Want to experience the best of France with a group of like-minded LGBTQ+ travellers, who are as curious about the world as you and are open to new and enriching experiences?
Canadian based, Detours Travels offers small group, 8- to 13-day gay adventure tours to select destinations in Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America. Created and led by people who all share a passion for travel, it’s laid-back approach to group tours comes with flexible and fun-filled itineraries that ensure social opportunities, unique experiences and unforgettable adventures.
Including its 11 Days in France tour, which will see as you experience the best of Paris before heading south to the culturally rich cities of Dijon, Lyon and Avignon—all with a community of gay travellers as engaged in the experience as you are, and with the support of local guides who can introduce you to their cities and LGBTQ+ communities. Here is a look at some of the tour’s highlights.
PARIS
Your French escape begins in Paris, where, over three days, you will explore the city’s grand avenues, sip wine or coffee at streetside cafes, and admire the iconic landmarks that makes this capital a world class city. But first, it’s a welcome dinner so you get to meet the small group—Detours caps its tours at 16 people—who will experience this once-in-a-lifetime adventure with you.
The Paris experience includes a guided visit of the Louvre, home to some of the most-iconic masterpieces, like the Mona Lisa, and an illuminated dinner cruise along the Seine. A convenient transport pass is included in your tour package, making it easy for you to explore the city at ease and with the flexibility to do so at your own pace and to indulge your interests.
There is also an excursion to the Palace of Versailles. Here you can indulge your inner royal—be it king or queen, lord or lady—by catching glimpses of your regal self in the Hall of Mirrors, strolling through the formal gardens and touring the apartments that were once home to French royalty.
DIJON
Following your time in the City of Love, you tour group is whisked on a high-speed train to Dijon, where you will discover the medieval charm of the wine-producing Burgundy region. After you are checked into your centrally located hotel, you will feel transported into the past as you walk the cobblestoned streets past Renaissance-era buildings that open onto inviting squares.
Your two-day stay in the city includes a guided tour of landmarks such as the lavish Ducal Palace that was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy, the Gothic-styled church of Notre-Dame of Dijon, and the Owl Trail, a 22-stop walking tour that includes all the main heritage sites.
And be sure to make the nearly 320 steps climb up the 46-metre-high Philippe le Bon Tower—built between 1450 and 1460—where you will be greeted by sweeping rooftop views of the city.
Once back at street level, you can continue exploring on your own; visit a city museum, indulge in some retail therapy in one of the many boutiques, hang with a couple fellow tour travellers or discover Dijon’s gay scene.
LYON
From Dijon, it is a quick drive to the nearby town of Beaune, a centre of winemaking in the Burgundy region, before you continue on to the elegant city of Lyon. As you near Beaune you will be greeted by a rolling vine-covered landscapes before coming to a welcoming riverfront city. While there you will visit the historic Fallot mustard company, learning more about Dijon’s claim to fame and tasting various flavours and styles of the condiment.
Just over an hour-and-a-half drive later, your tour group will arrive in the city of Lyon, which sits at the meeting of the Rhône and Saône rivers and is home to more than 2,000 years of history. You will learn about some of it during a panoramic tour that will highlight major spots such as the hilltop Basilique de Fourvière church and the Renaissance passageways and narrow laneways of Vieux Lyon.
During your two-days in the city you can use your included Lyon City Card to use local transit to explore its cultural attractions, amazing gastronomical scene—considered one of the best in France—and visit the Presqu’île district with its grand squares and shopping streets.
AVIGNON
The final leg of your epic tour of France is four-days spent in the southern province on Provence and the city of Avignon. Following the Rhône Valley from Lyon into the region, your first stops are all gastronomical as you savour the flavours of the province—a visit to the Cité du Chocolat, a winery tasting among historic vineyards, and a traditional nougat factory that has been making this sweet treat for generations.
After arriving in Avignon and checking into your hotel, you can explore the historic city ramparts, learn about the city’s papal history, including exploring the Palais des Papes, visit the nearby Pont du Gard—a Roman aqueduct—and the city of arles that was once the home and inspiration of painter Vincent Van Gogh (you can visit a foundation dedicated to his works).
On your final night, you and the rest of your tour group—by now new friends than fellow travellers—can reminisce about the past 11 days during a farewell dinner cruise along the river where you can also admire this magical city at night.
Detours Travel’s 11 Days in France tour takes place from Aug 28 to Sept. 7 and from Sept. 11 to 21. To learn more about this tour, what sets Detours apart and details on all the different destinations it travels to, visit detourstravel.com.
