I was wondering if anyone had any idea for a cost (entire cost [food+airfare etc]) for this itinerary:
“This itinerary is designed for train travelers. To do this trip by train and bus, make liberal use of minivan tours and taxis. A France Flexipass with nine train days — buying tickets in France for days 5, 7 and 14 (short and cheap trips) — works fine. A France Rail and Drive Pass is another good option. A car is especially handy for exploring Normandy, the Dordogne, and Provence. If you only have two weeks, end your tour in Nice and skip Honfleur. Bonne route and bon courage!
Day 1: Fly into Paris.
Day 2: Sightsee Paris.
Day 3: More time in Paris.
Day 4: Train and bus to Mont St. Michel via Rennes (4 hrs, arrive on Mont St. Michel about 13:00). Afternoon and night on Mont St Michel.
Day 5: Train to Bayeux (2 hrs, arrive about 11:45). Afternoon for visiting Bayeux. Sleep in Bayeux.
Day 6: All day for D-Day beaches by minivan, taxi, bike, bus, or a combination of these. Sleep in Bayeux.
Day 7: Train to Caen, then bus to Honfleur (2 hrs). Sleep in Honfleur.
Day 8: Bus to Lisieux or Deauville then train to Paris. Transfer to Gare d’Austerlitz and take the train to Amboise (7 hrs total). Sleep in Amboise.
Day 9: All day for touring Loire châteaux (good options by bus, bike or minivan tour). Sleep in Amboise.
Day 10: Train to Sarlat (5 hrs, arrive about 15:00). Afternoon and evening in Sarlat. Sleep in Sarlat.
Day 11: All day for caves and canoes by bike or minivan/taxi tour. Sleep in Sarlat.
Day 12: Train to Carcassonne (5.5 hrs, leaving about noon is best, though earlier trips are possible). Dinner and evening wall walk. Sleep in Carcassonne.
Day 13: Morning wall walk, then train to Arles (2.5 hrs). Afternoon in Arles.
Day 14: Train to Nîmes, then bus to Pont du Gard. Tour the Pont du Gard, then bus to Avignon and spend your afternoon/evening there (consider dinner). Train back to Arles. Sleep in Arles.
Day 15: Morning in Arles or Les Baux (by taxi or tour), afternoon train to Nice (4 hrs), set up in Nice. Sleep in Nice.
Day 16: All day for Nice and Monaco. Sleep in Nice.
Day 17: Morning train to Lyon (4 hrs). Afternoon and night in Lyon.
Day 18: Train to Chamonix (4 hrs, consider a halfway stopover in Annecy — easy bag check). Sleep in Chamonix.
Day 19: With clear weather, take the mountain lifts up to Aiguille du Midi and beyond. Sleep in Chamonix.
Day 20: Early train to Paris (arrive about 13:30). Last afternoon and night in Paris. (Or make it a 23-day tour with a scenic, 6.5-hr train through Switzerland to Colmar, spend two nights there, then take the TGV back to Paris.)
Day 21: Fly home.
”
Posted: March 25th, 2010 under Normandy FAQ.
Comments: 2
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