Northern France. Cathedrals, Chateaux & Battlefields

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1 Northern France Cathedrals, Chateaux & Battlefields $8,650 pp, twin share (land content only) $1,950 single supplement June 25 July 11, 2017 Get to know French history from the mists of Gallo- Roman and Celtic antiquity to the Middle Ages and into the modern era Normandy s rugged coastline and history, from the Normans to D-Day Striking countryside, with rolling green hills, mustard fields and the medieval villages of Burgundy The Loire Valley, with many of France s most extravagant castles Superb Romanesque and Gothic architecture Excellent regional wines and the gastronomic tradition of France Overview Travel through some of France s most beautiful and historic regions on this new 17-day tour, designed for those wanting to experience the country s rich history, architecture, art and sophisticated culture. We begin in Normandy, to survey Mont Saint-Michel, the Bayeux tapestry and the D-Day beaches. We then explore the Loire Valley from our base in a historic chateau, before heading to medieval Burgundy. In Reims, visit a champagne vineyard, and the WWI battlefields of the Somme from Amiens. Highlights > The celebrated Bayeux tapestry > Mont Saint-Michel and its spectacular island site > A collection of the finest chateaux and gardens of the Loire Valley > The beautiful abbey of Vézelay, restored in the early 19th century by the young Viollet-le-Duc > The evocative ruins, war cemeteries and battlefields of WWI at the Somme and WWII D-Day beaches in Normandy > The heart of France s champagne region, with a tour and tasting at Maison Taittinger Your tour leader Dr Michael Adcock is a social and cultural historian who specialises in the field of modern France. His extensive teaching includes several years with the History Department of the University of Melbourne, where he lectured in courses devoted to 19th and 20th-century France. Getting there Emirates, Qantas and Singapore Airlines fly to Paris daily. Contact us for competitive quotes and bookings. Fitness requirement Itinerary Days 1 5: Explore Bayeux and tour the local area, including Caen and the Abbey of Mont Saint Michel. See the famous Bayeux tapestry. Day trip to Brittany and the WWII Normandy battlefields. Days 6 8: Travel to the Loire Valley to visit a range of chateaux and gardens. Days 9 11: Visit the abbeys of Vézelay and Fontenay on the way to Dijon. Trace the history of the Dukes of Burgundy. Days 12 13: Tour medieval Reims and enjoy a champagne tasting. Days 14 17: The tour ends in Amiens with day trips to the WWI battlefields. Bayeux Monte Saint-Michel Brittany Caen Loire Valley Amiens FRANCE Paris Reims Dijon More details at academytravel.com.au 29

2 Preliminary itinerary This is a preliminary itinerary. A detailed itinerary is in preparation and will be sent to you as soon as possible. Detailed itineraries contain specific information on each day s activities, hotels, weather and your tour leader. It is possible to book on the tour immediately, based on this preliminary itinerary. What is included in an Academy Travel tour? All accommodation and breakfasts All flights and land transport within the tour All sightseeing and all entrance fees to sites mentioned in the itinerary Some lunches and dinners generally five to seven each tour, more if you are travelling to an adventurous destination Drinks with included meals Good quality tickets to performances included in the tour program usually first or second category The services of an expert tour leader throughout the tour Extensive tour notes and background lectures on tour Selected local guides and tour managers on some tours Internet at most hotels All tipping for group activities meals, drivers, local guides What is not included? Flights to and from the tour destination Travel insurance Expenses of a personal nature laundry, phone calls Meals and additional sightseeing not listed as included in the detailed itinerary Hotels The detailed itinerary will list the hotels we have booked for this tour, together with the web address. Wherever possible we book centrallylocated four-star or higher hotels, in interesting and safe parts of the city. Most hotels have been inspected by our staff and leaders and used by past Academy Travel groups. For adventurous and emerging destinations we are not always able to offer this level and style of accommodation. The detailed itinerary will advise if a hotel is below our preferred level. To book a place on the tour In order to secure your place on a tour you need to complete the attached booking form and send it to Academy Travel together with your $500 deposit. You can also make a booking online at academytravel.com.au Some tours book out very quickly. If you have made up your mind, we suggest you do not delay in booking. If you are interested but not ready to commit, we are happy to pencil you in for a tour for a maximum of seven days while you make a final decision. The next steps Once we receive your booking we will send you a welcome pack confirming details of your booking and providing further information about the destination you are travelling to. We encourage you to plan ahead for flights and additional travel you may wish to undertake. Our experienced team of travel consultants are able to help with flights, additional travel and travel insurance. If you book your flights with Academy Travel we will provide complimentary airport-hotel transfers at the beginning and end of the tour. Tour notes and final documents are sent to you about a month before the tour commences. Academy Travel GPO Box 5057 Sydney 2001 P: F: E: info@academytravel.com.au Fitness Requirements of THIS tour Grade Two Participation criteria for a Grade Two tour Grade Two tours are designed for people who lead active lives and can comfortably participate in up to five hours of physical activity per day on most days, including walking tours, challenging archaeological sites, climbing stairs, embarking and disembarking trains and/or boats, and a more demanding tour schedule with one night stops or several internal flights. You should be able to: keep up with the group at all times walk for 4-5 kilometres at a moderate pace with only short breaks stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and museums tolerate uncomfortable climatic conditions such as cold, humidity and heat walk up and down slopes negotiate steps and slopes on archaeological sites, which are often uneven and unstable get on and off a large coach with steep stairs, train or boat unassisted, possibly with luggage move your luggage a short distance if required A note for older travellers If you are more than 80 years old, or have restricted mobility, you will find a number of our itineraries challenging. On a Grade Two tour it is unlikely that you will be able to undertake all activities and get the full value of the tour. Grade Three tours are unsuitable for travellers more than 80 years old, unless you are exceptionally fit. We kindly ask travellers more than 80 years old to contact Academy Travel before submitting a booking form, so that we can provide specific advice on the physical requirements of the tour in which you are interested.

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