Paris and London are so much more than postcards. Millennia of culture plays out, and you’re invited to go behind the scenes. Explore bohemian neighborhoods, Parisian bistros, private art collections, and antiquated streets. There’s so much to experience when you go inside the cultures. Led by specialist city guides, this ten-day luxury tour looks beyond the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben, into two cities packed with secrets and salubrious discoveries. Begin planning your dream vacation by visiting...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Paris – Getting Settled in the 19th Century
Land in Paris and take your first steps along the cobbled stone. Aromas seep out from bakeries and bistros; everyday buildings have a dedication to the ornate; church bells chime as chatter emanates from an alfresco terrace. Your hotel is amid Paris from the 19th century, a web of narrow streets framed by extravagant architecture. Its beauty and charm are such that you can see why the locals were so unhappy with the Eiffel Tower; the tower can be found downriver and is a sharp contrast to the style of neighborhood you are staying in. You’re transferred to the hotel and have this day free. Wander the 19th-century neighborhood, take a stroll along the Seine, sample Parisian delicacies, and settle yourself into the City of Lights.
What's Included:
Day 2
Paris – Art and Icons Along the Right Bank of the Seine
Day 3
Paris – Bohemian Neighborhoods of the Seine’s Left Bank
Day 4
Paris – Inside the Culture of Parisian Food
Day 5
Paris – Behind the Scenes of Versailles and Final Evening in Paris
Day 6
London – Antiquated Beauty Sets the Scene
Day 7
London – Private Collections, Unusual Museums, and Artists' Homes
Day 8
London – Neighborhoods From a Forgotten Era
Day 9
London – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Explore some of the world’s most magnificent art galleries; specialist art guides revealing hidden gems and forgotten stories in the Louvre, Tate Britain, and National Gallery
- Discover neighborhoods that look and feel like past centuries, from the chic and bohemian atmosphere of Paris’s left bank to the Georgian streets of Mayfair.
- Go behind the scenes at the Palace of Versailles, then compare the extravagance with Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster
- Food is integral to Parisian culture, and you’ll learn why: chocolatiers, macarons in Saint-Germain, cheese and wine bistros plus unforgettable bakeries
- London is a famous city full of secrets, and you’ll continually go off the beaten track, expert guides showing you the intriguing every day and the extraordinary medieval stories
- Travel between Paris and London is fast and simple with a first-class Eurostar train ticket
- All tours are private and led by the cities’ finest guides, those that will bypass the crowds at the Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower to show you the real culture of these capital cities
- Over the ten days, you have time to find the famous icons for yourself, like cruising the River Seine with champagne in hand
Detailed Description
Paris and London have so many postcard sights it can be hard to know where to start. You will visit the Big Ben and the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower and the Shard, all those icons draped around the waters of the Thames and the Seine. You could spend ten days in these capitals and still have another pack of postcards to find. The postcards barely scratch the surface of what Paris and London are about. Go behind the scenes, and you discover cities that delight in their subtleties and surprises, cities that have their own distinctive cultures. With this ten-day tour, you go inside the culture of these famous capitals, discovering all those things that most people miss.
Paris and London are amongst the world’s most visited cities. Tourists and tourism dominate the postcard sights. The locals typically distance themselves from these crowded places. But head into the neighborhoods, and you find these cities to be very different. Aromas creep out from chocolatiers, stories whisper along medieval lanes, extravagance glistens in forgotten rooms and the atmosphere can be felt everywhere you turn. Over these ten days, you go inside the cultures of these famous cities. Even if you’ve visited London and Paris at various times before, this tour will show you something completely different.
Specialist guides are at the forefront of the experience. Their knowledge of the niche is integral: art, food, particular neighborhoods, gaining access to otherwise inaccessible places. On each full day, there’s a different focus, a tour that reveals a unique slice of each city. Travel between the capitals with a first-class Eurostar ticket and stay in the boutique, centrally located hotels, ideal for walking to restaurants and bars. The daily tours are private and flexible, the program also allowing free time to discover those touristic parts of Paris and London you deem unmissable.
Land in Paris and settle into a part of the city from the 19th century, its charm showing why locals were so upset with the style of the Eiffel Tower built further along the river. You follow the right bank of the Seine, including a behind-the-scenes walk through the Louvre. The following day is spent on the left bank, full of neighborhoods that come alive with an inside guide. Parisian food is the focus of your next day, followed by a behind the scenes tour of Versailles.
Take the train to London, and a guide shows you the secrets of famous antiquated London; for example, you’ll walk through the Palace of Westminster and drink tea in the parliamentary cafe, rather than take a photo of the palace from the Thames. You discover private art collections and some unusual museums, where the stories aren’t what you would expect. An expert art guide shows you the secrets of London’s pre-eminent art galleries then you head out to neighborhoods that scream of a forgotten era. As with the days in Paris, you have leisurely evenings to see London at your pace; local guides provide recommendations, so you continually experience the local culture.
We work closely with the best England and France travel operators to ensure that you have a fully personalized trip of a lifetime.
Starting Price
$2,803 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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