Paris & Reims: A Journey Through Art, History & Champagne
Featuring the exclusive Veuve Clicquot 250th Anniversary Experience
A 7-night/8-day journey honoring Madame Clicquot and female pioneers in wine
June 14-21, 2026
$6,795 per person with your own private room throughout the journey
$6,395 per person when sharing a room with a friend or family member
Key Trip Details:
Group Size: Limited to 8 women to ensure an intimate, personalized experience
Activity Level: Moderate - Walking tours on cobblestone streets, vineyard paths, and cellar steps. Alternative arrangements available when possible.
Accommodation: Carefully selected 4-star accommodations in Paris and historic Reims, blending comfort with French elegance.
Season: June in France offers beautiful weather with comfortable temperatures (typically 60-75°F/15-24°C) and long daylight hours, perfect for enjoying both Paris's vibrant streets and Champagne's lush countryside.
Day 1: Welcome to Paris (Sunday, June 14)
Afternoon: Individual arrivals and check-in at our charming 4-star hotel in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés — one of Paris's most elegant and storied neighborhoods.
Early Evening: Welcome reception with champagne and French hors d'oeuvres at The James Bar, the Victoria Palace's beautiful lounge — a chance to meet your fellow travelers and toast the journey ahead.
Evening: Settle in and enjoy dinner on your own — step out to one of the many charming restaurants just steps from our hotel in Saint-Germain, or keep it cozy with room service at the Victoria Palace. Your GlidePath host will have curated restaurant suggestions ready for you.
Welcome reception with champagne & hors d'oeuvres included
Day 2: Falling in Love with Paris (Monday, June 15)
Morning: Leisurely breakfast at the hotel.
9:30 AM: Private guided walking tour of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the legendary heart of Paris's Left Bank. Discover the soul of our own neighborhood — the oldest church in Paris, Luxembourg Gardens, hidden courtyards and charming side streets, legendary literary cafés, the imposing Saint-Sulpice church, and all the little gems that most tourists walk right past. This isn't a checklist of monuments — it's a leisurely journey through centuries of art, literature, and Parisian life. By the end, you'll feel like you truly know this magical neighborhood.
Your guide will end the tour near a lovely neighborhood spot perfect for lunch — the kind of place only a local would know.
Afternoon: Free time to explore Paris at your own pace — stroll the Seine, browse the boutiques, or simply settle into a sidewalk café with a glass of wine and watch the world go by.
Evening: Dinner on your own with curated restaurant suggestions.
Private guided walking tour included
Day 3: Impressionism & the Art of Paris (Tuesday, June 16)
9:30 AM: Private guided tour of the Musée d'Orsay with a licensed art historian — home to the world's finest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces. Marvel at works by Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, and more in this stunning former railway station.
Special Access — Renoir and Love: A Joyful Modernity (1865-1885): Your visit coincides with the first major Renoir retrospective in Paris in over 40 years, co-organized with the National Gallery in London and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. With priority access through your guide, you'll experience masterpieces brought together from around the world specifically for this landmark exhibition — a celebration of love, joy, and human connection through Renoir's luminous, light-filled paintings. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
After the two-hour guided tour, you're welcome to stay and explore the museum and the Renoir exhibition at your own pace.
Afternoon: Free time to experience Paris your way. Your GlidePath host will provide personalized recommendations based on your interests. Some ideas:
The Louvre — Home to the Mona Lisa and thousands of masterpieces
Eiffel Tower — Ascend for breathtaking views of the city
Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur — Charming hilltop artists' neighborhood
Notre-Dame & Île de la Cité — Explore the historic heart of Paris
Seine River walk — Stroll the riverbanks and browse the book stalls
Le Marais — Historic district with boutiques, galleries, and cafés
Shopping — From the grands magasins to hidden Parisian boutiques
Evening: Dinner on your own with curated restaurant suggestions.
Private Musée d'Orsay guided tour with priority access to the Renoir exhibition included
Day 4: Journey to the Heart of Champagne Country (Wednesday, June 17)
Morning: Leisurely breakfast, then board your first-class train to Reims. Settle into your seat and watch the Parisian skyline give way to rolling countryside and endless vineyards — your first glimpse of Champagne country. The journey is approximately 46 minutes.
Afternoon: Arrival and check-in at the historic Hotel Continental, beautifully situated on Place Drouet d'Erlon — Reims's vibrant main square surrounded by restaurants, cafés, and shops. Free time to explore the neighborhood and settle in.
Late Afternoon: Optional walk to the magnificent Reims Cathedral (Notre-Dame de Reims) — just 10 minutes from the hotel. This stunning Gothic masterpiece is where French kings were crowned for over a thousand years. Marvel at the soaring architecture and the beautiful stained glass, including windows designed by Marc Chagall.
Evening: Dinner on your own — your GlidePath host will have recommendations for the best restaurants around the square and beyond.
First-class train tickets included
Day 5: The Veuve Clicquot Experience (Thursday, June 18)
9:45 AM: After breakfast, we embark on the highlight of our journey! Our exclusive 4-hour "La Grande Dame" experience begins at Veuve Clicquot's historic cellars — a UNESCO World Heritage site.
This prestigious tour honors Madame Clicquot, the remarkable widow who transformed a small family business into a global champagne empire. Explore the ancient chalk cellars (Crayères) carved 2,000 years ago by the Romans, then journey to the prestigious Verzy vineyards — home to the Pinot Noir grapes that Madame Clicquot famously championed. "Our black grapes produce the best white wines," she declared, convinced that Pinot Noir offered the greatest potential for creating the finest champagne.
