Everything Is Better with France

The Belgians invented the French fry. French toast was a phrase born in England. The French manicure was actually born in the United States. Countries around the world have a taste for France, and we totally get it. But what if you want a bit of both? To have French fries in their birthplace and also have a plate of steak tartare with a side of fries in France? A multi-country tour may be the right way to get your globetrotter on.

We have tours across multiple travel styles to help you navigate these countries how you choose, from small group Explorations tours that give you rich, immersive cultural experiences beyond the beaten path, to Classic tours, with itineraries that will make sure you see all the must-sees at a great value. The best part? When you book between now and February 26th, 2024 you can take advantage of Collette’s European Getaway Sale and save up to 15% on any of our European tours.

The following tours offer travellers a look at France from different lenses: the iconic City of Lights, the alpine resort town of Chamonix, and top cities in the Champagne wine-growing region of France — Raims and Épernay.

If you’re ready to say au revoir to your daily routine and rendezvous to France with us, take a look at how these multi-tour journeys stack up so you can pick the best tour for you:

Netherlands, Belgium & France

This small group Explorations adventure will take you to The Netherlands, Belgium, and France, with your time in France rounding out the end of your tour. After leaving Brussels, you’ll venture to Reims, a dreamy city in the Champagne region of France with stunning Gothic, Baroque, and Medieval architecture set on cobblestone streets. Notable activities in Reims include dining your way through fabulous French cuisine with a 5-course tasting menu (accompanied with a glass of champagne, of course) and a visit to the Notre-Dame de Reims cathedral.

After Reims, you’ll take a picturesque drive to Épernay, the self-proclaimed capital of Champagne. You can take some time to wander the city or ask your Tour Manager for tips on how to spend your free time here before reconvening as a group for a tour and tasting at a maison du Champagne.

Next stop: Paris! With a choice on tour and several optional tours, there’s a ton of flexibility to explore France’s capital how you choose. Whether you want to hop on the Metro and check out the city, spend time at the Louvre, find a fabulous restaurant on your own or join an optional dinner at the dynamic Paradis Latin cabaret show, see the city your way. The following day includes a Monet-inspired choice on tour (visit the Musee D’Orsay or Monet’s countryside home at Giverny) and a romantic dinner cruise along the Seine.

This tour offers a ton of unique experiences, like touring Paris in a vintage car and overnight stays in France’s champagne region. As someone who has explored Paris a bit, this trip that goes way beyond a panoramic city tour and also includes some other countries I would love to get to is on the top of my list!

Peaks of Europe: From The Alps to The Dolomites

This invigourating journey through Europe’s towering Alps and idyllic towns kicks off with 2 nights in the perennial ski-hub of Chamonix, France. Nestled at the foot of Mont Blanc, you can spend the day checking out this walkable, quaint town independently before connecting with your group in the evening to toast to the beginning of your adventure.

Day 3 of your tour and day two in Chamonix starts with a choice on tour. You can either head to a relaxing trip to QC Terme Chamonix, one of the most scenic and luxurious spas in the Alps, or chase adventure and ascend the Aiguille du Midi via cable car for unparalleled views of the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps. At an elevation of over 12,600 feet, this is the closest you can get to the summit of legendary Mont Blanc – the birthplace of mountaineering – without a daylong hike. In the afternoon, enjoy some time outdoors and stroll through the woods in the bottom of the valley.

Alpine fans who want to see the mountains and multiple cultures up close and personal, this tour is for you. With stops in France, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy, this tour offers postcard-perfect views crisp mountain air as the backdrop to your adventure. (Plus, a visit to Barryland, a foundation dedicated to St. Bernard dogs with pups on site? Sign me up.)

Spotlight on the French Riviera

With its spectacular beaches, deep azure-coloured waters, and luxurious, breathtaking beauty, it’s easy to see why the French Riviera is a favourite vacation spot for the world’s rich and famous. Step into their world on Collette’s Spotlight on the French Riviera tour, a leisurely deep-dive into the place that’s inspired artists from Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway to Elton John and Louis Armstrong.

Unpack your bags just once at a boutique hotel in Nice and enjoy the region as it was meant to be enjoyed: thoroughly, and thoughtfully. The tour combines walking tours guided by local experts, boat rides, museum visits, and culinary tastings with plenty of free time to wander off on your own. Learn the secrets of perfume making during a hands-on workshop and tour of the Fragonard Perfumery. Sail across the Bay of Cannes to the tiny island of Saint-Honourat. Visit lush historic gardens in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Enjoy the glamour of this ultimate sunny retreat for the elite.

London and Paris

For those looking to see the must-sees in two of Europe’s most alluring cosmopolitan cities, this may very well be the tour for you. This Classic tour brings you to Paris for three nights following a stay in London. Your first night in town, you’ll enjoy a special dinner at the legendary Paradis Latin, the city’s oldest cabaret theatre, complete with wine, champagne, and a captivating show.

On day 2 in Paris, you’ll get a panoramic tour of the city and get to see the iconic landmarks: l’Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysees, Notre Dame Cathedral, Place de la Concorde, and the bustling Place Vendome. Later, you can enjoy free time to shop, people watch from a Parisian café, explore, or opt in to an optional tour to the Louvre.

Your last full day in the City of Lights is yours to do as you choose. If you’d prefer to tour, you can join an optional excursion to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles. Later, enjoy two inclusions that will truly mark a memorable end to your tour: you and your fellow travellers will enjoy an exclusive dinner at a restaurant in the Eiffel Tower, followed by a romantic Seine River cruise set against the city’s glittering night skyline.

This tour is fantastic for travellers who want to make sure they’re checking those bucket list destinations off of their lists. It can be tough to plan a multi-country stay and make sure you’ve spared enough time to get to those must-see landmarks. We’ll plan those stops for you, plus build in some free time so you can check out other things that are important to you! Personally, I’m most excited to scope out the urban vineyard in Montmarte on this tour.