5 minute read
Visages de la France
D-D AY BEACHES
MONT ST-MICHEL VERSAILLES
3
PARIS
ST-MALO
2
CHARTRES
LOIRE VALLEY LAUSANNE
GENEVA
2
GRUYÈRES
MONTREUX
AV I GNON CHILLON
NÎMES
2
PRO V ENCE
2
NICE
Cities visited (night stays)
Paris (3 nights), St Malo (1 night), Loire Valley (2 nights), Lausanne (2 nights), Provence (2 nights), and Nice (2 nights)
PONT DU GARD
Days 1-3 Paris
• Overnight flight to France and arrive in
Paris. • Day 3: Explore Paris with a local guide, including Arc de Triomphe, Champs-
Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, and
Notre Dame Cathedral. • In the evening, travel to the top of the Eiffel
Tower and enjoy breathtaking views. • Add on: Theatre performance en français.
Day 4
Versailles
• Discover the Palace of Versailles with a local guide. Tour the Hall of Mirrors, the royal apartments, and the gardens.
LEAP—Seize the Château!: A lively role-play puts you in the shoes of the monarchy, clergy, nobility, bourgeoisie, or peasantry to explore the issues underlying the French Revolution. • Visit the Louvre Museum and see the Mona
Lisa’s famous smile.
Day 5
Normandy
• Soak in Normandy’s striking landscape as you visit WWII battlegrounds. • Visit the American Military Cemetery and the Landing Museum in Arromanches.
LEAP—Soldiers’ Stories: Step into the shoes of U.S. servicemen as they land in Normandy on D-Day. Learn about their lives and their experiences to gain personal and historical perspective. • Continue to St. Malo.
Day 6
Mont St. Michel
• Visit Mont St. Michel, a fortified monastery situated on an island. • Continue to the Loire Valley.
Day 7
Loire Châteaux
• Explore Chenonceau and Amboise. • Journey through vineyards and stop to visit an authentic French wine “cave.”
LEAP—Bon Appetit: Slice, dice, and stir!
Savor the French country lifestyle by creating (and eating) traditional Loire
Valley cuisine.
Day 8
Geneva
• Visit the magnificent Gothic cathedral of
Chartres. • Travel back to Paris and board the TGV to
Geneva. • Enjoy a walking tour of Geneva before continuing to Lausanne.
Day 9
Montreux-Broc-Château Chillon
• Tour the chic mountain resort of Montreux, the chocolate factory of Broc, and Château
Chillon, an awe-inspiring 11th century castle. • Add on: Fondue dinner in Lausanne.
Day 10
Avignon to Pont Du Gard
• Tour Avignon.
LEAP—Painters’ Provence* • Visit Pont du Gard, a massive Roman aqueduct.
Day 11 Nîmes
• Enjoy a walking tour of Nîmes, including the Maison Carrée and the Roman arena.
LEAP—En Garde!: Which is mightier—the pen or the sword? You decide! Learn basic calligraphy and fencing moves to gain new insight into old-world traditions.
Day 12
Les Baux
• En route to Nice, visit Les Baux fortress. • Evening walking tour.
Days 13–14
Nice
• Explore St. Paul de Vence, a beautifully preserved medieval hill town. • Day 14: Return home or extend your trip with an extra day in Nice.
*LEAP—PAINTERS’ PROVENCE
Make a sales pitch for a masterpiece by Cezanne, Monet, or another artist whose works highlight Provençal landscapes. Understand the impact that the light and landscape had on these artists.
CREATINg THE pERFECT TOUR
Part of our great service is great trip planning itself. Over the years, we’ve learned how teenagers learn and enjoy travel best—our formula for the most incredible trip? It starts with busy, action-packed days of sightseeing and cultural activities.
We add in delicious, authentic meals and fun hotels in the heart of the action, plus relaxing evenings with optional guided tours. To top it all off, our savvy Tour Directors lead off-the-beaten-path excursions and adventures that show off the true culture of your destination—the one that tourists don’t get to experience.
Tour Director Spotlight
Meet John Lionet, a WorldStrides Tour Director
John knows that the best way to make education fun for students is to help them find personal meanings in what they see and do. He’s a unique blend of teacher, entertainer, and all-around catalyst in helping travelers find real-life adventure abroad—students see him as an inspiration and a friend, and teachers love him because he’s so inclusive.
Like many of our Tour Directors, John started out as a teacher himself, including a chair position in a high school’s modern languages department. (In fact, we give preferential consideration to former teachers within our rigorous Tour Director selection process, because we find they’re naturals at making tours educational and fun.)
A Tour Director for over 10 years, John has led trips all over Western and Central Europe, from Scandinavia to Slovakia. You might see him on the steps of Carcassonne, showing students how to create a human flying buttress—or cooking up a paella dish with them in Barcelona.
On his favorite place in the world…
The Mediterranean—all the ancient civilizations that influence us still so greatly today flourished on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
On interacting with students…
What I love most is that students get me to see the world through fresh eyes—they challenge me to look at things differently. When I can help them open their minds and really give their curiosity free reign, we both learn together.
On his favorite impromptu activities…
Scavenger hunts, creating tableaux out of works of art...anything that prompts students to actively explore and create new connections. I also try to get them to interact with local young people—that often ends up being their favorite memory of the trip.
On how travel changes students for the better…
Young people need to have their eyes opened to the world around them, they need to be self-reliant, to learn that their way is not the only way—and to accept those differences. Travel does that!
HOLA! HOLA! BONJOUR! BONJOUR!
Compare cultures and boost your takeaways
France and Spain share rich histories and iconic architecture—but the comparisons don’t end there. You’ll fill your plate with Spanish tapas one day, and French cheese the next. You’ll discover that the masterpieces of Picasso and Dalí stand up against the French impressionist greats. When you combine two of Europe’s premier destinations, you’ll find new marvels to explore at every turn.
