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Itinerary
Day 1
Overnight flight to France (Paris)
Day 2
Arrive in Paris
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Paris city walk
Take in Paris on foot, strolling wide boulevards, manicured parks, and lively streets filled with cafés and flower stalls. Cross to the Île de la Cité to view the storied Notre-Dame Cathedral, centerpiece of French history, then wander the charming Île St. Louis and the vibrant Latin Quarter, rich with student life and culture.
Dinner in Latin Quarter
Day 3
Paris guided sightseeing tour
Explore Paris with a licensed local guide on a sightseeing tour of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Admire the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Champs-Élysées, stroll the grand boulevard lined with shops and cafés, and see the ornate 19th-century Opera House. Look up at the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World’s Fair, and visit Les Invalides, Napoleon’s military refuge, along with other historic sites.
Louvre Museum visit
The world’s largest art museum, the Louvre, is housed in a former medieval fortress and entered through I.M. Pei’s striking glass pyramid. Inside, discover masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory, along with vast collections of Egyptian antiquities, Greek ceramics, and works spanning seven departments. Please note: The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.
Seine River cruise
See the city from the water on an hour-long cruise along the River Seine. The Seine cuts right through Paris, dividing the city in half. Spot the Eiffel tower rising up on the Left Bank, the walls of the Louvre on the Right Bank. A guide will point out other monuments and architectural marvels as you pass, many of which are illuminated by clear white light at night.
Day 4
Travel to Strasbourg via TGV
Strasbourg guided sightseeing tour
Welcome to Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace-Lorraine where French and German traditions meet. With a licensed guide, explore Petite France, the city’s medieval quarter of canals and half-timbered houses. Visit Strasbourg Cathedral, a sandstone masterpiece blending Romanesque and Gothic styles, and admire the intricately carved Maison Kammerzell, a reminder of the city’s rich mercantile past.
Day 5
Colmar & the Maginot Line excursion
Explore part of the vast Maginot Line, France’s eastern fortifications built after World War I but unable to withstand the tanks and bombs of World War II. Tour Hackenberg, the largest fort, with underground tunnels, barracks, kitchens, and even trains moving soldiers and ammunition. Then shift from war to beauty in Colmar, a 16th-century trading town of canals, bridges, and flower-decked, half-timbered houses.
Four-à-Chaux Fortress visit
Hidden beneath the hills near Lembach, the Four à Chaux Fortress reflects the fears and defenses of pre-World War II Europe. Built of stone and steel, it once housed soldiers in a secret world of tunnels, doors, and strategy. Today, walking its passageways feels like stepping back into a moment of resilience frozen in time.
Day 6
Travel to Heidelberg
Heidelberg Tour Director-led sightseeing
Join your Tour Director for a sightseeing tour of Heidelberg, a charming city surrounded by mountains, forests, and the Neckar River. Stroll through Market Square for views of Germany’s oldest university, then visit Heidelberg Castle, one of the most important Renaissance landmarks north of the Alps. Learn about its turbulent history from the Thirty Years’ War to a lightning strike in 1764, and explore the castle courtyard to see the world’s largest wine barrel, a symbol of the city’s enduring spirit and charm.
Day 7
Rothenburg excursion
Take a Walking Tour of Rothenburg around the old walled city, beginning at its entrance, before exploring the windy cobbled streets, along to Herrngasse, which is famous for its mansions and courtyards.
LEAP
LEAP Debate the Great
Meet six influential figures from Germany’s history, then join a lively debate to argue their accomplishments and decide together who deserves the title of greatest German.
Day 8
Return home
Optional Extension
Add 2 Days in Rhineland
Travel through Cologne and visit the stunning Cologne Cathedral before continuing into the heart of the Rhineland. Enjoy a relaxing Rhine River cruise from Koblenz to Rüdesheim, taking in picturesque landscapes and charming riverside towns before heading home.
TourFlex: Your Experience, Your Way
Explore Your Way
- Add experiences like theater tickets or unique excursions
- Swap activities for ones that better serve your group
- Extend the learning through go-aheads or stay-behinds
Go Your Way
- Choose the most accessible departure airport for your group
- Opt for 2-, 3-, or 4-star hotels that are centrally located or a convenient ride to major itinerary attractions
Dine Your Way
- Opt for pre-selected meals or encourage exploration by dining on your own
- Enjoy 2-3 course, culturally representative meals or opt for 3-course, authentic dinners at local restaurants