✓ Incredible sightseeing including Paris, Giverny, La Roche-Guyon, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Honfleur, the Loire Valley and more
✓ 7 Day river cruise along the Seine to Honfleur
✓ 2 nights in centrally located 4 stars accommodation in Paris
✓ 6 nights accommodation in a standard or premium river cruise
✓ 19 meals including daily breakfast, 5 lunches & 6 dinners
✓ Refined French cuisine, gala dinner/evening and welcome cocktail
✓ Onboard drinks included with meals and at the bar
✓ Onboard activities as outlined in the itinerary
✓ Includes port fees
✓ Free Wi-Fi onboard your river cruise
✓ Paris Airport arrival transfers
9 Days Loire Valley & Cruise The Seine To Normandy
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Pace
Moderate Pace
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Escorted Type
Partially Escorted
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Cruise Style
River
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Protection Guarantee
Free Date Change Protection
✓ Incredible sightseeing including Paris, Giverny, La Roche-Guyon, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Honfleur, the Loire Valley and more
✓ 7 Day river cruise along the Seine to Honfleur
✓ 2 nights in centrally located 4 stars accommodation in Paris
✓ 6 nights accommodation in a standard or premium river cruise
✓ 19 meals including daily breakfast, 5 lunches & 6 dinners
✓ Refined French cuisine, gala dinner/evening and welcome cocktail
✓ Onboard drinks included with meals and at the bar
✓ Onboard activities as outlined in the itinerary
✓ Includes port fees
✓ Free Wi-Fi onboard your river cruise
✓ Paris Airport arrival transfers
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Free Date Change Protection
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7-Day Cooling Off Period
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Award Winning Customer Support
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Covid Safety and Wellbeing
Travelling with Inspiring Vacations allows you to explore the wonders of the world in a variety of different ways. We have partnered with a worldwide network of local travel experts to bring you culturally unique and delightfully unforgettable travel experiences. Whether it is meandering through narrow canyons by rail, cruising the idyllic waters of the Mediterranean or touring through the backroads of provincial towns, Inspiring Vacations trips offer amazing value and will leave you inspired.
Welcome to Paris! Upon arrival to the airport, you transfer will drive you to your centrally located hotel. The rest of the day is at leasure so settle in, relax and perhaps start exploring your sourrandings.
Early in the morning, make your way to Hotel Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel (approximately 4km from your hotel) and join a guided tour to the Loire Valley. You will visit the Chateau de Chenonceau and the Chateau de Chambord, two of the greatest castles of the Loire Valley. Today's dive into French history is completed with a visit to the Clos Luce castle, the emblematic palace where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final three years as the guest of the king of France.
Enjoy an easy breakfast, check out from your hotel and leave your luggage at the front desk. Then, make your way to the starting point of today's culinary experience. A taxi or Uber from your will cost approximately ERU 15-20. Join a local guide as you explore Paris's hidden gems. You will walk through some of the most beautiful streets in the city and you will have the opportunity to find out curiosities about Paris and its culinary tradition.
Return to your hotel, collect your luggage and make your way to Quai de Grenelle (A taxi or Uber will cost approximately EUR 15-20) and board your cruise. You are welcome to board the ship at 6:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, you'll be introduced to the crew at a welcome cocktail. Set out for a cruise through Paris by night (depending on the water level).
We’ll spend the morning cruising the river. In the afternoon, you may want to join the below optional activity.
Optional Tour - Visit the Claude Monet Foundation in Giverny, EUR 53 (booked on tour)
You will leave the boat by coach to travel to the home of Claude Monet. He lived in his Giverny home between 1830 and 1926. His passion for gardening and colors led him to conceive his flowers garden as a true art piece. He even said: "It took a while for me to understand my waterlilies... I grew them without thinking of painting them... A landscape doesn't sink in in one day... And all of a sudden the enchantments of my pond struck me. I took my palette. Since then, I've never had any other model."
You can still feel the atmosphere that once reigned in the master of Impressionnism's house when visiting it. You will discover the pink facade while penetrating the garden. Inside, the artist's particular taste for warm tones will strike you, from the intensity of the blue he chose for his kitchen as well as his small living room, to the the yellow walls and furniture in the dining room, where you will also be able to see his private collection of Japanese prints. We'll be back on board in Vernon late afternoon.
Today, join a full day guided tour of the charming villages in the Pays de Caux Region. The Pays de Caux is famous for its white chalk cliffs bordering the English Channel, but you’ll discover much more of the region on this tour, including the vast fertile fields of grains and prairies of wildflowers. Veules-les-Roses is a lovely seaside village tucked away in a bucolic valley that was once a coveted holiday spot for French artists such as Victor Hugo. The traditional Norman-style houses and ancient watermills are the backdrops to the laid-back atmosphere still found today.
