Discover some of France’s most idyllic towns, including Lyons-la-Forêt, listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France; the seaside resort town of Honfleur, a favorite among the Impressionists; and Le Bec-Hellouin, a village with an exceptionally profound religious past that can still be sensed as well as seen. Visit Normandy’s historical hubs, Caen and Bayeux, home to the Medieval depiction of the Battle of Hastings on a tapestry from the 11th century, and walk the beaches of Normandy where Allied forces landed during WWII’s D-Day Invasion. Conclude your journey in Brittany, discovering all of its splendid treasures—the high-wall city of St. Malo, charming medieval Dinan, the seaside village of Dinard, and the magical island monastery of Mont St. Michel.
Highlights
Meander through Monet’s gardens in Giverny
Discover the Italian Renaissance garden of Château d’Ambleville
Visit Château de Harcourt Arboretum, one of the richest gardens in Europe
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
Experience the “City of Light” from a unique perspective when you board a modern river boat at the Port de la Bourdonnais, located on the banks of the Seine River near the Eiffel Tower. With exterior seating and viewing platforms, your onehour cruise will be a dream come true as you glide along the river and underneath Paris’s ornate bridges. From the boat, you will take in panoramic views of the city’s iconic buildings and monuments, including the Musee d’Orsay and the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Watch the scenery go by as you sail to MantesLaJolie, a historic center where French creatives produced musical instruments and visual art. Experience the world through your taste buds and join a tasting tour during which you’ll get a chance to try the region’s famous applebased calvados, cider and cheese. Alternatively, go on a city tour during which you may see some of MantesLaJolie’s beautiful religious structures, like the Gothic Notre Dame de Mantes, followed by a unique visit to a local bee farm. Or visit the distinctive Château d’Anet, an elegant Renaissance château built in the 16th century by King Henri II for his mistress, Diane de Poiters.
Take in the scenery on a scenic cruise before disembarking the ship to experience the colorful splendor of Claude Monet’s magnificent gardens at his former home in Giverny, admiring the water lilies, Japanese bridges and graceful willow trees immortalized in his paintings. For a more active adventure, pedal through Vernon on a guided bike tour. Alternatively, take a walking tour of Monet’s home and garden, exploring the grounds of Giverny with plenty of time to smell the roses. Or journey to Château de la RocheGuyon, a picturesque Renaissancestyle castle, as well as the beautiful Gardens d’Acquigny, boasting waterfalls, bridges, canals and a wide variety of trees and plant life.
Spend the morning enjoying medieval Rouen with a choice of several excursions. Join a walking tour past the imposing Notre Dame Cathedral, painted numerous times by Monet, and see the square where Joan of Arc was martyred, as well as the Medieval Quarter and Great Clock. Alternatively, delve into the once “haunted” Château de Bonnemare, a 16thcentury medieval castle housing a historic cider press, a kitchen rotisserie inspired by the designs of Leonardo da Vinci, and the inspiration for a tragic love poem written by Marie de France. Or go on the “Tastes of Normandy” tour, where you’ll be treated to the delicious flavors of the
region, including chocolate, macaron, Norman cheese and cider. Later in the day, cruise through Rouen’s historyfilled streets by bicycle to discover sites like the
ossuary of SaintMaclou, the grand Gothic Rouen Cathedral, and the idyllic trails along the city’s moat and through its parks before concluding your peaceful ride back to the ship.
Visit Bayeux, with a medieval city center and the worldrenowned Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the 1066 Norman invasion of England, followed by a visit to Caen, where one of the top sites is the Château de Caen, an 11thcentury castle built by William the Conqueror. Or instead, admire the 30acre Harcourt Arboretum, with its nearly 3,000 trees, as well as the palatial Château du Champ de Bataille and the commune of Le BecHellouin, known for its 11thcentury abbey. Later, enjoy a scenic cruise from Le Havre to CaudebecenCaux, where you can visit Museo Seine, a museum focusing on the history of the Seine River. Then immerse yourself in the enchanting history of Château d’Ételan, the first Italian Renaissance Château built in France in 1494, where you may see a wonderful chapel with original wall paintings and the guard house dating back to 1350 in an amazing landscape.
There are several different choices of excursions, both during the morning and afternoon, depending on your interests. You can choose between an excursion to the seaside town of Honfleur, renowned for its picturesque harbor, and for being an inspirational site for Impressionist painters. You can also choose a fullday excursion to see the historic Normandy Beaches, where you may visit such sites as the cemetery at CollevillesurMer, Omaha Beach, the artillery battery at LonguessurMer and the village of Arromanches, where the remains of the floating harbor used during the WWII landings can be seen. In the afternoon, you have the choice of a city tour of the UNESCOdesignated Le Havre, an architectural tour of Le Havre’s modernist postwar reconstruction, or a bike tour through Le Havre.
Day 8: Le Havre | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Disembark your ship in Le Havre and prepare for your return flight home.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$3,9992-3 travelers
Please confirm embark/disembark locations before reserving flights, as this itinerary operates in reverse on alternating departures.
This was my first experience with Adventure Life - and I couldn't have been more pleased with the trip. The guides and local staff in both Buenos Aires and Uruguay were terrific - extremely helpful and accommodating. I really enjoyed meeting the friendly staff in Buenos Aires in person (I left my bags with them for the afternoon).
The Adventure Life staff, for me it's Franny, always listens to what I say about what kind of travel my wife and I want and expect. It never goes wrong. The motto at AL seems to be I will get back to you right away if not sooner. Requested changes and special requests are encouraged and acted on ASAP.
Dick Philpot
6 days ago
The trip planners at Adventure Life were very helpful and always replied to my inquiries right away. The excursions, accomodations, and local guides were excellent
Avi Argaman
1 week ago
Be sure to sign up for all the tours, otherwise you will be sitting on the boat since not all stops are moored at a dock. Some are anchored.
Gail Puryear
1 week ago
There were two best aspects to our trip:
1. The Adventure Life folks and the folks in Athens and Crete who supported our itinerary, guided us, and ran the cooking program were all superb.
2. Everything they all planned for us went without a hitch. When we needed a bit of help, they came through with really good answers.
We became aware of AL from a friend who had an excellent experience in a different location. So did we. We can recommend AL without reservation.
Tom Campbell
1 week ago
My agent Jeff did not push the sale while providing thorough information and replying quickly to my many questions.