My wife and I have signed up for the RS Paris and the Heart of France tour in August 2025. We can fly into Paris up to 5 days early and we have time at the end that we will likely use to fly to another destination for up to 5 days. I would like suggestions for the pre-tour days. I am thinking about flying to Paris from Texas, immediately taking a train to Chartres and spending 2 nights there, then returning to Paris for up to 3 nights before joining the tour. We have been to Paris once before on a RS Best of Europe tour and toured Versailles at the end of that trip. What do others think about traveling to Chartres for 2 nights immediately from the airport via train to see the cathedral and recover from jet lag? That seems to be how the RS Loire Valley and South of France tours start. Any suggestions for the 3 nights in Paris prior to the tour? We would like to make it up the Eiffel Tower this trip. We did a boat trip on the Seine jammed with people at night last time and will not repeat that. We like nature, food, exercise, views, and a up to a few hours in a museum every day or two.
Posted by
913 posts
I'd do 5 nights in Brittany/Normandy. There's a lot of discussions on this forum about these destinations.
Posted by
181 posts
The cathedral at Chartres is amazing. I have not seen much of the rest of the town, but hear it is charming. Once you get back to Paris, I would suggest you take a cruise on the Seine at night (not a dining cruise) on Batobus. If you like the outdoors, try walking around the Bois de Boulogne, or the Bois de Vincennes, which has the ruins of an old castle. Also there is an elevated walking structure along an old railway right of way in the 11th Arrondissement which you might enjoy. Peter
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8876 posts
I really enjoyed bike riding along the Seine as well as a canal boat tour prior to this tour in the past.
Posted by
Wisconsin, USA
148 posts
Your Chartres plan sound good.
We enjoyed a Paris Charms and Secrets electric bike tour in Paris a couple of years ago.
We went on a Sunday so there would be less traffic. Climbing up and around the dome at Sacre Couer was fun for the longer distance view and seeing the roof architecture, but it will be hot in August.
We did not do a food tour or a cooking class, but many people do if they like food and there are reviews on here somewhere. Pariswalks has good walking tours with various themes.