10-Day Private Normandy, Loire Valley & Bordeaux Package: History & Wines

We will come and pick you up in Paris Airport, train station or hotel and transfer you to the charming small town of Bayeux in Normandy. Your 3* hotel is located in the historic centre of Bayeux. Check in at your hotel and night in Bayeux.

Today, stroll the historic town of Bayeux on your own. Be sure not to miss the visit of the Bayeux Tapestry Museum to admire the tapestry that tells the epic story of William, Duke of Normandy who became King of England in 1066.

Meet your English Speaking Driver/Guide who is a local Expert on WWII and the Normandy landings

This morning, we will come and pick you up at your hotel. Meet your English speaking guide who will go over the program and itinerary of the day with you. Then, board your comfortable, air conditioned minivan and begin to make your way to visit the major D-Day sites.

All our vehicles are equipped with an on board P/A system which means that everyone will hear the guide's commentary during driving time, even if you are seated in the back of the van! Also, we have bottled water at your disposal and you can use our free wifi as you travel from one destination to another.

First stop will be in Sainte Mère Eglise

On the morning of June 6, 1944, also known as the longest day, thousands of soldiers from the Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in an attempt to liberate France and the continent from the German occupation. This marked the beginning of a fierce and deadly battle against surprised but well-trained Nazi troops.

Among the allied troops, the Americans landed on two different beaches, later named Utah and Omaha. First, head towards Sainte Mère Eglise heart of the drop zone for the 82nd Airborne U.S. forces. Indeed, the D-Day landings did not only happen from the sea! Airborne divisions and paratroopers rained on this village, and one of them famously got caught in the tower of the church. The village is also home to the airborne museum that can be visited during one of our private tours from Bayeux.

Reach the Utah beach landing area

Then, your Normandy battlefield tour will take you to Utah beach, the second beach where the American troops landed. Again, listen to your guide as he reveals the historical facts of the landings and how the troops were able to storm the beaches in this area.

It is here that the 101st airborne pathfinders were dropped the night before d day invasion. Your guide will also take you to the US military cemetery where you can pay your respects to the ones who fell during D-Day and the Battle of Normandy that followed.

Visit stunning Pointe du Hoc

Also located in the American sector, head to the Pointe du Hoc, a breathtaking cliff offering lunar landscapes, stunning bomb craters and a magnificent viewpoint over the English Channel. Given the toughness of the operation, the Pointe du Hoc was given to Rangers to land upon.

The battle site, dotted with German bunkers was rough, as the Pointe du Hoc had been built as a key point of the Atlantic Wall. It was the highest point between Utah beach and Omaha beach and provided a great observation spot to notice any unfriendly arrivals from the sea. You can still see an artillery gun battery there and feel as if it was still 1944.

Followed by Omaha landing beach

This Normandy battlefield tour will also take you to Omaha beach, where the deadliest of the landings took place. Even though bombings occurred before the landing itself, they failed to neutralise the German positions in that sector.

In addition, troops and amphibian vehicles were disembarked too far from the shore, leading to an absolute failure and thousands of men being killed under heat German fire. The assault on this beach was perfectly depicted in the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan movie. Learn more about the landing and the following days as your tour guide explains all the events that took place on the beach and how the battle raged and evolved inland.

End the tour at the American Cemetery of Colleville sur Mer

If time permits, your guide will also make a stop at the Omaha Beach American Cemetery and memorial in Colleville sur mer where you will have some time to pay homage to the fallen. Depending on the timing of the day you might also have the opportunity to enter the visitor center.

At lunch time, your English-speaking guide will point out the best places to eat depending on the location.

Return to Bayeux and night at your hotel.

Pick up by your guide at your hotel in the morning.

