About the tour
Starts
Ends
Paris, France
Paris, France
Highlights
Villandry: Return to 17th-century France and join the de Montferrier family on their farm near the famous Château de Villandry for a delightful Be My Guest experience.
Beaune: Step inside the 15th-century Hôtel-Dieu, once a hospital for the poor and now a museum showcasing Burgundy’s medieval heritage. Admire its colourful patterned roof tiles, gothic architecture and beautifully preserved interiors as you explore the stories behind this historic building at the heart of Beaune.
Avignon: View the Pont d'Avignon and walk the medieval narrow streets of the Old Town to the Palais des Papes.
Monaco City: See the cathedral where Prince Rainier and Princess Grace were married.
Carcassonne: Explore the fortified city of Carcassonne with a Local Specialist.
Itinerary
Indulge in the best of France on this 13-day city sightseeing tour that starts and ends in Paris. Journey through Carcassonne, Mont Saint-Michel, Bordeaux, and the Loire Valley, staying overnight as a French lord or lady in an elegant château. This package is perfect for those who wish to walk in the footsteps of artists like Cezanne in Provence or bask in the luxury of Monaco’s playground. With accommodations, transport, meals, and expert guidance included, the tour caters to travelers who crave cultural inspiration and refined experiences. The USP? Exclusive château stays and immersive encounters with France’s most enchanting regions.

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Customer Reviews
We loved all the highlights of France. Lunch at Saint-Emilion a small family owned winery was amazing. Over night stay in a château fantastic. Exploring the Château de Villandry gardens beautiful. Plus many more highlights would highly recommend Best of France
Honestly the country of France was the star of the show. Having said that though, Trafalgar really gave us a first class experience. The hotels, coach, driver, tour guides, and of course Emma our lovely Hostess were all fabulous. Your selection of sites to show us was very comprehensive and diverse.
It was wonderful our tour leader is the best she is so knowledgeable and friendly as was the bus driver . We have no hesitation in recommending this trip to anyone
Trafalgar's "Best of France" tour was a great way to see as much of the country as efficiently and enjoyably as possible. Our tour director, was fabulous in every respect--knowledge of the history and many cultural aspects of France and Europe, multilingual, exceptionally guest/customer friendly, an excellent organizer and logistician, engaging and entertaining, probably the all-around best Trafalgar travel director we've had the pleasure of touring with in the seven trips we've taken with the company. , the coach driver, was masterful.
Great tour leader and driver a good range of destinations and options also great local guides. A little extra time at some places would have been good but I realise that is difficult when covering many different attractions. Overall it was a great introduction to France especially for first timers like myself and I would certainly recommend this tour to others
The trip schedule was too ambitious and needs to be restructured. Too much time is spent on the motor coach traveling. Several sites such as Carcasonne, Mount St. Michel, and Giverny were too crowded to enjoy. Only 30 minutes were spent at Normandy due to late arrival. Avignon was a waste of time as there's not nothing inside the papal palace to see. I don't recommend this tour and regret the amount of money I spent on it.
and I want to send our thanks to all ! As some may know thus is our first trip “”across the pond” and we couldn’t have imagined a better experience. So thank you to Trafalgar for their planning. All the stops and experiences along this tour, the Best of France, have truly been the best!! To , thank you! Your stories, knowledge and genuine kindness is what we believe has truly made this trip so special. I truly believe with any future travel experiences and I have, we will never have a guide as wonderful! To , thank you for your skill and driving expertise. We always felt safe and comfortable on the road, even in the small town turns! To our fellow travelers and bus mates… thank you for your kindness, acceptance, and friendliness! What a wonderful group of people and I hope our paths cross again. Wishing all a safe journey home. With sincere appreciation & .
Prepare yourself for long days, you must be physically active. There are cobblestone streets and steps to negotiate along with swift walking. Women prepare to squat over toilets in truck stops and other places. There are no toilet seats. Also some toilets require one to one and half euros. You are hurried in most places and don't have time to really immerse yourself. You will see a lot of beautiful country and meet wonderful people throughout the tour.
Great tour to see diverse and popular parts of France.
it was grueling and staying only one night in a hotel was difficult There were some towns we could've spent less time in and doubled up in the hotel and others
It was too rushed. Next time I won’t schedule a trip with so many attractions. The bus rides were too long.
Itinerary was good, but it noted we would visit the cemetery at Normandy. This was not true and a major disappointment, give one reason I selected this trip. I felt you breached the contracted plan. I think the first day provided dinner was a joke and I was not the only participant that though this to be the case. Half cooked chicken leg quarter and french fries dripping with oil? Not french cuisine from what french tell me.
