Day 1: Historic Paris & the Heart of the City
Your private driver-guide will meet you at your accommodation in Paris for a full-day tour combining the city’s most significant historic landmarks and elegant modern highlights.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Begin your morning at the newly reopened Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of Paris’s most beloved monuments.
Your guide will explain the process of its restoration following the 2019 fire, highlighting architectural details on the façade, the restored spire by Viollet-le-Duc, and the symbolism in its carved portals.
Inside, admire the reborn stained-glass windows and the famed Rose Windows, which have been carefully preserved. Your guide will describe how medieval builders used light, geometry, and proportion to create one of Europe’s greatest Gothic spaces.
Île de la Cité Walking Tour
From Notre-Dame, continue on foot through the heart of historic Paris. Your guide will lead you to Sainte-Chapelle, renowned for its 15 towering stained-glass windows illustrating more than 1,000 biblical scenes.
Learn how this royal chapel was built to house relics of the Passion, and take time to appreciate the artistry of the 13th-century glasswork.
Next, explore the Conciergerie, a former royal palace that served as a prison during the French Revolution. Your guide will recount stories of the most famous prisoner, Marie Antoinette, and explain how the site evolved from a medieval power centre to a revolutionary tribunal.
End your walk at Pont Neuf, Paris’s oldest surviving bridge, where you can enjoy panoramic views over the Seine and the surrounding landmarks.
Paris Landmarks & Shopping
After lunch, meet your driver for a panoramic overview of Paris’s most famous landmarks. See the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Champs-Élysées, before continuing past the Place de la Concorde, Tuileries Gardens, and Louvre Palace.
Your driver will provide historical commentary and suggest the best stops for short photos or guided explanations.
To conclude, visit one of the city’s leading shopping districts — whether the designer boutiques of Avenue Montaigne, the grand department stores on Boulevard Haussmann, or the covered passages near Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Your guide can offer tailored recommendations or arrange a short visit with a personal shopper if desired.
Hotel Drop-Off.
Day 2: The Louvre, Wine Cellars & a Private Seine Cruise
Awaken in Paris as you prepare for a day of art, culture, and Parisian indulgence!
The Louvre Museum: Private Highlights Tour
Enjoy a three-hour guided exploration of the world’s largest and most visited museum, tailored to showcase its essential masterpieces in an engaging, accessible way.
With your private art historian, you’ll begin by learning about the Louvre’s origins as a 12th-century fortress built by King Philip II, later transformed into a royal palace, and finally into a museum during the French Revolution.
Your guide will lead you through key wings to view icons such as the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory of Samothrace, explaining the techniques, symbolism, and historical context behind each.
With skip-the-line entry and a personalised pace, this tour ensures you see the Louvre’s highlights comfortably and with expert insight.
Caves du Louvre – Wine & Cheese Pairing Experience
Just a short walk from the museum, your next stop is the Caves du Louvre, an atmospheric network of 18th-century wine cellars built initially for King Louis XV’s sommelier, Trudon.
A professional sommelier will lead you through a two-hour tasting experience combining France’s finest wines and artisanal cheeses in an authentic royal cellar setting.
You’ll sample 10 seasonal cheeses from the renowned Fromagerie du Louvre, each carefully paired with five white wines and five red wines from regions including Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhône Valley.
Private Seine River Cruise with Aperitif
In the late afternoon, board your private luxury boat for a 90-minute cruise along the Seine, a serene and elegant way to see Paris from the water.
As you drift past landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, and Pont Alexandre III, your private crew will serve a selection of aperitifs and hors d’oeuvres.
Day 3: Versailles & an Evening at the Moulin Rouge
Today you’ll enjoy a day trip from Paris to the unmissable Palace of Versailles.
Palace of Versailles: Private Skip-the-Line Tour
Upon entering the château, your expert guide will lead you through the opulent State Apartments, the King’s and Queen’s Chambers, and the Royal Chapel, explaining how each room reflected the ceremonial life of the French monarchy.
In the Hall of Mirrors, you’ll hear how this dazzling gallery hosted grand receptions and witnessed historic events, including the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.
