Honeymoon Romance from Paris to the French Riviera

Start your 12-day honeymoon journey in France with the city of love: Paris!

At your arrival at the airport, your private driver welcomes you and drives you to your accommodation in central Paris.

Drop off your luggage and check-in. 

In the afternoon, you have a "rendezvous" with the Iron Lady: Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket (timed entry tickets, no guide).

No one could imagine Paris today without it. But Gustave Eiffel only constructed this elegant, 320m-tall signature spire as a temporary exhibit for the 1889 World's Fair. Luckily, the art nouveau tower's popularity assured its survival. Lifts ascend to the tower's three floors; change lifts on the 2nd floor for the final ascent to the top. Energetic visitors can climb as far as to the 2nd floor via the south pillar's 704 stairs (no pre-booking required).

Then, embark at the foot of the Eiffel Tower to experience a magical moment! You will cruise on the Seine for 1 hour on glass boats with open-air observation decks for an exceptional view. Individuals audio-guides are available (inside the boat) in 14 different languages. Hostess-guide is on board to answer all of your questions.

What a great way to end your first day on your romantic getaway.

After breakfast, make your own way in Central Paris to the meeting point for your next tour, a memorable Versailles Food & Palace Bike Tour (small group / approx. 8 hours).

After meeting the guide you'll take the train to Versailles, then hop on bikes to explore the beautiful town and favorite food market. Every stall of this quaint and quintessentially French marché tempts, with its fresh-baked pastries, crêpe stands, organic produce, cheese, and wines - the things that we all love the most about France! 

Learn all the gossip and scandalous tales of the French Royal Family with a passionate and entertaining guide; this is no dull history lecture. 

All the guides are native English speakers, live locally, have a master’s in French history & hold the French Professional Guide Qualification. This means we can also guide you inside the Château! 

The bikes are super comfortable and easy to ride, so you can cover more ground & see what most travelers miss.

At the end of the day, you take the train back to Paris central, where we leave you with plenty of travel tips and Parisian insider secrets to fueling the rest of your holiday.

In the morning, make your own way to the meeting point for your Marais Pastry and Chocolate Tour (small group / approx. 3h). 

Located in the heart of Paris, the famous neighborhood Le Marais is a beautiful area renowned for its grand architecture and fine food. You are invited to explore the hidden gems of this district with a food-connoisseur and experienced chef trained by Pierre Gagnaire. Stumble upon a pastry shop, chocolate shop, a Franco-Russian tea store and even a store solely dedicated to absinthe! Indulge yourself in the best ice cream you will find in Paris and delicious treats from the bakery. Finally visit the shop stacked with 1001 spices from across the world.

Your taste buds will be stimulated with scrumptious delicacies, and aromas of chocolate, coffee and spices will fill your nose. Hear fascinating stories behind this district and take in the charming atmosphere and beautiful sights of the quaint roadside cafes, the Jewish Quarter and the stunning mansions.

In the afternoon, get a fun and interesting Tour of the Louvre and its mysteries (small group tour of 6 people max. /approx. 2 hours).

This lively guided tour will give you a unique look at the Louvre and its masterpieces.

Your honeymoon journey brings you next to France's capital of gastronomy! You'll take a direct train to Lyon where you'll have the afternoon to discover this beautiful city at your own pace.

Lyon is France's third most populous city behind Paris and Marseille is more compact allowing visitors to explore easily by foot. A good place to start is the city's UNESCO-listed Old Town and the Presque Ile—a piece of land surrounded by the two rivers of Saône and Rhône. This is where you can wander the narrow cobblestoned streets in search of the famous traboules (hidden passageways). Also recommended is a walk past roman ruins up to the Fourviere Basilica for a wonderful panorama of the whole city.

As for dinner, you will find yourself in the midst of hundreds of restaurants where you can choose between a range of family-owned restaurants serving traditional Lyonnaise cuisine, informal brasseries, and Michelin-starred restaurants like the iconic Auberge de Collonges, founded by the famous chef Paul Bocuse.

In the morning, enjoy your Golden stones of Beaujolais tour (small group/ approx. 4.5 hours) and discover a historic province and wine-growing region just north of Lyon. This tour will allow you to get some fresh air from the countryside and walk hand in hand with your loved one.

Often compared to Tuscany, this beautiful countryside dotted with hilltop villages offers a gentle pace of life. Your cultural and gourmet itinerary leads you around the southern part of Beaujolais, which is famous for its Beaujolais Nouveau and golden stone, which lends a unique charm to the surrounding villages. Along the route, your knowledgeable driver-guide will pass on his or her passion for the region to you during this rural excursion. You'll also get an introduction to wine and meet with a winemaker who will invite you to enjoy a tasting experience.

Rest of the day at leisure to explore Lyon at your own pace.

After a last stroll in the city of Lyon, make your way to the car rental company to pick up your car and drive to the beautiful city of Avignon in the heart of Provence (approx. 230km / 2.5-hour drive). 

Avignon invites you for a stay beyond all imagination. It is a perfect place to discover the ‘French Art de Vivre’ as a couple.

