Home French Revolution Tour: Paris and the Loire

French Revolution Tour: Paris and the Loire

Experience the French Revolution where it actually happened with William Clark.

Key information

Full Tour (Paris & Loire)

Price
From USD $6,499
Dates
Tue 12 May – Tue 19 May 2026
Duration
8 days / 7 nights

Paris-Only Tour

Price
From USD $4,999
Dates
Tue 12 May – Sun 17 May 2026
Duration
6 days / 5 nights
Deposit
USD $1,000 to reserve your place
Location
Paris (5 nights), Loire Valley (2 nights)
Group size
Capped at 17
Guiding
William Clark throughout, with licensed local guides at key sites

Why you’ll love this tour

  • Stand in Marie Antoinette’s cell at the Conciergerie and trace revolutionary Paris from July 1789 to the former Bastille.
  • Spend a full day at Versailles, including the palace, gardens, and the Tennis Court, with a specialist licensed guide.
  • Visit the Louvre in small groups (maximum six), then follow Napoleon’s Paris to the Arc de Triomphe and his tomb at Les Invalides.
  • Explore the Loire Valley through its châteaux and royal towns, from Chambord and Chenonceau to Tours, where we’re based for two nights.
  • Travel with a small group of like-minded history lovers, accompanied throughout by William Clark, with licensed local guides at key sites.

Itinerary Overview

Day 1 — Arrival in Paris
Arrive independently, settle in, and meet the group for a welcome dinner.
Pont Alexandre III, Paris
Day 2 — Versailles
Full day at Versailles: palace, gardens, and the Tennis Court, with a specialist guide.
Hall of Mirrors, Palace of Versailles
Day 3 — The Revolution Begins
Retrace July 1789 to the Bastille, then a free afternoon to rest or explore.
July Column, Place de la Bastille
Day 4 — Heroes and Villains
Conciergerie (including Marie Antoinette’s cell), Notre-Dame exterior, Panthéon, and a group dinner.
Panthéon
Day 5 — Louvre and Napoleonic Paris
Louvre in small groups (max 6), Arc de Triomphe, and Napoleon’s Tomb at Les Invalides.
Louvre
Day 6 — Power Beyond Paris
Transfer to the Loire Valley: Chambord and Blois, then a free evening in Tours.
Château de Chambord, Loire Valley
Day 7 — Resistance & Counter-Revolution
Chenonceau and Saumur, a surprise finale, and a farewell dinner.
Château de Chenonceau, Loire Valley
Day 8 — Departure
Return to central Paris with drop-off at Gare du Nord around midday (12 pm) for onward travel.
Paris
Pont Alexandre III, Paris
Day 1
Arrival
Arrive, settle in, welcome dinner in Paris.
Hall of Mirrors, Palace of Versailles
Day 2
Versailles
Palace, gardens, and the Tennis Court.
July Column, Place de la Bastille
Day 3
The Revolution Begins
Retrace July 1789 to the Bastille, free afternoon.
Panthéon
Day 4
Heroes & Villains
Conciergerie, Notre-Dame (exterior), Panthéon, group dinner.
Louvre
Day 5
Louvre & Napoleonic Paris
Louvre in small groups, Arc de Triomphe, Napoleon’s Tomb.
Château de Chambord, Loire Valley
Day 6
Power Beyond Paris
Chambord, Blois, and a free evening in Tours.
Château de Chenonceau, Loire Valley
Day 7
Resistance & Counter-Revolution
Chenonceau and Saumur, surprise finale, farewell dinner.
Paris
Day 8
Departure
Return to central Paris for onward travel.
Have questions? Book a 15-minute call after downloading.

What’s included

Included

  • 7 nights’ accommodation (Paris 5 nights, Tours 2 nights)
  • All admissions and reservations for scheduled sites and guided visits
  • All scheduled group ground transport (including Paris–Loire transfers and Day 8 return to central Paris)
  • 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 3 dinners
  • All tips and taxes

Not included

  • Flights and airport transfers
  • Meals and drinks not specified
  • Personal travel insurance (required)
  • Optional free-time activities
  • Personal purchases

Before you book you should know

Is this trip right for you?
  • This tour is designed for travellers with a passion for history.
  • It suits guests who enjoy walking-based exploration, thoughtful discussion, and travelling with a small group of like-minded history lovers.
  • Across the week, you’ll explore Revolutionary France with expert guides and share the experience with fellow enthusiasts.
Activity level

Walking: This tour includes a significant amount of walking and time on your feet, particularly at Versailles (often 15,000–20,000+ steps).