Travel to Southern Normandy

The UNESCO World Heritage Listed, Remarkable Gothic Jewel Mont Saint Michel is an island off the coast of Normandy, in the English Channel, and is one of the best Normandy tours you can choose. It is located about 1 kilometer from the shore and sits in a bay that sees some of the biggest tides in Europe. A few years ago, it was linked to the mainland by a bridge that gets flooded during high tides a few times a year only. 

The first church was built on the mount in 709 at the request of Archangel Michael. A couple of hundred years later, a small group of Benedictines settled there permanently and the church was enlarged. The first monastery was carved in the rock in the 11th century and gradually got bigger and bigger over the following centuries. In the medieval time, it quickly became an important destination for pilgrims, just like Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Visit the Benedictine Abbey with your guide

The construction of the Mont Saint Michel abbey as we know it nowadays was finished in the 13th and 14th centuries, and the grand chancel was replaced in the 15th century. Those hundreds of years of architectural prowess's have left us with a magnificent monument, now referred to as the “Wonder of the Western World”. It is also a UNESCO world heritage site.

During your day trip to Mont St Michel, our friendly English-speaking driver / guide will take you from Bayeux to the Mont Saint Michel, which you will access via a shuttle and the bridge in accordance with local requirements. While on the road, make sure to take it all in and observe the beauty of the Normandy coastline.

Our Mont Saint Michel tour will then take you to the abbey itself, at the very top of the mount. Follow your guide on a walking tour. The history of its construction will be explained in detail and while you are there, make sure to snap some pictures of the amazing views on the surrounding bay!

Mont Saint Michel is also a lively small town

After the visit of the abbey, enjoy some free time to explore the town at your own pace and bring back some souvenirs for friends and family. Your guide will also suggest some great restaurants for lunch, suitable for all budgets.

If you want to indulge, the Mère Poulard restaurant is probably the most famous on the mount. It gained its reputation thanks to its unique "omelet soufflé" recipe. It is well worth a visit and a must-try when on a Mont Saint Michel day tour but keep in mind you will need a large amount of time as the restaurant is so popular with visitors.

Return to Bayeux and night at your hotel.

In the morning, we will pick you up in Bayeux and transfer you to the Loire Valley. Reach the town of Tours where your 3* hotel is located. Check in at your hotel, and take some time for lunch (at own expense) and personal discovery in Tours. 

Pick up at your hotel by your guide in the morning.

Depart from Tours and Visit Château de Chambord

Once you have met your guide and boarded your small group vehicle, make your way to the Château de Chambord that will be your first Loire Valley castle visit of the day. It is considered as one of the most beautiful Chateaux of the Loire Valley. After a short drive of about 1 hour, reach the stunning Château de Chambord. Listed since 1981 as a Unesco World Heritage site, Chambord is without a doubt one of the most fascinating Loire Valley Castle to visit.

Located in the heart of the Sologne region of France, Chateau de Chambord was the desire of King Francis 1 (François 1er) who ordered the construction in the early 16th century. Built as a hunting lodge, the castle was not designed to be a permanent residence for the King who only stayed within the castle a few weeks every year. The architecture of the Château is a good example of the Italian Renaissance style that was prized at the time and Château de Chambord was in fact built to impress foreign visitors and ambassadors and demonstrate the power of the young king of France.

The Castle is laid out around a central keep that includes for massive bastion towers at each corner. All in all, Chambord is home to more than 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces and 84 staircases. The plan of the castle has for central axis the famous double helix staircase that was presumably inspired by the work of the great genius Leonardo da Vinci.

King Francis 1 never actually saw the castle finished and it wasn't until the reign of the King Louis XIV (the Sun King) that the building was actually completed. The shear size of Château de Chambord makes it a difficult place to maintain and after being owned by different persons close to royalty, it is finally preempted by the French State who becomes the sole owner since 1930.

Upon arrival, follow your tour guide for a tour of the Castle. The tour will last around 1.5 hours and your guide will lead you through the main rooms, will show you the famous double spiral staircase and you take you to the top of the Castle to the terraces where you will have a great view of the surrounding area.