The historic city center, the Popes' Palace, all the episcopal buildings and the Saint Bénézet Bridge are listed as world heritage sites by UNESCO. The historic center radiates from the Place de l'Horloge.

Here, you find the City Hall built between 1845 and 1851 over a former cardinal's palace of which it has kept the old fortified tower, transformed into a belfry in the 15th century with clock and Jacquemart. Next to it, the municipal theatre, also from the 19th century, houses the Avignon opera and, all the way at the top, the delightful Belle Époque style carrousel still turns. Originally the forum of Avenio, the city's name under the Romans in the 1st century BC, the Place de l'Horloge is still the « center » of Avignon. A meeting place, bordered by cafés and restaurants, the square is always bustling. Just like the Place du Palais higher up, a vast esplanade where you could spend the day just watching all the street performers in summer. 

After breakfast, meet your driver-guide in the lobby of your hotel for a Full day tour of hilltop villages of the Luberon (private /approx. 9 hours).

Embark for the surrounding Luberon region, an area known for its countryside vineyards, orchards, and postcard-worthy hilltop villages. Travel at a leisurely pace as your guide takes you to the village of l'Isle Sur la Sorgue, famous for its outdoor weekend markets, antique stores, and old wooden waterwheels churning over the Sorgue River, which bisects the town. There are few better spots to enjoy a relaxing lunch than here in town, which is exactly what you do. 

After lunch, head to Gordes. This is arguably the most beautiful of all the hilltop villages in the Luberon. The skyline of Gordes is dominated by its fortified castle, and from its winding cobbled streets you can look out to wide views over the valley and surrounding hills. From Gordes, it's just a few kilometers to the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Sénanque, a Cistercian abbey founded in the 12th century. 

At the end of your excursion, your driver-guide brings you back to your hotel.

Morning at leisure.

In the afternoon, meet your guide for a Culture & Wine Tour in Chateauneuf du Pape (small group / approx. 4 hours):

you'll get a chance to tour another world-renowned wine-growing region in France—this time in the southern Rhône valley, particularly a sun-drenched Provence appellation called Châteauneuf du Pape. The region makes both red and white wines with up to 13 different grapes and is especially known for its bold Grenache-based blends.

During this 4-hour excursion, you'll walk through a vineyard with an expert to learn more about the grape's specific terroir including characteristics and the origin of the formation of soils, as well as the connection between the climate and the grape varieties. You will also take part in tasting sessions at two family-run wineries before returning to Avignon for the evening.

On your way to the French Riviera, discover the slow-paced lifestyle and sultry Provençal charm of Aix-en-Provence which makes this city an appealing tourist destination. Bathed in the sunshine of its wonderful climate, the beauty of Aix-en-Provence is visible everywhere - especially in its lively streets and squares. In summer, languid days are easily spent strolling the shady boulevards. The balmy evenings are perfect for sitting at outdoor terraces and cafés.

Enjoy a Gourmet and Historic Tour of the city (private / approx 3 hours):

Please yourself with the diversified scents and flavors of the region. Let your senses be amazed by the colors and the smells of several local products, be tempted by some Calissons, the sweetest candy of all time created in Aix en Provence, appreciate a toast of green or black tapenade, taste a piece of cheese or a glass of wine from one of the local wine appellations. Everything is organized in order to allow you to discover what Provencal gastronomy truly means. 

At the end of the day you arrive in Nice, check-in at the hotel and evening at leisure.

Today, get to explore by yourself the cities along the French Riviera and more hidden villages in the countryside.

Start your exploration with Cannes and take the opportunity to walk on the world-famous red carpet covering the steps of the Palais des Festivals.

Follow the seaside towards Antibes and discover the old town surrounded by ramparts. They were built in the medieval period to protect the city from the barbarian invasions of the Goths, Visigoths and other Saracens. Antibes has become a focus of contemporary art thanks to Picasso who spent a part of his life there. 

Enjoy one of the most visited places in France: Saint Paul-de-Vence. This magnificent fortified village dating from the 11th Century became over time the appointment for painters (Chagall, Picasso, Matisse), authors (Prévert, Pagnol) and actors (Signoret, Montand). At the entrance of the city, right next to the old wash house of the 17th Century, La Colombe d'Or hosts the biggest names of our time and past time: Henry Matisse, Roger Moore, Tony Curtis, etc. Stroll along the ramparts and cobbled streets inside the walls and discover the shops and art galleries punctuating the village during this romantic walk.

After breakfast, meet your driver-guide for an amazing tour of Eze, Monaco and Monte Carlo (private / approx. 8 hours).

A vacation in the south would not be complete without a visit to Monaco. The best way to tour involves a guide who knows the ropes and the best timings (there is an excellent changing of the Guards at the royal palace around noon). The city will not hold any secrets after you've left, and your guide will allow some time to explore the shopping and the casino.  

Eze has exceptional views, and you could be enticed via the perfume factory (free tour, and genuinely well reviewed by all accounts) or the splendid botanic garden in Eze.  

Take a camera or phone and stock some great photos as a reminder of the easy day of adventure, and a memento from your romantic journey. What a great way to end your 12-day Honeymoon in France.