A 30-minute drive from the port will bring you to lovely Bruges where your guided walk will start. Smaller and more contained than many other Flemish cities, Bruges makes it easy to believe you have entered a time warp. It is an exquisitely preserved medieval town-a jewel beribboned with picturesque canals. Before enjoying the beautiful city of Bruges you’ll have the opportunity to relax and enjoy the taste of a real Belgian waffle at a local waffle house. Your guide will walk with you through the narrow, twisting cobblestone streets, passing by picturesque scenes of ancient buildings, tree-lined canals and gabled façades. See the bustling marketplace, the Belfry Tower, the Town Hall and the Chapel of the Holy Blood. Belgium's finest export product is undoubtedly chocolate and you will learn why its longstanding reputation is well deserved. Walk to a Belgian chocolatier  to see a demonstration how raw chocolate bars are made into fine Belgian chocolates using only the freshest and best ingredients. At the end, there is some time to purchase some Belgian chocolates if you wish and pay a brief visit to the Chocolate Museum (on your own at no additional expense). Your free time will allow you to shop for the perfect souvenir among Bruges' lace and chocolate shops. Finally, your guide will lead you past the romantic Lake of Love and back to your coach for the drive back to the ship.

Please note:  The drive each way to Bruges is approximately 30 minutes. As coaches are not permitted in the city center, all coach transfers from Zeebrugge drop at the same coach park, this is a scenic 20 minute stroll into the center, with a few steps en route. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

Enjoy one of the most beautiful historic cities in Europe by exclusive canal boat. Board your motor coach for the 1-hour drive from Zeebrugge.  You will arrive in the Old City of Ghent and begin your walking tour to St. Michael’s Bridge with its spectacular view of the city, the Castle of Counts, and the Row of the Three Towers.  Your tour will continue passing the old port, the Meat House, and the City Hall as well as St. Bavo’s Cathedral. Your guide will lead you to the pontoon where you will board a canal boat for a fun and thorough exploration of the city. As you cruise through the historic city see highlights such as the impressive castle of the counts, St. Michael’s Bridge, 13th century monasteries and the ancient port of Ghent along with its mercantile houses. Once your canal cruise ends, you will have plenty of time to independently explore this gracious city. You may choose to enjoy a locally brewed beer in one of the stylish bars, or maybe a coffee in one of the waffle houses (at your own expense). Strolling along the narrow streets, many of which are pedestrian, you will be enthralled by the unique architecture, while the shops will tempt you with their fine chocolates, Flemish lace and other locally crafted wares. After your free time, you will board another exclusive canal boat for a short transfer back to the coach and begin your trip back to Zeebrugge.

 
Please note: It is approximately an hour each way to Ghent. There are three steps to board the motor coach.  Comfortable shoes are recommended and there are cobblestones/uneven surfaces. This tour is also not recommended for limited mobility.

 

 

 

Meet your driver for the 60-minute drive toward Saint Etienne La Thillaye. There you will meet Brigitte Dumant, “your Chef” for your cooking lesson in her “Long House in the Marshes” (“La Longère des Marais”) isolated in the country.  Before starting your lesson, enjoy the company of your host and the charming atmosphere of her house. Play with the dog, discuss with our host, and enjoy la vie à la Française for half a day! Once ready, you will prepare three typical Norman dishes (starter, main course and dessert), before tasting and enjoying your meal in the garden if the weather permits.

Please note: There is no guide on this tour, Chef Dumant speaks fluent English with a charming French accent Dietary restrictions can be accommodated: but must be made at least 72 hours prior to the tour. 

Your motor coach will take you on a 45-minute drive to the town of Honfleur. Your  local guide will show you around this medieval gem during a walking tour along the boat-filled harbor front. Its quaint narrow houses were a favorite subject of Impressionist painters, including Claude Monet. Cobblestone streets will lead you to the fascinating and unique Saint-Catherine’s Church. The largest wooden church in France, St. Catherine’s dates from the 15th  century. The roof is covered with chestnut shingles while the bell tower stands apart from the main church building to protect one or the other building from fire. After your tour you will have 75 minutes of free time before, you will drive back to Le Havre.

