Paris, Loire Valley & Champagne

On arrival in Paris, head to Hotel Lancaster, a 19th-century townhouse turned boutique hideaway, moments from the Champs-Élysées. With its Parisian elegance, collection of art and antiques, private-home character, and central location, it’s a superb base to explore the City of Light. Step out to browse pavement cafes, smart brasseries, and designer boutiques within a few minutes’ walk. Or retreat to the spa to refresh after your journey before dining in the hotel’s intimate restaurant, where chef Sébastien Giroud adds a contemporary spin to classic French cuisine. 

Wake up refreshed and ready for your sightseeing tour of Paris. After breakfast, set off with your private driver and guide to see some of the city’s most cherished sights, including Notre-Dame and the Arc de Triomphe, before heading up the Eiffel Tower to witness Paris from a different perspective. Then visit the Musée d’Orsay, where famous artworks by Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masters – Monet, Manet, Degas, Van Gogh and Cezanne – line its light-filled Beaux-Arts galleries.

After lunch, soak up the bohemian charms of hilltop Montmartre, a former artists’ village and home to the likes of Picasso and Dalí. Climb the steps to the white-domed Sacre-Coeur Basilica for panoramic views, then visit lively Place du Tertre, lined with artists plying their trade. 

Start your day with a private guided tour of the sumptuous Palace of Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and symbol of French royal power. Originally built as a hunting lodge, it was transformed by the ‘Sun King’, Louis XIV, into a lavish seat of monarchy, serving the French kings from 1682 until the Revolution in 1789. Explore its opulent interiors, including the dazzling Hall of Mirrors and State Apartments, visit the Royal Chapel, then wander the extensive formal gardens.

After returning to Paris, you’ll have the rest of the afternoon at leisure. You may opt for a guided tour of the Louvre to see some of the world’s most celebrated artworks, or head to Montmartre for a cabaret show at the Moulin Rouge. 

Follow in the footsteps of French Renaissance kings as you escape the urban sprawl of Paris for a day in the so-called ‘Garden of France’. A region of seductive beauty, the Loire Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its remarkable castles, ranging from medieval fortresses to Renaissance palaces with exquisite gardens.

This full-day guided tour introduces you to three of its most spectacular châteaux. Visit the elegant Château de Chambord, famous for its double-helix staircase attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. Explore the graceful Château de Chenonceau, arching over the Cher river, and marvel at the royal Château d’Amboise, perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the valley. Midway, pause for lunch at a local restaurant in a charming medieval town. 

It’s time to leave the French capital behind and head to the effervescent Champagne region. We’ll transfer you to Gare de l’Est for the short train ride to Reims, capital of Champagne and home to all the major champagne houses, plus a showstopping Gothic cathedral.

After checking into La Caserne Chanzy, a former Art Deco fire station turned luxury hotel and spa, you’ll have time to explore on your own. Visit the monumental Reims Cathedral, the coronation site of French kings from 816 to 1825, and one of Europe’s finest cathedrals. Make time to stop at a patisserie to sample Biscuits Roses de Reims, delicate pink biscuits that are divine dipped in a glass of Champagne.

‘Come quickly, I am tasting the stars’, is the legendary quote attributed to monk Dom Pérignon upon tasting the newly created sparkling wine we know as Champagne. Today, you’ll discover why, with a full day exploring the rolling vineyards and historic cellars of the Champagne region.

Meet your English-speaking driver-guide at your hotel for a shared tour of the prestigious Moët & Chandon cellars in Épernay, followed by a tasting of two Champagnes. Then continue to a smaller, family-owned Champagne estate for a private visit and tasting, where tradition and craftsmanship are passed down through generations. Throughout the day, you’ll drive along the scenic Champagne Route, visit the charming village of Hautvillers where Dom Pérignon lived and worked, and pause for a gourmet lunch at a local restaurant.

After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, catch the train back to Paris for your onward journey.