Experience Paris in a relaxed, personal, and flexible way on a small group tour created for both solo and accompanied travelers. Whether you are traveling alone, with a spouse, or with a friend, you will quickly feel comfortable and included. Our welcoming groups make it easy to meet others, share experiences, and enjoy the city without ever feeling lost in the crowd. Because we travel with a small group, we can adjust the pace, linger at places we especially enjoy, stop at an inviting café, or take advantage of an unexpected opportunity. The itinerary is thoughtfully planned, yet there is always room for spontaneity. Everyone fits right in on this enjoyable return to Paris.

Arrive in Paris, check into the hotel, and take time to rest after your journey. Since travelers will be arriving on different flights, our first group activity generally begins at approximately 5:00 p.m. The exact starting time may be adjusted once everyone’s arrival information has been received.

We begin with a brief orientation to introduce the neighborhood, review the week ahead, and answer any questions.

That evening, those who wish to join us will gather for dinner at a welcoming local bistro near the hotel. Dinner is not included in the tour cost, so everyone is free to order what they like or relax at the hotel after a long travel day.

This casual first evening is a wonderful opportunity to meet your fellow travelers and begin feeling at home in Paris once again.

After breakfast, we begin an exciting day in the historic heart of Paris.

Walk through the lively streets of the Latin Quarter, one of the city’s oldest and most atmospheric neighborhoods, before crossing the Seine to Île de la Cité.

Visit the magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of the world’s most recognizable Gothic landmarks.

Step inside Sainte-Chapelle, celebrated for its extraordinary stained-glass windows.

Explore the historic Conciergerie, where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned during the French Revolution.

After time for lunch, continue to the elegant Tuileries Garden, once part of the grounds of the former royal palace.

Continue to the elegant Tuileries Garden, once part of the grounds of the former royal palace.

The day concludes at the intimate Musée de l’Orangerie, where Monet’s enormous Water Lilies paintings surround visitors in two specially designed galleries.

Because we travel with a small group, we are not governed by a rigid schedule. We can pause when something catches our interest, allow more time at a favorite site, stop for a café break, or adjust our plans according to the weather and the pace of the group.

Begin the morning with a leisurely walk through the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens, one of the most beloved green spaces in Paris. Depending upon the season, the gardens may be filled with flowers, fountains, sculptures, and Parisians enjoying one of their favorite places to relax.

Continue to Les Invalides, where we visit the impressive tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte beneath the golden dome.

There will be time for lunch before an optional visit to the nearby Rodin Museum, home to masterpieces such as The Thinker, The Kiss, and The Gates of Hell. The museum’s sculpture garden is especially enjoyable on a pleasant day.

Optional visit to the nearby Rodin Museum, home to masterpieces such as The Thinker, The Kiss, and The Gates of Hell. The museum’s sculpture garden is especially enjoyable on a pleasant day.

Later, visit the Arc de Triomphe, standing proudly at the top of the Champs-Elysees. Those who wish may ascend to the observation level for one of the finest views in Paris.

Finish with a walk along the grand Champs-Elysees, with time to browse, enjoy a café, or simply take in the excitement of the avenue.

Our small-group format allows us to make the most of the day. We may linger in the gardens, stop at an inviting neighborhood café, or adjust the order of visits to avoid crowds. There is no need to wait for dozens of people or follow a rigid timetable.

If time and energy permit, the Pantheon and additional areas of the Luxembourg Gardens are within walking distance of the hotel.

Today we visit the magnificent Palace of Versailles, one of the grandest royal residences in Europe. An audio-guided visit leads us through the palace’s remarkable state rooms, including the celebrated Hall of Mirrors, the King’s and Queen’s apartments, and the Coronation Room. Depending upon the season, weather, and opening schedules, there may also be time to explore portions of the formal gardens.

After returning to Paris, enjoy some free time to rest, shop, visit a café, or explore the neighborhood independently.

