How many guests are on tour?

Now Journey groups typically include 8 to 12 guests, with a maximum of 16.

Now Journey Signature Tour

The Best of France

The 9-Day Small Group France Journey.

Paris → Provence → the Côte d’Azur

8 to 12 guests
Maximum 16
Tour Captain hosted
Deluxe hotel collections
50+ five-star reviews

Explore Daily Itinerary View Dates & Prices

9 Days / 8 NightsBalanced pace

Paris to NiceIconic route

8–12 GuestsMaximum 16

Hotel CollectionsDeluxe & Lotus

Tour CaptainHosted throughout

France as atmosphere, not a checklist

Paris, Provence and the Riviera—without the rush.

This is a genuinely small-group France experience: a Tour Captain to smooth the way, local experts where context matters, handpicked hotels, curated dining and enough independent time to make the Journey feel personal.

With three nights in Paris, three in Provence and two in Nice, the route favors meaningful stays over constant packing. There are no large motorcoaches and no attempt to turn France into a blur of monuments.

Route overview

From Parisian elegance to the blue Mediterranean.

Follow one gracefully paced route through Paris, Provence and the Côte d’Azur, with optional pre-tour possibilities in Normandy or the Loire Valley.

Illustrated atlas of France showing the Best of France route from Paris to Nice

Scroll through the JourneySwipe through the Journey

01Paris3 nights · Journey beginsSaint-Germain atmosphere, local experts, celebrated art and architecture—and enough time to let the city feel like your own.
02Provence3 nights · Chapter twoRoman history, vineyard country, château atmosphere and the slower light of southern France.
03Saint-Paul-de-VenceTouring stop · Côte d’AzurAn art-filled hill village introduces the coast before the Journey turns toward Nice and the Mediterranean.
04Nice2 nights · Journey finaleOld Nice, the Promenade des Anglais and a final Mediterranean evening bring the route to an elegant close.

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Three regions. No one-night stops.

Why this Journey feels different.

See France’s great sights. Stay long enough to enjoy them.

The nine-day route brings together Parisian icons, Provençal atmosphere and the Mediterranean coast, with time deliberately set aside for your own discoveries.

01More time in each region
Three nights each in Paris and Provence, followed by two in Nice. No one-night hotel stops.
02Remarkable experiences included
Local expertise, Paris landmarks, the Louvre, Pont du Gard, wine country, Saint-Paul-de-Vence and a Mediterranean finale.
03Time that is genuinely yours
Independent time in Paris, Provence and Nice, with your Tour Captain nearby when recommendations would help.

France should feel personal.

Tell us what matters most—pace, hotel style, dates or optional extensions—and we’ll shape the right proposal.

Request My France Proposal

9 Days from Paris to Nice

The Complete Itinerary

See how every chapter unfolds—from your Paris welcome to the final Mediterranean morning in Nice.

Eiffel Tower and Paris rooftops in warm evening light

Chapter One

Days 1–3

Paris

Saint-Germain atmosphere, local experts, celebrated art and architecture—and time to experience Paris beyond the checklist.

Day 1

Welcome to Paris

Arrive in Paris and settle into the Saint-Germain neighborhood. Your Tour Captain welcomes you at the hotel and helps you get oriented.

We’ll Always Have Paris!

Step into the City of Light, where romance, history, and elegance converge. Paris captivates with iconic landmarks, world-class art, and a grand yet intimate ambiance. Begin a new chapter of discovery in this timeless city.

A Tour Captain-led Discovery Walk introduces the neighborhood’s character and everyday rhythms before we gather for our Welcome to Paris Dinner.

Included Today

Tour Captain Welcomes You!
Discovery Walk with Tour Captain
Now Journey’s Paris Welcome Dinner

Day 2

Discovering Parisian Treasures

Meet your local expert for a captivating exploration of Paris’s historic heart. The architectural wonders unfold without rushing: Notre Dame, the Seine, views toward the Louvre, and the luminous Gothic presence of Sainte-Chapelle.

An included Eiffel Tower experience is planned so you can see the city from a remarkable new perspective. Because access and operations are controlled locally, the timing and exact format are confirmed for each departure.

The evening is yours. Join your Tour Captain for an optional dinner, ask for a favorite neighborhood recommendation, or simply follow the Seine as Paris begins to glow.

