ROUEN,
HONFLEUR, CAEN, NORMANDY LANDING BEACHES, BAYEUX, MONT ST. MICHEL,
ANGERS, LOIRE VALLEY, LA ROCHELLE, BORDEAUX, TOULOUSE, CARCASSONNE,
NIMES, PONT DU GARD, AVIGNON, ARLES, AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FRENCH RIVIERA,
LYON
Specially-priced
Air Rates
Available:YES
You’ve
seen photos of Paris—now is your time to see it in person. You’ve
studied and read about D-Day’s Normandy Beaches—now’s your chance to
visit them. You’ve heard about France’s famous wines—now’s your chance
to see the Bordeaux wine-growing region. All of this and much more are
included on this tour of France that begins and ends in Paris. History
buffs are sure to be amazed by the many historic towns and attractions
on this tour. Immerse yourself in ancient Roman history with a stop at
Pont Du Gard bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 1st
Century. Visit the amphitheatre in Arles, the city with the most Roman
remains outside of Rome. Go back in time to the Middle Ages with a
visit to the clifftop town of Rocamadour. Walk by the ancient
battlements in the beautifully preserved, medieval town of Carcassonne;
and visit Beaune’s Hôtel-Dieu charity hospital, built in 1443
after the Hundred Years' War left many of the town's population
destitute. Coming to recent history, see Normandy’s landing beaches,
where Operation Neptune was launched on June 6, 1944. Art history fans
will enjoy a visit to Aix-en-Provence, the birthplace of painter
Cézanne, and a stroll around the 17th-century Cours Mirabeau, a
lively area with fountains, elegant homes, and famous cafés.
Spend time in the Loire Valley with its spectacular vineyards and
castles. Discover Dordogne, one of France’s most picturesque regions,
showcasing many charming villages. Of course, no France tour is
complete without visiting the French Riviera, and you’ll have plenty of
time to explore this beautiful area on the Mediterranean Sea. This
value-minded tour through France is truly a vacation of a lifetime!
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
ROUEN Orientation walk
HONFLEUR and CAEN Visit
NORMANDY LANDING BEACHES Visit
the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach
MONT ST. MICHEL Visit
ANGERS Visit the cathedral
CHATEAUX COUNTRY Visit
BORDEAUX Orientation walk and
wine tasting
ROCAMADOUR Visit TOULOUSE Visit CARCASSONNE Orientation walk
PONT DU GARD See the Roman
aqueduct AVIGNON Visit ARLES Visit the Roman
Amphitheater
AIX-EN-PROVENCE Visit
PARIS Guided sightseeing
Inside visits and
special features: Shown in UPPERCASE in
the tour description including admission charges where applicable.
The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites
can be seen or visited on this vacation:
Arles (Roman and
Romanesque Monuments)
Bordeaux (Port
of the Moon)
Historic Centre
of Avignon: Papal Palace Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge (See
Only)
Historic
Fortified City of Carcassonne
Historic Site of
Lyon
Mont Saint
Michel and its Bay
Nice, Winter
Resort Town of the Riviera
Paris Banks of
the Seine
Pont du Gard
(Roman Aqueduct)
The Loire Valley
between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes (Chenonceau Castle)
OPTIONALS:
Choice of optional excursions at reasonable prices to customize your
own experience. Please find a detailed list in your travel documents
HEADSETS
throughout the tour
PARIS Novotel Paris Charenton Le Pont (F)
or Tribe Paris La Defense Esplanade (F)
CAEN Ibis Caen Porte
D'Angleterre (ST)
MONT ST. MICHEL Hotel Vert
(T)
AMBOISE Novotel Amboise (ST)
BORDEAUX Ibis Styles Bordeaux
Meriadeck (ST)
TOULOUSE Ibis Pont Jumeaux
(ST)
AVIGNON Ibis Avignon Centre
Ponte De l'Europe
(ST)
NICE Ibis Styles Nice Vieux
Port (ST)
LYON Doubletree By Hilton
Lyon Eurexpo (F)
HOTELS -
(D) Deluxe (SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class (ST) Superior
Tourist Class
(T) Tourist Class
DINING
HIGHLIGHTS
Buffet
breakfasts daily; 4 dinners
TRANSPORTATION Scheduled transatlantic flights and
airport transfers in Paris if Cosmos issues the air tickets. Touring by
private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach
GUIDES
Local Guide for city sightseeing in Paris. Professional Tour Director
while touring
AIRPORT TRANSFERS Airport transfers
may be included when you make your flight arrangements.
