French Collection: Paris to Brittany

Day 2: Market Tour and Cooking Class in Paris

In the morning, enjoy a small group Parisian market tour and cooking class with lunch. The colourful food markets in Paris are famous for offering a huge variety of freshly delivered local and regional produce, which vary according to the seasons.

Visit a local market with an expert, offering great insights into how the French choose the ingredients for their traditional recipes. You’ll be in great hands with a Cordon-Bleu trained chef for a fabulous Parisian gourmet experience. After shopping for the ingredients, learn the secrets of authentic French cooking, the dishes are carefully chosen to reflect the fruit and vegetables in season at the time of your class, and Charlotte keeps a note of your menu so that you can try something new every time you visit. You will also be handed a copy of the recipes at the start of the class, so you can take notes as you go.

After cooking together, you will sit down around the spacious kitchen and enjoy your beautiful lunch in a convivial atmosphere, with wine to accompany your meal. This really is a truly memorable Parisian gourmet experience.

Day 4: From Paris to Bordeaux

Take the high speed TGV from Paris to Bordeaux, where you will be staying in a four-star boutique spa hotel in the heart of Bordeaux city with complimentary spa access. In the evening, enjoy a fabulous tasting menu on your first evening in Bordeaux! Boasting one Michelin star, the seven-course tasting menu showcases super original flavours in beautifully prepared and presented dishes paired with wine.

Day 6: Tour Arcachon Bay, with the Opportunity to Taste Oysters

Enjoy a full day’s wonderful small group chauffeured tour to the Bay of Arcachon.

Arcachon is set on the Atlantic coast 55 kilometres (34 miles) southwest of Bordeaux. It is a superb choice for beach lovers, but there’s a lot more to this stunning peninsula than sand dunes and Atlantic rollers. Discover the oyster sheds that are laid in rows one next to each other and that belong to the local oyster farmers that make this destination so well known to all French oyster aficionados.

On arrival you will have the opportunity to taste oysters accompanied by French Fresh Baguette, lightly salted butter and of course paired with a crisp white wine! Your guide will assist with choosing the perfect venue to dine from one of the many high quality sea food restaurants located along the shore (not included).

After a relaxing lunch, enjoy a unique boat ride on board a local “Pinasse”, the traditional boats of the Bay of Arcachon. Discover the “Île aux oiseaux”(birds island). Île aux Oiseaux is surrounded by oyster beds and bird life of the Bassin d’Arcachon. Near the island, the famous cabanes tchanquées (cabins on stilts) stand overlooking the water. Later that afternoon your driver/guide will chauffeur you back to your accommodation.

Day 8: Tour Mont Saint-Michel Before a Local Lunch

Meet with your private English speaking driver and discover Mont Saint-Michel! One of the most picturesque historical sights to see in France, Medieval Mont Saint-Michel abbey famously perches on top of a rocky island near the coasts of Normandy and Brittany. After the tour enjoy lunch in a charming local restaurant with accompanying wine. Mid-afternoon transfers back to your hotel to relax and enjoy the pool and spa.

Day 10: Final Day to Explore Paris Before Returning Home

The last day is yours to explore the city of lights before returning home. To satisfy a sweet tooth, cross the river and head to rue Montorgueil, the birthplace of the delectable Rum Baba.

Relax with private transfers to the airport.