Fantastic itinerary to see & experience beautiful France. It included so many things that I dreamed of seeing & that has now come true. Both the Tour Director & Tour Driver were highly professional & I felt really safe. I thoroughly enjoyed every day & met some really wonderful people in the tour group. Thank you Trafalgar!
It's full on and is as described. It's an overview as you would expect. Visits can seem rushed but it's the only way of you want a taste of a huge country quickly
This is a fast paced tour that shows many different regions of France. Some of the stops are a bit brief, but you get an overview of the entire country.
Our travel director, was the very best we have had over4 Trafalgar trips and another 3 by other companies. He is enthusiastic about sharing his culture with us. He is not just showing the sights and talking about history, although he knows the history too. The schedule is challenging requiring several early starts. ability to set the expectation of time on the bus and prompt departures made things go smoothly without being the least dictatorial. Our driver, got that bus into places it was never designed to go and he managed to turn around while we were saying “ this will be good” and it was.
The only disappointment was the stop at Normandy. We only got to see Omaha beach. The itinerary states that we would visit the American cemetery, museum and gift shop. Otherwise it was an excellent trip!
There is alot of walking on uneven and cobble stone roads and sidewalks. Some sites like Mont St. Michel have very steep inclines.
Great tour and itinerary, excellent director and bus driver, my only areas of improvement would be to add more free excursions especially in remote areas and have better quality meals for some of the dinners that were included.
This was the best trip we have done of France, with stunning destinations visited all around this beautiful country. We enjoyed all the Knowlege given to us, during this time. We hained so many insights into the country’s culture, food and history. Our guide , was so knowledgeable, and not only gave us the history, but also cultural background information about places we visited. His insights and humour and was always welcome and he was kind, giving us treats and tastes of different regions while on the bus. He was cheerful and helpful towards all of us. The bus was perfect to travel and see France. We loved everything!
The Best of France itinerary was well-covered. The Tour Director made the experience even more fun and enjoyable. He was well-organized and looked after us. It was truly a wonderful tour!!!
Best trip ever!! I travelled to France with my family and we had the best time of our lives. France is so beautiful. I'm in love with the architecture, fashion, local history, countryside, and the food/wine is divine! There's many iconic destinations to check off your bucket list, as well as hidden gems that we adored. I thought that the itinerary moved at a good pace. We travelled to many places in just a short amount of time. We learned a lot about local history and immersed ourselves in the everyday culture. It was an incredible adventure filled with new experiences that we will never forget :) I appreciate all the hard work from our wonderful tour director , our excellent driver , and our local specialists to make this trip happen. Thank you and bravo!!
A lot of times on the bus but the stops are so worth it. Our TD was super efficient and lucky enough to be with tourmates who were generally disciplined with the schedule so was able to get the most of the visits. We found the stops from Nice all the way up to Villandry to be the most interesting.
Dear Ms ************, I am writing to express my profound gratitude for the extraordinary experience you provided as our tour director during our recent journey through France. Your passion, expertise, and thoughtful gestures made this trip an unforgettable and deeply meaningful adventure for my family and I. Your deep knowledge of France’s history and culture brought each destination to life in a truly remarkable way. From the iconic Avignon Bridge to the awe-inspiring medieval fortress of Carcassonne, every stop was enriched by your engaging stories and insights. In Arles, your guidance through the places that inspired Van Gogh’s masterpieces, like the vibrant garden and the famous café, made us feel as though we were stepping into his paintings. The visit to Lourdes was profoundly moving, especially the moment we experienced the holy water from the Grotto, thanks to your thoughtful organization. The Basque Country was an absolute highlight, with its unique charm and vibrant culture, and your expertise made it all the more special. Exploring Giverny’s Monet gardens felt like walking through a living work of art, and Mont Saint-Michel was nothing short of magical, with your commentary adding depth to every moment. The visit to Normandy, together with the breathtaking American Cemetery Memorial, was a profoundly moving experience that left an indelible mark on our hearts. Your personal touch in sharing your family’s Normandy event added such a meaningful and intimate connection to the region, making the visit even more special. Throughout the journey, the lovely churches we visited were a testament to France’s rich heritage, and your presence of mind in allowing us extended time to pray at these symbolic sites was deeply appreciated, fostering moments of reflection and spiritual connection. Your thoughtfulness extended beyond the itinerary, as you went out of your way to purchase local treats for us to celebrate the vibrant cultures of each region. These small but meaningful gestures made us feel truly immersed in the places we visited. Your warm and approachable demeanor created a sense of camaraderie within our group, and your seamless management of logistics ensured every moment was stress-free and enjoyable. Your ability to balance detailed planning with spontaneous acts of kindness made this trip truly exceptional. On behalf of my family and I, thank you for creating such cherished and meaningful memories. Your dedication as a tour director is deeply appreciated, and we hope to have the pleasure of traveling with you again in the future. With heartfelt thanks, Derick Samuel South Africa Traveller – Best of France Tour June/July 2025 Dear Pasquale and Trafalgar Tours Team I am writing to express my heartfelt appreciation for the exceptional service provided by our coach driver during our recent Trafalgar Tours trip around France. His professionalism, courteous demeanor, and remarkable driving skills made our journey truly memorable. Navigating the busy streets and roundabouts of Paris, the narrow countryside roads, and challenging parking situations, he demonstrated extraordinary skill and precision. His ability to manoeuvre the coach in such demanding conditions was nothing short of impressive. Beyond his driving expertise, he ensured passenger safety during disembarkation, maintained a spotless coach each evening, and always presented himself impeccably. His patience, friendliness, and tolerance created a welcoming and secure environment, and at no point did we feel unsafe. His dedication to ensuring our comfort and safety was evident throughout the tour. Please convey our gratitude for his outstanding service. He is a true asset to Trafalgar Tours, and we look forward to traveling with your company again. Sincerely, Derick Samuel South Africa Traveller – Best of France Tour June/July 2025
Everything was very nice very good. The best thing was the director . She was wonderful. She kept us busy relaxing time. Relax ..everything was on time. We go to. vacation a lot this one was one of the best ones I think because of and again 5+ star for I would love to go another vacation with her. And we were eight friends together and they all loved their Vacation and again.
