The Parisian

Day 1 – Paris

Fly overnight to France.

Day 2 – Paris

Bienvenue à Paris! Upon arrival enjoy a guided Paris City Tour where you will visit Notre Dame, see the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe and other highlights, then ascend to the second level of the Eiffel Tower. Later, settle in to your hotel or homestay.

Day 3 – Paris

Explore the Louvre on a guided tour. From I. M. Pei’s modern pyramid to the ancient Egyptian sarcophaguses, the Louvre is the largest museum on Earth! The Louvre was originally constructed in 1200 as a fortress. After the French Revolution, the Louvre was opened as a museum and its fabulous collection was made accessible to the public. Be sure to see da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and the lovely Winged Victory of Samothrace. This evening, enjoy the lights, sights and sounds of Paris and the Seine River on a Bateau Mouche boat trip. Make a wish as you cruise under the Pont Marie—the wish is guaranteed to come true!

Day 4 – Paris

Travel north through the countryside to Giverny, where you will visit Monet’s extraordinary home and water lily gardens, the inspiration for some of the artist’s most famous impressionistic works. Claude Monet lived at Giverny from 1883 until his death in 1926.

Day 5 – Paris

On a guided tour of Chartres, you’ll see one of the most elegant Gothic cathedrals in existence. The cathedral’s sublime architecture is surpassed only by the sensational stained glass windows which cover over 25,000 square feet and depict over 5,000 figures.

Day 6 – Paris

If not included on your Day 1 city tour, visit the Gothic masterpiece, Notre Dame. The cathedral had fallen into a state of disrepair until author Victor Hugo championed its restoration. Later you’ll visit lively Centre Pompidou, called Beaubourg by Parisians. Also check out the inside-out architecture; Beaubourg’s escalators run outside the building in giant red and blue tubes! Once inside, don’t miss the Kandinsky collection in the National Museum of Modern Art. Also stroll through energetic, bustling Les Halles with its gardens and maze-like shopping mall.

Day 7 – Paris

Enjoy an excursion to the Château de Versailles, home of Louis XIV, the Sun King. See the magnificent Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed, ending World War I. Take a walk through the formal gardens to see the elaborate fountains and statuary, and marvel at the splendor in which French royalty once lived.

Day 8 – Paris

Your last day in the City of Lights is free for discovery. Spend today exploring with your advisor or host family, visit some of the many museums, or pick up a few souvenirs in the city’s fantastic boutiques. Option: Visit the Musee d’Orsay, home to a large collection of Impressionist works. The museum is a converted train station on the Quai d’Orsay. Its airy high ceiling allows plenty of natural light to enter, making it easy to view the masterpieces as they are meant to be seen. Even if you know little about art, you’re sure to recognize some of the world’s most famous paintings here. View the Impressionist masterpieces of Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Rodin and others. Option: Tour a section of the fascinating Paris Sewers, where you’ll see a video presentation explaining the city’s efforts to manage water throughout history. Also visit a museum that traces the workings of les egouts.

Day 9 – Depart

Au revoir Paris! Return home with great memories of your Parisian fantasy!