WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
We all know Paris, with its wide boulevards, gorgeous monuments, and memorable food. But what about the rest of France? In such a varied landscape, how do we even start to dive into the complex, rich history and culture of one of the largest countries in Europe? Well, we are going to try it three ways.
Our new tour, Savoring France, will present three different faces of the country, with three different guides. In this French relay, you’ll get to try out a new region and enjoy the company of our France team. Starting in Amboise, you’ll be greeted by our newest AWS team member, writer and guide Veronique Savoye, who will show you around her home region. Your next guide, our founder, Sarah, will arrive with a bus and whisk you away to the food capital of Lyon. Last, but not least, is fan favorite Nina, our queen of Provence, who will show you the lifestyle of the Midi in Marseilles.
Come and join our newest adventure celebrating a taste of what France has to offer.
Day One
Overnight: Amboise
Bienvenue! Your first guide, Véro, will greet you at your hotel for a traditional “apéro” (happy hour) and an orientation to the beautiful city of Amboise. Tonight, you’ll enjoy a French dinner together.
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Day Two
Overnight: Amboise
After your “petit déjeuner” (breakfast) you’ll explore Amboise on a guided walk with Véro then visit the château du Clos Lucé, the final residence of Leonardo da Vinci. After a lunch break you’ll visit the famous Maison Bigot, a family-owned pâtisserie (pastry shop) over 100 years old to learn more about chocolate making. We’ll sample some of Maison Bigot’s renowned chocolates and pastries. In the evening, you’ll have free time for dinner on your own.
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Day Three
Overnight: Amboise
In the former Valley of the Kings many spectacular Renaissance châteaux await. One is not to be missed, the elegant Château de Chenonceau, “the Ladies’ Castle.” Later, we will return to Amboise to sample Loire Valley wines at a traditional cave along with some nibbles featuring local specialties.
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Day Four
Overnight: Amboise
Our castles and wine experience continues today. Towering above the Loire River, mighty fairy-tale castle of Chaumont-sur-Loire offers a unique combination of history, art, and nature. Later enjoy a winery tour followed by a picnic lunch.
Tonight, your last evening in Amboise, you will dine at a renowned local restaurant where refined French cuisine awaits.
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Day Five
Overnight: Lyon
Today, Vero will hand the baton to Sarah, who will arrive with a bus to take you on an adventure into the countryside. Along the way, you’ll stop to inspect the progress at the world’s only active medieval building site, Guedelon. In the heart of Burgundy, an experimental archaeology project has been going for 25 years, to rebuild a castle just as it would have been 800 years ago, with the same techniques. You’ll see stone carvers, masons, iron workers and more, all in historic costume, After a medieval lunch, you’ll continue on to the food capital of Lyon and settle in to your charming hotel in the historic district.
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Day Six
Overnight: Lyon
We will start our day with a walking tour of Lyon, to learn about its history. In the evening, Sarah will host a happy hour and take you for a memorable Lyonnais dinner.
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Day Seven
Overnight: Lyon
Your food experience continues in Lyon with a food tour to taste all of the most famous products. In the afternoon, we will visit a silk workshop to see how fine fabrics are made.
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Day Eight
Overnight: Lyon
Our day will be dedicated to a field trip, visiting some of the charming villages in the Beaujolais region, famous for its new wine.
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Day Nine
Overnight: Marseilles
Our bus returns to take us away to the south, where the baton will be passed to Nina (although Sarah may stick around because the south is irresistable!) You’ll enjoy a ride on a “petit train” and a dinner that highlights Marseilles cuisine.
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Day Ten
Overnight: Marseilles
Nina loves Marseilles, and will spend the day showing you all of her favorite spots, starting with the Panier district. Tonight, she’s booked a favorite restaurant.
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Day Eleven
Overnight: Marseilles
You’ll get a beautiful introduction to the Mediterranean coast of France today as we visit Cassis, and yes, you’ll get a chance to try the wonderful local wine. Our first activity is a cruise along the dramatic fjords, or “calanques” followed by a waterfront seafood lunch. You’ll have time to shop and bathe in the French sunshine before returning to Marseilles for a free evening.
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Day Twelve
Overnight: Marseilles
Our last full day will be a true day in the Midi, or land of the midday sun, as we explore Aix-en-Provence. It’s a market day, so leave room in your suitcase for lavender and a few french market baskets to take home. Tonight, you’ll toast your beautiful time savoring all things French back in Marseilles.
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Day Thirteen
Tour Ends
The tour is over after breakfast and your guide will be available this morning to assist you with transfer to the airport or wherever your travels take you.
MEET YOUR GUIDE: Nina Seffusatti
Nina was born in Denmark and moved to the south of France in 1993, where she still lives today. With a background in cinema and languages, she studied Scandinavian and French literature while working as a translator and bookstore assistant. A lifelong traveler, Nina’s passion for tourism began with a childhood trip to Mallorca and has since taken her across Europe, the U.S., and beyond.
She began guiding in Provence in 1994 and now also works in Scandinavia. Her interests include Van Gogh, Roman history, literature, and the arts. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, music, and the seaside.
MEET YOUR GUIDE: Sarah Murdoch
Our founder Sarah is a professional tour guide, travel writer, and artist with over 20 years of experience leading travelers around the globe. After earning a degree in architecture, she traded the drafting board for a life of adventure, guiding tours and sharing her travel expertise through writing, speaking engagements and media appearances.
A former Rick Steves guidebook researcher and co-author of Rick Steves Sicily, Sarah is also known for her popular packing-focused insights and content helping travelers around the world streamline their journeys. Based in Seattle but often found exploring the world, Sarah brings passion, insight, and a love for culture to every tour she leads.
MEET YOUR GUIDE: Vero Savoye
Veronique “Vero” Savoye is a French native originally from Toulouse, southwestern France. By the time she turned 20 she had lived in several cities with her family and learned to appreciate the diversity of French regional cultures.
An American Studies major in college, Vero moved to Seattle, WA in 1996 and immersed herself in North American culture for more than two decades. France stayed on her mind: While in the USA she ran a successful French language training business offering French classes at all levels and travel preparation workshops.
In 2019 Vero relocated to France permanently and is now based in the historic and scenic Loire Valley, south of Paris. Today, under “France with Vero,” she continues sharing her love of la Belle France as a tour guide, a teacher and a writer.
Vero holds this truth as self-evident: Life is best enjoyed sitting at a (French) café, preferably “en terrasse” while people-watching.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
2027 Price: $6850 (International air not included) per person for a double occupancy room. Single Supplement is $1458. We welcome singles and if you do not have a travel partner, please sign up for a single spot. In the event that a roommate is found, your booking can be changed to a double before final payment is due.
Click the Book Now button to start the booking process. Remember, you can save yourself the credit card fees (2.9%) by choosing US Checking Account/ACH instead as your payment method on our booking system.
What’s included: 12 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners, and 12 nights lodging in clean, comfortable, and centrally-located accommodations. All admissions and fees for group activities. Transport within the tour (including internal flights) and private guides, tips included.
Deposit Policy: A non-refundable deposit of $600 per person is due upon booking.
Tour begins in Amboise and ends in Marseille. The nearest international airport is the Marseilles-Provence Airport (MRS), but the area is well connected to fast trains to Paris (CDG).
If you have additional questions please email us at info@adventureswithsarah.net
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