Monet, Moet & More - A French Discovery
Welcome to the stunning capital of France for our Monet & more inspired adventure
This Monet inspired adventure will take place in the heart of France as we explore Paris and its picturesque surroundings by coach.
We begin at Musée Marmottan Monet in the beautiful city of Paris. Nestled in the elegant 16th arrondissement, the Musée Marmottan Monet offers a captivating journey into the world of Impressionism. Originally a hunting lodge, the museum now houses the largest collection of works by Claude Monet, providing a unique insight into his artistic evolution. From there we make our way to Musée de l'Orangerie where we will see Monet's magnificent Waterlilies. The Musée de l'Orangerie is a renowned art museum located in the Tuileries Garden in Paris, France. It is famous for housing Claude Monet's monumental "Water Lilies" (Nymphéas) series, which is displayed in two oval rooms designed to offer an immersive experience of the paintings. The museum also features works from the Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume Collection, including masterpieces by artists like Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani, Pablo Picasso, and others. The Musée de l'Orangerie offers a unique blend of impressionist and modern art, making it a must-visit for art lovers.
The next stage of the journey takes us to Giverny where we will discover Monet's house and gardens. The gardens are perhaps the most enchanting aspect of the estate. Monet designed the gardens himself, creating two distinct areas: the Clos Normand, a lush, flower-filled garden in front of the house, and the Water Garden, located across the road. The Clos Normand is a riot of colour, with a wide variety of plants, flowers, and paths that inspired many of Monet's paintings. The Water Garden, with its serene pond, graceful Japanese bridge, and weeping willows, is equally captivating. It is famously depicted in Monet's series of water lily paintings, which capture the light and reflections on the water with stunning precision. The gardens, with their carefully curated plantings and tranquil atmosphere, remain a testament to Monet’s deep connection to nature and his artistic vision. We will continue our journey from Giverny to Chartres to visit Our Lady of Chartres Cathedral. This spectacular cathedral stands as a magnificent example of Gothic architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located in the town of Chartres, this cathedral is renowned for its stunning architectural design, intricate sculptures, and remarkable stained glass windows.
Your holiday includes
- International Flights or Eurostar
- Coach travel (excluding transfer into Paris from airport or Eurostar)
- 4 nights’ accommodation
- 4 continental breakfasts
- Entrance to Monet house at Giveny & guided tour
- 1 evening meal at the Banquet of Troubadours
- Guided tour at Moet & Chandon
- Entrance to the Palace of Versailles
Your holiday extras
- Single supplement if required
- Personal travel insurance
- Some drinks & meals
- Optional excursions
- Personal extras
- Transfers to and from the airport/ Eurostar
We then spend the next morning exploring the profoundly beautiful Palace of Versailles. The Palace of Versailles, located just outside Paris, is one of the most opulent and historically significant landmarks in France. Originally a hunting lodge, it was transformed into an extravagant royal palace. The palace stands as a symbol of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime and the grandeur of the French royal court. The architectural splendour of Versailles is evident in its sprawling layout and elaborate design. The palace features a grand façade, extensive gardens, and a series of lavishly decorated rooms. The Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces) is perhaps the most famous of these, with its 357 mirrors reflecting the light and grandeur of the room, which served as the setting for many significant events, including the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. After exploring this wonderful Palace and its stunning gardens we make our way to Provins, an idyllic medieval town. We will spend some time exploring before enjoying a spectacular medieval banquet where you will get dressed up and immerse yourself in this brilliant show.
Our final day will take us from Provins to Reims where we will spend the morning exploring Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Reims. The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, located in the historic city of Reims in northeastern France, is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and a pivotal site in French history. Often referred to simply as Reims Cathedral, it is renowned for its stunning architectural design, intricate sculptures, and its significant role as the coronation site of French kings. Finally, we travel to Épernay where we will finish our extraordinary trip with a visit to the famous Moët et Chandon cellars, Simply know as Moet, this is one of the world's largest champagne producers and a prominent champagne house, where we enjoy a tour and tasting.
Location & Itinerary
Provisional Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in Paris and visit Musée Marmottan Monet and Musée de l'Orangerie
Day 2 – Leave hotel in Paris at 8am and travel by coach to Giverny Monet's Garden. Then have some time to explore and have lunch. Then we will travel by coach to Chartres to visit the cathedral. Finally, travel to the hotel in Saclay and have dinner in a nearby restaurant.
Day 3 – Leave the hotel in Saclay at around 9am and travel by coach to the Palace of Versailles. Spend the morning exploring the palace and have a spot of lunch. Leave Versailles at around 1:30pm and travel by coach to Provins. Arrive at the hotel and have a rest before exploring this beautiful town. Finish the day enjoying a wonderful meal at the Banquet of Troubadours. Click here for more info.
Day 4 – Leave the hotel in Provins at 8am and arrive in Reims at around 10am. Stay in Reims and explore the cathedral for 1 ½ hrs. Leave Reims at 11:30am and arrive in Epernay at around 12ish and go for lunch at a cafe near Moet et Chandon. Then go for Moet et Chandon tour at 1:30 (tour lasts 1 ½ hrs). Stay at Moet et Chandon until 3:00 and then travel back to Paris.