Day 1 Arrive in PARIS, France Check into your hotel and spend free
time strolling around Paris. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and
fellow travel companions.
Day2PARIS–ROUEN–HONFLEUR–CAENDrive first to the historical capital
city of Normandy, Rouen—one of the most prosperous cities of medieval
Europe. Walk through its center, rich in Gothic architecture. Next,
visit lovely Honfleur, known for its picturesque port and houses with
slate-covered facades. Continue to Caen.
Today’s Distance: 186 mi/ 300 km Breakfast Dinner
Day 3 CAEN–NORMANDY LANDING
BEACHES–BAYEUX–MONT ST. MICHELTime to see Caen before visiting the
legendary beaches where Allied troops landed more than 75 years ago.
Experience the most moving site of the American Cemetery at Omaha.
Next, journey to Bayeux, home to the famous tapestry, listed by UNESCO,
depicting William the Conqueror’s epic battle in 1066 (entrance fee
extra). Then, on to the unique beauty of Mont St. Michel, which stands
on an island accessed via a causeway.
Today’s Distance: 118 mi/ 190 km Breakfast
Day4MONT ST. MICHEL–ANGERS–CHÂTEAUX
COUNTRYTime to enjoy a visit of Mont St. Michel
before departing for Angers to visit its cathedral. Then, travel along
the banks of the Loire River to reach the enchanting Chateaux Country.
This evening, join an optional dinner at a local restaurant.
Today’s Distance: 236 mi/ 380 km Breakfast
Day
5
CHÂTEAUX
COUNTRYSpend the day at leisure or take an
optional excursion to see some of the most spectacular castles of the
Loire Valley, steeped in the history of noblemen and kings since the
11th century. Gothic spires, medieval turrets, great fortresses, and
beautiful châteaux make for splendid panoramas.
Breakfast Dinner
Day6CHÂTEAUX COUNTRY–BORDEAUXEnjoy a scenic drive through the
Nouvelle Aquitaine region, rich in agricultural resources including
vineyards, forests and cereal fields, and stretching from the Atlantic
coast to the Pyrenees in the South. On arrival in Bordeaux, discover
the city on the included guided city sightseeing tour and consider an
optional wine tasting excursion.
Today’s Distance: 230 mi/ 370 km Breakfast
Day 7 BORDEAUX–DORDOGNE–ROCAMADOUR–TOULOUSEDiscover one of France’s most scenic
regions, the Dordogne. Stop in the sacred medieval town of Rocamadour,
dramatically perched high upon a cliff. Built on three successive
levels, Rocamadour is both a place of legend and history where old
stone houses, majestic towers and an impressive castle were built on
the cliff edge of the Alzou Canyon. Continue southwards to Toulouse.
Today’s Distance: 267 mi/ 430 km Breakfast Dinner
Day8TOULOUSE–CARCASSONNE–PONT DU
GARD–AVIGNONTravel to Carcassonne, immerse yourself
fully in the medieval atmosphere of the city and discover its secrets
on a guided tour. Then, stop for a picture at famous Pont du Gard, one
of the wonders of Antiquity, and the finest remaining example of an
ancient aqueduct built 2000 years ago by the Romans.This architectural
gem, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site, is set in a beautiful,
unspoilt natural setting. Upon arrival in Avignon, free time to explore
the old quarter featuring an amazing architectural and historic
heritage, such as the Palace of the Popes.
Today’s Distance: 217 mi/ 350 km Breakfast
Day 9 AVIGNON–ARLES–AIX-EN-PROVENCE–FRENCH
RIVIERAVisit Arles, known all over the world
for Van Gogh’s paintings. Admire the famous Roman amphitheatre, then
continue to Aix-en-Provence. Walk down its main street, the Cours
Mirabeau, lined with plane trees in the French tradition, and the
17th-century palace, houses, and fountains. Finally, head to the French
Riviera on the shores of the Mediterranean.
Today’s Distance: 186 mi/ 300 km Breakfast
Day10FRENCH RIVIERATake time to enjoy all the amenities of
the French Riviera on your own. Tonight, maybe join the optional Monte
Carlo by night excursion to see the Principality of Monaco.
Breakfast
Day11FRENCH RIVIERA–ORANGE–LYON AREASee more of the Provence region today
and stop in Orange, a town surrounded by beautiful countryside. It
boasts Roman and Celtic heritages, as well as first class wines and
original culinary and craft products. Next is Lyon, located at the
confluence of the Rhône and Saône Rivers. On arrival, enjoy
an orientation tour.