After the visit, you will have some free time to discover the Castle of Chambord on your own. If you have purchased the visit of the Château and Gardens during the booking process, then it will be time for you to have a walk through the beautiful French Gardens of Chambord.

Free time for lunch (at own expense)

After your visit of Chambord Castle, you will have some time for lunch, on your own and at own expense. There are several options that can be chosen from that are located at the Château or close by. Your guide will also be able to make suggestions depending on your wishes. After lunch, it will be time to move on and head towards the Château de Chenonceau.

Then Visit Château de Chenonceau

After your time for lunch, we will drive you to Chenonceaux where the castle of Chenonceau is located. The original Château dates back to the 13th century but was later torched and rebuilt to be finally taken by King Francis I as a debt.

The next most important owner was Diane de Poitiers, mistress of Henri II, who transformed the building and added the arched bridge that spans over the River Cher. After the kings death, the Chateau became the property of Catherine de Medici who expelled Diane de Poitiers.

During her time at the Château as owner, Catherine de Medici spent large amounts of money for renovation and embellishments and was known to house spectacular night time parties. It is here that in 1560, the first ever fireworks took place in France.

After the death of Catherine de Medici, the Château passed into several hands including that of Louise Dupin famous for hosting a literary salon that was attended by some of the most famous figures of the time including Voltaire, Montesquieu, Buffon or Marivaux. Famous philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau was Louise Dupin's secretary and tutored her son.

In more recent history, the castle was bought in 1913 by Henri Menier whose family was famous as chocolate makers and the Chateau de Chenonceau is still in their possession today.

After your arrival at Chenonceau castle, begin your tour. Chenonceau is home to an outstanding collection of furniture, tapestries and paintings that included artworks from Rubens, Tintoretto, Van Loo, Murillo, Veronese, Poussin, Van Dyck and many more.

Also, during your tour, you will visit the highlights of the castle including Diane de Poitiers' bedroom, the Green Study, the Gallery and the kitchens. After the visit, you will have some free time to explore the gardens.

Return to Tours

After the visit of Château de Chenonceau it will be time for you to head back towards Tours.

Pick up by your guide at your hotel in the morning.

Wine tasting in the Chinon Wine Region

After a short drive, reach the Chinon wine producing region. Chinon red wines are mainly made with Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon varietals while the white wines are made with Chenin Blanc. The roughly 200 producers of the area account for about 12 million bottles of wine per year. When grown in the light, sandy-gravel soils along the banks of the Vienne, Chinon is rounded on the palate, supple and easy to drink. When grown in the denser soil of the limestone slopes, the wine gains a fuller body, is more robust and develops a much longer ageing potential.

Upon arrival, we will take you to one of our carefully selected wineries of the region. Here, you will have the opportunity to taste a large range of local wines. All our wine tours include a commented tasting of the wines as well as an explanation of the appellation and the terroir linked to the wine region.  

Free time for lunch in Chinon (at own expense)

Once your morning visit is over, it will be time to head to the town of Chinon. After a small walking tour with your guide, take some time to appreciate this charming small town and enjoy some free time for personal discovery and lunch (at own expense). Don't hesitate to ask your guide for recommendations and suggestions for great lunch opportunities. 

Bourgueil / Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil Wine Region 

After lunch, it will be time to head towards the Bourgueil / Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil Wine Region of the Loire Valley. Wines have been produced in the area since the 10th century but became celebrated as an outstanding wine since the 17th century. The soils that make up the Bourgueil vineyards are on one hand composed of sand and gravel or "graviers" as they are locally known and on the other hand of clay and fine limestone known as "Tuffeau". This tuffeau was also used to build houses and castles in the region and the quarries of those days are now used to preserve the wines.

