Normandy, Brittany & The Loire Valley
From CAD $4495
Guarantee
Group Tour
Easy
Rating
(10 reviews)
Enjoy the sights and sounds of France during this 8-day guided tour. Travel to Normandy and stand on the 100-foot-tall Pointe du Hoc, overlooking the beaches where soldiers fought in World War II — and walk with a Local Expert through the American Military Cemetery of Saint-Laurent, near Omaha Beach, where Allied Forces landed on D-Day. Drive through the Loire Valley to the glorious fragrant gardens of Chateau de Villandry, stopping to smell the basil, rosemary and other herbs grown in its gardens. You’ll remember those scents at a celebration dinner featuring a farm-to-table feast and sparkling wine. See Paris’ top attractions, from the elegant avenue of the Champs-Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe and the iconic Eiffel Tower.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 4 Dinner (D)
- 7 Breakfast (B)
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Arromanches-les-Bains: Visit the D-Day Museum in Arromanches and see the remnants of the artificial port in the bay.
- Bayeux: Marvel at stunning Norman-Gothic architecture during a visit to Bayeux Cathedral. Learn about its rich history and see the site where the Bayeux Tapestry was originally displayed.
Additional Included Highlights
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Authentic Dining
- Paris: Join your Travel Director and fellow guests at a local restaurant for a delightful dinner.
- Saumur: Learn about local grape varieties and regional wine-making traditions as you sample wines of the Loire Valley.
- Loire Valley: This evening, dine at the historic Château de la Bourdaisière, surrounded by elegant French gardens. Enjoy a thoughtfully crafted three-course menu featuring fresh produce from the château’s gardens and local producers. With traditional family cuisine and warm hospitality, this Farm-to-Table dinner offers a true taste of the Loire Valley.
Insight Choice
- Arromanches-les-Bains: Visit the D-Day Museum in Arromanches and see the remnants of the artificial port in the bay.
- Bayeux: Marvel at stunning Norman-Gothic architecture during a visit to Bayeux Cathedral. Learn about its rich history and see the site where the Bayeux Tapestry was originally displayed.
Make Travel Matter
- Loire Valley: Embark on a birdwatching journey with Local Expert Manon through the gardens of Château de Villandry. Discover the rich birdlife of the estate and the Loire Valley, including Villandry's most unique residents—a colony of great mouse-eared bats. As an advocate for wildlife conservation, Manon shares insights into her work with the Loire Valley’s bird protection society, fostering appreciation for the region’s delicate ecosystem. Wander through Villandry's sustainable gardens, renowned as France’s finest formal gardens. These organically cultivated landscapes—abundant with fragrant herbs, silvery cabbages, and vibrant purple basil—are a living testament to ecological harmony. By preserving biodiversity, Villandry actively supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land, ensuring a thriving environment for generations to come.
Top Rated Highlights
- Rouen: See the cathedral, the Great Clock, the Old Market square and Place du Vieux-Marché where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.
- Honfleur: See this charming fishing town whose harbor once inspired Monet.
- Omaha Beach: Follow the route of the Rangers, visit the bunkers and the Rangers Memorial.
- Omaha Beach: With a Local Expert, spend a few reflective moments at the American Military Cemetery of Saint-Laurent.
- Mont-Saint-Michel: Savor your first sight of the fortified island of Mont Saint-Michel. Cross the causeway for a guided tour with your Local Expert through the maze of halls and vaults of the abbey.
- Saint-Malo: Your Local Expert guides you through the streets of the walled city to arrive at the cathedral. Later enjoy the chance to walk along the fortifications and explore the cities nightlife at your leisure.
- Angers: View the formidable château, a 13th-century fortress famed for its 17 towers.
- Amboise: See the Royal Château beside the Loire River.
- Paris: Experience the magic of Paris with Insight Vacations as you explore its iconic sights, landmarks, and charming streets. Meander along the picturesque banks of the River Seine, delving into the rich history of its beautiful bridges and renowned landmarks, including the majestic Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, and the Arc de Triomphe. Whether from the comfort of your coach or a scenic vantage point, immerse yourself in the timeless stories that bring this enchanting city to life.