Included Today

Local expert-guided Paris sightseeing
Notre Dame and the historic heart
Views of Sainte-Chapelle and the Seine
Planned Eiffel Tower experience

May We Suggest?

Independent dinner with Tour Captain recommendations
An evening stroll along the Seine

Day 3

The Louvre and Paris at Your Pace

Walk with your local expert to the Louvre’s glass pyramid and enter one of the world’s great museums. The guided visit brings the collection to life through celebrated works such as the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Mona Lisa, while revealing stories beyond the familiar masterpieces.

The afternoon opens for your own Paris—linger in the museum, browse Saint-Germain, settle into a café, or ask about an optional visit to Monet’s gardens. Later, gather with your Tour Captain for a special farewell-to-Paris aperitif and a few surprises.

Included Today

Guided Louvre experience
Farewell-to-Paris aperitif

May We Suggest?

Ask about an optional Monet’s Gardens visit
Shopping, cafés or independent sightseeing

Where You Stay

Elegant Parisian façades and café life in Saint-Germain-des-Prés at dusk — Saint-Germain — Where Old Paris Comes to Life

Your Home in Paris

Hôtel Dame des Arts is our hotel of choice complete with an incredible view from our rooms and rooftop or you will enjoy a comparable Now Journey-selected property, chosen for an elegant introduction to Paris.

Other Deluxe hotels we sometimes use: Hotel Pont Royal or similar.

“Ici, c’est Paris!” — This is Paris!HOW WE CHOOSE

Lavender fields across the Provençal countryside

Chapter Two

Days 4–6

Provence

Roman history, vineyard country, château atmosphere and the slower light of southern France.

Day 4

South to Provence

Leave Paris by high-speed rail and watch the landscape change as the Journey turns toward the sun-washed vineyards, lavender country, and medieval stone of Provence.

On arrival, Avignon introduces the region through its historic center, the memory of Pont Saint-Bénézet, and the imposing Palais des Papes. The final touring sequence is confirmed for your departure before you settle into the Now Journey-selected hotel base—either a countryside château-style setting or the Avignon area.

Tonight, gather for a Welcome to Provence Dinner. Like every Now Journey dining event, the pleasure lies in local cuisine, conversation, and premium beverages shared around the table.

Included Today

High-speed rail from Paris to Provence
Tour Captain-supported travel day
Avignon historic-center exploration
Welcome to Provence Dinner

Day 5

Roman Stone and Wine Country

Travel through the Provençal countryside to Pont du Gard, where one of the world’s best-preserved Roman aqueducts still spans the Gardon River. Its enduring stonework turns an extraordinary feat of first-century engineering into one of France’s most evocative landscapes.

Continue into Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the village and celebrated wine region crowned by the remains of a medieval papal castle. Nearly every cultivable slope tells the story of vines, red wine, and a landscape shaped over centuries.

Included Today

Group transportation through Provence
Pont du Gard visit
Châteauneuf-du-Pape exploration

Day 6

Provence at Leisure

Today is Provence at its most unhurried. Depending on your confirmed hotel base, linger over breakfast, stroll through château gardens, relax beside the pool, or spend more time among Avignon’s lanes and cafés.

As the light softens, rejoin the group for a Tour Captain-hosted farewell aperitif—a convivial pause for local flavors and stories from the Journey so far.

Included Today

Farewell-to-Provence aperitif

May We Suggest?

Additional independent time in Avignon
An independently arranged dinner

Where You Stay

Provençal hotel with warm stone, garden terraces and countryside views — Provence — Historic Stone and a Slower Rhythm

Your Home in Provence

Provence: Hôtel d’Europe or a countryside château-style property. The confirmed hotel keeps this chapter rooted in the region—either within Avignon’s historic center or among the gardens, stone and slower rhythms of the Provençal countryside.

Other Deluxe hotels we sometimes use: Hôtel La Mirande, a Provence countryside château or similar.

“In Provence, the right hotel should hold the region’s atmosphere: historic stone, garden light and an unhurried rhythm that continues after the day’s touring.”HOW WE CHOOSE

The Mediterranean coast and Nice along the Côte d’Azur

Final Chapter

Days 7–9

Côte d’Azur + Nice

An art-filled hill village, Old Nice and a final Mediterranean evening.

Day 7

Saint-Paul-de-Vence to Nice

The Journey turns toward the shimmering Côte d’Azur. Pause in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a hill village of cobbled lanes, flower-filled corners, galleries, and café terraces shaped by a long artistic heritage.

