Whether billed as the city of love or the city of light, Paris and its towering sites have a lot to live up to. While romantics stroll along the Pont Alexandre III Bridge, art buffs mingle with the Mona Lisa and other works that hang from the walls of the world's most visited museum.  Artisan cheeses are proffered from shop windows while languid travellers sip wine from roadside cafes, staring across the River Seine and the city lights that dance across its surface.

Day 1: Toronto to Paris
Day 2: Paris
Day 3: Streets of Montmartre, Sacre-Coeur Basilica
Day 4: Palace of Versailles
Day 5: Chateaux of the Loire Valley
Day 6: Paris
Day 7: Provins and Vaux-le-Vlcomte
Day 8-9: Paris

View a more detailed itinerary here

Paris your way
With a mixture of guided tours and independent time, you can craft your Parisian adventure to your specifications without sacrificing any of the city's token experiences. On your first full day you'll have an introductory tour to the city's principal monuments, whetting your appetite for the architecture, food and art that lay in wait for the remainder of your nine days. Use your free time to discover the Paris that waits for you - the Eiffel Tower is a must, as are the city's many markets. Rub shoulders with the locals while you peruse the quintessential cuisine, or sift through the literary offerings of Shakespeare & Co. after staring at the Notre Dame in all its glory.

The city's top sites revealed
The golden grandeur of the Palace of Versailles is a perennial draw to Paris. You'll enjoy a guided tour of the Sun King's Palace and its Hall of Mirrors, State Apartments and immense gardens. You'll also embark on a Seine River Cruise to admire the skyline of Paris before mounting the steep street of Montmartre to the ivory domes of the Sacre-Coeur Basilica.

Beyond the city limits
As you travel beyond the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, you'll journey through the Loire Valley to the Chateau Chambord, the region's largest and most majestic castle. You'll also pause to admire the 17th Century antiques at Chateau de Cheverny and the French gardens of Chateau des Dames. The medieval city of Provins offers its well-preserved city walls for you to admire, while the Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte houses the famous Harness Museum and magnificent gardens.

TORONTO DEPARTURES