Well-being
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Trip Details
Product Code: 37216
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
55+
Tour Operator:
Insight Vacations (CA)
Supplier Code: 446.752B
Starts: Paris, France
Finishes: Paris, France
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $4495 ($562 /day)
Itinerary
After checking in, the capital’s grand boulevards and world-famous landmarks are yours to explore. Meet your Travel Director and fellow guests at the hotel before enjoying a dinner at a local restaurant with cuisine inspired by fresh home-made recipes.
Accommodation: Le Meridien Paris Arc de Triomphe
Meals: Dinner
Follow the River Seine to Rouen, capital of Normandy, to admire its ancient cathedral - a masterpiece of Gothic style and the subject of a series of paintings by Claude Monet. Wander through the narrow streets beneath the Great Clock to the Old Market Square. Here, a superb modern church memorializes the burning of Joan of Arc on this very spot in 1431. Continue to the charming fishing town of Honfleur and wander along the harbor or stroll through the colorful streets. Close by, visit a family-owned apple farm for apple juice, cider and calvados tasting. Later, arrive at your luxurious hotel, located in the chic seaside resort of Deauville.
Accommodation: Barrière L'Hôtel du Golf, Deauville
Meals: Breakfast
Follow the route of the Rangers and visit the bunkers and the Rangers Memorial at Pointe du Hoc. Then with a Local Expert, spend a few reflective moments at the American Military Cemetery of Saint-Laurent, near Omaha Beach. Explore Normandy with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the D-Day Museum in Arromanches and see the remnants of the artificial port in the bay. Alternatively, visit the Bayeux Cathedral. This evening you are treated to a delightful dinner, which promises creative cuisine, seasonal ingredients and delicious wines.
Accommodation: Barrière L'Hôtel du Golf, Deauville
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Journey through bocage country and explore the hilltop abbey of Mont Saint-Michel with your Local Expert. Situated on an island, the abbey is reached by a bridge across the shining sands. Behind the outer ring of defenses huddles the small town – its singular street containing shops, cafes and hotels. Continue along the Emerald Coast to stunning Saint-Malo, situated on the Rance Estuary and one of the most charming places in France. A Local Expert will take you on an exploration of the City of the Corsairs. Walk through the maze of streets of Intra Muros, the walled city, home of Jacques Cartier and other celebrated voyagers. At your leisure, you can wander around the ramparts of the thick city walls, offering fantastic views over the old town and the bay. By night, the town’s medieval maze of winding streets is abuzz with quaint bars and restaurants. Alternatively, you may wish to join an optional experience to Cancale, known throughout France for its oyster beds, for a delicious meal of fresh seafood and other Breton specialties.
Accommodation: Le Nouveau Monde, St Malo
Meals: Breakfast
Head south to follow the valley of the Loire, passing the moated Château d'Angers. Cross the Loire to Saumur, where a local vintner will guide you through tastings of the region's delicious wines. Head to Château de Villandry, the jewel of the Loire, to visit the glorious sustainable gardens on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Enjoy a guided birdwatching experience with Local Expert Manon, and explore France’s finest formal gardens, now a hub for sustainability, preserving the estate's biological diversity. Continue to your very own castle hotel and admire its extensive gardens and potager. This evening, enjoy a Farm-to-Table dinner at the historic Château de la Bourdaisière, featuring seasonal produce from its gardens and local farms for an authentic taste of the Loire Valley.
Accommodation: Château de la Bourdaisière
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, you might join an Optional Experience to the elegant Château de Chenonceau, set gracefully across the River Cher and surrounded by manicured gardens, or simply relax at your hotel. In the afternoon, meet your Local Expert for an in-depth visit to the Château d’Amboise. Perched high above the Loire, this former royal residence was a political and cultural hub during the Renaissance, attracting Europe’s greatest minds. Stroll through its grand halls, adorned with period furnishings, and step onto the panoramic terraces overlooking the river. Here, you’ll also find the chapel where Leonardo da Vinci is buried, a poignant reminder of the close ties between the French court and the Italian master. Return to your hotel for dinner this evening.
Accommodation: Château de la Bourdaisière
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Traveling through the vast wheat fields of the Beauce region, Chartres Cathedral, nicknamed the 'Acropolis of France' by August Rodin, looms large on the horizon. Enjoy a guided tour of this architectural delight. From here, return to the French capital where your Travel Director introduces you to the fabulous sights of Paris, including the vast Place de la Concorde, where the guillotine once stood. Travel up the Champs Élysées to Napoleon's Arc de Triomphe. After dark, the City of Light really lives up to its name, when the monuments, buildings and bridges are lit up in all their glory. Add a special touch of excitement and glamour to your evening with the unforgettable thrill of a world-famous cabaret show—an Optional Experience not to be missed.
