Paris & The French Riviera

Arrival to Paris
As they say, Paris is always a good idea! Bonjour and welcome to the most romantic city in the world and the charming capital of France - Paris!

Upon arrival, your driver meets you and takes you to your centrally located hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free so you can start exploring the magnificent city center on your own, dine in one of the local restaurants or take a good rest in your comfortable room.

Exploring Crème de la Crème of Louvre & the Latin Quarter
After breakfast your guide meets you in the hotel lobby and takes you on a full-day walking tour of the two famous districts of Paris: Latin Quarter (5th) and Marais (4th). Your tour of the fabulous capital of France begins with the UNESCO Site Heritage - Banks of Seine river.

Continue to the Latin quarter and taste a Bohemian charm of the medieval narrow streets and stone-paved alleyways. Reach the Ile de la Cite where you see the world’s most famous gothic cathedral - Notre Dame. Walk through the Ile Saint Louis and get closer to more sights: Hôtel de Ville (city hall), Fountain of the Innocents and Palais Royal.

You then proceed with the tour of the Louvre Museum, one of the world’s largest museums, taking advantage of your skip-the-line tickets. You see the crème de la crème collections and the most celebrated works of art, ancient artifacts, Greek sculptures, including the famous Venus di Milo, Winged Victory, and masterpieces of Michelangelo, Eugène Delacroix, Paolo Veroneseand the world’s most enigmatic Portrait of Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. 

After the tour you return to the hotel and have the rest of the day free.

Tour of the Champs-Elysees and Eiffel Tower Districts
Following breakfast your guide meets you in the hotel lobby and takes you on a 6-hour walking tour of the Champs-Elysees (8th) and Eiffel Tower (7th) districts.

Today you start with outstanding Places Vendome and Concorde and proceed to the Tuileries Gardens - the oldest park in the city. You get to see one of the most recognizable landmarks with its magnificent glass-domed roof - Grand Palais and smaller but similar Petit Palais, built for the Universal Exhibition in 1900. Step on the most ornate and extravagant bridge in the city - Pont Alexandre III and continue to the Place de Trocadero which is the vantage point of the Eiffel Tower*.

After the tour you may return to the hotel or take an optional boat cruise along the Seine river.

*Note: Tickets to the Eiffel Tower are not included in the city tour due to limited availability. Please, ask your travel specialist about available tickets for your tour date if you would like to include it. Upon request, the tickets can be arranged for a visit to the Eiffel Tower after the guided tour. Your guide would escort you to the Eiffel Tower, where you would have free time on your own for the visit.

Tour of Versailles Magnifique 
Following breakfast at your hotel, meet your guide in the lobby for a day tour to the famous residence of French kings. Together with your experienced guide, you take a short train ride to taste what it means to be a local, and appear in the heart of Versailles in just 1 hour*.

Prepare to be awestruck as you step inside the Palace of Versailles, marveling at its grandiose opulence. Wander through the iconic Hall of Mirrors, where the historic Treaty of Versailles was signed, and explore the actual rooms once occupied by the extravagant King Louis XIV. As you absorb the rich history and breathtaking beauty, take a well-deserved break for coffee and delectable snacks (not included). Indulge in the flavors of France, savoring the moment amidst the splendor of the palace grounds.

With renewed energy, continue your exploration, strolling through the world-famous Le Notre gardens, admiring the majestic exterior of the Grand Trianon, and venturing inside the enchanting Petit Trianon, Marie-Antoinette's cherished estate. After the tour, you are taken back to your hotel and have the evening at leisure.

*Round trip by the train can be replaced with a private driver. Refer to your travel specialist for more details.

Departure
Following breakfast in your hotel you check out, meet your driver and continue your journey. 

Arrival
Upon arrival to Cannes your private driver takes you to your centrally located hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at leisure. 

City tour of Cannes
After breakfast meet your guide and start a 3-hour walking tour of Cannes. During the tour you see the old town called le Suquet, and the waterfront Boulevard de la Croisette, where the Cannes Film Festival is held every year, and the Palais des Festivals et des Congres from outside.

After the tour you return to the hotel and rest of the day is at leisure. Take the opportunity at your free time to take a boat to Saint Marguerite Island famously known for the Man in Iron Mask! Enjoy walk up to the Fort, visit museum and enjoy wonderful views of Cannes. 

Day Trip to Nice
Following breakfast take a train to Nice and within just 30 minutes meet your local guide at the station.

Start your 3-hour walking* tour around the most stunning Nice attractions from the oldest times with the Greek and Roman ruins, to the more recent era of Belle Epoque with the palaces of the last century.

During the tour you stroll through the cobblestone narrow streets of the picturesque Old Town abundant in souvenir stalls, cafes and shops, see the Castle Hill, with the ruins of the former Chateau de Nice and walk along the Promenade des Anglais that stretches through the entire city coastline with the Baie des Anges and the beaches on one side, and beautiful buildings, including the breathtaking hotel Negresco, on the other.

After the city tour you have free time to enjoy Nice on your own before getting back to Cannes by train.

*Tickets for the public transportation are included.

Day Trip to Monaco
After breakfast take a train to the tiny royal principality Monaco surrounded by France and the Mediterranean Sea. In an hour you arrive and local guide meets you at the train station.

During the 4-hour walking* tour you see major city attractions including the Cathedral of Monaco and the official royal residence - the Prince's Palace from the outside, that is located on the hill top overlooking the sea of the Old Town Monaco-Ville area.

Here you enter the State Apartments Museum (available till October 14th), where you get to see its eccentric rooms such as the Mirror Room, the Throne Room, the Red Room, the York Room, the Blue Room, the Louis XV bedroom called the Yellow Room and the Officers Room.

Then you continue to the Monte-Carlo district. As a tour highlight, you enter one of the oldest and most fashionable casinos in Europe, Monte-Carlo Casino** and see the splendid Opera House, created by Charles Garnier - the same architect who built the famous Paris Opera House. After the tour you have free time before taking the train to Cannes.

*Tickets for the public transportation are included.

**Note: To preserve the legendary aura of the Casino de Monte-Carlo it applies a dress code that meets the requirements of both elegance and tradition. Ripped or stonewashed jeans, sleeveless t-shirts, tracksuits, sports clothing, shorts and beachwear, sandals and flip-flops for gentlemen, and large trainers will not be permitted. 

Note: If you would like to explore Monaco with a local, you should meet Firebird CEO Slava Shirokov for lunch. He is always happy to meet our customers. Please let us know beforehand so we can sync your itinerary and his travel plans.

Departure
This is the last day of your tour of Southern France. Your driver meets you at your accommodation and takes you to the airport or train station depending on where you travel next.