If you’re planning a visit to France – we’ve handpicked the best tours of France for 2024 with the most scrumptious food and wine, tours that let you experience France like a local and that will give you cherished memories to last a lifetime…
We’ve picked the best and most fabulous tours in France where the experience is built around the things YOU want to see and do.
Small Group tours of France
Each and every private tour is unique and for small groups and enable you to tour at a relaxed pace whilst packing plenty into the itinerary so that you enjoy the trip of a lifetime.
Unlike tours that rush you around like herds of sheep without time to relish the sights and wonderful food and wines for which France is famous and you’ve travelled so far to experience – these tours are designed to ensure you fully savour your time in France. Whether you’re a lover of chateaux, culture, gourmet cuisine, wonderful wines, gorgeous countryside, the prettiest villages, history, culture, want to learn the language and more – these tours of France are the best.
Tours for those who love the authentic
Discover southern France – from captivating Carcassonne to magical Montpellier and the postcard-pretty blooming lovely lavender fields of Provence, as well as Normandy, Bordeaux and Dordogne. On these luxury, small group tours you’ll get to experience France like a local, indulge in the best gastronomy and wine, and discover the beauty and culture of France… www.tripusafrance.com
Day trips and tour packages all over France, plus brilliant shore excursions
Ophorus Tours are a French family run business with a huge choice of tours from fun and informative guided walking city tours to very carefully crafted multi regional packages, wine tasting, cycling and themed tours all over France as well as day trips from Paris. Their aim is to show you France as they believe it should be shown – authentic, colourful and friendly. www.ophorus.com
Tailor-made tours
Osprey Boutique Travel create unique, exclusive and authentic travel experiences. Their handcrafted, tailor-made itineraries are meticulously customized to each client’s preferences, based on personally tested experiences and native French expertise. They specialize in offering white-glove service with managing every detail from bookings, arrangements, and care. With Osprey, expect access to unparalleled experiences at prestigious wineries and Michelin-starred restaurants, creating a lifetime journey. Find out more: ospreybt.com
Tours of France by train
Authentic Europe’s independent and partly escorted package tours by train are a superb way to explore France. From Paris to the sunny Mediterranean, the vineyards of Burgundy, the chateaux of the Loire Valley, Normandy and more incredible places – the extensive French train network makes it easy to explore every corner of France. Authentic Europe organise accommodation, book your train tickets and provide you with a comprehensive itinerary. All tours are customisable to suit you. Some tours include guided visits, and they always include a great list of recommended visits for self-guided tours so you get to see what you want. Find out more and book your tour of France at: authentic-europe.com
Battlefield tours and historical travel experiences
Tailor-made historical travel experiences by a family-run specialist tour operator creates exceptional WWI and WWII battlefields tours across France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Sophie’s Great War Tours will research the history and background of soldiers so that each battlefield tour is a personal historical experience. Add on experiences to suit you, such as chateau visits in the Loire, Champagne tastings in Champagne or a classic car tour in Provence. Every itinerary is designed to be perfect – for you. sophiesgreatwartours.com
French language Immersion in Paris and Normandy
Learning French can be challenging – for some more than others. Learning online, in a classroom or from a book doesn’t work for everyone – we’re all different and we all learn in different ways. A rediscovered way of learning French in France has had great success with those who want to become confident when speaking French – a ‘natural’ way of learning, the way you learn as a child. Hear, experience, speak and then write.
The Experience France (XPF) system is different from most, and though grammar and those pesky conjugations, past, present and future tense combinations are important – they’re only taught once you’re confident with communicating in French. Find out more at: xpfrance.net
CroisiEurope – the very best cruises in France
CroisiEurope are the largest cruise operator in France, and their tours are unbeatable. Sail France’s rivers and canals and the Mediterranean Sea. Discover the culture, gastronomy and cultural wealth of France. Enjoy all-inclusive life onboard with the finest food and wines and fabulous excursions that transport you to the heart of France. There’s no worrying about having to drive, make a train connection or travel delays. There’s no queuing for tickets to major sites. All you have to do is relax, enjoy the wonderful gastronomy, and get to see the best of France – in style.
There are a fabulous range of cruises in France by barge and boat (even a paddle ship on the Loire), including Paris, (from 2 days to 7 days, departure point near the Eiffel Tower) that take in the city sights. Also starting from Paris are several cruises including to Normandy – Honfleur, Rouen and Giverny where you’ll visit Claude Monet’s house and garden; a romantic sites cruise, taking in castles, authentic medieval villages, historic sites and fabulous museums; French Impressionism cruise taking in the artists’ favourite haunts; and Oise Valley cruise. Utterly irresistible… croisieurope.co.uk
Culture & cookery tours in Provence
Cooking classes with chefs in their homes where you’ll cook authentic French dishes. Shop at enchanting street markets with chefs, and dine at the most scrumptious restaurants in beautiful towns of Provence on this fully escorted, small group delicious and cultural trip of a lifetime. goutetvoyage.com
Immersion courses in the most beautiful places in France
SL Immersion offer French immersion courses in several areas. There are tailor-made lessons to suit each guest, you’ll stay in the home of a fully qualified and experienced tutor, and learn real French the way it’s spoken in France. You’ll quickly improve your French, and you’ll also have an unforgettable cultural experience with activities, cooking classes, sightseeing, wine tasting etc. slimmersion-france.com
Loire Valley Bike Tours – the very best way to travel
One of the best ways to visit the castles, vineyards, pretty little villages, historic towns and gorgeous gardens of the Loire Valley is on two wheels… Loire Brakes guided tours are relaxing (e-bikes provided), you’ll stay in a fabulously renovated comfortable and cosy farmhouse and visit the very best of the Loire Valley with local guides Denise and Kevin. A superb slow travel experience for those who like to discover real France and enjoy the most fabulous food and wine. loirebrakes.com
‘Real’ South of France Tours
Occitanie – formerly Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrenees – is to many the real south of France. It’s a land of hidden gems, postcard-pretty villages, historic giants like Carcassonne, and of lush vineyards where some of the very best wines in France are produced (tastings are included on the tours!). Take a 7-day, fully inclusive, small group guided tour, stay in an award-winning B&B, dine at hand-picked restaurants and discover the heart of this area and its innermost, delicious and fascinating secrets. Discover real France with ‘Real’ South of France Tours. realsouthoffrancetours.fr
Immersive French courses in Burgundy
10-day French immersion stays in Burgundy that will have you learning French in a fabulous and fun way. Stay in a gorgeous luxury chateau, experience the real French way of life, culture and gastronomy. Cooking lessons, wine tasting and guided tours by experts alongside lessons tailored to your level with friendly, qualified teachers make this a truly outstanding experience. lapont.com
Year round themed and bespoke small group tours of Provence
Small group tours and customized travelling to give you memories to last a lifetime. Discover the best of Provence: Lavender tours (there’s still room on the lavender and culture tour), truffle, grape harvest, and bespoke tours as well as chauffeur services for day trips or a lot longer. Emily Durand’s Private Provence tours are unique, exclusive and truly fabulous. yourprivateprovence.com
Luxury tours of Gascony, the Basque country, Provence and southern France
Nourish your soul and unleash your spirit of adventure on tours that feature the famous food, wine and Armagnac of Gascony, and discover where to find the best antique shops and flea markets, the most beautiful villages and magnificent chateaux. From one day to week-long tours that are customised for you. Plus tours of Provence, southern France and the Basque country. frenchcountryadventures.com