Bourgueil / Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil wines are red wines made with a majority of Cabernet France type varietal. Where the vines are planted on a sandy and gravel type soil, the wines obtained are fruity, delicate and light and can be drank in their early years. Where the vines are planted on the clay and limestone soils, Bourgueil / Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil wines tend to be more complex with higher amount of tannins. These wines can age with certain exceptional vintages having a great ageing potential.

Wine tasting sessions in 2 Wineries

This afternoon, we will have you visit and wine taste in 2 local wineries of the Bourgueil / Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil appellation. After a short introduction about the history of the winery and depending on the winery visited, we will take you to the vineyard to see what is going on with the vines at the moment of your visit. For some wineries, it will be possible to visit the technical installations and/or the ageing cellars. You will then participate in a commented tasting session of the wines produced on site. Even though a majority of red wine is produced here, some wineries also include tastings of Rosé, White and Sparkling wines.

Return to Tours

After your tasting session of the afternoon in the Bourgueil wine region, it will be time to make your way back to Tours.

Today we will come and pick you up at your hotel in Tours. Check-out from your hotel and enjoy a private transfer from Tours to your hotel in Bordeaux. Check-in at your centrally located hotel and enjoy some free time for lunch (at own expense) and personal discovery of this classified UNESCO World Heritage city.

In the morning, your guide will come and pick you up at your hotel.

Morning - Drive along the Chateau Road, visit a first Winery

On this highly recommended full day small group tour in the Medoc, you'll discover one of France's most admired wine-growing regions. Beginners and seasoned wine connoisseurs alike will find plenty to love on this guided wine tasting tour of Medoc led by local expert wine guides. Drawing on local knowledge and a real love of wine, our tour guides will fill you in on this unique and beautiful region, and you'll discover what make Medoc wines so special.

Your first stop will be at a winery located along the Castle Road. This small winding road, also known as the D2, is lined with some of the most prestigious wineries of the Medoc including Chateau Palmer, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Latour and many others. It crosses through the different appellations that make up the Medoc such as Margaux, Saint Julien, Pauillac and Saint Estephe.

Upon arrival at the winery, start your tour with a visit of the property. Then, you will be taken to the technical installations so that you may understand the whole wine making process. After the visit, it will be time to experience your first commented wine tasting session. This will be a chance to gain an excellent understanding of the wines produced here, whether as an introduction to wines or to expand on your existing knowledge..

Unlike other wine tasting sessions that you might have followed around the world, the tastings in Bordeaux are very refined. The amount of wine poured is not what many would expect but here it is all about elegance, fruit, quality, aromas and flavors rather than quantity. If you want to further your wine experience, it is always possible to buy some bottles at the winery.

Reach the town of Pauillac for lunch (at own expense)

After your first visit, your drive will continue and if time permits your driver/guide will probably stop along the way for great photo opportunities. The number of Wine Estates that can be seen along the famous wine route is also a perfect element of commentary for your guide who will explain the historic facts behind the building of some many estates in this area.

As you arrive in Pauillac, it will be time for lunch on your own. Your guide will point out the different options but please note that due to strict timing for the winery visits, we suggest that you opt for a light lunch that will not be time consuming.

Afternoon - Visit & Wine Tasting sessions in 2 Wineries

After lunch, it will be time to slowly make our way back towards Bordeaux. Along the way, we will stop in two different carefully selected wineries so that your full day wine tour from Bordeaux to the Medoc is complete. On a typical day, we will include different appellations. This is an important aspect of the tour as the wines in France are based on the importance of the terroir (a combination of the soil, the climate and the expertise of the winemaker).

Another interesting aspect that can be approached during your winery visits is the way Bordeaux wines are traded. There are 300 trading houses (or maisons de négoce) which, for several centuries, have been a major financial and economic force known by the name of “Place de Bordeaux".  

Wine trading began in Bordeaux around the 11th century with the development of business between Bordeaux and England. At the time, practically all of the wines were bought in bulk at the estate then aged in the cellars owned by the négociants who were then in charge of selling them. 

