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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Paris, Versailles, Normandy & the Loire Valley

Escorted 10-day French journey from Paris through Normandy to the Loire Valley

Illustration of Paris, Versailles, Normandy & the Loire Valley

Vacations By Rail's 10-day escorted tour travels through France's most celebrated regions, starting in Paris and ending in the Loire Valley. A professional tour manager leads the group throughout, handling all arrangements so you can focus on the experience. The journey combines rail and coach travel to connect Paris, Versailles, the impressionist gardens of Giverny, Normandy's D-Day landing sites and Mont Saint-Michel, and finally the châteaux of the Loire Valley. You'll spend 3 nights in central Paris, 2 in Rouen, 2 in Saint-Malo, and 2 in Tours, with most accommodations in solid 3 and 4-star hotels. Days include guided tours of the Palace of Versailles, a walk through Monet's house and gardens, a full-day coach tour of Normandy's beaches with visits to Omaha Beach and the US St. Laurent Cemetery, exploration of the tidal island of Mont Saint-Michel, and a tour of three Loire châteaux including Chenonceau. A highlight is the evening dinner cruise along the illuminated Seine in Paris. This tour suits first-time rail travellers who prefer escorted comfort, couples seeking romantic destinations, and history lovers drawn to World War II sites and Renaissance castles.

What to know before you look closer

  • Flights and airport transfers are not included; you arrange and pay for these separately.
  • Cancellation and travel insurance are not included and must be purchased separately.
  • The tour uses both rail and coach; only the Tours-to-Paris leg on day 9 is explicitly named as train travel.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Paris

    Arrival in Paris

    Arrive in Paris and check in to the central hotel, with time at leisure to explore before the first group dinner.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Paris

    An excursion to the Palace of Versailles

    A Passport Ticket visit to the Palace of Versailles and its gardens, including the Little Train to the Estate of Trianon, with a free evening in Paris.

  3. Day 3overnight: Rouen

    A trip to Monet's Giverny

    Transfer to Giverny to visit Claude Monet's house and gardens at the Fondation Monet, then continue to Rouen for the evening.

  4. Day 4overnight: Rouen

    Discovering the D-Day beaches of Normandy

    A full-day guided coach tour of the Normandy D-Day beaches, including Sainte-Mère-Église and Omaha Beach with its Les Braves Sculpture and US St. Laurent Cemetery.

  5. Day 5overnight: Saint-Malo

    Mont Saint-Michel and Saint-Malo

    A guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage tidal island of Mont Saint-Michel, then on to Saint-Malo for the evening.

  6. Day 6overnight: Saint-Malo

    Visiting Cancale, France's most famous oyster town

    A visit to La Ferme Marine oyster farm in Cancale with a tasting and picnic lunch, followed by free time in the village and back in Saint-Malo.

  7. Day 7overnight: Tours

    Into the beautiful Loire Valley

    Travel by coach via Saumur and the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud to the Loire Valley city of Tours.

  8. Day 8overnight: Tours

    The châteaux of the Loire Valley

    A guided tour of three Loire Valley châteaux: Chenonceau, Château du Petit Thouars (with wine tasting and alfresco lunch) and Château de Villandry.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Paris

    A final rendezvous in Paris for an illuminated dinner cruise

    A short train journey back to Paris, a free day to sightsee, then an evening dinner cruise along the illuminated Seine.

  10. Day 10

    Homeward bound

    The tour concludes after breakfast; transfer to the airport at leisure for your return flight home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Visit the Palace of Versailles and its gardens, including the Little Train to the Estate of Trianon.
  • Day 3Tour Claude Monet's house and gardens at the Fondation Monet in Giverny.
  • Day 4Full-day guided coach tour of Normandy D-Day beaches including Omaha Beach, Sainte-Mère-Église, and the US St. Laurent Cemetery.
  • Day 5Guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage tidal island of Mont Saint-Michel.
  • Day 8Visit three Loire Valley châteaux: Chenonceau, Château du Petit Thouars with wine tasting and alfresco lunch, and Château de Villandry.
  • Day 9Dinner cruise along the illuminated Seine in Paris.

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 9 nights' 3 & 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
  • Breakfast each day, 2 lunches, 5 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between hotels from Paris to Rouen, Tours to Paris
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Questions travellers ask

Is rail travel included?
Yes. All rail and coach travel throughout the tour is included. The main train journey is from Tours back to Paris on day 9.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
This is a fully escorted tour. Vacations By Rail assigns a professional tour manager to lead the group from start to finish, including all guided tours and excursions.
What meals are included?
Breakfast is included every day, plus 2 lunches and 5 dinners. Other meals are at your own expense.
What hotels are used?
3 and 4-star hotels in Paris (Hotel Auteuil Tour Eiffel, 3 nights), Rouen (Mercure Rouen Cathedrale, 2 nights), Saint-Malo (Golden Tulip Le Grand Bé, 2 nights), and Tours (Hampton by Hilton Hotel, 2 nights).
How much walking and physical activity is involved?
The tour is rated Mobility Level 2, involving city walking tours, stairs in palaces and châteaux, and uneven terrain at historic sites. It suits those comfortable with moderate daily walking and climbing stairs.
Are flights included?
No. Flights and airport transfers are not included. You arrange and pay for your airfare separately.

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