Your guide will discuss the architecture and artistry that made Versailles the model for royal courts across Europe, pointing out sculptural details, ceiling frescoes, and gilded furnishings that illustrate the power and taste of the Sun King.
The Gardens of Versailles
Step outside into André Le Nôtre’s formal gardens, a masterpiece of symmetry and scale.
You will learn how the landscape was engineered to reflect royal order and control, with canals, fountains, and avenues aligned along the Grand Perspective. Explore the Water Parterre, the Orangery, and the Grand Canal, with time to enjoy the views that once framed Louis XIV’s courtly spectacles.
After your visit, relax on the drive back to Paris, where your driver will drop you at your hotel for some rest before your evening engagement.
Evening at the Moulin Rouge
In the early evening, your chauffeur will collect you again for a night at the Moulin Rouge, the legendary cabaret at the foot of Montmartre.
Begin with a three-course French dinner created by the venue’s head chef, accompanied by Champagne and attentive service in the historic Belle Époque theatre.
As the lights dim, enjoy the acclaimed Féerie show, a dazzling production of music, choreography, feathers, and sequins performed by the famous Doriss Girl dancers.
Day 4: Loire Valley Castles & Wine Experience
Your private chauffeur will collect you from your Paris hotel and escort you to the station for your first-class train journey to Tours, the gateway to the Loire Valley.
Château de Chambord: Private Guided Tour
Begin with a guided visit to the Château de Chambord, the Loire’s most spectacular and architecturally ambitious castle.
Designed under the patronage of King Francis I, Chambord is a Renaissance masterpiece inspired by Leonardo da Vinci. Your private guide will lead you through grand chambers, the royal apartments, and the double-helix staircase, an extraordinary architectural feature allowing two people to ascend without meeting.
Lunch in Blois
Continue to the nearby town of Blois, a picturesque stop for lunch. Your driver will recommend local restaurants offering regional dishes and wines, from classic brasseries to fine bistros housed in medieval buildings.
Amboise & Loire Valley Winery Visit
In the afternoon, travel to Amboise, a charming riverside town associated with Leonardo da Vinci’s final years in France.
Nearby, your guide will introduce you to a family-run winery, where you’ll enjoy a short walk among the vines followed by a visit to the cellars.
Learn about the local terroir, grape varieties such as Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, and the winemaking process from harvest to bottling. A guided tasting follows, featuring red, white, and rosé wines typical of the Touraine region.
After your winery visit, your driver will escort you back to Tours for your first-class train to Paris. On arrival, your chauffeur will meet you at the platform and transfer you to your hotel for the evening.
Day 5: Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur & the Musée d’Orsay
Our tour planners will prepare a guided exploration of Montmartre, one of Paris’s most atmospheric and artistic neighbourhoods, as you reach the halfway point of our ten-day itinerary.
Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur: Private Walking Tour
Begin at the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, perched atop the Butte Montmartre with sweeping views over the city.
Your guide will explain how this 19th-century landmark was built from self-cleaning Château-Landon stone, ensuring its white gleam even after a century of Paris weather. Inside, discover the vast mosaic of Christ in Glory, one of the largest in the world, before climbing to the dome for panoramic city views (optional, approx. 300 steps).
Continue through the cobbled lanes to Place du Tertre, where artists still paint and sell their work in the open air, echoing the traditions of the early 1900s when Picasso and Modigliani lived nearby. Along the way, explore local bakeries and cafés, discovering why Montmartre’s boulangeries often rank among the best in Paris.
Musée d’Orsay: Private Highlights Tour
After lunch, we will make our way to the Musée d’Orsay, located in a former Beaux-Arts railway station overlooking the Seine.
Your guide will curate your visit according to your interests, introducing works by Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, and Van Gogh.
At the end of the afternoon, your chauffeur will collect you for your return to the hotel. The evening is yours to relax or explore the nearby Left Bank restaurants and riverfront.
Day 6: Mont-Saint-Michel & Arrival in Normandy
Your chauffeur will collect you from your Paris hotel in the early morning and accompany you to the station for your first-class train journey to Rennes, the gateway to Normandy.
