Overview
Our program brings you the best of both worlds: the consistency you rely on and the flexibility your group needs.
Make sure your students pack their appetites for this delicious tour. Your group can look forward to tasting classic French dishes like boeuf bourguignon and tarte flambée, learning about wine making at a picturesque Loire Valley winery, and creating their own dishes in a French cooking class! Your group will also visit a dairy farm, experience the fragrant chaos of Rungis Market, and learn more about the contemporary cultural influence of North African immigration during an authentic couscous dinner in Paris.
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.
Enjoy a local snack
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.
Boeuf bourguignon dinner
The ultimate French comfort food, Boeuf Bourguignon is on the menu tonight. Sit down in a traditional brasserie to enjoy this dish made famous by Julia Child. This rich, red wine beef stew, cooked with onions, bacon and mushrooms, is served with pasta or potatoes. Bon appetit!
Day 3
Paris guided sightseeing tour
What’s that huge white arch at the end of the Champs-Élysées? It’s the Arc de Triomphe, commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 after his victory at Austerlitz. Your licensed local guide will elaborate on this and other Parisian landmarks. See some of the city’s most famous sites, including the ornate 19th-century Opera, the presidential residence, and the Place de la Concorde—where, at the center, you’ll find the Obelisk of Luxor, a gift from Egypt in 1836. Spot chic locals (and plenty of tourists) strolling the Champs-Élysées. Look up at the iron girders of the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution. Visit Les Invalides (a refuge for war-wounded soldiers) and the École Militaire (Napoleon’s alma mater).
Guided neighborhood foodie tour
Get a taste of Parisian gastronomie. Join a local guide for a tour of a neighborhood chocolate or cheese shop, where sampling is a must!
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.
Tarte Flambée dinner
Day 4
Rungis Market tour
After an early breakfast, explore Rungis, the world’s largest wholesale market and the source of Paris’s finest ingredients. Tour vast halls filled with fresh produce, cheese, fish, and flowers. Please note: this activity takes place very early in the morning around 5:00 a.m. at the time when the market is open and bustling!
Marché des Enfants Rouges visit
Explore Paris’s oldest covered market, where global street food and local delicacies come alive in a bustling atmosphere. Discover the rich history behind its name, drawn from 17th-century orphans once clothed in red.
Couscous dinner
Immigration from North Africa (particularly from Tunisia and Morocco), has given the French capital a colorful mix of cuisines. Couscous is one of the most popular dishes today in Paris. Join the locals at a traditional North African restaurant and enjoy an authentic couscous: semolina traditionally served with a fragrant meat and vegetable stew.
Day 5
Travel to Loire Valley
Loire Valley châteaux excursion
In the Loire Valley, medieval fortresses evolved into Renaissance showpieces along the riverbanks. Visit Azay-le-Rideau, a fairy-tale castle whose limestone turrets and slate spires rise from an island in the Indre River. Continue to Château de Chenonceau, gracefully spanning the Cher with arches and gardens. Designed and expanded under Catherine de Medici, its stone gallery reflects the elegance of the French court.
Troglodyte Village guided visit
Carved out by hand starting in the 12th century to extract tuffeau stone for building, the Cave aux Moines later found new life in the early 20th century as a mushroom farm. The cave’s entrance and first galleries once served as homes in a unique form of underground living known as “troglodyte” life, where people and animals shared space in a close-knit community.
Dinner in Troglodyte Village
Day 6
Château de Chenonceau visit
Explore the lavish rooms of Château de Chenonceau, a 16th-century castle once home to Catherine de’ Medici. Stretching across the River Cher, its grounds feature a maze and stunning gardens with beautiful views.
Vineyard visit
The Loire Valley is known for crisp white wines made from Chenin blanc, Sauvignon blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne grapes. Tour a local vineyard to learn how wine is made and sample regional reds, rosés, and sparkling varieties. Adults can enjoy a tasting. À votre santé! Cheers!
Cooking class and dinner
Embark on a culinary adventure in the heart of the Loire Valley. Begin by learning about French produce and agricultural traditions, then put your knowledge to work in a hands-on workshop and cooking class. Enjoy the three-course meal you prepare, guided by professional chefs.
Day 7
Travel to Normandy
Dairy farm visit
Visit Isigny Sainte-Mère, a renowned Normandy dairy farm known for its cheeses and innovations. Learn how high-quality milk is transformed into Camembert, Brie, and more. A local guide leads the tour, ending with a tasting of fresh cheeses.
Arromanches D-Day Museum visit
Ingenious engineering allowed the Allies to land at Arromanches on D-Day, when 600,000 tons of concrete were sunk to form an artificial harbor. Barges, jetties, and 10 miles of floating roadways brought troops ashore. At the Arromanches Museum, dioramas, models, and interactive displays bring this remarkable feat to life.
Normandy D-Day landing beaches
See the D-Day beaches where on June 6, 1944, thousands of Allied troops landed in an effort to recapture the coast from Germany. All along the beaches, deserted German bunkers have been turned into memorials and the stark white crosses and stars that mark the cemeteries are grim reminders of the war.
LEAP
LEAP Soldiers' Stories
Step into the shoes of U.S. servicemen landing in Normandy on D-Day. Learn about their lives and experiences to gain both personal and historical perspective.
Day 8
Travel to Paris
Cheese Museum guided tour & tasting (Musée du Fromage)
Embark on a flavorful journey through France’s cheesemaking heritage with a 90-minute guided tour of The Cheese Museum in Paris. Enjoy expert storytelling, live demonstrations, and a curated tasting of iconic French cheeses.
Montmartre Tour Director-led sightseeing
Follow your Tour Director through the artsy hilltop neighborhood of Montmartre towards Basilica Sacré-Cœur. Watch local street artists work their magic in the central square of Place du Tertre before seeking out the iconic red windmill on the roof of Moulin Rouge, birthplace of the French cancan dance.
Dinner in Montmartre
Day 9
Return home
Optional Extension
Add 2 Days in the Côte d’Azur
Begin your journey aboard the TGV to the picturesque city of Nice. Explore the principality of Monaco, home to the Prince’s Palace, and visit the cliffside village of Èze, where a traditional parfumerie reveals the artistry behind French fragrance. In Nice, enjoy a guided sightseeing tour that highlights the city’s rich history and coastal charm, from the colorful markets of Vieux Nice to the iconic Promenade des Anglais.
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
Already Included
WorldStrides Tour Director: A dynamic destination expert who makes learning come to life by leading your group's activities and discussions
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
Tips for local guides and drivers
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Professional development credits (CEUs) for educators
Scenes from France
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.