Day 1: Arrival in Paris & Evening at Leisure
Upon landing at Paris CDG, your private driver will meet you directly at arrivals and escort you in comfort to your accommodation in the city.
Depending on your flight arrival time, our expert tour planners will be delighted to suggest tailored ways to spend your afternoon or evening. They can secure restaurant reservations on your behalf.
Optional ideas for a relaxed first evening:
- Champagne and small plates in a refined wine bar near your hotel.
- A gentle stroll around your hotel neighbourhood: the Left Bank, Saint-Germain, Le Marais, and the Opéra district all offer peaceful atmospheres without requiring structured sightseeing.
- An elegant dinner in a brasserie or boutique restaurant curated to your tastes.
- A quiet riverside walk to unwind, without the need to visit any significant landmarks.
Overnight in Paris.
Day 2: Normandy: Dramatic shorelines, WWII memories, and the flavours of rural France
Your private driver-guide collects you from your Paris accommodation this morning for a full-day journey into Normandy, one of France’s most historically poignant regions.
The D-Day Beaches
Travel north toward the famed Normandy landing beaches, where your guide brings the events of 6 June 1944 vividly to life.
At Omaha Beach, stand on the sands where thousands of Allied soldiers fought for a foothold in Europe. Continue to Pointe du Hoc, where dramatic cliffs still bear the scars of bombardment. Conclude with a reflective visit to the Normandy American Cemetery, a solemn and beautifully kept memorial overlooking the sea, one of the most powerful sites in France.
Calvados, Cider & Country Gastronomy
Leaving the coast, your driver winds into the green, rolling heart of Pays d’Auge, a postcard of half-timbered farmhouses, apple orchards, and grazing horses.
Here, enjoy a private tasting at a traditional Calvados or cider estate, learning how apples, terroir, and ageing shape these regional specialities.
A gourmet lunch awaits in a country inn or manor house, an authentic Provençal-feeling experience far from the crowds.
Return to Paris by early evening, enriched by a day of coastline, culture, and countryside refinement.
Day 3: Loire Valley: Renaissance palaces, grand river scenery, and the elegance of French wine country
This morning, your private chauffeur-guide brings you south toward the Loire Valley, where forests open into sweeping plains dotted with vineyards, storybook villages, and the Renaissance châteaux that made this region a UNESCO World Heritage treasure.
A Curated Château Experience: Choose Two Icons
Your guide helps craft the perfect pairing based on your interests, ensuring a balanced and delightful day.
- Château de Chambord: A spectacular vision of Renaissance ambition, featuring Leonardo da Vinci–inspired staircases and vast hunting grounds.
- Château de Chenonceau: The romantic “Ladies’ Castle” arched gracefully across the River Cher.
- Château d’Amboise: A royal stronghold with panoramic river views and the resting place of Leonardo da Vinci.
- Château de Villandry: Celebrated worldwide for its geometric gardens and intricate water terraces.
Each visit includes time both indoors and outdoors, grand halls, restored chambers, manicured gardens, and terraces overlooking the Loire’s royal landscape.
Wine Tasting or Gourmet Lunch
For your last experience on day 3, you will choose between a tasting session of Loire varietals, Vouvray, Chinon, or Sancerre, or a gourmet lunch in a château-side restaurant, where regional flavours pair beautifully with local wines.
Return to Paris in the comfort of your private vehicle as the late-afternoon light softens across the countryside.
Day 4: The Champagne Region
Your final day based in Paris begins with a private chauffeured departure into Champagne, where elegant chalk-cellar labyrinths and rolling vineyards define one of France’s most storied landscapes.
Visit two prestigious houses, Moët & Chandon, Ruinart, Veuve Clicquot, or a boutique grower estate, each offering privileged access to centuries-old cellars and guided tastings of their finest cuvées.
A gourmet vineyard lunch and panoramic drives through the Marne Valley complete your journey.
Return to Paris by late afternoon and prepare for the next chapter of your Grand Tour.
Day 5: Paris to the Rhine Valley via Cologne
This morning, a private transfer brings you from your Paris accommodation to Gare du Nord or Gare de l’Est, where you board your First-Class train toward Cologne.
Settle into your comfortable seat and enjoy the effortless glide across Northern France into Germany (approximately 3-hour journey). Upon arrival in Cologne, your German chauffeur meets you directly on the platform, handling your luggage as you step smoothly into your private Mercedes.
With photo stops along the way, your route offers postcard-worthy moments before you arrive in Rüdesheim, Bacharach, or Boppard, depending on your chosen base. These riverside towns are charming concentrations of half-timbered houses, wine taverns, and cobbled alleys.