That evening, we visit the Louvre Museum after many daytime visitors have departed. See Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa along with an extraordinary collection of paintings, sculptures, antiquities, and decorative arts. Your tour leader will help you navigate this enormous museum and identify many of its most important highlights.

This is a full day, but our small group gives us the flexibility to pace it comfortably. We can adjust the afternoon according to how everyone is feeling. Those who prefer a shorter visit may return to the hotel earlier, while others may wish to remain longer.

Today is devoted to the outstanding Musée d'Orsay, housed in a beautifully restored former railway station overlooking the Seine. The museum contains one of the world's finest collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. See exceptional works by Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Sisley, Manet, and many others. The building itself, with its soaring central hall and iconic clock, is nearly as impressive as the art it contains.

Rather than rushing through the museum, we allow time to appreciate the works that interest us most. Your tour leader can suggest highlights, help orient you within the galleries, and offer ideas based upon your personal interests.

We will take a break for lunch in the museum’s beautiful dining room, one of the most elegant museum restaurants in Paris.

The remainder of the afternoon can be adjusted according to the interests and energy of the group. Some travelers may wish to continue exploring the museum, while others may prefer a walk along the Seine, a visit to nearby Saint-Germain-des-Prés, or free time at the hotel.

This is another advantage of traveling in a small group: everyone does not have to experience Paris in exactly the same way or at exactly the same pace.

This morning, explore the authentic streets of Montmartre, the legendary hilltop neighborhood associated with artists, writers, cabarets, and the creative spirit of the Belle Époque.

Walk through the fascinating Montmartre Cemetery, where artists, performers, writers, and other notable Parisians are buried.

Continue past the famous red windmill of the Moulin Rouge and stop for coffee near the café featured in the film Amélie.

As we climb through Montmartre’s winding streets, discover hidden squares, artists’ studios, neighborhood shops, historic cafés, and reminders of the days when Picasso, Renoir, Modigliani, Toulouse-Lautrec, and other artists lived and worked here.

At the top of the hill, enjoy the sweeping view across Paris from the steps of the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. We then step inside to experience the beauty and peaceful atmosphere of this remarkable basilica.

Montmartre is an ideal place to enjoy the spontaneity of small-group travel. We might pause to watch a street musician, browse an artist’s gallery, stop for a pastry, investigate an interesting side street, or enjoy an unplanned café lunch. These unexpected moments often become some of the most memorable experiences of the tour.

The afternoon may be free for additional exploration, shopping, or relaxation.

After spending nearly a week becoming familiar with Paris, today is designed to give you the freedom to experience the city your way. With guidance from your tour leader, choose a place you have been eager to visit, return to a neighborhood you particularly enjoyed, shop for gifts, relax at a café, or spend time at a museum not included in the scheduled itinerary.

Another option is to join your tour leader for an informal ramble through Paris. Because we are a small group, the day can develop naturally according to the interests of those participating. We may visit a neighborhood market, discover an interesting church, stop at a favorite bakery, browse small shops, or explore special places often missed on more structured tours.

Possible activities include ascending the Eiffel Tower, taking a scenic Seine River cruise, visiting Père Lachaise Cemetery, exploring the Marais, shopping at a neighborhood market, enjoying a long Parisian lunch, or returning to a favorite café or neighborhood.

The plans for this day may be influenced by the weather, special events, current exhibitions, and the interests of the group. This flexibility is one of the great pleasures of traveling through Paris with a small group. We are free to take advantage of opportunities as they arise instead of being confined to a rigid itinerary.

There is always something magnifique to do in Paris.

After breakfast, it is time to say au revoir to Paris and to the friends you have made during the week.

We assist travelers with arrangements for the airport, train station, or their next destination. Whether you are returning home or continuing your travels, we will help make your departure as smooth and comfortable as possible.

You leave with wonderful memories not only of Paris’s celebrated museums, monuments, gardens, and neighborhoods, but also of the spontaneous moments and shared experiences that make small-group travel so enjoyable.