OVERSEAS TRAVEL
o It is recommended that clients arrive a day early to be fresh for the trip, and to counteract possible flight delays.
o Early arrival also enables you to explore the gateway city should you wish to do so.
o Please note that the last day of the trip above, is the day you fly home. Please arrange your flights accordingly.

Clients from the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australasia should depart their home country a day or two prior to Day 1 for on-time arrival at the Charles De Gaulle airport.

DAY 1  |  To GIVERNY, NORMANDY
I’ll meet your mid morning flight arrival in Paris and we will then head northwestwards to Giverny and the gardens made famous by the impressionist painter Claude Monet. Here you will see the artist's home, garden and the bridge seen in so many of his paintings. I'll help you get some 'Monet effects' as you're going to have to play with long exposures, intentional blur, and perhaps some tinkling about in PhotoShop! After hotel check-in and a short period of free time, we'll explore this quaint city situated along the Seine River, with particular emphasis placed upon the unique bridge of Maison du pont Vernonnet.
Near VERNONNET, 1 night

DAYS 2 + 3  |  To the NORMANDY COAST
At first light on day 2 we shall be alongside the River Seine once more capturing images of this picturesque and grand river dotted by half-timbered homes and the quaint village of Vernonnet. After breakfast we will continue northwestwards in Normandy [Normandie], and beyond Caen, join the coast at Luc-sur-Mer. These are the beaches made famous by brave Allied forces on June 6, 1944 in what has become known as the D-Day Invasion. We'll explore the beaches of Gold, Juno and Sword where British, Canadian troops and heroes from ten other countries landed and fought so bravely. We will also visit the Bayeux War Cemetery where the graves of 4,868 British and 466 German soldiers reside.
At first light on day 3 we will explore Pointe du Hoc and the hallowed Omaha beach where thousands of brave young Americans landed on that fateful day in 1944. After breakfast back at our hotel we shall capture respectful and symmetric images of the American Cemetery near Colleville-sur-Mer where 9,386 young American soldiers lie having fallen here in June of 1944. Also at the cemetery is a memorial with the names of another 1,557 young Americans who died in this battle, and whose remains were never found. The rest of the day will be spent following the coastline of the Valognes peninsula to places such as Utah Beach, Saint Vaast la Hougue, small villages and farmland, Cap de la Hauge, and many lighthouses including the one near Goury.
Near CARENTAN, 2 nights

DAY 4  |  To Le MONT SAN MICHEL
More coastal photography at dawn, and then we'll spend the day on the remainder of the Valognes peninsula following the west facing coastline with the photographic highlights being Pont de la Sienne, and Granville etcetera. We'll check into our hotel in the late afternoon, take dinner, and at late light we'll be in the southwest corner of Normandy shooting the French icon of Le Mont San Michel [St Michael's Mount]. This special Gothic 'pyramid' is a tidal island constructed in the 13th to 16th centuries and is a spectacular sight as it sits just off the Normandy coastline.
Near BEAUVOIR, 1 night

DAY 5  |  To TREGUIER
Back to Le Mont San Michel at dawn to once again capture the magic of this magical island castle. After breakfast we'll go west into Brittany [Bretagne] to the fishing village of St. Malo which experiences the most extreme tidal changes in all of Europe. On to nearby medieval Dinan which in 1836 was described by Victor Hugo as being “Formed like a swallows nest against the cliffs above the River Rance.” We shall spend some time exploring the cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses and more before continuing along the coastline. There will be plenty to photograph including coastal 'deserts' such as Fort la Latte, Cap Frehel, Le Val-Andre, Pointe du Roselier, and Pointe de Bilfot.
Near TREGUIER, 1 night

