London to Paris via the Channel Islands

An epicenter of rich history and innovation, London is where we’ll meet for the start of our incredible journey. Tonight, we’ll get to know one another over a delicious welcome dinner.  

After breakfast, we’ll travel to our first stop: the collegiate city of Winchester. Here, we’ll take some time to tour the magnificent Gothic cathedral before exploring the city’s old-worldly centre at our own pace. En route to our hotel, we’ll visit the sublime Corfe Castle – a site with over 1,000 years of diverse history. Then, a delicious meal awaits us at our Dorset hotel.  

This morning, we’ll have time to visit Kingston Lacy country house before it’s all aboard the ferry for the journey to Guernsey. When we arrive at St Peter Port, there will be free time to wander its charming, cobbled streets, marina and stores at your leisure. Tonight, we’ll enjoy an included dinner together at the hotel.  

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. Enjoy a leisurely walk to the various viewpoints around the island including the lighthouse and Pilcher Monument. Or embark on the strikingly beautiful walk along La Coupée to Little Sark. There’s even the option to admire the island’s captivating landscapes from aboard a horse-drawn carriage, if you’d prefer. After returning to Guernsey on the ferry, take the leisurely walk into town for dinner at a local restaurant or enjoy a relaxing evening at the hotel. 

Today we’ll make the short ferry hop across to the lovely island of Jersey, home to stretches of golden beaches, fascinating WWII history and Jersey Royal Potatoes – the royalty of the spud world! Here we’ll have time to visit the sensory-focused exhibits of the Maritime Museum (including a ‘gale force experience’ for those brave enough to face the winds!) and the Occupation Tapestry Gallery’s moving depiction of the 1940-45 Nazi occupation. Later, time to track down some of those potatoes for dinner and sample them for yourself! 

First up on the agenda this morning? A welcome walk around the beautiful harbour village of St Aubin – where we’ll explore the Bulwarks, quaint streets and pubs at our leisure. Afterwards, we’ll have time to delve deeper into the island’s identity at the Jersey Museum, Art Gallery and Victorian House. Finally, we’ll make our way to the Jersey War Tunnels to discover the underground complex built by the Germans during their occupation here. Later, we will reconvene at the hotel and share stories of our day over an included dinner.  

Today we’ll uncover one of Western Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic sites: La Hougue Bie. Stand inside the chamber of the passage grave and feel the heart of this centuries-old place of worship, before discovering more at the geology and archaeology museum. Then, we’ll press on to the imposing Mont Orgueil Castle – a medieval fortress that has overlooked the beautiful fishing port of Gorey for more than 800 years. This afternoon you’ll be free to relax before we move on again. Saint-Malo is coming up tomorrow! 

Elizabeth Castle has played a huge role in Jersey’s history for more than 400 years. Choose to take the Castle Ferry or walk out along the causeway at low tide. Then, enjoy some free time to explore the grounds at your leisure – uncover wartime bunkers, marvel at the hermitage where Saint Helier is thought to have lived, and take part in living history demonstrations. Later this afternoon, we’ll swap Britain for France as we sail into the dramatic port town of St-Malo. Be tempted by an array of restaurants in the town centre and savour some downtime relaxing in the fresh coastal air.  

Saint-Malo’s labyrinthine streets are best explored on foot, so we’ll begin today with an orientation walk with our expert Tour Leader. Then, the rest of the afternoon is yours to wander the medieval ramparts surrounding the town, visit the cathedral or enjoy a walk in the sunshine along Bon-Secours Beach. This evening, take the opportunity to indulge in some classic French cuisine. Bon appétit! 

Today we journey to Dinan, a quaint town nestled upon a hilltop overlooking the Rance Valley. After spending some time exploring its medieval walls, cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses, we’ll wind our way along the coast of Normandy to magical Mont Saint-Michel – a rocky islet topped with a medieval monastery. Here we’ll have some free time to explore the abbey and Logis Tiphaine Museum before finding lunch in the island village. This afternoon, we’ll return to Saint-Malo for an evening of leisure.  

Our morning begins with a visit to the Château de Fougères, the largest medieval castle in Europe. It features 13 majestic towers, beautiful gardens and is surrounded by the River Nançon. Following a stop for lunch in the Old Town, we then journey to Maintenon. Tonight, we’ll regroup at the hotel and enjoy one final dinner together. 

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’.