Overnight flight to Paris.

Welcome to Paris! Your complimentary transfers from Charles de Gaulle Airport depart at 09.30 and 12.30 to your tour hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy this city with its world famous landmarks. Then later meet your Tour Director and fellow passengers for a Welcome Drink followed by a sparkling illuminations tour.

First to Versailles, where we visit the Palace with its gardens. Then into Normandy and the town of Rouen to visit the cathedral – so wonderfully painted by Monet. We also see the spot where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. (BB,D)

We begin our day by driving to Bayeux, where we visit the museum housing the famous tapestry depicting the Norman conquest of England in 1066. We now visit the Invasion Landings' Museum at Arromanches and see the 'Mulberries' – remnants of which still remain in the bay. (BB,D)

Our locally guided tour of Mont St Michel, takes us into the hill-top Abbey surrounded by sea. The first structure, a simple oratory, was built here in the 8th century by the Bishop of Avranches, and was subsequently expanded and enhanced over the centuries with the addition of Romanesque and Gothic buildings. The Abbey's increasing fame attracted pilgrims and visitors, and by medieval times a 'ville basse' had developed. (BB)

Today we follow the valley of the Loire, passing the mighty mooted castle at Angers and across the Loire at Saumur. We drive quietly past the Sleeping Beauty château at Ussé on our way to Vouvray, where we sample some of the local wine. From here we continue to Tours where we see the Basilica of St Martin and the Old Town. We stay in Tours for two nights. This evening we enjoy our highlight dinner with wine in a local restaurant. (BB,HD)

First, we pass Amboise, where Leonardo da Vinci is buried, the Château of Chaumont and the town of Blois, on our way to see mighty Chambord, with its beautiful park and colossal chimneys.

Driving through the vast wheat-fields of La Beauce, we see the impressive cathedral at Chartres looming on the horizon. We stop to visit the town and to marvel at the beauty of the stained glass rose window in this famous cathedral, built on a sacred site.

Today we visit Notre Dame Cathedral, located in the oldest part of the city – the 'Ile de la Cité'. Now we drive through the courtyard of the Louvre and along the Champs Elysées to see the Arc de Triomphe, and the fabulous Eiffel Tower.

The tour ends after breakfast with a transfer to the airport. (BB)