Check into your castle hotel or boutique riverside retreat, then enjoy a gentle village stroll before dinner.
Day 6: The Romantic Rhine: Rivers, Legends, Castles & Wine Country
A day shaped by river tales, ancient fortresses, and the flavours of the Rhine.
Your private driver-guide meets you after breakfast for a full-day exploration of the Middle Rhine, one of Europe’s most storied waterways.
Today, you travel through the heart of the UNESCO-listed gorge, where dramatic cliffs, terraced vines, and medieval strongholds rise above the curving river.
River Cruise & Loreley Rock
Begin with a private or small-boat cruise between Boppard, St. Goar, and Bacharach or Rüdesheim.
As you glide along the Rhine, your guide shares the tales of knights, merchants, and river maidens who shaped this waterway’s legends.
You’ll pass towering fortresses, vine-covered hillsides, and the legendary Loreley Rock, where centuries of folklore speak of shipwrecks and siren songs.
Marksburg Castle
Continue by chauffeured vehicle to Marksburg Castle, one of the few Rhine fortresses never destroyed. Its towers, battlements, and armoury rooms offer a vivid window into medieval life, perched high above the river with unbeatable panoramic views.
Wine Tasting in the Valley
No Rhine journey is complete without sampling its world-class wines.
Visit a family-run estate for a private tasting focused on Riesling, the valley’s flagship grape, along with elegant Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir).
For guests seeking an additional scenic flourish, you may take the Rüdesheim cable car above the vines to the Niederwald Monument, offering sweeping panoramas over the river and surrounding hills.
Return to your hotel in the early evening to relax, dine, and enjoy a second night amid the quiet charm of the Rhine Valley.
Day 7: From the Rhine Valley to Munich
Your journey now continues into Germany, where Munich serves as your base for three nights, ideally placed for cultural exploration and scenic day trips into the Alps.
Your driver transfers you from your Rhine Valley hotel to Koblenz or Frankfurt station, where you board your First-Class ICE train bound for Munich. The route is fast, quiet, and comfortable and will take approximately 3 hours.
Upon arrival in Munich, a private transfer brings you directly to your city-centre hotel in the Altstadt or Maxvorstadt districts.
Munich’s Old Town Walking Tour
Settle in, then enjoy a leisurely, atmospheric stroll through Munich’s historic core with your guide:
- Marienplatz & the Glockenspiel — Munich’s iconic central square, framed by Gothic and Baroque façades.
- Viktualienmarkt — A colourful gourmet market brimming with Bavarian specialities and seasonal produce.
- Hofbräuhaus — Visit for the cultural significance, or opt for a more refined beer hall or café nearby
The walk offers an introduction to the city’s rhythm, architecture, and culinary spirit.
Day 8: Munich City Highlights (Chauffeured)
A day of Royal palaces, grand parks, and the cultural treasures of Bavaria’s capital.
Royal Munich
- Nymphenburg Palace — A sprawling Baroque estate with mirrored lakes, manicured gardens, and ornate pavilions.
- Munich Residenz — Once the seat of Bavarian kings, its gilded rooms and courtyards showcase centuries of royal opulence.
English Garden & City Districts
Continue to the English Garden, one of Europe’s largest urban parks.
Your guide will highlight serene lake viewpoints, shaded glades, and, if desired, the famed Eisbach surfers who ride a standing wave beneath a stone bridge.
Return to your hotel to refresh before dinner at Dallmayr, a Michelin-level restaurant, or another fine Munich dining room.
End the evening with a drink on a rooftop terrace, watching the city lights settle over the domes and towers.
Day 9: Neuschwanstein: Fairy-tale castles and the Bavarian Alps
Your driver collects you in a luxury Mercedes for a full-day journey into the mountains. The scenic drive south toward the Austrian border (approx. 2 hours) reveals rolling meadows, mirrored lakes, and jagged alpine peaks.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Arrive at Neuschwanstein, King Ludwig II’s dreamlike creation and one of the most recognisable castles in the world.
With pre-booked timed entry, you enjoy a seamless visit through its ornate chambers and soaring viewpoints.
Optional Enhancements
Explore Hohenschwangau, Ludwig’s childhood residence, to deepen your understanding of his life and inspirations.
Take a short walk around Alpsee, a peaceful alpine lake framed by forests and cliffs.
Return to Munich
Travel back to Munich in the late afternoon, the landscape unfolding once more from mountains to plains.
Day 10: Munich to Berlin
Your final base is Berlin, a city where the echoes of empire, war, division, and reunification coexist with cutting-edge art and vibrant neighbourhood life.
