Join Your Man in Europe for one of the most memorable of all the tours we offer: a loop through Normandy and Brittany in northern France. This most enchanting part of France is too often seen from a bus window during day trips from Paris. What a shame! Our little group will explore the region's hidden treasures as we make our leisurely circle from Paris, taking in Mont-Saint-Michel and D-Day beaches along the way. We'll travel by private van as we visit - and often stay overnight in - some of the officially-designated "Most Charming Villages in France" - places you will fall in love with! All our accommodations, and many of our meals will be at quaint Bed & Breakfast and Inns all along our journey. On this trip we do change lodgings more often than usual, but the distances traveled each day are quite short, leaving more time at our overnight stops.

STRICTLY LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS, due to small accommodation and dining venues, as well as limited seating in our private van. Reserve Now!

Here's the full itinerary for this unforgettable journey:

September 9 (March 10 '06): Embark on overnight flight to Paris, Charles de Gaulle Airport. (Not Included in tour price)

September 10 (March 11 '06): Meet with your tour guide after your morning arrival. As soon as the group is assembled, our private van will whisk us out of the city toward our first stop: Chartres , site of one of Europe's most magnificent cathedrals. After a scenic drive, we'll settle in for dinner and a good night's rest in the surprising little village of St.Leonard des Bois, in the "Alpes Mancelles".

September 11 (March 12 '06): After a delicious breakfast (if we get an early enough start) we'll enjoy a stroll up the mountain (yes, mountain!) for a panoramic view of the surrounding rolling farmland. Then we'll begin our short journey into Brittany. Southeast of Rennes our cozy inn awaits, just a little way from The Fairy Rocks. This remarkably-preserved Bronze-Age standing stone monument is a scaled-down version of England's famous Stonehenge, and dates from exactly the same era. We'll enjoy a gourmet picnic at the site, and have the freedom to walk among - and touch - the ancient stones. Locals long ago decided that the mysterious stone formation is inhabited by the fairies - you may come to believe so, too. Our dinner back at our enchanting hotel, rated as one of the most charming in France, will be a memorable taste of the cuisine of Brittany.

September 12 (March 13 '06): Today we'll enjoy another great breakfast, and then begin our leisurely drive to Mont-Saint-Michel. We'll take in the verdant scenery on our way to one of the world's great wonders, stopping when and where we like along the way. All the pictures, guidebooks, and stories about the place don't come close to capturing Mont-Saint-Michel's magnificence. It's a magical castle-like assemblage of spires, towers, and sheer walls on a seemingly inaccessible island in the middle of a broad sand plain. Then every evening the ocean tide rushes in, surrounding the island. In the peak season hoards of tour buses descend upon Mont-Saint-Michel during the daytime; but most of le Mont's visitors are on the buses back to Paris when the tide surges in. We'll spend two unforgettable nights in a charming hotel in the tiny village which lies at the feet of the great, towering abbey. We'll see the awe-inspiring vista of the tidal flood as we dine on local seafood specialties in one of the restaurants offering the best views. The entire experience ranks very high on the "list of things you must do before you die".

September 13 (March 14 '06): Ahhhhh, breakfast on Le Mont! What more could one want? Today we explore the abbey, with all its hidden nooks and cloisters; and enjoy some casual shopping in the picturesque little island village. If time permits, and we take a notion to do it, we may drive to some of the other nearby coastal vistas. By evening we'll have to be back on the island before the tide returns! Dinner will be another memorable experience.

September 14 (March 15 '06): After breakfast at our cozy hotel, we continue our Brittany & Normandy adventure with a drive up to the Bayeux area, where we will have a choice of D-Day beaches to visit nearby. Bayeux was one of the first French towns liberated in the D-Day Invasion, and is home to the fabulous Bayeux Tapestries. After an unhurried day of sight-seeing along the coast (which, if time allows, will include the beautiful seaside town of Honfleur), we'll make our way to the beyond-picturesque village of Beauvron- en-Auge. On arrival, you'll think you've somehow strayed into medieval England, with its half-timbered buildings. (Photo opportunities galore) Our overnight stay at an enchanting inn there will allow us a quiet evening for dinner and a stroll through the old town's quaint streets.