Today’s Distance: 298 mi/ 480 km Breakfast Dinner
Day12LYON AREA–BEAUNE–PARISTravel through the picturesque vineyards
and fields of Burgundy to medieval Beaune, the region’s wine capital
since Roman times. Stop to visit the famous Hôtel-Dieu. Return to
the French capital of Paris.
Today’s Distance: 304 mi/ 490 km Breakfast
Day13PARISDiscover the glorious ville
lumières (City of Lights) and its many boulevards and monumental
buildings. On your included sightseeing tour, a local expert will guide
you through Parisian history, tradition, and modern living. Optional
excursions are also available to complete your experience.*
* Note: for operational reasons, changes to the
Paris program cannot be excluded
Breakfast
Day14PARISYour vacation ends with breakfast this
morning.
Breakfast
Grand
Tour of France
14 Day Tour
From $2649USD
(Less
applicable COSMOS PROMO(S) and Gardner Travel Discounts)
CLICK HERE to Request ourLOW
UNPUBLISHED RATEand
availability for this tour below:
You
may REQUEST information
for this tour via our email response here and we will return a complete
and detailed quote
OR CALL
US at
1-877-510-4653
and we will be happy to personally assist you at every turn.
Exceptional
Vacations
Celebrating
over 90 Years of Touring!
YOUR
TOUR DIRECTOR
PATRICIA SUTRELL Escorting
tours for more than 20 years
Always thirsty for new challenges, my path led me to the role of Tour
Director. I love people, enjoy sharing the history and anecdotes of the
different places visited on tour. Everyday is different, and this
provides me with the motivation to hopefully meet everyone's dream. I
do believe that travelling is like a book, if you do not travel you
will always remain on the first page. All we need is to open our eyes
to the world, and enjoy every moment we have, as life is a journey.
Prices
are
per person based on double occupancy and are land only. We also offer
competitive group-based airfares from your home city airport that fit
with this particular touring program.
We
provide an additional agency
point-of-sale discountfor
all Globus,
Cosmos
and Avalon
Waterways
tour programs. Offer subject
to availability and change without notice.
TALK
TO AN EXPERIENCED
As
a
full-service travel provider, we can help you in finding your
perfect tour at the best price available, today. We've been
representing the GLOBUS Family of
Brands for
over 45 years as a Premier Agency
Partner - a designation only awarded to the top tier agencies
that are authorized to represent the full Globus Family of Brands. We
can take you all the way from your own hometown to
some of the most beautiful touring experiences in Europe and then back
again - all with the expertise of a seasoned GLOBUS professional
representative.
When it is important to get it right, you can trust the services of our
own professional GLOBUS Certified travel specialists. Please feel free
to call us or email us or we would be happy to provide your information
via email
on the tour form, below.
REQUESTING
AVAILABILITY
We will check your requested tour
program and accommodations for the date range that you may specify in
the questionnaire above and reply back to you as soon as
possible. Of course
the more information that you can provide us, the closer we will be in
matching your needs and preferences. We will not knowingly sell or pass
along your information that you provide to any third party for any
reason (see Liabilities
and Privacy Policy). And we use SSL Technology to safeguard your
information on our tour request forms that we have posted throughout
our website. We
are available to answer your inquiries in person Monday - Friday
(except holidays) from 8:30am until 5:30pm CST (1-877-510-4653 |
817-788-5210). We are available from time to time on the weekends via
email to answer your questions. Our typical response time for your
email request ranges from 3 hours to as many as 72 depending upon the
availability of onsite resources and those of the tour companies and
resorts/lodging establishments, as well as any variations you may
request from our listed programs. We will respond to your
requests as quickly as possible and as soon as we have all components
of your package confirmable. All tour program rates are based upon
double occupancy unless otherwise specified.
Thank
you for
your interest in this quality tour by The GLOBUS Family
of Brands!
Randy
C.
Gardner President Gardner Travel
Service,
Inc.
and The Globus Family of
Brands
More
than three decades ago Cosmos
pioneered the idea of quality value
travel
to Europe. Since then we've developed and refined the concept of
vacation
packages. Over a million people have come back to us for a second or
third
vacation...or more!
Our clients'
repeat business is the best testimony to the incredible value and
experience
we offer.
If you've never
taken a package vacation, consider this: Traveling with Cosmos is less
expensive, more comfortable, and far easier than going it alone. Our
volume
contracting for hotels and services provides you with travel at
wholesale
prices. A Cosmos package is carefully planned to make the best possible
use of your time.
Our team of
experts has refined our itineraries to combine the must-see sights with
significant time on your own, offering more choice and flexibility. You
can travel relaxed and hassle-free, knowing that we've taken care of
all
the details. Once you've
discovered the special advantages of traveling with Cosmos, you'll
never
want to travel any other way again. Cosmos is "A Smart Way To Go."