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes. This tour is not wheelchair accessible..

Departure from pier and drive to the Auge country (Pays d’Auge). Inland from the ”Côte Fleurie” the Auge region provides a wonderful hinterland with its pasturelands, thatched cottages, manor houses and local products as cider and cheeses. One of the great charms of this area lies in the diversity of its manor houses that are generally countryfied, pleasant to look at and always perfectly adapted to the rural setting. Stop at the quaint village of Beuvron en Auge; the village belongs to the very selective club of the 100 most beautiful villages of France; with more than 30 half-timbered houses it declines the story of this traditional architecture. Next discover local products by visiting a distillery: from the apple press, you will tour through the distillery with its bright copper stills and then on to the cellar where the Calvados ages in oak casks. You will be invited to sample the produce at the tasting room and delight in the perfection of this outstanding brandy. In addition to the calvados, you will taste three types of delicious Normandy AOC Cheeses: Camembert, Livarot and Pont L’Eveque will be offered.
 
Please note Wear comfortable walking shoes.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, driver, and English-speaking guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own car. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver and English-speaking guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own.

Please note:  Capacity: 1-2 guests. Private cars are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private car, driver and English Speaking Guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the area and does not exceed the duration of 4 hours.  Recommended for physically challenged guests.

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, driver, and English-speaking guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own van. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver and English-speaking guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own.

Please note:  Capacity: 3 - 6 guests. Private vans are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private van, driver and English Speaking Guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the area and does not exceed the duration of 4 hours. Recommended for physically challenged guests.

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, driver, and English-speaking guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own car. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver and English-speaking guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own.

Please note:  Capacity: 1-2 guests. Private cars are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private car, driver and English Speaking Guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the area and does not exceed the duration of 8 hours.  Recommended for physically challenged guests.

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, driver, and English-speaking guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own van. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver and English-speaking guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own.

Please note:  Capacity: 3 - 6 guests. Private vans are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private van, driver and English Speaking Guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the area and does not exceed the duration of 8 hours. Recommended for physically challenged guests.

Departing from Saint Malo, drive to Dinan via Barrage de la Rance, a unique power station that works with the tides.  About 45 minutes along the winding road through lovely countryside will bring you to Dinan, located at the head of the Rance estuary on which its little port is built. On arrival you will start a walking tour of this charming medieval town.  See the houses of the Old Town clustered together behind the long circuit of walls built by the Dukes of Brittany in the 14th century as protection against the Normans.  You will see St. Sauveur’s Basilica; Place des Merciers, with its triangular gables and porches, and Rue du Jerzual, which links the main part of the town with the port. After this tour you will enjoy a refreshment and local pancake together with some time at leisure before returning back to St.-Malo.

Please note: You will be walking on cobblestones at Dinan. It is recommended that you dress in warm, layered clothing and wear flat, comfortable shoes. You should also bring raingear in case of inclement weather. 

You will depart from pier for the 75-minute drive to Fort Lalatte. This spectacular headland, set on 229-foot-high pink sandstone cliffs, offers breathtaking sceneries, among the most beautiful ones in Brittany. Heathland, covered with a wide variety of heather and gorse species, creates a landscape of colors changing with the seasons. Follow your guide on about  a 2-hour walk along the coastal guard’s path. Listen to the stories of the two lighthouses standing there, admire seabirds nesting in the neighboring small island. End your hike at the Cap Fréhel where you will enjoy a time at leisure for a personal discovery before you drive back to St. Malo.

Please note: Wear casual comfortable clothes and flat walking shoes. Bring rain protection.

Mont St. Michel is considered one of the great religious sites in all of Europe and is often compared to St. Peter’s, Chartres, and Durham. First built following the appearance of Archangel Michael to the Bishop of Avranches, the abbey is constructed at the summit of an immense granite precipice 250 feet above the sea – a monument to the heyday of Norman power and influence in the world. Mont St. Michel makes its strongest impression when seen from a distance, on the approach from a 5-mile long causeway at Pontorson where Mont St. Michel joins the mainland.  Once at the abbey, your guided tour on foot will involve numerous stairs and steep paths – yet you are rewarded with magnificent views at every juncture. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. You’ll have free time to stroll the labyrinth of streets, browse the shops, and take in this magnificent architectural achievement. Following your exploration, return to the yacht along the coastal road, passing small towns and traditional fishing harbors along the way. 

