8-Nights France Family Journey: From Paris to Normandy and Beyond - National Geographic Family Journeys

France Family Journey: From Paris to Normandy and Beyond
Explore the wonderful history, art, and culture of France on an adventure from iconic monuments in Paris to amazing cave dwellings in the Loire Valley. Find secret spots in the splendid gardens at Giverny and Versailles, study the strategy behind World War II operations, and solve ancient mysteries in the halls of historic castles and cloisters. From crepes to cathedrals, discover the many treasures this incredible country holds for travelers of all ages.

Highlights
Experience the magic of medieval cities, delight in a visit to a sustainable Cider Farm with an included tasting, learn about the history of World War II and D-Day, explore the Château de Chenonceau and its winding hedge maze.

Accomodation
Rooming is based on double occupancy (2 passengers / 2 beds per room); all other room configurations are on request and cannot be guaranteed. We will try to accommodate triples/quad requests whenever possible and it's important to note that rooming configuration can change from city to city and 2 single beds are the standard configuration in a room. Please remember that hotel/lodge standards can be different from what you are used to in your home country, which is part of the appeal of adventure travel. It is important to note that accommodations in Europe tend to be quite different to other areas of the world you may have travelled in. Buildings and rooms are generally old and may not have been renovated or maintained to the highest standard. Downtown hotels in Europe were not built to be hotels but houses of the rich, which have been changed into hotels. Therefore unusual or small room sizes are common as large rooms have been partitioned in the past, resulting in rather "thin" walls. Reception areas, rooms and bathrooms tend to be very small as they were often added into an existing room, and may have a hand nozzle rather than a conventional shower head. On this trip you can expect to stay in hotels which will vary a little in standard and facilities: some may not have elevators, air-conditioning or English-speaking staff, but have traditional character, and are in central locations to give you maximum time for exploring the sights. You can expect to find clean, safe, simple accommodation in convenient locations. Staff can occasionally demonstrate less than perfect customer service, but a smile and a thank you can go a long way.

Group Leader
All National Geographic Family Journeys with G Adventures group trips are accompanied by two of our Expedition Leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense; you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds.

Group Size Notes
Max 20, avg 18

Meals Included
8 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

What's Included
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet
Your Expedition Leader and Group
Your Family Journeys Moment: La Flaguerie Cider Farm Visit, Ducy-Sainte-Marguerite
Your Family Journeys Moment: D-Day Family Experience and Memorial Visit, Bayeux
Your Family Journeys Moment: Palace of Versailles Family Visit, Versailles.
Arrival transfer. Guided Paris Île de la Cité walking tour. Giverny and Monet Gardens visit. Excursion to Mont-Saint-Michel. Short Bayeaux orientation walk. Troglodyte cave visit. Canoeing on the Cher River. Chenonceaux Castle Visit. Visit Clos Lucé. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.