Guidance At
the heart of every great Cosmos tour are the friendly, knowledgeable
folks who show you around and help you maximize your free time. We go
to incredible lengths to find the most professional Tour Directors and
Local Guides. They deliver commentary in English, but are multilingual
so they can navigate Europe with ease and give you the richest
experience possible.
Headsets
For all guided visits and included sightseeing in Europe, Cosmos will
provide personal audio headsets. See tour itinerary for details.
The Right Balance
No one enjoys a vacation where every second is spent on a schedule. We
build free time into every Cosmos vacation, so you can eat, shop, and
explore the way you want. Your Tour Director and Local Guides can offer
suggestions for things to see and do-or you can join one of our many
intriguing optional excursions.
Sightseeing
Our packages include guided sightseeing and scenic highlights that
reveal the best of Europe, North America, and South America. Enjoy
inside visits of the must-see sites with knowledgeable Local Guides who
will bring each destination to life. Inside visits and special features
are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description. See individual
itinerary pages to learn what is included in your vacation.
Personalize Your
Vacation with MyCosmos
Cosmos lets you enhance your tour with optional excursions that are
meaningful to you. Whether you enjoy art, music, food, wine, history,
or whatever, we give you the freedom to truly personalize your trip.
Best of all, you can make your selections-and even pre-pay-in advance
online at Cosmos.com/MyCosmos.
Cosmos
Takes
Care of Your
HotelsWhere
you stay makes all the difference After a day's
traveling you want to relax at a comfortable, clean, and attractive
hotel.
We have chosen hotels with the best rooms, service, and food for the
money.
Of course, they vary as different countries have different standards.
However,
we ensure that everywhere you get the best available in cleanliness and
comfort.
Cosmos hotels
are always located in good neighborhoods, some more centrally and
others
in residential areas. Especially in large cities we sometimes prefer
good
hotels in residential areas on the outskirts to less desirable or
overpriced
downtown hotels.
Rooms at all
our hotels include private facilities: private bath or shower and a
toilet.
Triple rooms
are usually no larger than twin rooms and the third bed is often a
roll-away
bed put into a twin-bedded room just for the night.
Cosmos
specifies
your hotels Our hotels
are mainly superior tourist-class (ST) and tourist-class (T)
establishments,
but we also feature some first-class (F) hotels. Cosmos hotel ratings
follow
standards set by the independent Official Hotel Guide (OHG) or by
national
tourist boards. The specific rating for each contract hotel is
determined
by our quality controllers.
We reserve
the right to substitute hotels listed on the tour pages with hotels of
equivalent standard. With your Cosmos travel documents you'll receive a
list of hotel addresses, telephone numbers, and fax numbers for your
tour.
Stretch
Your
Vacation Dollars Value-packed
vacations at bargain prices. With Cosmos,
a company that specializes in package travel arrangements, you'll visit
the world without spending a fortune. Because all our buying power is
devoted
to package travel, our clout with suppliers is powerfully concentrated
-- and we pass the savings on to you with affordable vacation packages
for every budget.
Singles
save
with "guaranteed share" rates More than one-third
of all people traveling with Cosmos are traveling independently. We
therefore
accept reservations on a "guaranteed share" basis. We charge singles
the
basic price and match up singles of the same gender in twin-bedded
rooms.
For mutual comfort we adopt a no-smoking rule in shared rooms.
"Guaranteed
shares" are not available for extra nights before or after your tour,
on
tours with overnight trains, or on train or cruise extensions. If we cannot
find a roommate for a traveler who has booked on a "guaranteed share"
basis,
we'll absorb the single room supplement, and that traveler will be
accommodated
in a single room at no extra charge. Of course we
do offer single rooms when available to those who prefer to travel solo
and pay the single supplement.
Triple
room
reduction Cosmos grants
a reduction to three people who travel together and share the same
accommodation.
Triple room reductions, when available, are listed in the Dates and
Prices
box on the tour page.
A word of caution:
Triple rooms usually are no larger than twin rooms, and the third bed,
if there is one, is often a rollaway bed put in a twin-bedded room for
the night.
Discount
for
young tour members Cosmos grants
a 10 percent discount on the land tour price to travelers who are under
18 years old on the tour departure date, provided they are accompanied
by an adult. We do not accept children under eight on our tours because
we have found that they are too young to enjoy these vacations.
