Travel to the magnificent Champagne region in northeastern France, home to arguably the world’s finest sparkling wines. We’ll visit both Reims and Epernay. Then on to Strasbourg, the home of the European Parliament, and one of France’s finest Gothic cathedrals. This trip begins in Paris and ends on the outskirts.

Luxury accommodations and gourmet meals
Visit the village of Hautvillers, where Dom Perignon was laid to rest
Walk the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay
Visit Strasbourg and travel the wine route of Alsace
Tour the American Cemetary in Verdun

Day 1

Arrival in Paris. Check in to our luxury hotel near the Louvre. In the evening, we’ll enjoy a welcome champagne toast and a gourmet dinner.

Day 2

Depart Paris after breakfast and head toward Reims. We’ll stop for lunch in Villers-Allerand. We’ll then drive along the Route du Champagne and stop in Hautvillers, the cradle of champagne. Here we’ll visit the chapel where Dom Perignon was laid to rest. Check in to our luxury hotel in the late afternoon, our home for three nights. Champagne aperitif and gourmet dinner will be at our hotel’s 2-Michelin starred restaurant.

Day 3

After breakfast, we’ll enjoy a tasting and cellar tour at a world-famous Champagne house, followed by a visit at a cooperage. Afterwards, we’ll stop in Reims to enjoy free time and lunch on your own. Don’t miss its beautiful cathedral — Notre-Dame de Reims — the traditional location for the coronation of the kings of France. Dinner this evening is at a 3-Michelin starred restaurant in Tinqueux.

Day 4

After breakfast, we’ll enjoy another Champagne tasting and tour, this time in nearby Bouzy. Afterwards, we’ll drive to Epernay where you’ll have plenty of time to explore the famous Avenue de Champagne — a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dinner this evening will be at our hotel.

Day 5

After breakfast, we’ll drive to Verdun for a bit of World War I history. We’ll visit the American cemetery and enjoy lunch (included) at Cercle du Mess, a former French Army officers’ mess hall, refurbished as a public restaurant. In the late afternoon, we’ll drive to Strasbourg and check in to our luxury hotel, where we’ll stay for three nights as we explore Alsace.

Day 6

Following breakfast, we’ll take a short drive to Wingen sur Moder, where we’ll tour the Lalique crystal museum. We’ll return to Strasbourg for free time and lunch on your own. Don’t miss the Cathedral (which took over 400 years to build and was once the tallest building in the world), the canal and river around the Old Town, and the European Parliament, as well as an opportunity to taste the local beer and an authentic Choucroute Alsacienne. Our dinner this evening will be at a 3-Michelin starred restaurant in the charming village of Illhaeusern, near Colmar.

Day 7

Breakfast as usual to start our day. Then we’ll travel along the Route des Vins d’Alsace (Alsace wine route) for a tasting at an organic wine producer in Mittelbergheim. Afterwards, we’ll stop in Obernai for free time and lunch on your own. Dinner this evening will be at a 1-Michelin starred restaurant in the medieval town of Riquewihr, whose half- timbered houses and cobbled streets help make it the most visited village in France.

Day 8

We’ll check out of our Strasbourg hotel following breakfast and then head for Chalons-en-Champagne, where we’ll enjoy lunch (included). Our hotel for our final night will be in the heart of the Chantilly forest, on the outskirts of Paris, where we’ll also enjoy a farewell dinner.

Day 9

Trip ends after breakfast.

Champagne & Alsace

Sept. 28-Oct. 6, 2019