PARIS FOR GOURMANDS

Day 1 Arrival in Paris and highlights tour

On arrival at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport, meet your waiting driver and transfer to your hotel in the heart of the Left Bank. Check in before meeting your guide for a brief highlights tour of the neighbourhood. En route, your guide will introduce you to some of the area's most beloved sights -from the Boulevard Saint Germain, whose historic cafés provided a literary salon for its intellectual clientele such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir to the famed Cathedral of Notre Dame. Notre Dame is due to reopen in 2024 following its devasting fire, and in its shadow you'll find the city's best ice cream shop and, of course, the best patisseries to find the very freshest of gateaux and pastries! Arriving back at l'Esprit Saint Germain, a gourmet cheese platter will await you. Spend the rest of your evening at leisure.

Overnight: Esprit Saint Germain

Day 2 Louvre and Marais walking tour

This morning meet your guide and head out on foot to visit the famed Louvre. Your guide will lead you on a private tour of art with a specific food theme - from Dutch Masters' still life paintings, to Delacroix's vibrant lobsters via Ancient Greek carvings. From here, continue your tour through the Right Bank arriving at the buzzing Marais District for a foodie walking tour, exploring the various cultural influences that have made this a vibrant culinary hotspot. Sample the freshest of falafel and straight-from-the-oven Challah bread celebrating the Marais' Jewish legacy. Discover artisan cheeses at a little-known producer, before honing your sweet tooth with perfectly pastel macarons and handmade chocolates, amongst many other delicious treats.

Overnight: Esprit Saint Germain

Day 3 Montmartre and cooking class

Start your day at the northern tip of the city as you explore Montmartre, the village within the city, long known as an artistic enclave. Explore the area with your guide, taking in sights such as the pearl white Sacré-Coeur Basilica. From here, make the short distance to one of Paris' charming residential neighbourhoods, away from the beaten path. You'll be accompanied by a chef as you are escorted through a local market, purchasing the freshest of ingredients from the boucher, boulangerie and épicerie. Returning to their cookery school, whip up a culinary feast with a chef by your side to ensure you have all the techniques at hand. At the end of your cooking session, you'll sit down to enjoy the fruits of your labour, washed down bien-sur with some perfectly paired wines!

Overnight: Esprit Saint Germain

Day 4 Versailles and Alain Ducasse lunch

Today's exploration will take you just beyond the city limits to the Palace of Versailles, extraordinary home of the French kings. Explore the State Rooms, the gardens and wider estate with your guide. At lunch, a very special table awaits you - take your seats at Alain Ducasse's latest outpost - Ore, which is located within the Palace of Versailles. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch, fit for a king, before returning to the city with your guide.

Overnight: Esprit Saint Germain

Day 5 Champagne day trip

No culinary trip to Paris would be complete without a taste of France's most beloved export - Champagne! Take a day trip out of the city with your driver-guide to visit some of the renowned Champagne houses for a vineyard tour and tasting. You'll have the opportunity to explore some of the oldest Champagne caves in the region and learn of the ancient techniques used to create the revered sparkling wine, with plenty of opportunity to taste multiple expressions and vintages along the way. Stop for lunch at a Michelin-starred restaurant with Champagne pairings to accompany your magnificent dining experience.

Overnight: Esprit Saint Germain

Day 6 Depart

This morning, after a final breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer privately to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.

Upgrade options: a private Champagne cruise on the River Seine with cheese board and vintage Champagne; a private tour of Versailles to areas not open to the public; a private tour of the Louvre; private visits to various Champagne houses.

Extension options: continue your journey onwards to the Loire Valley, Burgundy or Bordeaux to taste some of the best wines of France; extend your travels to include the city of Lyon, renowned as the ultimate French foodie destination; explore a different European cuisine, by traveling across the Italian border to discover further culinary delights