 

Please note: Inside the abbey, proper attire is required (no shorts or bare shoulders) and flash photography is not permitted. Due to its great popularity large crowds of visitors must be expected at the site. This tour requires heavy walking; up and downhill and on cobblestones. To reach the very top takes climbing between 197-350 steps.  Due to new regulations motor coaches are no longer allowed to enter Mont St. Michel.  There is a 20-30 minute from the parking lot to the shuttle bus that will take you to Mont St. Michel. 

 

 

 

Known as the oyster capital of Brittany, Cancale is an ideal destination for anyone interested in an authentic taste of French culture.  Situated on the bay of Mont St. Michel, Cancale garners most of its resources from the sea. In particular, oysters have been a famed harvest since the days of Julius Caesar, when these sea delicacies were savored by his soldiers.  King Louis XIV also enjoyed oysters and received daily deliveries of these delicious mollusks.  You will discover why Cancale is renowned for its oysters as you independently experience the town. Stroll the pier where you can see the expansive oyster beds and stop in one of numerous restaurants to sample the oversized oysters for which the region is so well known. With a guided visit to an oyster farm, you will taste 9 oysters. Return to the ship with your appetite for local food and culture having been satisfied.

Please note: This excursion involves walking over uneven surfaces, and is not recommended for guests with walking difficulties or limited mobility.  It is recommended that you dress in warm, layered clothing, wear flat, comfortable shoes, and bring raingear in case of inclement weather. 

St.-Malo was named after the 6th century monk who converted the locals to Christianity. Once a haven for pirates, it was also an important port in the voyages of discovery. Cartier sailed from here to Canada in 1534. Soon after, St.-Malo began to flourish as a trading port, not only through the furs sent back from the New World, but also due to the plentiful cod fishing. Meet your guide pierside to begin your walking discovery of the charms of the Old City of St. Malo.  Your knowledgeable guide points out the sites of historical interest as you stroll the narrow streets.  View the castle, part of the ramparts protecting the town, the town's typical streets, the house of Duchess Ann, and the cathedral.  Also get acquainted with the more famous personalities of St. Malo, such as Jacques Cartier, Duguay-Trouin, Surcouf and the well known romantic writer Chateaubriand.  Enjoy a stop at a creperie for  a refreshment before returning to the ship.

 

Please note: This excursion involves walking over uneven surfaces, and is not recommended for guests with walking difficulties.  It is recommended that you dress in warm, layered clothing, wear flat, comfortable shoes, and bring raingear in case of inclement weather. 

 

 

 

Enjoy a 40-minute panoramic transfer from your ship to St. Martin-de-Ré on Ré Island, the historical capital of the island, where you will meet your bicycle guides at the bicycle rental next to the harbor. You will listen to a quick presentation and then bicycles, helmets, baskets and lockers will be distributed. You will then depart for the 10-mile guided bicycle tour starting from the harbor and finishing in Ars-en-Ré village. You will tour St Martin-de-Ré, a bustling town with houses steeped in history, outside terrace cafés, and a vast urban surrounding wall of huge dimensions and semicircle shape declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2008.  You will get on one of the most beautiful cycle paths of the island towards La Couarde. Passing by oyster huts, just next to the Atlantic Ocean, you can have a break with a lovely ocean view or just enjoy the beautiful scenery.  After La Couarde, you now cross a salt marsh area where annually about 2,500 tons of salt and 250 tons of Fleur de Sel are mined, Fleur de Sel is considered one of the world's finest salts. Finally you will arrive in Ars-en-Ré with its picturesque harbor, the most important  one of the island, and its white and black church tower. The village is as well classified as one of the “most beautiful villages of France” and is well known for its hollyhock lined streets and the surrounding salt pans, which have been in use for the last 800 years.

Please note: Wear flat, comfortable walking shoes and sportswear. Bring bottled water from ship.

