Luxury Vacation Tour of France: Paris, Champagne, Burgundy & Loire Valley

Paris has a timelessness emanating from its streets. The beauty of wide cobblestone avenues shaded by elm and chestnut trees enchants Parisians and visitors from around the world. The scent of decadent melted chocolate mixed with cream and fruit becomes molded into a spectacular cake decorating the display case of a charming bakery. The Sacre Coeur sits at the top of Montmartre like a crown jewel shimmering in the sunlight overlooking the rooftops of the city below. When you arrive at the airport, your private transfer is already waiting. You wind through the streets of the city with the aroma of fresh baking baguettes filtering through the air.

Your hotel is located in the heart of the city where the streets are filled with bustling cafes and marvelous restaurants. The remainder of the day is yours to indulge in the Parisian lifestyle. A small park near the Notre-Dame de Paris is the perfect place to sit amongst the flowers and statuaries, taking in the quiet atmosphere and stunning rose window of the cathedral. Next door to the park is the English language bookstore, Shakespeare and Company, providing insight into the true lifestyle of a local.

In the morning, you find the wonders of Paris that much more intimate, realizing that yesterday wasn’t a comfortable dream but a luxurious reality. Cafes set tables out on the sidewalk positioned so patrons can watch the crowds. Houseboats wade in the current of the Seine River moored alongside the cobblestone walkways sunken below the regular city streets. After breakfast, your guide meets you in the lavish hotel lobby and escorts you through the city on a private tour of Paris.

There is always so much to see on any given day in the City of Lights, from the Opera House to the Eiffel Tower, where you will later lunch in the tremendous restaurant located inside the tower itself. You first make your way to the Louvre Museum, located in an old 12th-century fortress. The museum houses over 35,000 objects ranging from prehistory to more contemporary artifacts in 652,300 square feet of space.

Natural light beams into the lobby through the glass pyramid. There is an endless amount of opulent history to witness when inside, including the Venus de Milo. The famous Greek statue dates to between 130 and 100 BC, depicting the goddess Aphrodite. The marble sculpture stands at almost seven feet tall. It is one of the few original Greek statues to have ever been discovered. The elegance of the bending body, along with the detail of the statue’s soft features, make the depiction of the goddess of love unforgettable.

At breakfast, you can sip a foamy cappuccino and enjoy a buttery croissant with strawberry jam as you look out to the cityscape to watch the people pass you. There is something unique to the café culture of the city, where everyone passing your view somehow seems wondrous.

After breakfast, Paris is at your leisure allowing you to enjoy the city however you choose, from returning to the Louvre to explore more of its tremendous collection or strolling around the Bohemian ambiance of Montmartre. In the Marais district stands one of Paris’s oldest and continuously charming covered markets, Le Marché des Enfants Rouges.

The market dates back to the 17th century and acts like a secret for locals standing behind an inconspicuous metal gate. Aromatic spices filter through the air emanating from a maze of food stalls offering fresh and ready to eat meals from around the world. Parisians come from across the city to taste traditional couscous or bite into the flavors of a Caribbean plate. Colorful tablecloths cover equally colorful tables. The dishes of the day are written on chalkboards standing outside of the restaurants. It is another perfect place to sit and watch the chic culture of Parisians enjoying the beauty of an everyday moment.

You have noticed the opulence of Parisian architecture and its cuisine. The lushness of the local gardens brings emerald hues to the pale rosy buildings. Today, your guide meets you in the hotel lobby to begin your journey into the richness of pigments and textures outside of the city. In the afternoon, you arrive in Auvers sur Oise, where Van Gogh spent his last 100 days. The commune is located almost 17 miles outside of Paris’s city center and housed numerous 19th century artists well known in the art world today, such as Cezanne and Pissarro.

