Paris, Lyon, and the French Alps

Start your 12-day Romantic Getaway 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).

In the afternoon, 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, including a special commentary for children. Hostess-guide is on board to answer all of your questions.

Continue your romantic getaway with a lovely breakfast. Then, 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 masters 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.

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).

After taking the TGV to Lyon, you arrive in France's capital of gastronomy! 

Lyon is France's third most populous city behind Paris and Marseille. It’s much more compact than Paris, 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. 

Make your way the short distance to start a Lyon food tour - Old town and Bocuse market (small group tour of 8 people max. / approx. 3 hours):

For over 80 years, Lyon has been recognized worldwide by chefs and foodies as the gastronomic capital of France. As no trip to Lyon is complete without sampling what Lyonnaise cuisine has to offer, we invite you to join a local gastronomy guide for a true taste of Lyon from the emblematic boutiques of the Vieux Lyon to the finest local producers at the world famous Paul Bocuse Market. Sweet praline pastries, sumptuous brioches, charcuterie, cheese and local wine are just some of the items to be savored as part of this enticing overview of what makes Lyon so famous for its food.

Your top driver-guide picks you up this morning for a Rhône Valley - Wine and Chocolate tour (private / approx. 9 hours): 

You leave Lyon to head south, along the Rhône river to join Tain l’Hermitage, small city at the bottom of the famous Hill Hermitage. You will start the tour with a visit of the prestigious Cave de Tain, one of the best wineries of the region. You will discover the history of this vineyard, its features but also the wine making process that involve modernity and traditions. A winning combination since the winery won several awards during the last few years. A complete tour of the winery will be followed by a tasting of the wines.

The afternoon will please the foodies! Located in the centre of Tain l’Hermitage for more than 90 years, the Valrhona chocolate factory now invites you to visit its Cité du Chocolat. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes glimpse of its manufacturing process and discover its history and its secrets. In this interactive space you will be able to enjoy a virtual tour of the authentic chocolate making workshops. Naturally, there are many things to taste during the visit.

You will then continue the route northwards towards the Côte Rôtie vineyard. The northernmost vintage in the Rhone Valley enjoys one of the best reputations in the world. Finally, you will visit a family estate and discover its production and taste five of its wines.

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

Your 12-day Romantic Getaway in France now takes you to Lyon after a last stroll in the city. Make your way to the car rental company to pick up your car and drive to the beautiful city of Annecy (approx.150km / 1.5-hour drive). 

Annecy is a pleasant city straddling the edge of a most beautiful alpine lake.  Extending almost 15km south from its namesake town, Lac d'Annecy is the third-largest lake within France's borders. Cradled between the Massif des Bauges to its west and the Massif des Bornes to its east, this perialpine lake coaxes Annéciens to sail, row and waterski on its placid surface. In summer, water temperatures average between 20°C and 24°C, a tempting prospect for a paddle.  Villages like Sévrier, Talloires, and Menthon-St-Bernard, are enjoyable, do-nothing day trips from Annecy.

After lunch make your way to the nearby bike rental agency and enjoy a half day bike rental - Electric Bike or Top End Roadbike.  From their base on the shores of Lake Annecy, in the French Alps, the rental agency provides everything you need to enjoy this cycling paradise. They serve the best coffee, rent the best bikes and offer the best local knowledge to help you get the most out of your visit.  Whether you are planning an epic road ride into the mountains, sampling the new and exciting world of adventure riding or simply embarking on a leisurely ride around Lake Annecy, they have had the perfect rental bike for you. Evening at leisure in Annecy. 

After breakfast, make your way to the jetty in central Annecy. 

Enjoy the old fashioned ferry and take a return journey around Lake Annecy (tickets included): 

From Annecy or any village around the lake the Omnibus circuit allows you to cruise around the lake as far as Doussard-Bout du lac.  You'll discover the charms and the history and architecture of the lake. It enables you to do a full circumnavigation of the lake (with commentary) that takes about 2 hours.  You have the right for one stop (say, a day stop in Annecy or Talloires for example).  There are 8 villages around the lake with a jetty. (the following direction: Annecy, Veyrier du lac, Menthon St Bernard, Talloires, Doussard, Duingt, Saint Jorioz et Sevrier). *Angon is only between 30 June and 2 September. 

At the end of your excursion, head back to your hotel. 

Morning at leisure.

Today is dedicated to Terroir and Nature of Savoy (private / approx. 6 hours, lunch included): 

Meet up with your guide Quentin at the cheese cooperative, an adventure in itself, to choose and taste the cheese that will be used a little later for lunch. Your guide has lived in the area for years and will tell you everything you’ll need to know about our farms, farmers and our amazing “terroir”. Once you get to Quentin’s house, you’ll start to prepare one of Savoy’s most famous dishes and your lunch, a tartiflette.   

Your afternoon will be filled with conversation, explanations and insight about Savoy, the forests and everything found in them. Quentin will help you concoct your own herbal tea and Christmas Wine to take home. Other surprises await you. 

Drive back to your hotel at the end of the afternoon.

Take the remote roads up to Chamonix (100 km / approx. 1 hour 15 minutes).

Mountains loom large almost everywhere you look in Chamonix.  Skiers and sightseers are launched by cable car to heights of 3842m on the Mont Blanc massif, while the glacial void of La Vallée Blanche one of Europe's most fêted off-piste adventures beckons to the brave. Skiers and boarders have a choice of pistes along the valley, while in summer the same lifts access hiking and biking trails. Chamonix has a long history as a winter sports hub. Rediscovered as a tourist destination by Brits William Windham and Richard Pococke in 1741, Chamonix hosted the first ever Winter Olympics in 1924. For all the desolate beauty of the mountains, downtown Chamonix hums with life. Streets are lined with Michelin-starred restaurants, sports gear stores and some of the French Alps' fanciest hotels. And if you do the nightlife justice, it'll exhaust you as much as the mountains. 

Afternoon and evening at leisure. 

Today, get to explore by yourself the L’Aiguille du Midi: The Needle of the South. 

Your return tickets to the Aiguille du Midi will be included. First ascended in 1818, in the centuries between its turned into quite the tourist spot. There are two sections to the mountain: one from Chamonix to Plan de L’Aiguille at over 2000m up, and then another one to the upper station at 3,777m. There are cable cars and elevators, so you don’t need to be an expert to climb this face. It’s also home to the highest vertical ascent cable car in the world, from 1,035m to 3842m. 

Obviously, not for anyone scared of heights.

Day at leisure in Chamonix to explore the mountains by hike or bike, or experience an energizing yoga session, facing the beautiful mountains of the Alps. A perfect place to stroll hand by hand with your loved one to conclude your romantic journey.