Christmas in a French Alpine Village Tour

Your tour commences this evening in Paris. Dinner tonight is included, but first enjoy a welcome drink. This is an ideal opportunity to meet your fellow travellers.

This morning we enjoy a guided panoramic tour which will  bring alive the city from the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysées and Arc de Triomphe, to the Louvre and Notre Dame. Your afternoon is at leisure to explore the broad boulevards and myriad of shops and museums. Make sure you wander through the largest Christmas markets in Paris which stretch down the Champs Elysées. Christmas decorations abound! This evening we have included a ‘Paris by Night’ illuminations drive. You will be enchanted by the grand monuments and boulevards, from the Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower, bathed in glorious light. In addition, department stores around the Opera boast gigantic Christmas trees and turn on their festive light shows in competition with the extravagant, festive street displays. C’est Magnifique!

Travelling south we reach Beaune, capital of the Burgundy wine region. On arrival we have included a visit to the fascinating Hospices de Beaune (audio guide included). Covered with multi-coloured, glazed roof tiles the ‘Hotel Dieu’ was built over 550 years ago to help the town’s folk in a time of poverty and famine. You will then enjoy lunchtime at leisure amongst the quaint medieval streets and squares. Later we continue to France’s gastronomic capital, Lyon, where we stay two nights.

A wonderful day in Lyon! This morning we explore the historic Roman area, to visit the ancient amphitheatre, and the hilltop Basilica of Fourvière which dominates the whole town. The views from its terrace are splendid. Your afternoon and evening are at leisure. Perhaps stroll through the cobbled stone streets of Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon), stop at a riverside café for white wine and oysters, or shop along the pedestrianised shopping mall from Place de la Republique to Place des Terreaux. The Christmas markets on Place Carnot are excellent, and at night the hilltop Basilica is beautifully illuminated. Lyon is famous as a culinary capital, so this evening explore the old town and discover your own cosy ‘Bouchon’ –a typical, Lyonnais style restaurant.

After a leisurely start we enter the Haute Savoie region to enjoy lunchtime exploring the pretty lakeside town of Annecy. Here, cobbled stone streets, half-timbered and beautifully painted houses sit beside picturesque canals which are criss-crossed with stone bridges. With its Château d’Annecy, once castle home to the Counts of Geneva, and a back drop of mountains and the turquoise lake, the Vieille Ville (Old Town) is incredibly pretty and the Christmas Markets add to the picture.

Later this afternoon we continue deep into the heart of the mighty French Alps and arrive in the tiny village of Cordon where we stay the next five nights over Christmas. Set on the side of a mountain the views directly across to the Mont Blanc massif are incredible. This peaceful little village provides a picturesque setting and our charming chalet style hotel makes a perfect base for exploring the astounding nearby
sights.
 

Today we visit the world famous resort of Chamonix. On arrival we enjoy an incredible mountain cable ride up to Aiguille du Midi, which translated means the ‘Needle of Midday’. At an altitude of 3842 metres (11621ft) you are seemingly within reach of Mont Blanc and the views across the French, Italian and Swiss, Alps are astounding. At the top you will also find a café restaurant, mountaineering and alpine exhibition, plus a stomach clenching, glass
bottomed observation platform!

Your afternoon is at leisure in Chamonix town. Time to stroll amongst the cafés, restaurants, shops, boutiques and Christmas markets set under the shadow of the Mont Blanc massif. For those who want ‘more mountain, less shopping’ we have also included a ticket on the historic ‘Red Train’ which winds its way up through the forests and valleys to Montenvers station. From the café terrace you have spectacular views up onto some of Chamonix’s highest and most dramatic peaks and down onto the largest glacier in France the spectacular Mer du Glace – ‘Sea of Ice’. For the more energetic, your ticket also includes the cable car down to the top of the 430 steel steps that lead to the glacier. Here you can enter the labyrinth of a man-made ice grotto, complete with ice sculptures, a throne room and beautifully illuminated, carved tunnels.
 

Today is dedicated to the nearby chic ski resort of Megève. Surrounded by a dozen world class ski resorts, and the enormous mountains of the Mont Blanc massif, Megève’s
chalets and ancient rustic buildings date back as far as the 1300’s. To start the day we have included a game of Ice Curling. A local instructor will teach us the rules and then a game….
Watching will be as amusing as playing! The highlight of today will be a ride on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the delightful old town and local countryside. The rest of the day and evening is completely at leisure. From Megève you have access to all the main peaks by cable cars and chair lifts. All over the mountains are large restaurants, cafés and rest facilities all with spectacular views over the mighty French Alps. Designer boutiques, restaurants and après ski bars makes this the perfect place to spend the afternoon. Of an evening the horse and carriages sitting in the pretty town square in front of the illuminated church and enormous Christmas tree, decorated with Swarovski crystals, create one of the most gorgeous festive settings you will ever see.
 

Christmas Eve! What a magnificent location to relax over Christmas! Today is at leisure to relax and enjoy the stunning scenery which surrounds you, and do as much, or as little, as you want! Whether you are a ‘super active snow sports’ person or a ‘take it easy and relax’ person there are numerous activities you can enjoy, and your Tour Manager will be at hand to assist and advise you. You can try your hand at winter sports, maybe snow shoe walking, cross country skiing, or maybe take a winter walk from your hotel. Our coach will also be available for shuttles to and from nearby Megève. A famous walk called the ‘Calvary of Megève’ starts from near the ice skating rink. There are a series of 14 chapels along the way representing the Passion of Christ - the Way of the Cross. The warm glow will continue as we enjoy a traditional Christmas Eve Dinner in our hotel.
 

Christmas Day in the mountains! Time for a superb mountain drive – to visit Courchevel 1850. Whereas Megève is located in a valley, this superb ultra-chic, modern ski resort is set at 1850 metres altitude. Part of Les Trois Vallées, the largest linked ski area in the world, Courchevel 1850 is a massive ski complex with 8 lifts and gondolas running directly in and out of the central ski station surrounded by dozens of shops, bars and restaurants of all kinds, tastes and styles, with a constant bustle of colourful sport enthusiasts and elegant sightseers. The surrounding scenery is breathtaking and the wood cabin villages so picturesque. Intriguingly, elegant mountain restaurants have tables with wine lists, fine tableware and crisp white linen, whilst underneath you will see clunky, snow covered ski boots! A terrific experience! Time permitting, enroute home we will briefly stop in Megève to see the Christmas Day Nativity display. Dinner is in your hotel.
 

Boxing Day! Driving through the Mont Blanc Tunnel which passes under Europe’s highest mountains, we enter the Italian Alps near Courmayeur. We soon reach the stylish city of Milan where we enjoy a guided panoramic tour followed by time at leisure amongst the fashion shops of the luxurious ‘Golden Triangle’ and in the square by the elaborate Duomo. This evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner in a local Milanese restaurant.

Your Christmas tour comes to a close and it is time to say farewell. For those of you joining one of our wonderful New Year Tours that begin in Luzern, the good news is, we have arranged a complimentary Group transfer on 28 December.