The hotel known as Auberge Ravoux, is famous as Van Gogh’s final accommodation. The upper level of the hotel maintains a pale yellow color atop a maroon lower level. The hotel is now a quaint restaurant serving traditional cuisine. The artist’s room has been preserved, and even without furniture the ambiance is moving, dedicated to the swirling colors of Van Gogh’s life. Strolling through the village you can see lingering inspiration that captured so many imaginations

The Champagne region of France is most notable as the area of the world where the effervescent wine is produced. After breakfast, you make your way into the countryside to find the charm of Champagne and its inseparable connection to wine production in general, along with celebrated champagne. Reims has the sensational culture wrapped inside its small town ambiance. The Gothic Cathedral Notre-Dame de Reims crowns the central square with two grand rose windows and dramatic spires. For centuries, the cathedral stood as the coronation center for French kings.

Newer buildings designed and constructed during the Second World War maintain vibrant Art Deco style bordering the historic cobblestone walkways. Outside of town near Epernay, you find rows of vineyards rolling over the hills into the distance. The town itself sits at the center of a bowl-shaped valley encircled by wineries. The Atlantic climate influences the seasons and the landscape, adding a topsoil of sand, clay, and chalk, which the vines absorb. Your wine guide leads you through the vineyards to show you the soil and the golden peel of the grapes.

At the Aspasie Winery, you find a 400-year-old farmhouse offering you the history of the region, and the winery, which dates back to the 18th century. You also learn about the process of producing the coveted product of champagne. When your guide opens up a bottle and pours you a glass, you can feel the sparkling drink bubbling onto your lips. The aroma of peaches fills the air. When you take a sip, the bubbles pop on your tongue.

Burgundy is a world-class wine making region that has inspired political thinkers, religious architects, and vivacious artists throughout the centuries. Vineyards sweep across the landscape inching to the foothills. The hilltop town of Vezelay remains a gem perched atop a rocky outcrop. A medieval cathedral sits as the crowning charm of the surrounding village treasures. Sunflower fields cast a quaint glow against the emerald vineyards. Cows graze on the hillsides. When you arrive in the village, it looks like it hasn’t changed since the Benedictines built the monastery in the 9th century.

The Basilica of Saint Magdalene is a sensational site towering over the rest of the village. The constructed lasted from the 11th to the 13th centuries. Romanesque carvings portray Jesus sitting atop his throne radiating a holy spirit to the Apostles. Gothic ogival arches decorate the name and choir. The vaulted ceilings and stone floors enhance your footsteps when you enter the basilica. The tranquility of your surroundings is undeniable. You can look over the surrounding landscape and find the scent of the vines lingering in the air. You can feel the remarkable history emanating from the walls of the church and the streets themselves.

After breakfast, you begin to make your way northbound running back to Paris and venture into the sensational countryside of the Loire Valley. French kings frequented the valley for its beauty. Even Leonardo Da Vinci, the famous Italian artist and inventor, spent his final years traversing the valley. Castles decorate the hillsides and mountains stepping directly out of a fairytale, providing a vision of extravagance against the backdrop of natural splendor.

The town of Amboise sits on the edge of the Loire River’s southern bank. The 15th century Amboise Chateau watches over the town from atop a tiered citadel. The conical rooftops of the village slope downwards and the dramatic round towers cast a shadow over the ramparts. You can hear the river trickling against the lush bank. The water courses under the nearby multi-arched stone bridge. During the Renaissance, the cylindrical turret was prized for its sloping, spiral ramp allowing carriages to traverse easily the tower. The chapel of Saint-Hubert holds the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci and a single Gothic spire towering over the charming church. The elegance of the town is captivating, blending contemporary life into the medieval surroundings with ease.

You wake up in Paris and want to savor every moment of your final morning. You can take a sunrise stroll alongside the soothing waters of the Seine River. You watch the cafes set out their tables for the day. Every time someone opens the door, you catch the aroma of fresh pastries rising in the oven.

The luxuries of France aren’t just hidden in the opulent palaces and polished hotels, but are enjoyed in the various majesties of morning, noon, and night. You sip your espresso and let the slight bitter and sweet flavor linger a little longer. You breathe in the sensual aroma of melting chocolate and notice the leaves on the shading trees look a little greener today. Your private transfer meets you at the hotel and escorts you to the Charles de Gaulle International Airport for your flight home.