LONDON TO PARIS VIA THE CHANEL ISLANDS

Tour Overview

Go from Great British culture to Gallic charm on this trip from London to Paris, immersing yourself in the Channel Islands' natural beauty and fascinating history along the way. Hear about Guernsey's wartime occupation first-hand from the locals, enter a bygone world on Sark and admire Jersey's exquisite landscapes.

Highlights

Spend a day on beautiful Sark, the iconic 'Dark Sky Island'
Explore the only part of the British Isles to be occupied during WWII
Enjoy an oyster tasting experience in Cancale, the 'oyster capital' of Brittany

ITINERARY

Day 1 - London - Winchester - Dorset

After meeting the group in London we’ll travel to our first stop: Winchester, where we’ll take some time to tour the magnificent cathedral. Then, we’ll travel past the sublime Corfe Castle en route to our hotel – where a welcome dinner awaits us. Accommodation: Morton’s House Hotel (or similar)- Meals Dinner

Day 2 - Dorset - Guernsey

This morning it’s all aboard the ferry for the journey to Guernsey. In St Peter Port, you’ll be free to spend some time wandering the cobbled streets, marina and shops at your leisure before we reconvene for a fascinating tour of the grand Sausmarez Manor and its charming gardens. Accommodation: Duke of Richmond Hotel (or similar) - Meals Breakfast

Day 3 - Guernsey - Sark - Guernsey

The famous ‘Dark Sky Island’, Sark, will be our next stop – and here the day will be yours to spend as you please. No cars are allowed on the island, giving it a unique ‘olde worlde’ charm. After returning to Guernsey on the ferry, we’ll tuck into an included dinner together. Accommodation: Duke of Richmond Hotel (or similar) - Meals Breakfast Dinner

Day 4 - Guernsey

First on the agenda today: a stop at the enchanting Little Chapel, a work of art built entirely from sea shells. Afterwards, we’ll visit the fascinating German Occupation Museum before meeting Molly Bihet, who was just nine years old when the Nazis arrived in Guernsey in 1940. After hearing her stories of life under the German occupation, there will be some free time to explore at your own pace. Accommodation: Duke of Richmond Hotel (or similar) - Meals Breakfast

Day 5 - Guernsey - Jersey

Our morning in Guernsey will be a relaxed one as we ready ourselves to depart for our next stop: Jersey. When we get there, we’ll familiarise ourselves with the beautiful harbour village of St Aubin – exploring the Bulwarks, steep streets and pubs before returning to the hotel for dinner. Accommodation: Hotel Cristina (or similar) - Meals Breakfast Dinner

Day 6 - Jersey

Today we’ll discover one of Western Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic sites, La Hougue Bie, before pressing onwards to the imposing Mont Orgueil Castle. This afternoon you’ll be free to relax before we move on again. Saint-Malo is coming up tomorrow! Accommodation: Hotel Cristina (or similar) - Meals Breakfast

Day 7 - Jersey - St Malo

Elizabeth Castle has played a huge role in Jersey’s history. Today we’ll see its wartime bunkers – and the causeway that permits entrance at low tide. After some free time in Saint Helier, we’ll swap Britain for France. Tonight, be tempted by an array of restaurants in Saint-Malo. Accommodation: Le Grand Hotel de Courtoisville (or similar) - Meals Breakfast

Day 8 - St Malo

Saint-Malo’s labyrinthine streets are best explored on foot – and that’s how we’ll begin today. Later on, we’ll visit the impressive Château de Saint-Malo before coming together for a taste of classic French cuisine. Accommodation: Grand Hotel de Courtoisville (or similar) - Meals Breakfast Dinner

Day 9 - St Malo - Mont St Michel - Cancale - St Malo

Today we’ll wind our way along the coast of Normandy to the magical Mont Saint-Michel, a rocky islet topped with a medieval monastery. An oyster tasting experience awaits us in Cancale (the ’oyster capital’ of Brittany) before we return to Saint-Malo for an evening of leisure time. Accommodation: Le Grand Hotel de Courtoisville (or similar) Meals Breakfast

Day 10 - St Malo - Dinan - Saint Suzanne - Laval

After spending some time exploring the medieval ramparts of Dinan this morning, we’ll move on to Fougères – where we’ll visit the castle. We’ve one more stop (at picturesque Sainte-Suzanne, one of the most beautiful villages in France) before we arrive in Laval, where we’ll enjoy one final group dinner together. Accommodation: Hotel Perier du Bignon (or similar) - Meals Breakfast Dinner

Day 11 - Laval - Chartres - Paris

We’ll end our tour with a trip to the Cathedral of Chartres – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and beautifully preserved example of Gothic architecture. Our final stop will be Paris, where we’ll say ‘au revoir’. Meals Breakfast