Today, their principal role is selling selected crus and producing wine: négociants blend, age and sell wines under their own brand names, providing consumers with a guarantee of know-how, and retailers with a guarantee of regular supply.

After the tour return to Bordeaux. Night at your hotel.

This morning, your guide will come and pick you up at your hotel.

Morning - Visit and commented wine tastings in 2 wineries

If you are only staying a few days in Bordeaux then this small group wine tour is for you. It covers a full day of visits starting in the morning with a scenic drive from Bordeaux through the vineyards and rolling hills of the St Emilion wine producing region located on the right bank. Before visiting the UNESCO world heritage site of Saint Emilion village, the wine tour kicks off in the surrounding countryside with a visit and wine tasting session in 2 Classified Growth Chateaus of the right bank.

Not included in the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux wines, Saint Emilion wines have their own system which rates Premier Grand Cru Classé wines such as Château Cheval Blanc, Chateau Ausone, Chateau Pavie or Chateau Angelus. Petrus is not classified as it is a winery located in the Pomerol appellation and the wines there do not have a classification. All wineries visited during our tours are at least Grand Cru classified.

After a short drive of about an hour, reach your first stop at a selected Grand Cru Winery. All winery tours in Bordeaux include the visit of the technical installations first. This is where a local guide of the winery will go through all the wine making process so that you can better understand how from a complex blending of different grape varieties and storage in oak barrels, the local wineries obtain one of the world's most delicious wines.

A second Chateau is on your program this morning. Again, after the visit of the property and the installations, you will participate in a commented tasting of the Chateau wines. All our Bordeaux wine tastings are commented by the local guide of the winery. However, your driver/guide who will be with you throughout the day is also there to answer any questions that you might have.

All our driver/guides have great knowledge about wines and they will be happy to share any basic or more technical information concerning French or Bordeaux Wines. Whether you have questions about history, technique, flavors, aromas, food & wine pairings don't hesitate to ask them anything that relates to wine to make this day a very special one.

Then arrive in the village of Saint Emilion

After the morning guided visits and wine tastings at Classified Growth Château, move on with your English-speaking driver tour guide to the gorgeous village of Saint Emilion itself. The village of Saint Emilion is named after a monk who left his region of origin and settled down in the area hundreds of years ago. The village is a rare example of a largely intact medieval town whose geography has not been modified over the centuries.

Here, you will enjoy a short walking tour taking in important historical sites like the Romanesque cloister and the monolithic church carved into the limestone cliffs (also known as the underground monuments). Following the village tour, enjoy some free time to explore on your own.

Free time for lunch in the village (at own expense)

This is also the time for a relaxing lunch in the village. Saint Emilion offers a very large selection of restaurants and snacks. Depending on your budget, your guide will be able to suggest the best possible option for your meal. Please note however that due to strict timing for the winery visits, we suggest that you opt for a light lunch that will not be time consuming. This is also a great option if you really want to take some time to stroll through the narrow streets and discover the village on your own.

Afternoon - After the village, experience a final Winery visit

Leave Saint Emilion village to visit and wine taste in another Classified Growth Chateau. Again, it will be time to discover another property of the right bank. Since our goal is to have you discover the different types of wineries that are present in Saint Emilion, we usually select very different Chateaus during the day. Our winery selection includes some very progressive ones that have decided to invest in the latest technology to help them craft the best possible Bordeaux wines.

Other wineries are family owned and have kept their wine making process as traditional as possible, using techniques that have been passed on from generation to generation. Some wineries are quite large, while others produce wine on no more than 12 acres. This final visit can also be a great opportunity for you to find out about the unique way in which most of the Bordeaux wines are sold and the secret world of the 'Negociants'. After the visit, experience a commented wine tasting session of the Chateau wines and then it will be time to return to Bordeaux.

Night at your hotel in Bordeaux.

Today, it will be time to say farewell. We will come and pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to Bordeaux airport or train station. End of our services.