Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 – Your French Adventure Begins!

Your journey begins as you meet your fellow travelers and board your overnight flight from Newark to Paris. Get ready for 11 unforgettable days exploring France—from the historic beaches of Normandy and the dramatic coastline of Brittany to the castles of the Loire Valley and the iconic streets of Paris!

Day 2 – Bonjour, France! Paris → Normandy

Arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, where you’ll meet your GCP Program Director and board your private motorcoach for the journey into Normandy. Along the way, stop in historic Rouen, a beautiful medieval city known for its half-timbered houses, Gothic cathedral, and connections to Joan of Arc. Stretch your legs with a walk through the historic center and enjoy lunch before continuing to the Caen/Bayeux area. Tonight, come together for a welcome dinner and celebrate the start of your adventure in France.

Day 3 – The D-Day Beaches of Normandy

Step into one of the most important chapters of modern history as you spend the day exploring the D-Day landing sites with a local expert. Stand atop the dramatic cliffs of Pointe du Hoc, where U.S. Army Rangers scaled the cliffs on June 6, 1944, before continuing to Omaha Beach. Visit the Normandy American Cemetery, overlooking the English Channel, and reflect on the thousands of American service members buried here. Your exploration continues at the Caen Memorial Museum, where interactive exhibits provide a deeper understanding of World War II, D-Day, and the events that shaped modern Europe. Tonight, enjoy dinner together in Normandy.

Day 4 – Mont-Saint-Michel: Tides, Quicksand & a Medieval Abbey

Travel to one of France’s most extraordinary destinations: Mont-Saint-Michel. Rising dramatically from the surrounding tidal flats, this medieval island is unlike anywhere else in the world. Meet a specialist guide and head out onto the bay for an interactive exploration of its remarkable natural environment. Walk across the tidal flats, learn how some of Europe’s most dramatic tides transform the landscape, and even discover how the bay’s famous quicksand forms. Back on the island, wander through the medieval village and climb to the historic abbey perched high above the bay. Later, continue into Brittany and the walled seaside city of Saint-Malo.

Day 5 – Saint-Malo: Life on the Brittany Coast

Discover the maritime history and coastal culture of Saint-Malo, one of Brittany’s most fascinating cities. Walk along the massive stone ramparts surrounding the Old Town, explore its narrow streets, and learn how the region’s extraordinary tides have influenced life here for centuries. Then experience another side of Breton culture during a hands-on crêpe-making class. Learn to prepare traditional sweet crêpes and savory galettes before enjoying your creations. Later, enjoy free time to explore the waterfront, shops, cafés, and historic streets of Saint-Malo.

Day 6 – Nantes & the Machines of the Isle

Travel south to Nantes, a creative city with a fascinating maritime past and strong connections to legendary French author Jules Verne. Explore the historic center before visiting one of the city’s most imaginative attractions, Les Machines de l’Île. Inspired by the worlds of Jules Verne and Leonardo da Vinci, this incredible artistic project combines engineering, theater, and larger-than-life mechanical creations. See the famous Grand Éléphant in action and discover how art and engineering come together in unexpected ways. Tonight, enjoy dinner together in Nantes.

Day 7 – Salt Marshes & France’s Atlantic Coast

Leave the city behind and travel into the Vendée region along France’s Atlantic coast. Today, discover a tradition that has shaped this landscape for generations as you visit the region’s historic salt marshes. Meet a local saunier, or salt harvester, and learn how a carefully managed system of channels and shallow pools uses nothing more than seawater, sunshine, and wind to produce sea salt. Explore this unique coastal environment while learning about the connection between geography, agriculture, and traditional ways of life. Tonight, enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in the Vendée region.

Day 8 – Château de Chenonceau & the Loire Valley

Journey inland to the beautiful Loire Valley, a region famous for its vineyards, historic towns, and spectacular Renaissance châteaux. Visit Château de Chenonceau, one of France’s most recognizable castles, uniquely built across the River Cher. Explore its elegant rooms, fascinating history, and beautiful setting before continuing to Tours, your home for the next two nights. Get to know the city during an orientation walk through its historic center, discovering lively squares, medieval streets, and the atmosphere of this classic Loire Valley city.

Day 9 – Leonardo da Vinci & Biking the Loire Valley

Begin the day at Clos Lucé, the château where Leonardo da Vinci spent the final years of his life after being invited to France by King Francis I. Explore Leonardo’s living and working spaces and discover models inspired by his remarkable inventions and ideas. Then trade the motorcoach for bicycles and experience the Loire Valley from a completely different perspective! With a local guide, cycle through the countryside, passing villages, vineyards, farmland, and classic Loire landscapes. Stop along the way to learn about the region’s history and agriculture before returning to Tours for your final evening in the Loire Valley.

Day 10 – Bonjour, Paris! Icons, Neighborhoods & Montmartre

Depart Tours this morning and make your way to Paris for an unforgettable final day in France. After arriving in the capital, set out on foot to discover some of the city’s most famous sights and neighborhoods. Explore the historic Latin Quarter, stroll along the Seine, see the magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral and Île de la Cité, and continue toward the Louvre and its iconic glass pyramid. Walk through the beautiful Tuileries Garden and enjoy some free time to experience Paris at your own pace.

This evening, head uphill to Montmartre, the legendary neighborhood once home to artists including Picasso, Renoir, and Van Gogh. Wander its winding streets, experience the lively atmosphere of Place du Tertre, and visit Sacré-Cœur for spectacular views across Paris. Tonight, celebrate an incredible journey through France with a special farewell dinner in Montmartre before spending your final night in Paris.

Day 11 – Au Revoir, France!

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before transferring to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport for your return flight to Newark. Head home with new friendships, incredible experiences, and memories of your journey through Normandy, Brittany, the Atlantic coast, the Loire Valley, and Paris that will last long after you return home.