Day 5 - Free day to explore Paris a little further before it's time to head for your return flights/train.
Travel & Stay
Central Paris Hotel (Nights 1 & 4)
We will start and end this trip in central Paris staying at a minimum 3 star hotel.
Best Western Plus Paris Saclay (Night 2)
Situated in Saclay, 9.1 km from Palace of Versailles, Best Western Plus Paris Saclay offers accommodation with a terrace, private parking, a restaurant and a bar. With free Wi-Fi, this 4-star hotel offers room service and a 24-hour front desk. Each room is equipped with a desk, private bathroom, a flat-screen TV, safety deposit box and air conditioning, and selected rooms include a seating area. A buffet breakfast is available daily at the accommodation.
Le César Hôtel, Provins (Night 3)
Located in the medieval town of Provins, Le César Hôtel is a beautiful hotel offering a 24-hour reception and air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi. There is a wellness and fitness centre and a meeting room. With stunning views of the church or the city, the rooms at César Hôtel have a flat-screen TV, a safe and a telephone. Newspapers and magazines are also available if requested. The private bathroom includes a hairdryer, slippers and a bathrobe. A buffet breakfast, made with local produce, is served each morning in the dining room overlooking the courtyard. In the evening, guests can enjoy a drink in the hotel bar, which offers musical entertainment. The accommodation is around a 5 minute walk to the Banquet of Troubadours, where we will enjoy a wonderful Medieval meal.
Provisional Flight Information
08/04/2025 London Gatwick to Paris Charles De Gualle Dep: 0805 Arr: 1025
12/04/2025 Paris Charles De Gualle to London Gatwick Dep: 1915 Arr: 1925
08/04/2025 Birmingham to Paris Charles De Gualle Dep: 1030 Arr: 1250
12/04/2025 Paris Charles De Gualle to Birmingham Dep: 1620 Arr: 1645
08/04/2025 Manchester to Paris Charles De Gualle Dep: 1015 Arr: 1245
12/04/2025 Paris Charles De Gualle to Manchester Dep: 2140 Arr: 2205
08/04/2025 Bristol to Paris Charles De Gualle Dep: 0715 Arr: 0935
12/04/2025 Paris Charles De Gualle to Bristol Dep: 2225 Arr: 2245
08/04/2025 Glasgow to Paris Charles De Gualle Dep: 1035 Arr: 1325
12/04/2025 Paris Charles De Gualle to Glasgow Dep: 2200 Arr: 2250
08/04/2025 Edinburgh to Paris Charles De Gualle Dep: 0940 Arr: 1235
12/04/2025 Paris Charles De Gualle to Edinburgh Dep: 1500 Arr: 1550
08/04/2025 Eurostar St Pancras to Paris Garde du Nord Dep: 0801 Arr: 1128
12/04/2025 Paris Garde du Nord to Eurostar St Pancras Dep: 1712 Arr: 1830
Included luggage allowance
London Gatwick, Bristol, Glasgow & Edinburgh - 1 small bag under the seat in front & a 15kg checked in bag
Birmingham & Manchester - 1 small bag under the seat in front and a 12kg additional cabin bag
Eurostar - 1 pieces of luggage & 1 piece of hand luggage (no weight restrictions)
Availability & Pricing
Build Your Quote| Accommodation | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Place in a double room (must be for 2) | £0.00 | Available |
| Place in a twin share room | £0.00 | Available |
| Place in a single room | £319.00 | Available |
| Flights | Price | |
| Own travel | £985.00 | Available |
| Eurostar London St Pancras | £1135.00 | Available |
| London Gatwick | £1155.00 | Available |
| Bristol | £1175.00 | Available |
| Manchester | £1195.00 | Available |
| Birmingham | £1225.00 | Available |
| Edinburgh | £1335.00 | Available |
| Glasgow | £1335.00 | Available |
| Option | Price | |
| Increase Hold luggage to 23kg | £50.00 | Available |
Not enough spaces left for you? Click here to join the waitlist
Passport validity
You should have at least 6 months remaining on your passport from the start date of your holiday and your passport must be less than 10 years old (even if it has 6 months or more left).
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System)
The rules of travel to most European countries have changed. Starting in the first half of 2025 UK citizens are required to have a travel authorisation to enter 30 European countries for a short stay.
ETIAS travel authorisation is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to a number of European countries. It is linked to a traveller’s passport. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation.
With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays - normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport (and other documents if required) and verify that you meet the entry conditions.
NB - There is no official date for the ETIAS currently confirmed but when it is introduced it will be your responsibility to ensure that you have arranged this. We will update everyone when the ETIAS is required with information on how to apply for this online.
Travel Insurance
Please ensure that you have adequate personal travel insurance to suit your requirements in place before you travel. Spice Escapes have arranged a scheme with Staysure who are fully authorised and regulated by the FCA (firm reference number 663617) full details of which can be found on the FCA website www.fca.org.uk. For an instant online quotation please click here.
A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the European Union (EU).
UK-issued European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs) are still valid and offer the same cover as GHICs in the EU.
Once your EHIC has expired, you’ll be able to replace it with a GHIC.
NB – A GHIC/EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance!
The latest FCO travel guidance for France
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france
Host & Everything Else
Rob Thompson
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