Active pace with longer touring days. Expect intermittent walking at a moderate pace for 2–3 hours over a variety of terrain, including cobblestones, hills and uneven pavements. Must be able to negotiate stairs of varying heights, sometimes without handrails. Can tolerate periods of standing during guided tours and be able to climb in/out of various modes of transportation. Some days may include 5–7 km of walking over the course of the day.
We depart for Paris.
Upon arrival we will enjoy a short tour of the Luxembourg Gardens and then proceed to our centrally located hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure until this evening’s Welcome Dinner
Today’s city tour will take us across the ornate bridges between the left and right banks, where we will see the major highlights of Paris: The Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, Champs- Élysées, the gothic exterior masterpiece Notre-Dame, and so much more. Included will be a visit to Montparnasse Tower (allowing a breathtaking 360 degree view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower), the magnificent Opéra Garnier and the grand parfumeur—The House of Fragonard, known for their passionate dedication to the making of fine perfume!
We explore the old Les Halles market district, famous for having been the site of the central Paris food market for many centuries. This quarter is still home to a wealth of specialist food purveyors. On our tour we’ll visit historic streets with stops at some excellent specialty shops, including Paris’ oldest patisserie, to taste a variety of sweet and savoury seasonal produce: cheeses, pastries, chocolates, wines and more.
We leave the city to visit Giverny, where Monet lived and created a stunning garden of diverse symmetry and colour. Monet mixed the simplest flowers (daisies and poppies) with the rarest varieties and let them grow freely. This is where he painted immortal masterpieces including The Japanese Bridge and the delicate Water Lilies series. We will also visit, and enjoy lunch, at the local Musée des Impressionnismes—an art museum focused on the Impressionist period. We will enjoy a walk through the charming village in which Monet lived for decades, with free time before returning to Paris.
There is so much to do and see in Paris, and your Tour Manager will be happy to advise and assist. You may want to visit the Louvre, or join a day trip to the Vimy Ridge Memorial, which honours the Canadians who died here during the First World War.
Our morning is at leisure to explore Paris on our own. This afternoon we join Parisians and ride the local metro (subway) to see a different side of the city including an afternoon walking tour of the historic Marais district—the closest you will get to the feel of medieval Paris. A glance at some of the beautiful buildings and houses indicates the wealthy status of the former residents. This is where Victor Hugo lived and wrote Les Misérables. Today, this neighbourhood is home to many art galleries, designer shops and one of Europe’s most well-known Jewish quarters. From here we continue to another historic area: Montmartre and the Sacré-Coeur. At the Place du Tertre we can admire artists at work while they try to capture the magic of Paris on canvas!
We will visit the Musée D’Orsay. It is one of the world’s most visited and largest museums, famous for housing the most impressive collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces from the works of Morisot, Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin, and Van Gogh. The stunning architecture housing these exquisite pieces of art is in a former railway station on the Seine River that was built for the 1900 Exposition in the Beaux-Arts style. The spacious and luminous setting is the perfect backdrop for the magnificent artworks on display! In the evening, we enjoy an illuminated dinner cruise on the River Seine!
We leave the city for the splendour of Versailles. Created by the Sun King, Louis XIV, the Palace was the envy of all European rulers. We will have a guided tour and a chance to stroll through the meticulous, statue-lined gardens, before returning to Paris. Afternoon at leisure to explore Paris on your own. This evening, we bid adieu to the “City of Light” at our Farewell Dinner!
Air Canada takes us home.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (90 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
