Delve Deep: France 2023

Bonjour, Paris! Welcome to the home of croissants, crêpes and crème brûlée. First up: air kiss your fellow explorers (top tip: do not confuse with French kiss). Then: get ready to put Duolingo to the test with our first group dinner. You accidentally ordered a semi-detached house? Cool.

Good news: you’ve woken up in Paris. Great news: today this iconic city is all yours to discover. Grab a seat in one of Montmartre’s quirky bistros for main character vibes. Soak up the sights with an optional cruise down the Seine River. Or make like the locals and explore on two wheels. Keen to channel your inner royal? Take a day trip to the pretty extra Palace of Versailles for a serving of pure French decadence. With over 2,300 grandly decorated rooms and the largest back garden you’ve ever seen, there’s plenty to keep you occupied. Tonight, an optional cabaret show is on the table. Ooh la la!

Wave goodbye to the City of Love this morning – we’ve got our sights set on the land of fairytale castles and fine wines. Glue your nose to the window and watch rows of centuries-old grapevines rush past as we make our way through the Loire Valley. First stop? The ultra-boujee Château de Chambord. Supposedly designed by Leonardo da Vinci himself, explore the 60 opulently decorated rooms, surrounding gardens (as big as inner-city Paris) and climb the mind-boggling double helix staircase. This place will have you feeling like French royalty (minus the ridiculous hairstyles). Later, we’ll make tracks to Bordeaux where the evening is up to you. Our suggestion? Buy some local cheese, a bottle of the good stuff and picnic like a true French(wo)man. Just make sure you leave room for desert – you’re going to want to try a canelé (can-eh-lay). Trust us.

Sun, sand and seafood. Today we roll on to glitzy Biarritz, where the afternoon’s yours for the taking. Once a humble seaside town, Biarritz was discovered by French royalty in the 19th century, who set about sprucing things up regal-style. Soak up the fancy vibes and stroll by the Rocher de la Vierge: a rock with a statue of the Virgin Mary perched on top, accessed via a bridge over the ocean. Or hit the waves at Europe’s first ever surf beach – the wild and wonderful Côte des Basques. Tonight, swap stories over our included group dinner. Très bon!

Rise and shine! Why not kick off the day with a totally gnarly surfing lesson *insert shaka*. Surfing not your bag? We suggest a day trip to San Sebastian in northern Spain for rolling mountains, quaint cobbled streets and authentic pintxo (snack) bars. Back in Biarritz, there are plenty of cafés and restaurants to sample the local specialties for dinner. Looking for local recs? Your Trip Leader’s got them by the bucketload: just ask.

Grab your swords and pitchforks, this morning we’re off to the medieval city of Carcassonne. Perched up on a rocky hillside, with spiky turrets and sturdy walls this place looks like something out of a storybook. Get the lay of the land with a walking tour around the must-see sights, before delving deeper into local life in your own sweet time. Get lost in a maze of winding alleys. Channel all the Game of Thrones vibes with a wander around the ramparts of the citadel. And for dinner? Make sure you try the hearty, mouth-watering dish this place is famous for: cassoulet. Like casserole, but better (and Frenchier).

Today: something Nice is in store (pronounced ‘knee-ss’ not ‘nice’, though it is both). We’re heading to the glamorous French Riviera, where the day’s yours to get your explore on. Prepare to be charmed by the Old Town, where a treasure trove of museums, art galleries and even Queen Victoria’s favourite chocolatier (Maison Auer – go get it) await. Head to the beach for a dip. Or find a local haunt for some seriously good salade niçois (it was invented here and is living its best life). Tonight, we’ll round up the fam for a group dinner.

Free day = your chance to do exactly what you want. Laze on a sunlounger at Blue Beach. Go wild in Nice’s designer boutiques. Or trek up Castle Hill for allll the views. The choice is yours. Later: we’ll turn it up a notch with a visit to Monaco. Home of the Grand Prix and the Monte Carlo Casino, we’ll see how the 1% live on a walking tour (hint: it involves Ferraris and bathing in caviar). Then, ogle at the superyachts and their perfectly manicured owners along the waterfront. Or hit the tables and make it rain (or not).

Say au revoir to the sparkling French coast – today we’re heading for the jaw-dropping French Alps. We’ll swing by Avignon en route, where our fact-filled Trip Leader will point out all the hot spots. The popes moved into this riverside city in the 14th century after they’d had enough of Rome. Expect grand buildings galore, including the Palais des Papes which looks like it’s dropped out of Disney. Afterwards: it’s back on the coach towards Chamonix for dreamy alpine scenery and the best fondue of your life. Let's go.

Leave the lie-ins for another day – you’ve got exploring to do! From hiking to mountain biking, kayaking to skydiving, there’s an adventure activity for absolutely everyone. Adrenalin not your thing? Take the cable car up Mont Blanc for some top (literally) panoramic views. Or just soak up the alpine vibes in town, chat to the locals, and while away an hour or two in a cosy bar or coffee shop. Tonight: quiz your Trip Leader on where to find the best raclette – a hunk of melted cheese you scrape over your dinner. The perfect date.

Today we slow down the pace and say hey to the foodie capital of France: Lyon. Take a wander around medieval Old Town on a walking tour, then hit up a traditional bouchon (that’s ‘tavern’ to you and me) to see what all the fuss is about. This afternoon: a few thousand years of history awaits, if you’re keen. Explore the mind-boggling ruins of the ancient Roman theatre. Delve into the art and anthropology museums. Or get your Indiana Jones on and discover the city’s traboules – secret passageways once used by silk merchants to transport their goods to the riverbank. Tonight we’ll regroup for our final dinner together and toast to one hell of a French adventure. Santé!

What a journey it’s been. You tried the food. You met the locals. You said yes to culture. Yes to history. Yes to the new and the kooky. You embraced it all. It’s back to Paris today – you’ve got one more coach ride with the crew before we vamoose so swap those socials! Where to next?