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Arrive
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Day 1 Arrival in Paris
On arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle, you will be met by your driver in the arrivals hall and transferred privately to your hotel. Check in and relax before setting out to explore Paris in quintessentially French fashion, from the back-seat of a vintage Citroen 2CV! Your beret wearing chauffeur will collect you from your hotel, before introducing you to the iconic sites that make the French capital legendary.
In the evening, visit the glorious Marché du Nöel at the Jardin des Tuileries. This traditional Christmas market and holiday fair has a quintessentially Parisian feel to it, with stalls selling mouthwatering French crepes, beautiful handmade Christmas tree ornaments, perfect holiday gifts and plenty of opportunity for festive fun, with an ice rink and fairground rides.
Overnight: Hotel Grand Powers
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Day 2 A tasty introduction to the City of Lights
This morning, step out with your guide to explore the City of Lights on foot! Whether you would like to spot as many of the city's highlights as possible, with a stroll down Les Champs Elysées, starting at the Arc de Triomphe and finishing at the Grand Palais and Petit Palais; perhaps you might like to find the freshest croissants close to your hotel, or the most stylish boutiques - or just find a pavement café and watch the world go by with a café-crème in hand, your guide will have plenty of options for you.
In the afternoon, experience the very finest of some of France's most loved products - cheese, bread and chocolate. Enjoy a gourmet tour with the perspective that only a native Parisian 'foodie' can provide, visiting a renowned boulangerie where you will taste different breads, a famed fromagerie where you can sample many of France's 500 types of cheese, finishing up at an irresistible chocolaterie which offers jewel-size patisseries, chocolate macarons and other tempting delicacies. Round off your day at the Eiffel Tower, where you will have fast-track tickets. Enjoy extraordinary views of the city from the interior of Gustav Eiffel's iconic iron structure.
Overnight: Hotel Grand Powers
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Day 3 Visit Reims and its Christmas market
Today, board the high-speed train from Paris to Champagne's regional capital, Reims. In front of the imposing façade of the famed cathedral meander your way through hundreds of chalets, each showcasing the magic of Christmas through their divine smells and tastes, enchanting illuminations - and of course, plenty of Champagne to sample!
Upgrade option: explore Reims with a guide to discover the history of the city, its glorious cathedral and perhaps visit a local Champagne house for some sparkling souvenirs!
Overnight: Hotel Grand Powers
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Day 4 Exploring Montmartre, festive bakery class
Perched at the northern tip of Paris, on the steep hill once known as the 'mountain of martyrs', you will find the charming neighbourhood of Montmartre, where your guide will be by your side to introduce you to its highlights. The snow-white basilica of Sacré-Coeur dominates the city skyline and is well worth a brief visit. The views from the surrounding park of Buttes de Chaumont are equally rewarding. As the home to Paris' bohemian artist community during the 19th Century, Montmartre still maintains its artistic heritage with pavement artists and small galleries aplenty. You'll also find the iconic Moulin Rouge, one of the city's best known cabaret clubs, whose famous Red Windmill is still a fabulous sight to see.
In the afternoon, your guide will escort you to a private French cookery school where you will learn the secrets of authentic Parisian Christmas treats as you embark on a delightful journey to create your own Buche de Noel from scratch. With an expert chef tutor by your side, you'll be taught how to create your chocolate sponge to fashion the most Christmassy treat of them all!
Overnight: Hotel Grand Powers
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Day 5 A visit to the world's largest Christmas market
Board the train to Strasbourg with first class tickets. Arrive in style in the Alsatian region capital, located on the French and German border, to discover the world's largest Christmas market. Nestled amongst traditional houses with pitched rooves, you'll find picturesque ice rinks, artisanal food makers, steaming vats of gluhwein and twinkling Christmas lights. This is truly the perfect place to get in the festive spirit.
Upgrade option: explore Strasbourg with a guide to discover the fascinating history of the city, whose location on the Franco-German border has led to its distinct duality of cultures.
Overnight: Hotel Grand Powers
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Day 6 Discover the Musée du Louvre
With your guide by your side, explore the world's largest art collection. Your guide will focus on works in the collection relating to the Christmas season, with glorious Impressionist winter scenes, Dutch Masters' still lives of festive feasts and of course the many Renaissance images of the Magi to be found in the Richelieu wing.
Upgrade option: a fun and interactive Scavenger Hunt of the Louvre, where you will compete against one another as a family, hunting for clues and solving puzzles based on the artworks around you. This is the ideal introduction to history of art for children as they learn through the fun of the game.
Overnight: Hotel Grand Powers
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Day 7 A Christmas Lights Tour by night
Spend the morning at leisure before meeting your guide once daylight starts to fade. The City of Lights truly comes to life during the holiday season, as each neighbourhood creates ever more elaborate displays of festive cheer, from illuminations to Christmas trees, nutcrackers and snowmen, to name but a few. This afternoon's tour will take in some of the best-known department stores, famous for their ever more elaborate decorations, including Galeries Lafayette, whose annual Christmas installation is an attraction in its own right. Walk down the Champs Elysées to see this glorious tree lined boulevard covered in twinkling lights, before arriving at the Place de la Concord, with its famed Ferris Wheel. En route, you'll have plenty of opportunity to stop for warming hot chocolate and mulled wine to get you into the best of the festive spirit.
Overnight: Hotel Grand Powers
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Day 8 Departure
This morning check out of Hotel Grand Powers, from where you will be transferred to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
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Depart