September 15 (March 16 '06): We'll leave Beauvron-en-Auge after breakfast, and make our way to yet another amazing destination: Gerberoy. This ancient fortified hill village was already well established when William the Conqueror visited the town on his way to England. The vistas of the surrounding green hills are breathtaking. After a pleasant lunch in Gerberoy, we'll drive south for a visit to the magnificent city of Rouen, which boasts one of Europe's best preserved medieval city centers. Its half-timbered buildings and narrow streets offer a glimpse of what Paris must have looked like in the Middle Ages. In the 1890's Monet painted his series of the magnificent cathedral there; and we can enjoy seeing just what inspired the great artist.

Then it's on to our next wonderful B&B for our last night in the French countryside. This fully restored ancient farmhouse, now a comfortable inn, is one of the most delightful places of the entire tour - a quintessential French experience! Dinner while watching the swans glide by will be "to die for".

September 16 (March 17 '06): After a delicious breakfast we begin our return drive to Paris, with a stop for a morning visit to Monet's home and gardens at Giverny, and a picnic lunch on the grounds. In the afternoon we'll drive to Charles de Gaulle Airport to board the shuttle into central Paris. We'll arrive at our charming hotel overlooking the famous Luxembourg Gardens in plenty of time for a memorable dinner, followed by a night-time Seine River Cruise. You'll truly understand what "The City of Lights" means...

September 17 (March 18 '06): After a Parisian breakfast, we'll spend a pleasant day enjoying a walking tour of the Ile de la Cite and Ile-St-Louis - the heart of Paris, a rooftop luncheon with one of the best views in Paris, and a Seine River exploration taking in many of the major sights of this most endearing city, including the Eiffel Tower. An early dinner will be delivered to our hotel rooms to allow time for a surprise evening entertainment you'll never forget!

September 18 (March 19 '06): After our last breakfast together in Paris, we'll arrange transportation to Charles de Gaulle Airport for flight connections back to the USA. We will have shared a unforgettable excursion to "The North of France"!

Complete Tour $2350 !

This tour promises delightful and memorable meals, unforgettable sights, and a chance to check off several "Things to do before I die"! You can't miss this trip...

Your Tour Guide: Larry Ivy, Certified French Destination Specialist Extraordinaire, is the Tour Coordinator and guide for Your Man in Europe, and a long-time veteran of European travel and unique private tour-leading. Larry wants just one thing: for you to have "the time of your life"!

This tour is custom-planned for a small group of no more than 8 travelers, plus guide. Even if you are a seasoned traveler, you have never experienced France like this. Whether it's your first trip or your twentieth, the magic will captivate you. You will be part of a glorious adventure - complete with music, gourmet picnics, and surprises that will delight you at every turn.

The complete cost is $2350 per person (based on double occupancy), including: carefully-selected super-atmospheric accommodations, all extraordinary meals (!), all fees and admissions, tours, transportation in Paris (including taxis), full-time private guide services, tips and gratuities, airport transfers, and all other ground transportation including private van transport. From the time you arrive in France, you won't ever need to spend a Euro-cent unless you want to buy something extra!

Not included: Round-trip airfare to Paris (but we'll help you find the best fare), Trip insurance, extra beverages such as additional wine or after-dinner coffee or cocktails (meals will include 1 beverage of choice and will be budgeted accordingly); a la cart or premium menu selections beyond the established meal allowances; between-meal snacks; gratuities for extra services such as baggage porters, or for superior service (normal gratuities are included in the trip cost); souvenirs; and privately arranged activities. Hotel room upgrades are not included.

The trip cost is based on 8 guests traveling together (double occupancy for hotel accommodations). If only six guests sign up, the cost increases to $2495 per person. Single supplement - if available - is an additional $300.

If you've been looking for the "Trip of a Lifetime", this is IT!

From Your Man in Europe testimonials:

This trip is limited to 8 participants!