Upon arrival in Paris, you will be welcomed by your Stylish local representative. A scenic drive takes you to Normandy and your hotel in Audrieu, a Relais & Chateaux property located between Caen and Bayeux. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to relax in your accommodations or venture out into the city for a pleasant stroll in the historic center.

After breakfast, begin your exploration of Normandy by focusing on sights related to D-Day. Relive June 6, 1944, and discover why it is known as “The Longest Day.” You will follow the roads taken by the Allied liberators while listening to the local anecdotes that your guide will be happy to share with you. Visit Omaha beach, depicted in the opening scenes of Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan. This beach was the site of some of the most vicious fighting of World War II: approximately 34,000 soldiers of the 1st, 2nd and 29th Infantry Divisions landed here on D-Day. Continue to the American Cemetery, the Caen Memorial, and other locations related to World War II. If time permits and depending on your interests, you may take a guided tour of Bayeux and the museum of its famous tapestry, which has been designated a “Memory of the World” by UNESCO.

After breakfast this morning, depart your hotel and embark on a full-day excursion to the fascinating island of Mont Saint-Michel. This commune in the middle of the mouth of the Couesnon River was erected back in the 8th century and its architecture mirrors that of the feudal society that existed at the time, with the monastery sitting atop the Great Halls, which in turn are above the storehouses, while outside the walls are the homes of the common people. Many writers have tried to define what has been named the “Marvel of the Occident.” Some say that it is to the sea what the pyramid of Cheops is to the desert, while others describe it as an imaginary manor house. Surrounded by the sea, the island is assailed daily by Europe’s highest tides. Mont Saint-Michel is undeniably unique and a must-see for any traveler to the region.

Today, you will be privately transferred to the Hotel Napoleon in Paris, located in the heart of the city, just steps away from the mythical Champs-Élysées. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure, shopping on France’s most glamorous avenue! This evening, why not head out for dinner at one of the city’s classic brasseries?

After breakfast, embark on a half-day private, guided sightseeing tour of the City of Light. You’ll pass the Arc de Triomphe and stop at the Trocadero, the best vantage point to take your picture-perfect Eiffel Tower photo. In the late afternoon, a private cruise on the Seine River allows you to admire Paris from a different perspective as you get a better understanding of the city’s intertwined relationship with the water. The Seine bisects the city into Right and Left Bank, and its 37 bridges within Paris include Pont Neuf, the Pont de l’Alma near the Eiffel Tower, and the most opulently decorated Pont Alexandre III. During your journey on the water, you will also pass the two natural islands, Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis.

After a leisurely breakfast, depart the city for a half-day tour of the Château de Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage site for over thirty years. Your guide will enlighten you about the fascinating history of the palace and French royalty. Upon returning to Paris, the remainder of the afternoon is yours to explore the city’s amazing museums, or to catch up on your shopping.

The morning is yours to stroll among the book vendors on the banks of the Seine, mingle with the artists on Montmartre, or explore the legacy of Honoré de Balzac, the first novelist to place Paris, the great capital city of his time, at the heart of his work. Then bid farewell to France as you are transferred to the airport for your onward flight. (B)