Mont-Saint-Michel
Begin your exploration with a full-day guided visit to Mont-Saint-Michel, one of France’s most celebrated UNESCO World Heritage Sites and an icon of medieval architecture.
Walk through the narrow streets of the medieval village to reach the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, where monks dedicated centuries to study, worship, and manuscript copying.
Inside, explore the Gothic cloisters, refectory, and the magnificent abbey church that crowns the rock. Your guide will share stories of the abbey’s transformation over the ages, from a center of learning to a Revolutionary prison known as “the Bastille of the Seas.” Finally, to the preserved monument it is today.
Transfer to Bayeux & Hotel Check-in
In the late afternoon, travel onward to Bayeux. Check in at Villa Lara Hotel, an elegant 5-star property ideally located near Bayeux Cathedral and the famous tapestry museum.
Day 7: D-Day Landing Beaches & Normandy’s WWII Heritage
On the morning of day 7, your specialist World War II guide will meet you at your hotel in Bayeux for a full-day private tour focusing on the Normandy D-Day landing sites.
Pointe du Hoc
Begin at Pointe du Hoc, where American Rangers scaled 100-foot cliffs under heavy fire to neutralize German defenses on June 6, 1944.
Your guide will walk you through the preserved bomb craters and bunkers, explaining the tactical importance of this position and how it was captured at a high cost of life.
Omaha Beach
Continue to Omaha Beach, the most famous of the five landing zones, stretching along eight kilometers of coastline.
Here, you’ll see the modern Les Braves memorial sculpture, commemorating the soldiers who fought to free France. Your guide will help you visualize the chaos and courage of the first wave of landings as you stand on the same sands.
American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer
Next, visit the Normandy American Cemetery, where 9,386 American soldiers are laid to rest.
Walk along the rows of white marble crosses and Stars of David, all facing west toward the United States. Inside the chapel and visitor center, your guide will discuss personal stories and share the symbolism of the Garden of the Missing, where the names of over 1,500 soldiers are engraved.
Sainte-Mère-Église
Continue to Sainte-Mère-Église, one of the first towns liberated on D-Day by American paratroopers.
See the church where a paratrooper famously became entangled in the steeple, a story immortalized by a monument that still hangs from the building.
Conclude your tour in the early evening with a private transfer back to your hotel in Bayeux.
Day 8: Bayeux, the Tapestry & Return to Paris
Your final day in Bayeux gets underway with a short walking tour through the old town, where cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, and the sound of the River Aure capture the essence of Normandy life.
Stop at Bayeux Cathedral, a masterpiece of Norman Gothic architecture consecrated in 1077 in the presence of William the Conqueror. Your guide will highlight the link between the cathedral and the famous tapestry, which was created to hang in its nave.
The Bayeux Tapestry Museum
The highlight of the day comes as you arrive at the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux, home of the world-renowned Bayeux Tapestry, a UNESCO-recognized treasure depicting the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England in 1066.
Your guide will walk you along the 70-meter-long embroidered linen, interpreting key scenes, from Harold’s oath to the Battle of Hastings, and explaining the remarkable craftsmanship that has preserved the piece for nearly a thousand years.
Transfer to the Train Station and Return to Paris
In the afternoon, your driver will transfer you to the station for your first-class train journey back to Paris.
The rest of the evening is free to relax or to enjoy a final stroll through the city’s illuminated streets.
Day 9: The Champagne Region – Reims, Vineyards & Tasting Experience
From your Paris accommodation, you’ll be collected for a stunning day trip to the Champagne region, around 90 minutes away.
Reims Cathedral – Coronation City of Kings
Arrive in Reims, the historic coronation site of French monarchs for nearly 1,000 years.
Visit the magnificent Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, a Gothic masterpiece comparable in scale and beauty to its Parisian namesake. Your guide will explain how this cathedral hosted the coronations of 33 kings of France, and point out the restored stained-glass windows, including the modern panels by Marc Chagall, that fill the interior with colour and light.
Champagne House Visit & Cellar Tour
We will reserve an appointment for you at one of the region’s prestigious Champagne houses, such as Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, or Pommery (prearranged options available).