Cosmos Vacations
Offer Flexibility Joining late and
leaving early*
Many Cosmos land arrangements start and end in London. If you have
already spent time in the British capital, you may want to skip one or
more of the included London nights or even join at the first overnight
hotel on the Continent. Call your Travel Agent for any reductions that
apply to your vacation for joining late or leaving early. Vacations
with these reductions are sold on a land-only basis.
A
professional team takes care of you in London
For any help or information you might require during your London stay,
please contact the Cosmos hospitality desk at your hotel. Our
knowledgeable staff will serve you with a smile; give you guidance on
what to do and where to go; and arrange excursions, evening
entertainment, and theater outings for you.
Extra
nights*
If you'd like more hotel nights than we've provided at the start or end
of your tour, we can make reservations for you at the rates quoted
below, provided you request them at the time you book your vacation.
Rates are per person, per night, and include room with private bath,
breakfast, service charges, and taxes.
Extra nights are only available immediately prior to or after your
tour. Extra pre-tour nights in London are not available if you join
your tour later than Day 2.
Every effort is made to reserve extra nights at the hotel where your
tour stays. If space at the tour hotel is not available, alternative
accommodation will be reserved at a hotel of equivalent standard. When
this is the case, the transfer to and from the tour hotel is at our
expense.
As hotel space is limited, we cannot reserve more than two extra nights
before and/or after a tour, unless they are needed to bridge the gap
between two Cosmos vacations. During particularly busy periods, hotel
space in certain cities can become so tight that we may be unable to
sell extra nights.
Trust
& Travel Insurance
For
generations, Globus has worked
hard to provide the best on-trip experiences, world-class customer
service, and the best consumer protection plans available in the travel
industry.
DETAILS
OF THIS INSURANCE PROGRAM WILL BE INCLUDED IN ALL OF OUR QUOTES.
and The Globus
Family of
Brands
More than 90
years ago, Antonio Mantegazza bought a rowboat to transport commercial
goods across Lake Lugano in Switzerland. Who could know that rowboat
would launch the world's leading escorted travel company? Today Globus
is a global, family-owned company reaching every corner of the world.
Globus is now the first choice among individuals looking for vacations
with both domestic and international travel in a variety of styles to
six continents and hundreds of itineraries to choose from (see Globus History video right).
Antonio's
frequent trips across the scenic lake led him to
consider opportunities in a different market - tourism. His
entrepreneurial instinct pushed him to gradually acquire some
motorcoaches to transport tourists around the Lake Lugano area. In
1928, Antonio opened a company specializing in motorcoach touring
called Globus Viaggi. The company began with a fleet of 12 coaches
which operated local excursions for European tourists in Switzerland.
By
1950, Globus Viaggi had grown to a fleet of 33 coaches
and featured overnight excursions to Rome, Venice, the Dolomites and
the French Riviera. Gradually, these became regularly scheduled tours
and grew longer to cover more ground. Later that decade, under the
leadership of Werner Albek, Antonio's business partner, Globus
pioneered the concept of Grand European Touring by offering first-class
European tours to North Americans. By 1961, the company launched its
Cosmos arm, which featured affordable, value-priced European touring
for the cost-conscious British traveler.
The
coach tours were so successful that Cosmos soon
introduced another form of travel for the British market: air holiday
packages to the sunny destinations of southern Europe. By 1968, Cosmos
air holidays became so popular the company formed its own airline,
Monarch Airlines. Monarch Airlines started out modestly with two used
Britannia aircraft and eventually blossomed into one of the most
successful European charter companies with a large fleet of modern jets
and its own engineering division.
Under
the flagship of Sergio Mantegazza, current president
and son of Antonio, Globus began expanding its markets beyond Great
Britain and North America. Since 1974, travel packages have been sold
in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and most recently in Southeast Asia.
Starting in the 70s, the company also aggressively expanded its
offerings, introducing travelers to more countries than any other tour
operator with packages to Africa, South and North America, Europe, the
South Pacific and Asia.
Today,
the Globus family of brands is marketed and operated
by a network of more than 32 independent tourism and aviation
businesses, serviced by a group of more than 5,000 professionals
worldwide. Combined, Globus, Cosmos, and Monograms carry over 500,000
passengers a year, making the organization the leading operator of
guided vacations worldwide. Globus attributes its success to the ideals
of founder Antonio Mantegazza. For three generations, his vision, hard
work, love for travel, and commitment have guided the company. These
values are the cornerstone on which Globus was built and will continue
to grow.
ENJOY THE GAME OF
GOLF?
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out our SOUTHERN BREEZE
GOLF TOURS - golf packages for some fantastic destinations
throughout the U.S! Click
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