Day 1 - Arrive Paris

Upon arrival at Paris airport you are met in the arrivals hall by your Guardian Angel and driver and privately transferred to your hotel, where you are assisted with check-in procedures.

Overnight: Hotel Lutetia

Day 2 - Paris Sightseeing Tour

Known as the ‘City of Light’, Paris boasts some of the most iconic landmarks and museums in the world. Get your bearings today with a half-day orientation tour, and drive past the city’s most striking sights such as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysées. Your tour includes a visit to what is considered the historic and spiritual heart of Paris, the romantic Ile de la Cité. Here you have the opportunity to explore the stunning Sainte Chapelle, a royal chapel built in Gothic-style, which houses an extensive 13th-century stained glass collection.

Optional Extra 1: Originally the royal residence of the Kings of France, the sprawling Louvre palace is arguably the world’s greatest museum, housing a mesmerising collection spanning from remotest antiquity to the mid-19th century. Your half-day tour takes you to some of the most famous exhibits such as the exquisite Venus de Milo and Da Vinci’s incomparable Mona Lisa. The contemporary main entrance to the museum, a glass pyramid designed by architect I M Pei, caused much controversy when first built, but now is emblematic of the museum and much admired.

Optional Extra 2: Discover the highest point in the city, La Butte Montmartre, forever associated with the Bohemian lifestyles of the late nineteenth century. Your guide leads you along the winding back streets leading to the 'Place du Tertre', where you witness artists painting quick-fire portraits. Walk up to the Sacré-Coeur Basilica for spectacular views over the city, before continuing to the intimate Moulin Rouge cabaret theatre, immortalised by the painter Toulouse-Lautrec, and the small 12th-century St Pierre church. Next, head the Montmartre Museum, where Renoir painted the Bal du moulin de la Galette, hailed as one of his most important works. Finally, immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this exciting era as you enter the studio of the painter Suzanne Valadon, who lived and worked here with her son, Maurice Utrillo. Take time to enjoy the fabulous views on the Montmartre rooftops from the museum terrace.

Overnight: Hotel Lutetia

Meal Plan: B

Day 3 - Versailles

Situated to the west of Paris, Versailles is the location of the vast palace that was constructed in the seventeenth century for Louis XIV, the 'Sun King'. Housing up to 4,000 people, the palace was the glory of his reign and the epicentre of political power in France at the time. It became the model for grand houses all over Europe. During your tour, explore the complex of rooms and apartments that make up this extraordinary palace. Marvel at the opulent Grand Apartments - a collection of seven prestigious and lavishly decorated rooms, all named after Roman Gods, which served as a parade apartment for the king's official acts. Step into the mesmerising Hall of Mirrors; the light flooding through windows on the one side of this 73-metre-long ballroom is reflected in no less than 17 huge mirrors on the opposite side. Afterwards, take a stroll in the formal ornamental gardens and see the Grand Canal which stretches into the distance across the park.

Overnight: Hotel Lutetia

Meal Plan: B

Day 4 - Paris - Avignon

Today you are privately transferred to Paris station by your driver to board a first class TGV train to Avignon. Upon arrival at Avignon station you are met by your driver and privately transferred to your hotel.

Overnight: La Mirande

Meal Plan: B

Day 5 - Avignon Sightseeing Tour

The magnificent papal stronghold of Avignon, with its still-intact ramparts, is situated on the left bank of the River Rhone. Walk along the narrow cobbled streets with your guide, visiting the Place de l’Horloge (Clock Square) before entering the huge Palais des Papes, in which resided seven popes between 1309 and 1377 when Avignon was the seat of the papacy rather than Rome. During your visit to this stunning example of medieval Gothic architecture, admire the beautiful frescoes in the main rooms

Optional: Why not discover Provence in a legendary Citroen 2CV driven by a specialist driver-guide. Travel to the quintessentially Provençal town of St-Rémy-de-Provence, birthplace of Nostradamus. Nearby is the archaeological site of Glanum, a unique Gallo-Roman site which features fascinating civic and religious edifices.

