Dreaming of France and the Black Forest – 9 nights – 10 days

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1: PARIS - TOURS

Welcome to Paris! We’ll depart PARIS for the Loire Valley. We’ll arrive in TOURS, the regional capital of the Loire, in the late afternoon. We recommend taking some time to explore the beautiful old town and enjoy a nice dinner.

DAY 2: TOURS - BORDEAUX - LOURDES

Today we’ll journey to the south of FRANCE through vineyards, arriving in BORDEAUX, whose town center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll have time for lunch and to explore.

We suggest visiting the Port of the Moon and the Cathedral of St. Andrew. We’ll then continue towards the Pyrenees, reaching LOURDES in the late afternoon. Here, you can attend the candlelight procession (held from late March to the end of October) and visit various places of worship. Dinner will be included at the hotel for all our passengers.

DAY 3: LOURDES - CARCASSONNE - NARBONA - MARSEILLE

We’ll travel through the south of France, stopping in Carcassonne, a city surrounded by some of the most beautiful walls in Europe. You´ll have time to walk and explore.

After lunch, we’ll continue to Narbonne, where you’ll have free time to discover this historic Occitan city with its picturesque old town. In the late afternoon, we’ll arrive in Marseille, France’s second-largest city. We recommend a walk through its vibrant Vieux-Port (Old Port), bustling with life and dotted with charming small restaurants.

DAY 4: MARSEILLE - ARLES - AVIGNON - LYON

Villages, landscapes, history – today we’ll see some of the most beautiful places in Provence. In Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage city, we’ll explore its Roman and medieval legacy and be reminded of Van Gogh.

In Les Baux, we’ll visit this small medieval village and include admission to Carrières de Lumières, an impressive underground show that combines art, image, and sound in its old quarries. We’ll have time for lunch and a stroll in Avignon, home to the immense Palais des Papes. Our journey will continue to Lyon, where we’ll walk through the World Heritage Site old town and take the cable car up to Notre-Dame de Fourvière, a huge basilica offering a great view over the city.

Note: If tickets for the Carrières de Lumières show are unavailable due to closure or high demand, we will instead transfer to the Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard.

DAY 5: LYON - TOURNUS - SAVIGNY CASTLE - BEAUNE - DIJON

We’ll set off from Lyon and head to the Burgundy region. Our first stop will be Tournus, a quaint little town with an imposing stone gate and a large abbey. After that, we’ll travel to Beaune, where we’ll have time for lunch and to explore the wine capital of Burgundy. We recommend visiting the wine museum or the historic hospice.

Next, we’ll visit the Savigny Castle, situated in the heart of this winemaking region. Built in the 15th century, the castle houses extraordinary museums featuring motorbikes, racing cars, planes, and helicopters. Our journey will continue to Dijon, the capital of Burgundy, known for its lively streets and numerous medieval and Renaissance buildings, including the standout Palace of the Dukes.

DAY 6: DIJON - BESANÇON - COLMAR - RIQUEWIHR - STRASBOURG

While still in the Burgundy region, we’ll stop in Besançon, a city of Roman origin with a beautiful historic center and a 17th-century citadel that overlooks the town. We’ll then continue our journey to Alsace, a French region that has been contested between France and Germany for centuries. Alsace retains its own German dialect, Alsatian, along with architecture and traditions deeply rooted in Germanic culture. Our first stop in Alsace will be Colmar, a city with unique architecture, colorful half-timbered houses, and canals winding through the town. Colmar is also famous for its white wine and gastronomy.

You’ll have time for lunch and a leisurely walk. In the afternoon, we’ll visit one of the most beautiful towns in Alsace: Riquewihr, a medieval town with cobblestone streets and colorful houses that look like they’re straight out of a fairy tale—it even inspired scenes from Beauty and the Beast. We will also take the opportunity to visit an old winery and have a tasting of local wine with a typical sweet. We’ll arrive in Strasbourg in the evening. We recommend taking a walk around the cathedral area and Petite France, both filled with charming spots and cozy restaurants.

DAY 7: STRASBOURG - FREIBURG IM BREISGAU - TRIBERG - GENGENBACH - BADEN-BADEN

We’ll start our day in Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace and home to the European Parliament. The city’s historic center is a true gem, with its charming medieval streets, a stunning Gothic cathedral, and picturesque canals lined with flowers. We’ll include a boat trip through the canals of Petite France to fully appreciate this beautiful area.

Afterward, we’ll cross into Germany, passing through the scenic mountain landscapes and towns of the Black Forest. In Freiburg, you’ll have time for lunch and a walk through this lively university city, known for its medieval center and impressive cathedral. We’ll then continue through the Black Forest to Triberg, one of the most picturesque towns in the region, famous for its cuckoo clocks. We’ll include admission to the Triberg Waterfalls, Germany’s highest waterfalls, which we´ll reach via a lovely walking path. Next, we’ll make a quick stop so you can take some pictures of Gengenbach, a charming town with a beautiful central square, before heading to Baden-Baden for the night. This spa town, once a favorite retreat for European nobility and the upper bourgeoisie, still exudes an air of elegance with its casinos, architecture, and parks.

DAY 8: BADEN-BADEN - SPEYER - HEIDELBERG - FRANKFURT

A stop in BADEN-BADEN to stroll through its parks before departing for Rhineland-Palatinate.
SPEYER, on the banks of the Rhine, is home to a magnificent Romanesque cathedral that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will be able to visit it and walk through the old town, where the Alte Münze tower stands out.

We then continue our route to HEIDELBERG, where we will take the funicular (ticket included) up to its impressive castle (access to the castle’s exterior grounds, the wine cellars, and the pharmacy museum included), offering wonderful views over the city. Afterward, you’ll have time for lunch and to stroll through the old town and its Marktplatz.

By late afternoon, we will arrive in FRANKFURT, a major financial hub with modern skyscrapers, an old town, beautiful views of the Rhine River, and a vibrant nightlife. You’ll have free time to walk around and dine in the Römerberg Square area before heading to the hotel.

DAY 9: FRANKFURT - LUXEMBOURG - REIMS - PARIS

We’ll journey to France, beginning with a visit to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, a small country where both German (Luxembourgish dialect) and French are spoken. We’ll arrive in Luxembourg, a cosmopolitan city that seamlessly blends its rich history with the modernity of being a financial hub and a key location for European institutions. Some of its highlights include the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the city’s fortifications, the Grand Ducal Palace, and the Notre-Dame Cathedral.

After lunch, we’ll continue our journey into France. In the heart of the Champagne-producing region, we’ll stop in Reims, where you can marvel at its stunning Gothic cathedral, the historic site of numerous French royal coronations. We’ll arrive in Paris by the end of the day.

DAY 10: PARIS

After breakfast, our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.