DAYS 6, 7 and 8  |  Western BRITTANY
Dawn at Pointe du Château where a 'house sandwich' is a worthy photographic oddity. After breakfast we shall head west and take in a coastline that offers Perros-Guirec, Ploumanach, and the Tregastel bay with it's granite formations. We then head inland to shoot the biggest standing stone in Brittany at Menhir Saint-Uzec. Via Morlaix and some pretty Breton countryside to our 3 night accommodations near at the mouth of the Faou Riiver. The region is known as 'Finistère', 'the end of the land'.
On day 7 we'll take a northern loop shooting quaint countryside and rock-laden and Sea Thrift laden coast including the lighthouse at Phare de Pontusval, Landeda Bay and more. On to Le Conquet for shots of the harbor and centuries old street scenes. To the south lies Point Saint Mathieu where a derelict abbey, two lighthouses and a church combine for an unusual shot. Phare du Petit Minou lighthouse comes next followed by the old harbor and round castle of Tour Tanguy in Brittany's largest city, Brest. Late light photography is scheduled for the Albert Louppe and de L'Iroise bridges that span the Elorn River.
On day 8 a 'southern loop' will see us exploring the Crozon Peninsula with photography in such places as Camaret-Sur-Mer, Pointe de Penhir, an ancient Dolmen near St-Nic, and Locronan, one of the most quaint and authentic villages in all of Brittany. South for free time to explore the ancient town of Quimper which sits pictorially on the banks of the River Odet. It's a place to experience the Celtic side of Breton culture and an afternoon desert of an ice-cream filled crepe! Then west to Audierne followed by the late light out at La Point du Raz.
Near LOGONNA-DAOULAS, 3 nights

DAY 9  |  To QUIBERON
Sunrise at the water's edge this morning then following breakfast we'll follow the Brittany coast in a southeasterly direction. Concarneau is a walled town with the medieval Ville Close being a long island in the centre of the harbour. Then Pont Aven followed by a road trip taking us through Lorient to Carnac village and and a stunning collection of standing stones and dolmens that surround the village. This particular concentration of megalithic stones apparently date back to between 2000 BC to 5000 BC, and some are reputed to be older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids. We stay overnight adjacent to the Quiberon harbor at the tip of the peninsula of the same name.
QUIBERON, 1 night

DAY 10 + 11  |  LOIRE VALLEY CASTLES
Sunrise in Quiberon harbor this morning, breakfast, and as we leave the Quiberon peninsula we'll make a detour to shoot various sea-cliff views and so on. To historic Auray, colorful Vannes, another walled town Guerande. The region is noted for it's salt beds with the name 'Guerande' translating as 'white land' in the Breton language. We'll make our way to St. Nazaire where German U-boats were docked during WW2, and consequently the city was heavily bombed by the allies. It's OK, I hear the bombing has since ceased! We then fast track eastwards into the Loire region and settle in to our two night home in Chinon on the Vienne River.
The Loire Valley nee 'Valle de la Loire' or 'Garden of France', is also considered to be the 'cradle of the French language.' We will photograph several significant chateaus [castles] with the first being the Château d’ Azay-le Rideau. The Château dates from 1515 and is located on an island in the River Indre and has a rather bloody history. In 1418 Prince Charles [later King Charles VII] visited and was jeered by the guards upon his arrival. The Prince was so angry he had all 350 of the soldiers killed and burned the local village down to the ground. Also scheduled is Château Villandry, built in 1536 and complete with magnificent gardens, plus the stunning Château de Chenonceaux situated quite literally on the River Cher complete with drawbridge and moat. The original castle burnt to the ground in 1411, then the replacement was demolished too! Today's building was completed in 1521 and is a sight to behold. The town of Amboise is also scheduled for this day.
CHINON, 2 nights

DAY 12  |  LOIRE VALLEY CASTLES . . . and on to Paris
Sunrise images on the River Vienne this morning and following breakfast we'll head for the Château Chaumont-sur-Loire, the town of Blois on the Loire River for a short exploration on foot, then as we head for Paris our last major stop of the trip will be for the Château de Chambord, the largest of all the Loire valley castles and a magnificent example of French Renaissance architecture. It was built between 1519 and 1547 and has a roof-line like no other castle. And finally . . . we'll meander some charming Loire valley lanes and take a fast track to our hotel north of Paris to close the trip.
GOUSSAINVILLE, 1 night

DAY 13  |  Flights home
Departing flights can be arranged for any time this morning. USA residents will arrive home on the same calendar day. There is a Paris photo workshop available here.

Photographer/Leader John Baker