Overnight: La Mirande

Meal Plan: B

Day 6 - Orange

The historic town of Orange, to the north of Avignon, was once the Roman capital for a large area of northern Provence and is home to two of Europe's finest Roman monuments, both of which are now World Heritage Sites. Visit the theatre, constructed at the beginning of the Christian era, and the Arc de Triomphe, which celebrates Julius Caesar's conquest of the Gauls; the theatre is so well-preserved, it is still used today for live performances.

Alternative option 1: Travel east to the medieval village of Les Baux-de-Provence, situated in the heart of Les Alpilles and dominated by the ruins of a magnificent 13th-century fortress hidden between the craggy hilltops. Explore the ruins of Château des Baux-de-Provence whilst stopping to watch the craftsmen demonstrating their skills as they did in the Middle Ages. Time permitting, there are also exciting siege weapon demonstrations taking place such as catapult firing and crossbow range. Continue to the spectacular "Quarries of Light", an old monumental limestone quarry that hosts an extraordinary multimedia sound and light show; images are projected onto all the surfaces of the rock and the walls, bringing the works of various artists to life

Alternative option 2: Meet your local chef for a private cooking class, starting with a visit of the market Les Halles d’Avignon with your chef (5 minutes’ walk from La Mirande). Here you choose the food that you like best and learn how the chef creates her menu according to seasonal produce. Once you have gathered everything you need, head by private vehicle to your chef’s restaurant kitchen. Here your chef demonstrates and also encourages you to get hands on! A couple of hours later your delicious meal will be ready to enjoy, accompanied by carefully selected wines from the Rhone Valley

Overnight: La Mirande

Meal Plan: B

Day 7 - Avignon - Aix-en-Provence - Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

You are met this morning by your private vehicle and driver-guide for your transfer to the Cote d’Azur. En route you stop in Aix-en-Provence for a 2-hour walking tour. Enjoy the bustling Cours Mirabeau, the heart of the town, and a visit to Cézanne's studio. It was here that Cézanne painted some of his most well-known works - there is also a striking collection of simple objects which once featured in his still life paintings.

Overnight: Hotel Royal Riviera, Cap Ferrat

Meal Plan: B

Day 8 - Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Today is at your leisure to enjoy the hotel facilities and the sea.

Optional extra: Spend the day with a qualified guide who is also your driver for the day. Perhaps explore the principality of Monaco and its capital, Monte Carlo, ruled over by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, whose Grimaldi Family dynasty celebrated their 700-year anniversary in 1997. Monaco’s Ville (Old Town), perched on the famous rock jutting into the sea, has excellent views of the harbour and the luxurious yachts moored below. You see the sumptuous Prince’s Palace, built in 1215 on the site of a Genoese fortress, preceded perhaps by the changing of the guard ceremony. Visit the modest cathedral where the rulers of Monaco are all buried, including, of course, the tomb of its most famous princess, Grace Kelly.

Visit the Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium founded in 1910 by Prince Albert I. This exceptional museum of marine sciences is an architectural masterpiece whose spectacular façade rises to a height of 279 feet above the sea. Construction was financed by casino profits and it took 100,000 tons of stones from La Turbie and 11 years to build. Besides the Aquarium, the museum houses an important scientific collection, diving equipment and model ships. The famed underwater explorer and environmentalist Jacques Cousteau established his research centre here and was director of the Oceanographic Museum for over 30 years.

Finally your tour takes you to the heart of the principality surrounding the casino (known as the Sporting d’Hiver) and the yacht harbour. On Cap Ferrat the house and gardens of the exquisite Villa Ephrussie de Rothschild contain superb collections of art and furniture. And near Beaulieu is the fascinating Villa Kerylos, an extraordinary reconstruction of a Greek house filled with the collections of its creator the archeologist Théodore Reinach.

Overnight: Hotel Royal Riviera, Cap Ferrat

Meal Plan: B

Day 9 - Cote D'Azur Helicopter Flight

Today you enjoy a spectacular and very special helicopter flight along the Cote D'Azur. This is truly be a day to remember.

Overnight: Hotel Royal Riviera, Cap Ferrat

Meal Plan: B

Day 10 - Depart Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Today you are privately transferred to Nice airport by your driver.

Meal Plan: B