Accommodation: Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris
Meals: Breakfast
Today, bid farewell to your journey through the French countryside as you transfer to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Insight Vacations (CA)
Part of The Travel Company (TTC) family of brands, Insight Vacations began operations in 1978 and is based in Cypress, CA. Journeys are featured to destinations, such as the U.S. and Canada, Europe, Latin America, North Africa, Asia, the UK and Ireland. The company offers are a variety of tours under the classifications of Regional Journeys, Country Roads, Discovery Journeys, Easy Pace trips, and Special Interest tours. Insight is the ideal name for the tour operator, as the journeys provided by Insight Vacations allow travelers to gain further insight into whatever destination they wish to explore. For example, Discovery Journeys are the ideal choice for first-time visitors to Europe. Itineraries include Dine-at-Home or Farm-to-Table experiences so travelers can learn more about how locals live and dine. Regional Journeys allow trip-goers to see a specific location in Europe that they have always wanted to see – Poland, Switzerland, Italy, etc. The carefully planned trips enable customers to immerse themselves in one specific region or country and to become acquainted with its culture, traditions, and people. For anyone seeking travel off the beaten track, Insight Vacations offers Country Roads – trips that lead travelers off the well-tread tourist trail to explore hidden gems where visitors can savor the local produce with Farm-to-Table dining. Some trips are offered under the Easy Pace travel style – the ideal trip choice for trip-goers who wish to slow their pace during their vacation. During these tours, vacationers stay at least 3 nights at each destination, giving them some additional time to explore a place and enjoy it. Regardless of the travel style, many of the vacations offered by Insight Vacations begin with Relaxed Starts – giving travelers time to sleep in a little, spend more time at breakfast, or explore an area on their own. The tour company prides itself on providing business class tours that features luxury coaches with 40 seats. While most coach touring operators provide vehicles with 53 seats, Insight Vacations has re-configured its motor coaches to hold up to 40 guests. This gives passengers extra leg room while traveling and offers them more space and privacy.
In Business Since 1978
Reviews
Anonymous - Traveled, August 2025
It was very diverse and enjoyable. Only complaint was the river cruise was with 600 other people. I'd have paid more for a better, smaller, guided tour. Also we loved the nights in the castle but just didn't have time to explore the area since we took the optional tour.. loved the optional tour and would replace the afternoon castle with the optional one!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/08/2025
Stephanie P. - Traveled, July 2025
We had the opportunity to see some many places in a rather short amount of time. Everything was interesting, well thought out, and pleasant.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/01/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, July 2025
*Personal information removed by Feefo* our tour guide was fantastic, kept the group well organised, as well as awesome stories and jokes made for a great trip!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/26/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, July 2025
We visited the sites we want to see our guide *Personal information removed by Feefo* kept everything moving provided the group with great information about each site and the local guides were excellent. We really enjoyed spending 2 nites in a castle. Only downer was St. Michael due to the crowds but that's not an insight problem other than to forwarn the groups in advance. All the optional experiences were top notch and worth the cost.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/24/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, July 2025
It was a great trip with lots of highlights especially the Normandy Beaches, all the chateaus and the lovely towns and villages. *Personal information removed by Feefo* was a wonderful tour director and added so much to the overall enjoyment of the tour along with our coach driver, *Personal information removed by Feefo*.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/20/2025
Grant B. - Traveled, July 2025
Very good trip great points of interest
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/20/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, July 2025
Our tour visited multiple locations in this part of France. The tour guide was very knowledgeable not only about the places visited but also the history of the area.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/20/2025
Mark L. - Traveled, June 2025
Our tour director *Personal information removed by Feefo* was amazing.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/20/2025
Lisa F. - Traveled, June 2025
It was a great trip, and our guide *Personal information removed by Feefo* was fantastic! Normandy was unbelievable!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/20/2025
Constant S. - Traveled, June 2025
We covered a lot of ground. Very busy and worth it. More time needed at the Normandy WW2 museum. Loved the hotel choices.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/20/2025
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