Most visitors to France begin and end in Paris. These itineraries go further — south and west into the parts of the country that reward the extra distance with a completely different France. Toulouse, France’s fourth-largest city and the sun-warmed capital of the Occitanie region, anchors every package in this collection. Select itineraries add Bordeaux, one of the great wine cities of the world, or Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital, as an additional stop along the way. All packages include return flights from Canada, intercity rail tickets, hotel accommodation, daily breakfast and a selection of meals. These are independent, non-guided itineraries — the travel between cities is fully arranged, and your time in each destination is your own.

France’s high-speed TGV network connects these cities quickly and comfortably. Paris to Toulouse takes approximately four hours and twenty minutes by direct train; Paris to Bordeaux is two hours; Toulouse to Lyon approximately four hours. Travelling between cities by rail means arriving directly in the city centre with the landscapes of the Loire, the Dordogne and the Midi unfolding outside the window.

Departure airports: nonstop service to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) operates year-round from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) with Air France and Air Transat, with a flight time of approximately 7 to 7.5 hours. Travellers from other Canadian cities connect through Toronto or other North American hubs. If you do not see your departure city listed, please call us — we can price options not shown on our website.

Paris

Every itinerary in this collection includes time in Paris. The city’s concentration of world-class experiences — the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and the recently restored Notre-Dame Cathedral — is well known, but Paris rewards time spent outside the main circuit just as much. The Marais, Montmartre, the Latin Quarter and the covered passages of the 2nd arrondissement each offer a quieter and more residential version of the city. The food culture — neighbourhood bistros, morning markets, long brasserie lunches — is embedded in everyday life and easy to access at any budget.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux is one of the great underrated city destinations in France. Built on wealth generated by the wine trade, its 18th-century city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — a sweep of honey-coloured neoclassical architecture along the Garonne river that ranks among the finest urban ensembles in Europe. The Place de la Bourse and its mirror pool (the Miroir d’Eau, the largest reflecting pool in the world) are the city’s most photographed sight, but Bordeaux has considerable depth beyond the grandeur: the independent boutiques and wine bars of the Saint-Pierre and Saint-Michel quarters, the extraordinary wine museum La Cité du Vin, and the covered market of the Marché des Capucins all make the city worth more than a half-day. The surrounding vineyard country — Saint-Émilion, Médoc, Pomerol — is among the most celebrated wine landscape in the world and accessible as a half-day or full-day excursion.

Lyon

Select itineraries add a stop in Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital and one of the most historically layered cities in the country. Built where the Rhône and Saône rivers converge, Lyon has a UNESCO-listed historic centre connected by traboules — the hidden covered passageways that thread through the old silk-weaving buildings of Vieux-Lyon and La Croix-Rousse, opening onto quiet courtyards and unexpected views. The city’s bouchons — traditional neighbourhood restaurants serving the hearty, ingredient-led cooking of the Lyonnaise tradition — are the best reason to spend an evening here. Lyon sits approximately two hours south of Paris by TGV, making it a natural and rewarding stop on the way to or from the south.

Toulouse

Toulouse is a city that surprises almost everyone who visits. The Pink City — the name comes from the warm rose-coloured brick used in its buildings, which shifts from terracotta to deep salmon in the evening light — is the fourth-largest city in France and one of the least visited by international travellers. It has a lively, youthful energy rooted in its large student population, and a culinary identity anchored in the flavours of the southwest: cassoulet, foie gras, Armagnac and the robust red wines of Cahors and Gaillac.

The historic centre is compact and very walkable. The Basilica of Saint-Sernin — the largest Romanesque church in the world — and the Les Jacobins church with its remarkable palm-vaulted ceiling anchor the old city alongside the Capitol building and its grand public square. The Canal du Midi, the 17th-century canal linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, begins in Toulouse — the towpath makes a beautiful afternoon walk under the plane trees. Toulouse is also the European headquarters of Airbus, and for travellers with an interest in aviation, a tour of the Airbus factory is one of the more remarkable industrial visits available anywhere in France.

Best time to visit and typical weather

This itinerary spans the north and southwest of France, two regions with noticeably different climates. Paris has a classic northern European continental climate with four distinct seasons; Bordeaux and Toulouse are warmer, sunnier and more sheltered, with a climate that sits between Atlantic and Mediterranean influences.

• Spring (April to June): 14 to 22°C in Paris; 18 to 26°C in Bordeaux and Toulouse. The best overall window for this route. Paris is at its most beautiful, and the southwest is warm, bright and uncrowded. The vineyards around Bordeaux are vivid in May and the outdoor terraces of Toulouse fill up early.
• Summer (July to August): 24 to 32°C in Paris; 28 to 35°C in Bordeaux and Toulouse. The hottest and busiest period. Toulouse in particular can be very warm in midsummer. Long days, lively evening culture and the height of the southwest’s food and wine season.
• Fall (September to October): 13 to 20°C in Paris; 18 to 26°C in Bordeaux and Toulouse. An excellent time for this itinerary. Harvest season in the Bordeaux vineyards runs through September and the crowds at the main Paris sights thin noticeably. Comfortable temperatures throughout.
• Winter (November to March): 4 to 9°C in Paris; 8 to 14°C in Bordeaux and Toulouse. Quiet and significantly more affordable. The southwest stays mild by Canadian standards and the museums and historic sites are at their most accessible. December in Paris adds the draw of the Christmas season.

Not sure which itinerary suits your travel style and the time you have? Speak with one of our agents who has been to France and can help you choose between options and plan the right amount of time in each city. Call us at 1-800-665-4981.