Continue to Nice, your home for the final two nights. A Tour Captain-led Discovery Walk introduces the Promenade des Anglais, Old Nice, Cours Saleya, and Place Masséna before everyone gathers for a Welcome to Nice Dinner.

Included Today

Group transportation to Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Nice
Saint-Paul-de-Vence visit
Nice Discovery Walk
Welcome to Nice dinner

Day 8

Nice and the Mediterranean

Explore Nice on foot with a local expert, beginning beside the Mediterranean on the Promenade des Anglais before turning into the labyrinthine lanes of Old Nice. Cours Saleya, pastel-hued façades, wrought-iron balconies, Place Masséna, and the Chapelle de la Miséricorde reveal the city’s layered Riviera character.

The balance of the day is yours for the market, the sea, a long lunch, or one last independent discovery. Tonight, gather for a special Journey finale aperitif by the Mediterranean—a celebration of France and the friendships made along the way.

Included Today

Walking tour of Nice
Special Journey finale aperitif

Day 9

Au Revoir, France

After breakfast, the nine-day Best of France Journey comes to a close. Say au revoir to Nice and the Mediterranean, carrying Parisian elegance, Provençal light, and Riviera color with you.

Depart for Nice Airport or continue independently on the Riviera. Your proposal will clarify any separately arranged transfer or added nights.

Included Today

Hotel breakfast

Plan Separately

Airport transfer unless listed in your proposal
Post-tour Nice or Riviera stay

Where You Stay

Elegant Riviera hotel suite overlooking the Mediterranean — Nice — Your Mediterranean Finale

Your Home in Nice

Nice: Hotel Le Negresco or similar. This landmark Riviera stay keeps the Mediterranean, the Promenade des Anglais and Old Nice within easy reach, giving the Journey an elegant final chapter by the sea.

Other Deluxe hotels we sometimes use: Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée or similar.

“Nice rewards a hotel near the sea. The Promenade, Old Nice and the Mediterranean should remain close enough to shape the Journey’s final mornings and evenings.”HOW WE CHOOSE

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What’s Included

The details are handled. France still feels yours.

The confirmed Journey blends Tour Captain hosting, local expertise, central or character-rich hotels, selected sightseeing, dining moments and independent time.

Tour Captain hosting

A capable, personal presence throughout the core Journey.

Local expert guides

Guided context in Paris, Provence and Nice where it matters most.

Selected sightseeing

Confirmed itinerary highlights include Notre Dame, the Louvre, a planned Eiffel Tower experience, Pont du Gard and more.

Three hotel chapters

Three nights in Paris, three in Provence and two in Nice, with breakfast.

Travel between regions

High-speed rail is planned from Paris to Provence. Regional touring continues with appropriately sized group transportation.

Discovery Walks

Tour Captain-led orientation helps each destination feel approachable.

Curated dining

Selected welcome dinners and farewell aperitifs create memorable moments throughout the Journey.

Room to breathe

Independent time is built in, with recommendations when you want them.

Hotel Collections

Same extraordinary Journey. Your preferred level of accommodations.

Choose between two thoughtfully curated hotel collections. The itinerary, Tour Captain services, sightseeing, transportation and included dining remain exactly the same.

Deluxe Accommodations

DELUXE

Hand-selected 4+ to 5-star properties emphasizing location, service, comfort, and thoughtful room selection.

Your accommodations

At 4-Star properties, Now Journey selects accommodations one category above the hotel’s entry-level room; at 5-Star properties, accommodations begin with the standard category or better.

Illustrative Riviera suite with a spacious sitting area and Mediterranean view — The Art of Staying Well

Upgraded Accommodations

LOTUS

Enjoy the same thoughtfully designed Journey with accommodations in preferred upper room categories.

What Lotus may include

Depending on verified availability for the selected departure, a proposal may offer larger premium rooms, Junior Suites, Suites or desirable view, balcony or terrace categories. The exact hotel and room category are confirmed before booking and are not guaranteed by this page.

One Journey · Two Hotel Collections

Both collections enjoy the same itinerary, Tour Captain, sightseeing, transportation and included dining.

Choose dates & prices

Dates & prices

Choose your season.

Choose your preferred departure and hotel collection. Every departure includes the same thoughtfully designed nine-day Best of France Journey.