Discover the town of La Rochelle with its picturesque harbor, surrounded by medieval fortifications and a wide skyline which opens to you along this half-day motor coach tour departing from the pier. Take a scenic drive along the picturesque sea front of La Rochelle: La Corniche, the elegant gardens of Le Mail, the Harbor and its two towers. One of the towers is called the Chain Tower which for centuries safely chained off the harbor each night. The Great Clock will welcome you to the Old District where your walking tour will start.  La Rochelle Old Town ancient arcades once sheltered the 16th century craftsmen’s workshops on cobblestone streets. You will discover architectural treasures from many different periods: 15th  and 16th  century half-timbered houses, splendid 18th century Hotel de la Bourse, the Law Court with its Corinthian façade and the Renaissance-style house of Henry II. The imposing Town Hall features a Renaissance lodge in the courtyard and a monumental staircase. Continue your guided tour to the stomach of the city : the bustling food market where you can discover the local gems and produce!  Continue your gourmet time with an oyster tasting paired with wine! You will then have some free time to explore this interesting town and its food market on your own. The return journey will take you through the very fine gardens established on the site of the ancient ramparts. Before re-boarding your ship you will pass by the commercial harbor of La Pallice, once used as a submarine base during World War Two.

Please note: Wear flat, comfortable walking shoes. The order of sites visited may vary. Total walking time will be about 3 hours (including exploration on your own). This tour is not recommended for those with mobility issues. 

Near La Rochelle, there is a famous area of unique charm: The Poitevin Marshland, described as “The Green Venice,” a patchwork of marshes offering unique scenery and a glimpse of fascinating wildlife. Driving through the countryside, located along the quiet canals, you will stop nearby the village of Coulon. Local boatmen will take you for a ride in their flat-bottomed punts to discover a picturesque universe in a labyrinth of shaded canals, concealed in a forest of trees: these wet marshes offer unique and original scenery. The Green Venice's exceptional ecosystem and location on the Atlantic coast has earned it a spot on the list of Regional Natural Parks. As your boat slips across the water's placid surface, marvel at the astonishing quiet of the marsh, completely silent except for the occasional sounds of the resident wildlife and the ones coming from the scattered small white-washed houses, homes of the happy inhabitants of this land. You may see plovers, swans, snipes, and ashen and crimson herons. Depending on the season, you may even observe hundreds of wild geese making their migration to Spain. Your skilled captain will guide your boat through the tunnels created by the arched limbs of poplars and ash, along the shores of property owned by prosperous farmers and past small, picturesque villages. But be warned: the "red hand," which according to legend lurks below the thick carpet of duckweed, may reach out and catch you. Having spied the many intriguing creatures of the marsh, disembark your boat and, after a short transfer, enjoy some free time to venture through the streets and traditional houses of this little village of Coulon settled in the heart of the marshland

Please note: Total walking time is about 30 minutes. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

At a distance of about 9 miles  from La Rochelle, Ré is one of the jewels of the Charentaise coast. A bridge nearly two miles long has linked it to the continent since the beginning of 1988. As soon as you reach the Island, you will be won over by the atmosphere and brightness (the Island inspired many painters) and charmed by its quiet but lively fishing ports surrounded with ramparts. First, you will stop in the village of St Martin-de-Ré, the Island capital which is known for its penitentiary. After a guided walking tour of the village to explore the port, you will have time at leisure to enjoy the narrow streets or simply enjoy a refreshment at one of the numerous café terraces with a view of the Atlantic Ocean. 

 

Please note: Wear flat, comfortable walking shoes. Order of sights visited may vary.