A private transfer brings you from your Munich hotel to the station, where you board your First-Class ICE train to Berlin (approx. 4-hour journey).
A private driver meets you on the platform and escorts you to your hotel in central Berlin, ideally in Mitte or the Gendarmenmarkt district, placing you close to many of the city’s architectural landmarks.
Settle in before enjoying a gentle introduction to Berlin’s historic core:
- Unter den Linden, Berlin’s storied boulevard framed by linden trees and neoclassical façades
- Gendarmenmarkt, often called the most beautiful square in Germany, is flanked by its twin cathedrals.
- Museum Island (exteriors), a UNESCO World Heritage ensemble of world-class museums
Evening at Leisure
Dine in a brasserie-style restaurant or enjoy cocktails on a rooftop terrace overlooking the Berlin TV Tower, watching the evening light settle over the skyline.
Day 11: Berlin Highlights
Your driver-guide meets you this morning for a curated overview of Berlin’s major historical and cultural sites.
Signature Sights of the Capital
- Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of unified Germany
- Reichstag Parliament, with an optional dome visit (pre-booked)
- Checkpoint Charlie and the Topography of Terror, touchpoints of Cold War tension and Nazi-era history
- East Side Gallery, the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall, was transformed into an open-air mural gallery.
Contemporary Berlin
Explore Hamburger Bahnhof (modern art) or Berlinische Galerie, celebrating Berlin’s avant-garde spirit.
Evening at leisure for dinner in Mitte or a craft cocktail bar in the Scheunenviertel.
Day 12: Potsdam Palaces & Lakes
Your private Mercedes collects you this morning for a scenic 45-minute drive to Potsdam, once the summer residence of Prussian kings.
Sanssouci & the Royal Parks
Enjoy a guided tour of Frederick the Great’s Sanssouci Palace, with its Rococo interiors and terraced vineyards.
Continue to the Neues Palais, an impressive symbol of Prussia’s grandeur, before a gentle walk through the landscaped parklands.
Relax over a lakeside lunch, where reflections of palaces and tree-lined shores capture Potsdam’s serene charm.
Dutch Quarter & Return to Berlin
Stroll through the red-brick Dutch Quarter, filled with boutiques, cafés, and 18th-century architecture.
Return to Berlin by mid-afternoon.
In the evening, you may enjoy a performance at the Berlin Philharmonie or a refined dinner near your hotel.
Day 13: Curated Themes of Berlin
Today, choose one of three immersive themes, each guided by an expert in the field.
Option 1 – Cold War & Modern History
- Berlin Wall Memorial (Bernauer Strasse)
- Stasi Museum or Allied Museum
- Extended visit to Topography of Terror for deeper context
Perfect for those fascinated by history, spies, division, and narratives of reunification.
Option 2 – Art, Architecture & Design
Visits to Berlin’s leading contemporary galleries, Architectural exploration, Holocaust Memorial, Jewish Museum, government district, and modernist landmarks.
Option 3 – Food, Neighbourhoods & Urban Culture
- Guided tasting walk through Prenzlauer Berg, Kreuzberg, or Neukölln
- Artisanal bakeries, speciality coffee, market halls, and contemporary bars
- Street culture, indie boutiques, and Berlin’s vibrant everyday life
Farewell to Berlin
Enjoy a final dinner at a fine-dining restaurant or a stylish Berlin bistro, your last evening to savour the city’s eclectic culinary scene before the journey concludes.
Day 14: Departure
A private transfer returns you to Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) or the central rail station for your onward travels.
FAQs for the France & Germany 14-Day Tour
1. What level of accommodation is included on this tour?
We select only luxury boutique properties, historic palace hotels, and premier 5-star city hotels.
Each destination features accommodations chosen for elegance, atmosphere, and exceptional service.
2. Can this itinerary be customised to my interests?
Yes. Every day can be adapted, whether you prefer more art, history, gastronomy, vineyard visits, or slower-paced sightseeing. Private guides and drivers allow full flexibility.
3. Are all transfers private?
Yes. All airport, hotel, and station transfers are in private Mercedes vehicles. Your guides meet you directly at your train platform to ensure a seamless, stress-free journey.
4. Will we have private guides in each location?
You will have expert, English-speaking private guides in Paris, Normandy, the Loire, Champagne, the Rhine Valley, Munich, Neuschwanstein, Berlin, and Potsdam. Themed days (Cold War, Art, Food) include specialist experts.
5. Are entrance fees and priority access included?
Yes. All château visits, palace entries, Champagne cellars, museums, and Neuschwanstein are pre-booked with priority access whenever available.