Was looking for a bit more explore time. I did buy all optional excursions so I do understand I probably used my explore time doing those. Everything was so great I wanted to spend more time at each stop. My tour Director was the BEST! Her knowledge, enthusiasm and energy was so great! Even when her group was tired and done she was so positive energy that we all pushed through. I am Gluten Intolerant and signed onto this tour advising of my dietary needs. I was thrilled that I was so well taken care of - I know going forward I can trust Trafalgar to do another trip with confidence. Thank you -- PS - It would be nice after doing two tours with Trafalgar that we received a coupon or a special discount.
It was a lot of time on a bus and most hotels were for only one night each but I don't believe we could have seen so many wonderful places in France any other way. Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and personable.
There needs to be an extra days stay in Omaha Beach area, to enable a visit to a war museum, and perhaps the Bayeux Tapestries.(or a bit of relaxation!)The visit to Omaha Beach is too rushed, and the Mercure was a place where a two night stay would have been ideal. Also we needed to be at Giverny after the Omaha stay at 10am not 11am to avoid the crowds. Other than these minor adjustments the rest of the itinerary was well organised.
The Best of France trip was excellent. It was busy but well paced. We had two single nights always followed by a double night stay which enabled you to do laundry and relax one morning. The itinerary was well thought out. It catered for history buffs, garden lovers, architecture tragics and of course those interested in wine and food. The accommodation was always central and usually in the old part of town which is always the most interesting. For example, our hotel in Carcassonne was only about one hundred metres from La Cité. In Paris we were able to walk to the Arc de Triomphe, the Seine, the Louvre and of course the Galleries Lafayette for some retail therapy! Our tour guide, was exceptional. Her attention to detail was extraordinary. She organised a WhatsApp for our group. On this we had daily plans and itineraries, times, meeting places and last, but not least, the daily seat rotation which enabled seamless seating without confusion. Her genuine warmth, care and interest in passengers was much appreciated by all. We had a great variety of nationalities and ages, from very young to very old and all were treated with equal respect. Her presentations were so informative but not in the least bit dry, you did not feel you were being beaten over the head with a barrage of facts. In a word, she was wonderful!!
The itinerary is pretty ambitious, with long days but incredibly worth it in order to truly get a broad introduction to this amazing country! We wanted this to be an introduction for us so that we can plan future trips in France, and we feel that we now have a great introduction into the history, the culture and the various regions as well.
Well-planned and good coverage. Would have liked a stop in Marseilles.
Great trip! We truly enjoyed the Best of France itinerary. Yes, we spent a lot of time on the bus, but considering how much we covered, it was expected. The trip is very busy and packed with agenda - we purchased all additional excursions and we were going non-stop. This trip does make you tired, but we saw so much, experienced beautiful places, and met great people. Our guide and bus driver were excellent! I consider this trip to be like ‘wine tasting’ - you get to see many different places in a short amount of time, and then you can go back and re-visit your favorites. The only recommendation I would have for Trafalgar is to change the first dinner venue in Paris - that place was horrible. And if it’s a ‘kick off’ dinner, it sets a negative tone for the rest of the trip. The optional excursions were all excellent and I highly recommend them. If we did not sign up for those, our trip would not be as good.
Given the wide range of sights within FRANCE the BEST OF FRANCE TOUR delivers as good as it gets..
The itinerary on this trip is good. There is a lot packed into a short time, but there was a good balance, allowing for sufficient free time.
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