Gardens of France

Thursday 14 May

An evening departure for an overnight flight on Emirates.  

Friday 15 May

Early morning arrival and transfer to hotel. Rest day with a Welcome Dinner in the evening.

Saturday 16 May

A half-day local sightseeing tour, including a 30-minute marina cruise.

Sunday 17 May

A free morning before transfer and midday flight to Paris, arriving in the early evening for a three-night stay.

Monday 18 May

Today’s highlight is the Palace and Gardens of Versailles, one of the most visited public sites in France, receiving over six million visitors annually.

Tuesday 19 May

A full day to visit- the Arboretum of La Roche-Guyon, a 13-hectare public arboretum located in the heart of a 350-hectare forest. Afterward, we’ll visit Monet’s Garden, a must-see destination that needs no introduction.

Wednesday 20 May

On the coach trip to Tours, we’ll break the journey with a visit to Château de Chambord, one of the most recognizable châteaux in the world, known for its distinctive French Renaissance architecture and 6.5-hectare gardens.

Thursday 21 May

The Château of Villandry is one of the most magnificent castles ever built along the Loire River, inhabited since the Renaissance. It is always a highlight of any tour.

Friday 22 May

Just 400 meters away from Château Royal d’Amboise is Château Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci lived until his death. Today, it serves as a museum about da Vinci’s life, work, and legacy. Nearby, Chenonceau Castle is renowned for its stunning Renaissance-style gardens, home to over 130,000 flowering plants.

Saturday 23 May

A longer day of travel, concluding with a visit to one of France’s renowned red wine regions, with a winery tour included.

Sunday 24 May

Before departing this UNESCO World Heritage-listed medieval village, we’ll take a guided walking tour through its narrow streets, including the extensive underground 11th-century church.

The 11th century monolithic church of Saint-Émilion is carved entirely out of a limestone cliff. No documents exist that discuss the building of the monolithic church, its purpose was probably to venerate and conserve the body of the 8th century Breton monk Saint Émilion. It is one of the largest underground churches in Europe, with an estimated 15,000 cubic metres of rock extracted. The great hall measures 38 metres long and 20 metres wide, divided into three naves of six bays.Visitors can enter the church and view its catacombs.

Monday 25 May

On the road again to visit Le Jardin Champêtre, a young garden representing a new generation of Mediterranean-zone gardens. Next, we’ll explore Jardin de Roquebrun, home to an impressive collection of cacti, lemon trees, and other exotic plants from the Mediterranean region.

Tuesday 26 May

 In the morning, we’ll visit the local and highly rated city garden. Afterward, we’ll tour Château de Flaugergues, where the descendants of the Colbert family still reside 320 years later.

Wednesday 27 May

Outside Béziers, Le Jardin Saint Adrien is a green oasis created in old quarries, dating from the Middle Ages. Le Jardin Sec, nestled between a cliff and the Filippis family home, is an experimental gravel garden that showcases Mediterranean plants collected from around the world. Early May offers one of the richest flowering periods.

Thursday 28 May

 Today’s sightseeing journey takes us via Avignon, with a stop at the Pont du Gard, one of France’s most popular tourist attractions. Built in the first century AD, the ancient bridge carried water for 50 km to Nîmes.

Friday 29 May

Located on the Mediterranean coast, Le Domaine du Royal specializes in plants from dry, hot climates around the world. It’s surprising to find they’ve even managed to grow a New Zealand-style garden.

Saturday 30 May

Local sightseeing tour with the afternoon free.

Sunday 31 May

The Jardin Exotique d’Eze is set in a stunning location, with plants ranging from young specimens to mature old ones, including a crown of thorns weighing half a tonne. We’ll also visit the Botanique Garden, which contains around 1,500 taxa growing in a microclimate where temperatures rarely fall below 5°C (41°F) in winter.

Monday 01 June

Free morning with afternoon departure on Emirates.

Tuesday 02 June

Change planes.

Wednesday 03 June

Mid-morning arrival.

Option to Extend Please ask us!