How much does it cost?

From €1,945 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,255 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. Authentic Europe includes train tickets with reserved seats for all seven rail legs of the itinerary, connecting Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Avignon, Lyon and Strasbourg.

Is this trip guided or independent?

It's self-guided. There is no tour escort; travelers make their own way between cities and manage their own sightseeing.

Which hotels are used?

The evidence names Hotel du Simplon and Hotel Nice Beau Rivage (in Nice); the cities and hotels for the rest of the trip are not specified.

What is not included?

Tourist taxes, which are paid locally in each city.

Can I extend my stay?

Yes. Extra nights are available in Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Lyon and Strasbourg at listed per-night prices.

Authentic Europe · Self-guided tour

Grand Tour of France by Train

Self-guided rail circuit through Paris, Bordeaux, the Riviera and Alsace

Authentic Europe runs this 15-day, self-guided rail trip in a loop from Paris through six more French cities before returning to Paris to end. After two days in the capital, the trip heads by train to Bordeaux for a day exploring the vineyards, then continues by rail along the Mediterranean coast to Marseille and Nice, with a day free to explore the French Riviera. From Nice the route turns inland to Avignon in Provence, then to Lyon, described in the itinerary as France's capital of gastronomy, and on to Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace, before the final train ride back to Paris on day 14. Every city change is by train with a reserved seat included, and most stops include two nights, so travelers settle in before moving on. Because the trip is self-guided, there is no tour escort; travelers manage their own days and connections. This suits independent travelers who want to see a wide cross-section of France by rail without following a group schedule.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at €1,945 every time.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 2 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

One reading is held out of the price above and this history: an unconfirmed large change. We only price on the operator's package from-price, read from its own page.

What to know before you look closer

Tourist taxes are not included in the price and must be paid locally.
The evidence names hotels only in Nice (Hotel Nice Beau Rivage) and one further hotel (Hotel du Simplon) whose city is not stated; hotels for the rest of the seven-city circuit are not specified.
This is a self-guided trip: there is no tour escort, and travelers navigate all seven train changes and hotel check-ins on their own.
The evidence pack does not list specific departure dates; confirm scheduling with Authentic Europe before booking.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Paris
Arrival in Paris, the capital of France
Day 2overnight: Paris
Day at leisure in Paris
Day 3railovernight: Bordeaux
Train from Paris to Bordeaux
Day 4overnight: Bordeaux
Explore Bordeaux and the vineyards
Day 5railovernight: Marseille
Scenic journey by train from Bordeaux to Marseille
Day 6railovernight: Nice
Train along the coast from Marseille to Nice
Day 7overnight: Nice
Explore Nice and the French Riviera
Day 8railovernight: Avignon
Train from Nice to Avignon in the heart of Provence
Day 9overnight: Avignon
Day at leisure in Avignon
Day 10railovernight: Lyon
Train from Avignon to Lyon
Day 11overnight: Lyon
Explore Lyon, France's capital of gastronomy
Day 12railovernight: Strasbourg
Train from Lyon to Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace
Day 13overnight: Strasbourg
Day at leisure in Strasbourg
Day 14railovernight: Paris
Train from Strasbourg to Paris
Day 15
Departure from Paris

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3The first rail leg of the trip runs by train from Paris to Bordeaux.
Day 4The day is spent exploring Bordeaux and its vineyards.
Day 6The train travels along the coast from Marseille to Nice.
Day 10The train continues from Avignon to Lyon, France's capital of gastronomy.
Day 12The train reaches Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace.

Included

14 nights hotel accommodation in a standard room with private shower/WC, including breakfast
Train tickets as per the itinerary, reserved seats onboard
Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel vouchers
Access to our 24/7 emergency phone service while travelling

Not included

Tourist taxes (not included, must be paid locally)

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From €1,945 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,255 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. Authentic Europe includes train tickets with reserved seats for all seven rail legs of the itinerary, connecting Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Avignon, Lyon and Strasbourg.
Is this trip guided or independent?: It's self-guided. There is no tour escort; travelers make their own way between cities and manage their own sightseeing.
Which hotels are used?: The evidence names Hotel du Simplon and Hotel Nice Beau Rivage (in Nice); the cities and hotels for the rest of the trip are not specified.
What is not included?: Tourist taxes, which are paid locally in each city.
How long is the trip?: 15 days and 14 nights.
Can I extend my stay?: Yes. Extra nights are available in Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Lyon and Strasbourg at listed per-night prices.