 

 

 

Your tour will begin driving by the outside of the submarine base built by the German navy during World War II which became the setting for the movie Das Boot. A German stronghold, La Rochelle was the last French city to be freed at the end of the war. En route to La Rochelle pass the sea front, Port-Neuf district, and the elegant gardens of Le Mail. Enter the city center from the Verdun Square and La Rochelle Cathedral.  You will disembark  the tour bus close by the Saint Sauveur Church and continue the guided tour on foot: discover the Old Harbor with the two towers at the entrance of the harbor, the larger of these is Tour Saint-Nicolas (15th century, 138 feet high), the other, Tour de la Chaîne (14th century), was built to house the great chain now lying at its base, which used to be strung across to St Nicolas each night to safely close off the harbor from attack. Continue towards the archway of the Great Clock giving access to the mostly pedestrian Old District. See the many arcaded streets and elegant architectural buildings from different periods: The Hôtel de la Bourse (18th century, with its two wings joined by a columned gallery), the Law Court (rebuilt in the 18th century with a Corinthian style façade), the House of Henry II (Renaissance), the Town Hall (Renaissance building, Henri IV period) in the heart of old town, protected by a surrounding Gothic wall. During the walking tour, visit the WWII Museum located in a former German underground bunker in the heart of the city. This bunker was used as refuge by the German Kriegsmarine officers and the museum represents the life of La Rochelle during the Second World War.  Enjoy some free time to discover the city on your own before re-boarding your coach and driving back to ship

Please note: Wear flat, comfortable walking shoes.

You will board your motor coach at the pier and drive along the famous Quai des Chartrons, the center of the Bordeaux wine trade. Your tour of Médoc will start just north of the city. The Medoc Wine Road, located between the Gironde estuary and the Landes forest, will provide magnificent views of vine-covered gravelly rises as far as the eye can see. You will have the opportunity to take photos of some of the most famous Châteaux of the area such as Margaux, and Pichon Longueville.  Médoc vineyards are orderly and well-kept almost to the point of fanaticism, and the region's world famous châteaux produce wine that are nothing short of divine... Moulis, Listrac, Saint Julien, Saint Estèphe, Pauillac, Médoc, Haut Médoc and Margaux (with the celebrated château of the same name). You will be able to visit the cellars of one of these famous châteaux -  Giscours, Lynch Bages, Siran,Lagrange, Dauzac, Desmirail, Camensac,Palmer, Issan, Kirwan, Prieuré Lichine, Rausan Ségla, or d'Arsac. You will learn the techniques of wine making during your visit of the cellars and before a wine tasting.

Please note: There will be stairs to get to the chateau cellar. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

There can be no better place to start a visit to this attractive region than Saint Emilion, heartland of the merlot grape, which produces delicious, rich, round wines. The vines on the "hill with a thousand châteaux," reach right up to Saint Emilion's 13th century town walls and surrounding moat dug out of solid rock.  You will stop at one of the nearby wine chateaux and will learn the techniques of wine making during your visit to their cellar and enjoy a wine tasting. Arriving in the village, your guide will take you for a walking tour to see the main attractions: the Collegiale Church and its magnificent cloister from the 12th century, the Ramparts, the Market Place, and the Monolithic Church. Strolling in the streets, you will also see the Cadene Gate and the King's Tower. Then, you will have some time at leisure for exploring the village on your own.

Please note:  The order of sites visited may vary. Flat, comfortable shoes are recommended as well as a warm garment.  Some of the walk is difficult on steep cobblestone streets  and not recommended for people with mobility issues.

Depart by coach from the ship for a panoramic drive of Bordeaux, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. This distinction recognizes the beauty and unity of style of Bordeaux's architectural heritage, which has developed harmoniously over the centuries and remains remarkably well-preserved. Discover the city’s major highlights : the Chartrons Riverfront where the wine trade started, L’Esplanade des Quinconces  which is one of Europe’s largest squares with its column commemorating the French Revolution, the 18th century Place de la Bourse, the Cailhau Gate (15th century), the Big Bell (14th century), the Palais Rohan (18th century) now the City Hall, the St. Andrew Cathedral (13th century )  where Alienor d'Aquitaine married Louis VII and the Grand Theatre (18th century), the Bordeaux Opera built by Victor Louis in 1773. Then, to continue your discovery of Bordeaux’s history and culture, you will drive to a nearby vineyard surrounding Bordeaux  and highlighting its really famous heritage: the wine culture. You will stop at one of the prestigious estates to visit their cellars, be introduced to the art of wine making and enjoy a wine tasting before heading back to your ship.

Please note: The order of sights visited may vary. Flat, comfortable shoes are recommended.