Experience includes:
Guided tour of UNESCO-listed cellars
Visit to historic Verzy vineyards
Deep dive into champagne-making from vine to bottle, including Madame Clicquot's revolutionary riddling technique
Tasting of 3 exceptional cuvées: Brut Yellow Label, La Grande Dame, and La Grande Dame Rosé
Lunch: Group lunch at Café Clicquot on the terrace — the world's first permanent Café Clicquot! Enjoy their acclaimed chic bistronomic cuisine paired with Veuve Clicquot champagne, surrounded by the iconic yellow parasols. The perfect way to extend the celebration after the morning's tastings.
Late Afternoon: Free time in Reims to explore at your own pace. Or for the more adventurous, explore the champagne vineyards on a guided bike tour through the stunning hillsides surrounding Reims (optional, see below).
Evening: Dinner on your own with recommendations.
Exclusive Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame experience and lunch at Café Clicquot included
Day 6: The Art of French Pastry (Friday, June 19)
10:00 AM: Private pastry workshop at Au Piano des Chefs — a beautiful culinary studio steps from the Reims Cathedral. Under the guidance of Chef Eric Geoffroy, you'll learn the art of making Paris-Brest, one of France's most celebrated classic pastries — a gorgeous ring of golden choux pastry filled with rich praline mousseline cream, originally created in 1910 to commemorate the Paris-Brest-Paris bicycle race.
This is a fully hands-on experience: roll up your sleeves, get your hands in the dough, and create something beautiful together. The workshop includes all ingredients, equipment, aprons, and a glass of champagne. Take your pastries with you or enjoy them warm right there in the kitchen — chef's choice!
Afternoon: Free time to explore Reims at your leisure:
Revisit Reims Cathedral or explore its towers
Visit another champagne house — Taittinger, Pommery, or Mumm (optional, on your own)
Shop the boutiques and local markets around Place Drouet d'Erlon
Book a spa treatment and relax
Discover the beautiful Basilica of Saint-Remi
Simply enjoy café life and people-watching on the square
Evening: Dinner on your own — you're experts at the local restaurant scene by now!
Private French pastry workshop with champagne included
Day 7: Return to Paris & A Magical Farewell (Saturday, June 20)
Morning: Leisurely breakfast at the hotel or a final stroll around Place Drouet d'Erlon — perhaps one last café au lait and croissant on the square.
Late Morning: First-class train back to Paris.
Afternoon: Return to the Victoria Palace — your Parisian home away from home. Free time to relax, do last-minute shopping, or explore one final corner of the city before our farewell evening.
7:30 PM: Our farewell evening begins aboard Ducasse sur Seine — a 4-course gastronomic dinner cruise by legendary chef Alain Ducasse. As the boat glides along the Seine, you'll savor exquisite French cuisine with champagne and wine pairings while the illuminated landmarks of Paris drift past your window — the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay. The boat departs at 8:30 PM and returns at 10:30 PM. A magical, unforgettable finale to an extraordinary journey.
First-class train tickets and farewell Ducasse sur Seine dinner cruise with champagne & wine pairing included
Day 8: Au Revoir, Paris (Sunday, June 21)
Morning: Leisurely final breakfast at the hotel. Time to pack, exchange contact information, and say goodbye to new friends.
Individual departures based on flight schedules.
Your GlidePath host is available to assist with transportation to Charles de Gaulle Airport, recommendations for last-minute activities if you have a late flight, and any final questions.
Optional Experiences
Throughout the trip, there are wonderful optional experiences available for those who want to add even more to their journey. Advance booking is required for most of these — let your GlidePath host know as early as possible if you're interested and she'll take care of the arrangements for you.
In Paris:
Tea at The Ritz Paris — An iconic Parisian tradition in one of the world's most legendary hotels. Afternoon tea is served daily from 1:00-7:00 PM in an elegant salon. A dreamy, indulgent experience. (~€105 per person)
Bike Tour of Paris — Explore the city on two wheels with a guided cycling tour through Paris's most beautiful streets, parks, and landmarks. Perfect for active travelers who want to cover more ground.
In Reims:
Bike Tour of the Champagne Vineyards — Pedal through the stunning vineyard-covered hillsides surrounding Reims for a more active way to experience Champagne country.
Additional Champagne House Visits — Reims is home to many of the world's most prestigious champagne houses. Visit Taittinger's spectacular underground cellars, explore the art-filled grounds of Pommery, or discover the historic caves of Mumm — all within easy reach of our hotel.
What's Included
4 nights in 4-star accommodation in Paris (Saint-Germain-des-Prés)
3 nights at historic Hotel Continental in Reims (Place Drouet d'Erlon)
Daily breakfast
Welcome reception with champagne & hors d'oeuvres
Lunch at Café Clicquot on the Veuve Clicquot estate
Farewell Ducasse sur Seine 4-course dinner cruise with champagne & wine pairing
Exclusive Veuve Clicquot "La Grande Dame" 4-hour experience — UNESCO cellars tour, Verzy vineyards visit, tasting of 3 premium cuvées including La Grande Dame and La Grande Dame Rosé
Private guided walking tour of Saint-Germain-des-Prés with local expert
Private guided tour of the Musée d'Orsay with licensed art historian, including priority access to the landmark Renoir exhibition
Private French pastry workshop at Au Piano des Chefs in Reims with champagne
First-class train tickets Paris–Reims–Paris
All entrance fees for included activities
GlidePath Travel host throughout the journey for support, recommendations, and local insights
What's NOT Included
Airfare
Lunches and dinners not specified above (flexibility to explore restaurants at your own pace!)
Alcoholic beverages with meals (except for welcome reception, champagne tastings, pastry workshop, and farewell dinner cruise)
Optional experiences listed above
Personal expenses and souvenirs
Required travel insurance
Note: Sequence of activities may be altered due to availability or other logistics. Alternative activities of equal quality will be provided if needed.