Our next stop will be Dieppe, a vibrant maritime city rooted in French art and history. The seafront is a palette of colors and a great place to stroll to take in the seaside atmosphere. We’ll have lunch in a local restaurant. Our last stop will be Varangéville-sur-Mer and the breathtaking scenery and views from its cliffs. The village itself extends over several small green valleys dotted with pretty homes. At the end of the picturesque drive lies a small church with an unsurpassed outlook over the sea.
Our ship will spend the morning cruising to Honfleur. This afternoon, join a guided tour of Cabourg and the Côte Fleurie. Explore a string of Norman seaside resorts, from the most chic to the most picturesque. You will discover Cabourg and its beach and go for a stroll along the opulent villas of the Belle Epoque. This seaside resort, created from scratch in 1853 has a fan-shaped plan whose arteries converge towards the Grand Hotel and the Casino located on the seafront. Cabourg also remains inseparable from Marcel Proust. It was here in Cabourg, renamed Balbec, that he wrote the most beautiful pages of his Recherche du temps loss. You will taste a few madeleines before hitting the road again.
Today is free for you to explore Honfleur. There are a few options available to ensure you make the most of your time here - whatever your interest is.
Optional full day tour of Normandy landing beaches - EUR 153 (booked on tour)
Departure by coach for a day trip to the landing beaches. Arrival at Pointe du Hoc, which was the scene of one of the landings on June 6, 1944. After our visit, we'll pass through Omaha Beach, Colleville sur Mer and its American cemetery. After lunch, we'll continue to Arromanches, site of the famous battle with its artificial port installed to allow the invasion of land troops and their equipment.
We'll stop at Arromanches 360° where you'll be able to watch a film in its circular room. The Price of Liberty combines archived footage filmed in June 1944 by war correspondents with current shots on the same site. We'll get back to Honfleur via Gold Beach, Juno Beach (Gray sur mer- Courseulles sur Mer - St Aubin sur Mer) and Sword Beach (Ouistreham Lion sur Mer - Luc sur mer). Arrival in Honfleur in the early evening.
Optional morning walking tour of Honfleur - EUR 26 (booked on tour)
We'll meet up with our guide and set off on our walking tour. Honfleur, the cradle of Impressionism, is located at the mouth of the Seine as it flows into the English Channel. Untouched by the passage of time, this small port has kept the landmarks of its rich past, making it today one of the most visited towns in France. We'll begin our tour at the Vieux Bassin, one of the most charming sites in the city. The narrow houses squeezed against each other are quite a unique sight.
Next, we'll see Saint Catherine's Church, the largest wooden church in France. It was listed as a historical monument in 1879 and has been the subject of scrupulous research by many archaeologists and historians. We'll then head for the original 17th-century Salt Halls (Greniers à Sel), now used for exhibitions, conferences and concerts. Our tour will finish with a visit to Saint Léonard Church. Destroyed during the Hundred Years War, it was rebuilt at the end of the 15th and beginning of the 16th centuries-only to be partially burned down again during the Wars of Religion. We'll return to our ship on foot.
Optional afternoon cheese & apple products discovery - EUR 67 (booked on tour)
Join a local guide and explore Honfleur best cheese & apple product.
This morning, you will join a guided tour of medieval Rouen and the Ossuary of Saint-Maclou. The history of the capital of Normandy is still tangible around every street corner. It is difficult not to feel this past laden with remarkable facts in the history of France. You will cross the Antiquaires district, the old Drapiers district, the rue Damiette, the rue Saint Romain and its half-timbered houses. You will visit the Atre Saint Maclou, an exceptional place. Unique in Europe, it is also one of the last remaining gallery cemeteries in France. The beauty of its facades, its macabre decorations in carved wood and its frames and joinery will not fail to fascinate you.
We’ll spend the afternoon cruising. Tonight is our festive gala evening.
Enjoy one last breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. Cruise staff will be able to help you arrange a transfer to the airport which typically costs between EUR 45-60.
Inspiring Vacations has been globally recognised and awarded for its handling of COVID -19 during the pandemic. The safety and wellbeing of our guests is our highest concern during this time of uncertainty, and we are continuously monitoring the evolving COVID -19 situation.
We have adopted the advice of the WHO to ensure all customers can travel with the knowledge of how to travel safely and with confidence.
Australian owned and operated with 100% Australian Customer Service support
We are proudly 100% Australian owned and operated, with our head office located in Melbourne, Victoria. When you make your booking, you will receive dedicated and ongoing support from our team of travel professionals throughout your booking, up until you are due to depart.