Enjoy a guided tour through the chalk cellars, some dating back to Roman times, and learn how Champagne is produced.
Your tasting session will feature several cuvées, with your guide or cellar host explaining the difference between brut, vintage, and rosé styles.
Lunch in Épernay or Reims
Your driver will recommend a choice of restaurants, from refined Michelin-starred dining to elegant brasseries, depending on your preferences.
Épernay, home to Avenue de Champagne, offers the chance to stroll past some of the most prestigious Champagne houses in the world.
In the afternoon, take a leisurely drive through the Montagne de Reims Natural Park, dotted with Grand Cru villages such as Hautvillers, where Dom Pérignon perfected the Champagne-making process. Stop for photos in the vineyards and learn from your guide about the region’s unique terroir and appellation system.
Relax on the drive back to Paris, arriving at your hotel in the early evening. Your guide can suggest nearby restaurants for dinner, rounding off a day filled with history, culture, and exceptional wine.
Day 10: Giverny & Rouen – Art, Impressionism & the Seine Valley
We have designed your last day on tour with us to be a full-day journey into Normandy’s Seine Valley, exploring the landscapes that inspired generations of Impressionist painters.
Claude Monet’s Home & Gardens
Begin your morning in Giverny, the picturesque village where Claude Monet lived and painted for over 40 years.
Your guide will lead you through the artist’s house and studio, filled with Japanese prints and personal belongings, and then into the famous gardens that inspired his Water Lilies series.
Walk across the Japanese bridge, past weeping willows and waterlilies, as your guide explains how Monet designed the garden itself as a living composition of light and reflection.
Pause for lunch in one of Giverny’s charming village restaurants or in nearby Vernon, where half-timbered houses line the riverbank. Your guide can recommend options featuring regional cuisine and local cider.
Rouen: Gothic Architecture & Joan of Arc’s Legacy
In the afternoon, continue to Rouen, one of Normandy’s most atmospheric cities.
Visit Rouen Cathedral, famously painted by Monet at different times of day, and learn from your guide about its architecture from the 12th to the 16th centuries. Stroll through the Old Market Square, where Joan of Arc was tried and executed in 1431, and see the modern church dedicated to her memory.
Your guide will also lead you through the medieval quarter’s cobbled streets, lined with timber-framed houses and boutique shops, offering a glimpse of life in this once-powerful port city on the Seine.
Return to Paris
In the late afternoon, your driver will escort you comfortably back to Paris, concluding your journey through Normandy’s landscapes of art and history.
FAQ: 10 Day Private Tour Of France
1. Will The Louvre, Versailles, And Mont-Saint-Michel Include Skip-The-Line Or Priority Access?
Absolutely. All major visits include skip-the-line or VIP priority entry, ensuring you avoid long queues at Paris’s busiest landmarks and Normandy’s heritage sites.
2. Can We Tailor The Itinerary To Change Sites or Accommodation?
Yes. Every day can be adapted to suit your preferences. Whether that is spending more or less time in any destination of your choice, while our team will consult with you beforehand to find just the right accommodation for you.
3. How Much Time Will We Spend Commuting Between Regions on the 10 Day Itinerary?
Travel between Paris, Normandy, Champagne, and the Loire valleys is arranged using first-class rail or chauffeured Mercedes vehicles.
Transfer durations range from 1.5 to 3 hours, always planned for comfort with luggage handled for you.
4. Is It Possible To Add Private After-Hours Experiences At Versailles, The Louvre, Or Champagne Estates?
On request, we can arrange premium upgrades such as:
- After-hours Louvre access
- VIP openings in Champagne maisons
- Private Versailles garden shows
- Exclusive Seine yacht upgrades
These depend on availability and season.
5. How Customisable Is Each Day Of The Tour?
Fully. While the itinerary is curated for ideal pacing, each day can be:
- Slowed down for relaxation
- Enhanced with gourmet meals, shopping stops, or extra museums
- Modified for children, teens, or multi-generational groups
Your private guide adapts the day to your preferences in real time.
