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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Grand Tour of France

12-day escorted France tour from Lyon to Paris with rail and coach

Illustration of Grand Tour of France

Vacations By Rail's Grand Tour of France is a 12-day escorted journey from Lyon to Paris designed for travelers who want to sample the country's regional diversity in one trip. The Tour Manager stays with the group throughout, and days alternate between guided cultural and culinary experiences and free time for independent exploration. You'll travel by First Class train twice (Lyon to Nice, and Bordeaux to Paris), with coach transport connecting the other destinations. The itinerary moves through France's most celebrated regions: Lyon, the gastronomic capital; Nice and the Côte d'Azur; Provence's perfume centers; the medieval walled city of Carcassonne; the Dordogne's honey-colored villages like Sarlat; and the Bordeaux wine region. Accommodation is in four-star hotels, and breakfast is provided daily alongside two lunches and five dinners at restaurants and châteaux. The tour suits food-and-wine lovers, history enthusiasts, and travelers who prefer the comfort of a guided structure with expert local knowledge built in.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price of $5,899 USD covers the package; flights and airport transfers are booked and paid separately.
  • Most nights are single or paired stays; only three locations (Lyon, Nice, Sarlat, and Paris) offer two-night stays, so the pace involves frequent hotel changes.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Lyon

    Beginning your journey in Lyon

    Arrive independently in Lyon and check into the hotel; meet the Tour Manager and group for a first dinner together.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: Lyon

    Exploring Lyon, France's gastronomical capital

    Guided sightseeing tour of Old Town (Vieux Lyon), a UNESCO World Heritage site, with a tasting at a local bouchon; afternoon free with a Lyon City Card.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  3. Day 3railovernight: Nice

    By First Class rail to glamorous Nice

    First Class train to Aix-en-Provence, changing trains to continue to Nice on the Côte d'Azur, for a two-night stay.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: Nice

    Discovering Nice & the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

    Visit the Matisse Museum in the Cimiez Quarter, then the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its nine themed gardens.

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5overnight: Avignon

    Perfume history in Grasse & papal Avignon

    Travel to Grasse to visit the Fragonard Parfumerie perfume-making museum, then continue to Avignon, checking in near the Palais des Papes.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: Toulouse

    Exploring Avignon & the citadel of Carcassonne

    Walking tour of Avignon (Pont St. Bénezet), then coach to the medieval walled city of Carcassonne for a guided tour, continuing to Toulouse.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7overnight: Sarlat

    'Pink City' of Toulouse to honey-hued Sarlat

    Guided walking tour of Toulouse (La Ville Rose), then coach into the Dordogne to the medieval town of Sarlat.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: Sarlat

    Culinary tour of Sarlat & Les Jardins Marqueyssac

    Guided food tour of Sarlat, then visit Les Jardins Marqueyssac's 17th-century château gardens and the riverside town of La Roque-Gageac.

    Meals: Breakfast

  9. Day 9overnight: Bordeaux

    St. Émilion wine tasting & Bordeaux tour

    Coach into the St. Émilion wine region for a tasting and lunch at Château Ambe Tour Pourret, then a guided walking tour of Bordeaux.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  10. Day 10railovernight: Paris

    Free time in Bordeaux before the TGV to Paris

    Free morning in Bordeaux (optional Cité du Vin museum), then First Class TGV train to Paris, checking into a hotel in Le Marais.

    Meals: Breakfast

  11. Day 11overnight: Paris

    A glittering array of iconic French sights in Paris

    Guided coach sightseeing tour taking in the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Champs-Élysées; farewell dinner in the evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  12. Day 12

    Traveling home

    Tour concludes after breakfast; check out and travel home independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Guided tour of Old Town Lyon (Vieux Lyon), a UNESCO World Heritage site, followed by a tasting at a local bouchon, a casual French restaurant.
  • Day 4Visit the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its nine themed gardens on the Côte d'Azur.
  • Day 5Tour the Fragonard Parfumerie perfume-making museum in Grasse to learn the history of perfume production.
  • Day 8Guided food tour of Sarlat followed by a visit to Les Jardins Marqueyssac's 17th-century château gardens and the riverside town of La Roque-Gageac.
  • Day 9Wine tasting and lunch at Château Ambe Tour Pourret in the St. Émilion wine region.

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 11 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • First & Standard Class rail travel
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
  • Breakfast each day, 2 lunches, 5 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between hotels from Lyon to Nice, Bordeaux to Paris
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The tour includes First Class rail travel from Lyon to Nice (via Aix-en-Provence) and a First Class TGV from Bordeaux to Paris. Other travel between cities is by coach.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Vacations By Rail provides a Tour Manager from the start of the tour through the end, and all guided tours and excursions are included.
What hotels are included?
The tour stays in four-star hotels: Crowne Plaza Lyon, Hotel Aston La Scala in Nice, Hotel Mercure Avignon Centre, Mercure Toulouse Centre, Hotel Plaza Madeleine in Sarlat, Hotel Burdigala in Bordeaux, and Hotel Les Jardins du Marais in Paris.
What meals are included?
Breakfast is included each day. The tour also includes two lunches and five dinners at various locations throughout the journey, such as wine tastings and château dining.
How much walking is involved?
The tour has a Mobility Rating of 4, which includes guided walking tours of cities and towns, visits to museums and gardens, and exploration of medieval sites. Most days involve moderate walking.
What is not included?
Flights, airport transfers, and travel insurance are not included in the tour price. These can be arranged separately.

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