Free Flexible Date Change
Book now, change later with our Free Flexible Date Change . Date change must be requested 45 days before your original selected departure date. Once inside 45 days of departure, date changes may not be permitted. Date changes are subject to availability and may incur third party costs, plus any applicable surcharges for the new date selected
The Free Flexible Date Change option does not cover cost incurred for components not fulfilled by Inspiring Vacations or in the event extra services have been booked with Inspiring Vacations outside of the standard package, including but not limited to airfares, pre/post accommodation or insurance.
Cooling off period
If you change your mind within 7 days of making your booking online, you can request a refund of your initial deposit payment as part of our cooling off period. Once your purchase date falls outside of the 7 day period, our standard terms and conditions will apply.
Please ensure that any request to cancel your booking is received via email to support@inspiringvacations.com, including the reason for cancellation.
Deposit & Payments
- Please follow the 'book now' prompts to view the deposit amount
- A second installment will be due 28 days after your initial deposit of 30% of the package cost per person
- You will then be invoiced for final payment 90 days prior to departure
Booking Process
- 'Sign Up' first by entering your email and creating a password
- Then select the red 'Book now' tab of the tour you have selected
- Select your Departure Date, Number of Passengers, Room Configuration, any Upgrade Options, and enter any Special Requests
- Click the red ‘Proceed to Secure Checkout' tab
- Enter your credit card or PayPal details to secure your deposit/payment
- Once your order is complete, you will be prompted to complete a Booking Form so that we can fulfil your booking
- Your booking is on request and will be confirmed by Inspiring Vacations once all components of your package have been secured with our partners, please see below for further information
Booking On Request
- Your Inspiring Vacations package is made up of multiple components and travel partners. Once your booking is made and passenger details form submitted, we will begin to confirm all of your arrangements.
- Please note, this process can take several business days to complete.
Once all elements have been confirmed we will send you an email confirmation, if we are unable to confirm we will provide you with alternative dates or offer a full refund of your deposit or re-credit your account if a travel credit was used. - Please DO NOT book any additional services, such as flights, until we have confirmed your Inspiring Vacations package in writing. Inspiring Vacations will not be liable for any fees or charges incurred to change or cancel components not booked by Inspiring Vacations should your selected package be unavailable.
Croisieurope Cruises
The river cruise section of this itinerary is operated by our parter Croisieurope Cruises. Since its creation, Croisieurope has built a fleet of cruise ships capable of taking passengers on all the European rivers. Today, the company counts 32 ships on the continent, all of Standard category and Premium category. Designed with care and taste for detail, each of the boats in the CroisiEurope fleet offers comfort and safety, and always with a touch of originality in interior decoration.
100 to 180 passengers can board, depending on the design of the ships. These are regularly maintained to kept up to date with decor and optimal safety standards. The Croisieurope fleet welcomes new cruise ships every year, while some of the older ones are completely refurbished. Becoming the European leader in river cruises, Croisieurope represents today quality, with its experience, its dynamism and its sense of innovation.
This itinerary is operated on a number of different ships. See below for links and more information on your selected ship. Cabin inclusions vary from ship to ship. The price of this trip includes a comfortable Main Deck Cabin. Cabins feature (at least) a window and are equipped with two beds that can be separated, private bathroom with shower and bath products, satellite TV, safe, hairdryer and radio. You can request an upgrade to Upper Deck or Middle Deck.
- Main Deck - Included
- Middle Deck - from AUD 295 per person
Please request your cabin upgrade in the 'special requests' field. Availability and price will then be confirmed and added to your invoice upon acceptance.
Ships available during this trip:
- MS Seine Princess - Standard
- MS Botticelli - Standard
COVID-19
Due to COVID there maybe disruptions to standard operating schedules of particular components of this itinerary. Should a component be affected a substitute will be confirmed prior to departure.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard.
Single Supplement
A Single Supplement is available on this tour. Select 'book now' and choose 1 passenger to show the single supplement for this tour.
Triple Share
Not Available
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including, e -tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Group Size
Group size varies from package to package. Depending on the services provided, the group size might range from private 2 person experiences up to coaches of 60 people depending on your selected holiday.
Tour Style
Partially Escorted - A section of this itinerary is Independent. We have arranged your transportation, accommodation and activities. During this time you will joined by other non Inspiring Vacations travelers. The river cruise portion of this tour runs as a group tour where you will be escorted by expert ship's staff and by local leaders during off shore excursions.
Children
Children must share a room with parents at all times and are charged the same price as adults.
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Optional activities
- Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Guide/Driver tipping
- Transportation to/from activities on Day 2 & 10 starting point - as explained in the itinerary
- Expenditures of a personal nature, drinks and meals if not stated explicitly in the programme
Where a comparative ‘typically’ price is displayed next to the advertised price, it should be taken as a comparison to the average price a traveller would expect to pay travelling to the same destination for a similar duration, itinerary and by a similar style of travel. The ‘typically’ price is the average price you can expect to pay if travelling with another operator or service provider.
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