Begin your day by boarding your comfortable, air-conditioned private bus in central Paris. Once inside, you’ll meet your tour co-ordinator, a local expert who’ll accompany you throughout your trip to provide you with insights and stories about the sites you’ll visit.

Your first stop is the Fondation Claude Monet in the village of Giverny. After a brief but fact-packed orientation tour, you’ll be free to explore the Impressionist master’s estate at your leisure using a convenient self-guided audio app. The house has been restored to how it was when Monet himself lived and worked there, and many features of the estate are familiar from his great works – like the ponds carpeted in luscious water lilies.

Read moreMore about Fondation Claude Monet

Then it’s a short bus ride from Giverny to Versailles, where an official palace guide will escort you past the line, directly into the Sun King’s opulent seat of power. With over 700 rooms and 2,000 acres of gardens, Versailles is magnificent inside and out. You’ll see highlights like the Hall of Mirrors and Salon of Abundance, fountains and secret garden groves, and an art collection to rival the finest museums. In keeping with the surroundings, the royals and courtiers who populated Versailles at its height were larger than life; your guide will share some of the wildest moments of the palace’s history.

Read moreMore about Palace of Versailles

After your guided visit of the inside of the Palace of Versailles, you will be taken to the extravagant gardens of Versailles. Here, you have the freedom to explore at your own pace, wandering along the canal, marveling at the fountains, and enjoying the final part of the tour at your own willRead moreMore about Jardins du Château de Versailles