Wednesday, November 4. (D)* DEPART FOR PARIS

Depart this evening aboard any airline of your choice to Paris, France. Dinner and light breakfast served on the plane.

Thursday, November 5. (B,D)*. PARIS

Upon arrival at Paris International Airport, you will be transferred by taxi to your five-star luxury Inter Continental Paris - Le Grand hotel, where you will enjoy a nine-night stay. The evening begins with a welcome briefing, followed by a gala dinner at the hotel’s gourmet restaurant.

Friday, November 6. (B). PARIS

Morning sightseeing tour by bus to Montmartre and the magnificent Sacré-Cœur Basilica, offering sweeping views over Paris. We then continue with an orientation tour of the Right Bank, passing the Opéra Garnier, Place Vendôme, Place de la Concorde, the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, the elegant Marais district, and other landmarks that showcase the history, architecture, and grandeur of the French capital. Afternoon at leisure. This evening, we will see the opera Das Rheingold by Wagner at Opéra Bastille.

Paris has been the political and cultural heart of France for centuries, firmly established as the nation's capital in the Middle Ages. The Revolution of 1789 began in its streets and reshaped not only France but democratic thought across Europe. In the nineteenth century, Baron Haussmann redrew the city, giving it the wide boulevards, uniform façades, and long views we still walk today. Paris lived through occupation from 1940 until its liberation in 1944, and emerged with its character intact. It remains what it has long been: a city where art, music, and ideas belong to everyday life.

Saturday, November 7. (B,D). PARIS

This morning, we explore the historic Marais district on foot, one of Paris’s oldest neighborhoods, known for its aristocratic mansions and vibrant street life. We will end out tour at the Musée Carnavalet, devoted entirely to the history of Paris from prehistoric times through the 20th century. It is your choice to explore and visit the museum, it is an ideal introduction to the city. This evening, we will see the opera Die Walküre by Wagner at Opéra Bastille, during intermission dinner is included.

Sunday, November 8. (B). PARIS

This morning we enjoy an orientation tour of Paris's Left Bank by bus, passing through Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Latin Quarter, the Panthéon, the Luxembourg Gardens, Les Invalides, and the Eiffel Tower. We then visit the Musée d'Orsay, housed in a magnificent former railway station and home to one of the world's finest collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. Following a guided introduction to the museum's highlights, guests are free to continue exploring at their leisure and enjoy lunch independently.

Monday, November 9. (B). PARIS

A guided visit to the Musée du Louvre — the world's largest art museum, housed in a former royal palace — introduces highlights spanning classical antiquity, Egyptian civilization, and the Renaissance, including works by Leonardo, Raphael, and Vermeer. The scale of the collection rewards focusses over breadth; your guide will lead you through the essential masterpieces without fatigue. This evening, is at leisure.

Tuesday, November 10. (B,D). PARIS

This morning, we visit Sainte-Chapelle, the magnificent Gothic royal chapel located within the medieval Palais de la Cité, once the residence of the Kings of France until the 14th century. Built in the 13th century to house sacred Christian relics, the chapel is celebrated for its extraordinary stained-glass windows, which depict over 1,000 biblical scenes and rank among the finest achievements of Gothic architecture in Europe. Afternoon at leisure. This evening, we will see the opera Siegfried by Wagner at Opéra Bastille, during intermission dinner is included. 

Wednesday, November 11. (B,L). PARIS - VERSAILLES

A morning excursion to the Palace of Versailles, the former residence of the French kings. We explore the State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, and portions of the formal gardens. Lunch enroute. Return to Paris in the afternoon. Evening at leisure.

A short drive from Paris, Versailles began as a royal hunting lodge and became, under Louis XIV, the seat of the French monarchy and the model every European court tried to imitate. The king moved his government here in 1682, and for more than a century Versailles was the center of French political life. Its Hall of Mirrors and formal gardens remain among the great achievements of the age. The Revolution forced the royal family back to Paris in 1789, and Versailles endured, later hosting the treaty that ended the First World War in 1919.

Thursday, November 12. (B,D). PARIS

Today is free to enjoy Paris at your own pace. You may wish to revisit a favorite museum, explore one of the city's charming neighborhoods, browse the elegant shops and galleries, or simply relax at a Parisian café and soak in the atmosphere. This evening, we gather for our Gala Farewell Dinner at a gourmet restaurant to celebrate our time together in Paris. 

Friday, November 13. (B,D). PARIS

Enjoy a final day at leisure in Paris. Perhaps visit a favorite museum, stroll along the Seine, or return to a neighborhood that particularly captured your imagination during the tour. This evening, we will see the opera Götterdämmerung by Wagner at Opéra Bastille, during intermission dinner is included.

Saturday, November 14. (B). PARIS – BACK HOME

We will assist you in arranging transport to the airport for your flight back home arriving the same afternoon. A bien tot.  See you soon on another HAT Tour.

* B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner (including wine)