Review of tentative itinerary

Are you aware that Monet's Garden closes for the winter on November 1, and that all that is left blooming at that time is the Dahlias and a few annuals? Wouldn't want you to go all that way and be disappointed.

Can I take it that you have already checked all the opening hours of all the places you intend to go, such as the chateaux and Mont St Michel?

You are traveling right in the dead zone of out of season so it is worth checking.

I would turn this around and finish in Paris. Rushing back after a long busy hit and run trip to make a plane ends the trip on a rushed note and wastes a day. I would use your first day to get to one of your distant stops either the Loire or Bayeux and then return to Paris for the trip to Bruges and then train back to Paris and finish with 7 days there. As others have noted you are too late for Giverny.

Of course you don't want to drive long distances after an overnight flight, but you could train to Bayeux and get the car the next day. Or even stay a couple of nights there and take a tour of the beaches while you are getting acclimated. We had a car but still did an Overlord Tour because it made it easy on us. Then do Mont St. Michelle, Rouen, and drive to the Loire for that, drop the car in Paris and train to Bruges and return to Paris to end the trip.

Thanks Nigel. I will take Giverny off the list. Mont St. Michel and many of the chateaux are open 9:30- 5/6 pm during this time period.

Thanks for your suggestion Jane, but we have to be in Normandy on a specific day (Nov. 13) for a presentation. We fly home on November 15. Because of this, we have to make the other stops before November 13.

Chartres may be a good substitute to consider for Giverny.
Try for Chenonceau and Chambord on Wed 9 Nov.
http://www.chenonceau.com/index.php/en/opening-hours-a-prices
http://www.chambord.org/en/practical-guide/opening-hours/
Then maybe hit Villandry first thing on Thu 10 Nov before setting off towards Mont St Michel.
http://www.chateauvillandry.fr/en/visit/practical-information/prices-opening-times-how-to-get-there/
Everything looks eminently 'doable' with your schedule. Enjoy.

The DB website shows a 5-hour train journey from Bruges to Tours, including about an hour in Paris changing from Gare du Nord to Gare Montparnasse on the other end of the city. That's a lot of work. If your flights aren't locked in yet, you might consider flying in to Amsterdam (or Brussels if you can fly there easily), and taking the Thalys train to Brussels and local to Bruges as your first stop. Then Thalys to Paris, spend your week there, then train to Tours or Amboise for your chateaux time (Chenonceaux would be my first choice, then Chambord or Amboise or Blois), then drive north. Bayeux is a good base for the beaches, plus its own sights. Drive on to Rouen and straight to CDG, spending the night before your flight home (unless it's late in the day) at an airport hotel. No crossing your own path or backtracking. Might work for you.

Thank you for your suggestions. We have already gotten our tickets in and out of Paris. Please tell me if it is worth considering flying from Brussels to Nantes instead of the long train ride with connections There are several nonstop flights (1 HR, 25 minutes) for about 60€. Is it too much hassle for airport security?

I think your itinerary is excellent. If I were going, I would not do three day trips from Paris because I would want more time for Paris, so I would feel no need for a substitute for Giverny. Staying for 3 nights in Bayeux is what I would do. Don't even think about flying from Belgium to France. It will be way more stressful and probably take longer than five hours of train rides. Hope you have a great trip! You are going to some amazing places.

Personally, my preference would be the train journey as well. Store luggage and take lunch near Gare Montparnasse before the onward journey to Tours.