where seven exiled popes lived between 1309 and 1377
and where the main rooms are decorated with some excellent 14th
Century frescoes. Head for the coast in the afternoon and immerse
yourself in the Camargue National Park with its wild white horses and
black bulls, abundant bird life and flocks of elegant flamingos.
Day 6 - Avignon
To gain a real feel of Provence take a trip in a
legendary Citroën 2CV driven by an English driver-guide. Discover
the narrow streets of Avignon or explore St-Rémy-de-Provence.
Make a day of it and visit the Pont du Gard for a swim if it takes
your fancy, Les Baux-de-Provence to enjoy the sun while walking
through olive trees, Gordes to see cypresses and lavender fields and
Roussillon to enjoy a picnic. We especially recommend this in June and
until mid July when the fields are full of colour.
Day 7 – Avignon/Nice
Transfer to Nice perhaps stopping en route in
Aix-en-Provence to see the old centre, the tree-lined boulevards,
colourful markets and 101 fountains. Check-in to the Hotel La Perouse
for your final three nights.
Day 8 - Nice
Today why not meet a private guide for a half day
sightseeing. Explore the beautiful Old Town, the colourful open-air
market and take the lift up to the Castelle area for unrivalled views
of the city. Make time to visit the Roman ruins at Cimiez and the
inland village of Eze.
Day 9 – Nice
Travel inland to the perfume capital of the world
Grasse and try your hand at making your own scent. Take a trip along
to the coast to the principality of Monaco and delight in glitzy
Monte-Carlo. Do not miss the opportunity to taste the Princess Grace
Cocktail at the Columbus Hotel - a very special cocktail with
Champagne and rose petals, hiding a secret that only the Columbus
knows about. Alternatively visit the hilltop village of St Paul de
Vence, with a 12th to 17th Century Gothic church with many works of
baroque art and a mecca for artists.
Day 10 - Nice/London
Drive to Nice airport in your hire car for your
British Airways flight to London-Heathrow.