Stairs: Some stair climbing is unavoidable at historic sites.

Pace: The pace is steady rather than rushed, and the tour is suitable for travellers who walk slowly but comfortably.

Before booking: If you have any concerns about mobility or fitness, please contact us before booking so we can advise.

Accommodation

Hotels: We stay in four-star hotels in central Paris and Tours.

  • Paris (5 nights): Our Paris base is Le Jardin de Verre by Locke, a centrally located four-star hotel near the Panthéon. It’s a comfortable, well-placed base for the itinerary, and it also makes it easy to enjoy the neighbourhood in your own time.
  • Tours (2 nights): In Tours, we stay at the Hampton by Hilton, a four-star hotel ideally located for exploring the city on foot.

Rooming: Rooms are arranged on a shared basis (twin or double). Solo travellers can either request a private room (single supplement applies) or opt into roommate matching to share with another solo traveller of the same sex.

If a change is required: If either named hotel becomes unavailable, it will be replaced with a comparable standard in a similarly convenient location.

Meeting point

Day 1: Day 1 begins with independent arrival and hotel check-in in Paris. Airport transfers are not included.

Hotel: Le Jardin de Verre by Locke, 7 Rue Lacépède, 75005 Paris, France.

Day 8: On Day 8, we return to central Paris at around midday (12 pm) for onward travel. Gare du Nord is well connected to the Paris Metro and RER networks, and provides straightforward access to major international rail services and airport connections.

Your guide team

William Clark

William Clark

The tour is accompanied throughout by William Clark, creator and host of Grey History: The French Revolution & Napoleon.

William personally designed the itinerary and introduces each day’s themes and key places.

Licensed local guides

At major sites, visits are led by licensed local guides selected for their expertise.

These specialists lead in-depth tours at places such as Versailles, the Louvre, the Conciergerie, and the Panthéon, with William alongside the group throughout.

What listeners say about William Clark and Grey History: The French Revolution & Napoleon Podcast

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Frequently asked questions

Who is this tour best suited to?
This tour is designed for travellers with a passion for history. It suits guests who enjoy walking-based exploration, thoughtful discussion, and travelling with a small group of like-minded history lovers.
Is this tour confirmed?
Yes. The 2026 tour is confirmed.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. Travel insurance is required.
What are the cancellation terms?
If you cancel within 7 days of booking and more than 120 days before the tour start date, we refund all amounts paid. Otherwise, cancellation fees depend on how close to departure you cancel. See the Terms and Conditions for full details.
What happens after I book?
You will receive a booking confirmation by email. We will share clear pre-departure information, and updates if anything changes. We will ask for proof of travel insurance before departure, along with other key information such as allergies. We are always available to answer any questions you may have.
Do I need prior knowledge of the French Revolution?
No prior knowledge is assumed. The tour is structured to provide the context you need as we go.
How much walking is involved, and are stairs unavoidable?
This tour includes a significant amount of walking and time on your feet, particularly at Versailles (often 15,000–20,000+ steps). Some stair climbing is unavoidable at historic sites.
Is the pace suitable for someone who walks slowly but steadily?
Yes. The pace is steady rather than rushed, and the tour is suitable for travellers who walk slowly but comfortably. If you have any concerns about mobility or fitness, please contact us before booking so we can advise.
How do we get around each day?
The tour uses a mix of private coach transfers and public transport in Paris, alongside walking between nearby sites.
Where do we meet on Day 1, and where do we finish on Day 8?
Day 1 begins with independent arrival and hotel check-in in Paris. Airport transfers are not included. On Day 8, we return to central Paris (Gare du Nord, around midday), where guests make their own onward journeys.
Which meals are included, and can you cater for dietary requirements?
Breakfasts are included daily, along with one lunch at Versailles and three group dinners (including the welcome dinner in Paris and the final dinner in Tours). Dietary requirements can usually be accommodated. Please tell us in advance.
Are tips and taxes included?
Yes. Tips for guides and drivers are included, along with local taxes related to included services.
What is the group size?
Places are capped at 17 guests.
Can solo travellers join? How does rooming work?
Yes. Rooms are arranged on a shared basis (twin or double). Solo travellers can either request a private room (single supplement applies) or opt into roommate matching to share with another solo traveller of the same sex.

Ready to book?

BOOK NOW
Reserve with a $1,000 deposit.
Have questions? Book a 15-minute call after downloading.
From
USD $6,499
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Operator: William Chase Clark, operating as Grey History (ABN 60 228 206 314). Checkout powered by WeTravel. Terms and Conditions.

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