France Panorama Tour: Impressionist Painting Appreciation & Immersive Van Gogh Museum Experience (12 Days)

Meet at the airport and board your flight to France.

Arrive in Marseille — France’s largest port and its third-largest city. Visit the Old Port, then tour the magnificent Byzantine-style Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica, the highest point in Marseille, offering panoramic views of this beautiful coastal city.

After breakfast at the hotel, head to Provence’s most famous lavender fields. Take in the stunning sight of endless purple blooms stretching in every direction. Next, visit Gordes — the hilltop village depicted in A Year in Provence and nicknamed the “Sky Castle.” Its stone houses, preserved since the 16th century, have stood the test of time. This picturesque village was also featured in the film A Good Year and is recognized as one of the most beautiful villages in France.

After breakfast, travel to Avignon, the historic city of art. Explore the Papal Palace, Notre-Dame des Doms Cathedral, and the famous Pont d’Avignon. After lunch, continue to Arles — a thousand-year-old Roman town known as the birthplace of Van Gogh’s post-Impressionist masterpieces. Stroll the old streets and track Van Gogh’s legacy, seeing spots that inspired works like The Café Terrace and The Starry Night.

After breakfast, drive to Pont du Gard, the most famous Roman aqueduct, standing tall in a valley after more than 2,000 years. Then head to the romantic medieval fortress town of Carcassonne, where double city walls and 46 towers still encircle this fairy-tale castle city. In 1997, Carcassonne was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site — step inside and feel transported to the Middle Ages.

After breakfast, visit Arcachon Bay. Enjoy a fresh oyster lunch right by the sea, paired with local Bordeaux wine. Next, climb Dune du Pilat — the tallest sand dune in Europe at 117 metres high. From the top, admire sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and lush green forest on the other. Then, travel to Bordeaux and see famous 18th-century landmarks such as Place de la Bourse and the Water Mirror.

After breakfast, head to Saint-Émilion, known as the “King of Red Wines.” Visit a local winery for a tasting — this is the only wine region listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch, continue to the Loire Valley, another UNESCO site famous for its grand châteaux and rolling vineyards along both riverbanks.

After breakfast, tour the beautiful Château de Chenonceau, known as the “Queen of Castles” and the most romantic and exquisite water castle in the Loire Valley. Inside, admire priceless paintings and antique furniture. After lunch, visit Château de Villandry, a Renaissance gem famous for its enchanting gardens and intricate hedge maze.

After breakfast, journey to Mont Saint-Michel, Europe’s most iconic pilgrimage site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. This island abbey rises dramatically from the sand. When the tide comes in, it’s completely surrounded by water, appearing like a floating fortress. Climb to the top for breathtaking coastal views.

After breakfast, visit Étretat to see the real-life landscape that inspired Monet’s famous “Elephant Trunk Arch.” On both ends of Étretat Beach, towering white cliffs have been carved by the sea into unique arches jutting into the ocean. In the afternoon, travel to Giverny — Monet’s beloved home and garden since 1890. Here you’ll find the famous water lilies, willow trees, ponds, and the arched bridge that inspired his masterpieces.

After breakfast, enjoy some free time in the morning. Then gather for a visit to the Musée d’Orsay — the world’s premier gallery for Impressionist art. It houses treasures by Van Gogh (Self-Portrait), Renoir, Manet, Millet, and many more. In the evening, enjoy a classic French seafood dinner paired with fine wine.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly back to Toronto.