Jefferson’s France
September 20 – October 2, 2026
Paris — Loire Valley — Dijon — Nimes — Carcassonne 
13 days, 12 nights
$7,699 / person, double occupancy
$2,100 single room supplement (single rooms are limited and must be requested)
Price does not include airfare.
NOTE: Your passport MUST be valid for 6 months AFTER the end of this trip.

A deposit of $698 per person is due upon reservation. Final Payment is due on Jun 22, 2026.

Our travel team can arrange all air travel and transfers at additional cost. We also offer travel insurance through Collette at additional cost.

France in 2026! What better way to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the United States. The Declaration was written in part to secure foreign recognition of the New Republic and to win financial support for the revolution. That was mostly the work of Benjamin Franklin, but without the French alliance it is not clear how long the war of independence would have lasted and if it would have been successful.

Thomas Jefferson believed that France was America’s most congenial ally. He said that every person’s first country must be their own but every rational person’s second country must be France.

Jefferson spent five years in France between 1784-1789. He was the American minister (ambassador) to the court of Louis XVI on the eve of the French Revolution. Although he was a disciplined diplomat, he found time in 1787 to make a sweeping wine tour of France, as well as an excursion on the famous Canal du Midi to gain as much knowledge as he could about the building and operation of canals, which were just beginning to be built in the United States.

Jefferson had been widowed for four years when he met an Anglo-Italian musician, painter, and celebrated beauty Maria Cosway in Paris. She was famous for causing men to fall in love with her. Jefferson was immediately smitten. Before long she was too. The light romance (romance lite!) brought Jefferson joy and pain. Mrs. Cosway was married (not happily). She was a Catholic. And Jefferson soon realized that what happens in Paris really needs to stay in Paris. They corresponded by fits and starts for the rest of Jefferson’s life. She eventually left her dissolute husband and — in the end — opened a convent school near Milan.

Our itinerary includes plenty of time in Paris; time in wine country; a foray into the south of France, where classical Roman remains abound, including, at Nimes, the site of an intact Roman temple, the Maison Carree, which Jefferson called the most precious morsel of antiquity. In fact, Jefferson designed the new state capitol in Richmond based on his deep admiration for the second century CE (AD) temple.

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1: Overnight Flight
Days 1 – 3: Le Meridien Etoile, Paris
Days 4 – 5: Relais de Chambord, Loire Valley
Days 6 – 7: Grand Hotel La Cloche MGallery, Dijon
Days 8 – 9: Maison Albar Hotel L’Imperator, Nimes
Day 10: Hotel de la Cite Carcassonne, Carcassonne
Day 11: Canal du Midi
Day 12: Bezier
Day 13: Toulouse — Tour Ends
*On some dates alternate hotels may be used.

HIGHLIGHTS … Paris, River Seine Cruise, Leonardo da Vinci’s Home, Loire Valley, Dijon, Pont du Guard, Maison Carrée, Jardins de la Fountaine, Canal du Midi

Working with Russ and Liz Eagle, I’ve designed this journey to have some special stops and special features that are not usually included in packaged tours of France. I’ve taken groups to France three or four times before, always Jefferson’s France, but thanks to a new European outfitter and a lot of hard work from the LTA Travel staff, I think this journey is going to be the best of the lot.

We’ll have enough time in France to relax into the experience. Knowing French is a bonus, but we’ll have an on-coach interpreter and most French people speak enough English to accommodate our needs. The food will be outstanding, the wines superb.

You don’t need to bring anything but your good will and curiosity, but if you want to read to prepare, I recommend the following books.

1. In Pursuit of Jefferson: Traveling through Europe with the Most Perplexing Founding Father. Derek Baxter.
2. Thomas Jefferson’s Paris. Howard Rice.
3. Thomas Jefferson’s Travels in Europe, 1784-1789. George Shackleford. 

You’ll want to have your passport up to date, of course. You may be concerned about how Europeans regard Americans these days, but my experience has always been that they like and admire Americans but not always the American government. (Which is more or less how I feel!)

This is going to be a great adventure. I’m glad you want to join us. I’ll lecture a bit every day. There will be time for group discussions. You’ll have ample time on your own to explore things of particular interest to you.

I hope you will join us.

Clay Jenkinson

Jefferson’s France — Full Itinerary

September 20 – October 2, 2026
13 days and 12 nights
(B, L, D signify meals included)

Day 1 — Sunday, September 20
Depart your home airport for overnight flight to Paris. (D)

Day 2 —  Monday, September 21
Welcome to Paris! As arrival times will vary, there is no scheduled sightseeing today. Spend the day as you wish, exploring the city independently, and join an orientation walk around your hotel’s neighborhood. This evening, gather with your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner featuring wine and music. (D)

Day 3 — Tuesday, September 22
Take in Paris’ most iconic sights and follow connections to Jefferson’s time in the City of Light. Join a local expert on a panoramic city tour, seeing the Arc de Triomphe, Champs- Elysees, Notre Dame Cathedral, Palais Garnier, and more. Later, delve into Jefferson’s Paris with visits to the site of Hotel Langeac at 92, Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Palais Royale, Hotel de Salm, the Statue of Thomas Jefferson, and the location of the Abbaye Royale de Panthemont, the Catholic school attended by Jefferson’s daughter. (B, D) 

Day 4 — Wednesday, September 23
Paris Start the day with a group discussion at the hotel. Enjoy the morning and lunch on your own, exploring Paris at your leisure. In the afternoon, take a scenic cruise on the River Seine, followed by a tour of Parisian monuments including the Place de la Concorde, La Madeleine, and the Champs-Elysees. (B)

Day 5 — Thursday, September 24
Paris – Amboise – Loire Valley: travel by train to the Loire Valley, a region known for its stunning châteaux and vineyards. Visit Château du Clos Lucé in Amboise, where Leonardo da Vinci lived and worked in his final years. Enjoy dinner at La Cave Aux Fouees, a unique and friendly local restaurant serving traditional French cuisine. (B, D)

Day 6 — Friday, September 25
Loire Valley Spend the day exploring the Loire Valley and visit Château de Chenonceau, a jewel of Renaissance architecture. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure and perhaps visit the Château de Chambord during your free time. (B)

Day 7 — Saturday, September 26 
Today, travel from the Loire Valley to Dijon, the capital of the Burgundy region. Perhaps you will explore the Burgundy wine region or visit the Hospices de Beaune, a historic hospital known for its stunning architecture and wine auction during your free time. (B)

Day 8 —  Sunday, September 27
Begin with a group meeting in the morning. Then spend the day exploring Dijon, with visits to Ducal Palace, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Church of Notre-Dame of Dijon. (B, D)

Day 9 – Monday, September 28
Travel to Nîmes on the TGV train, enjoying the scenic journey through the French countryside. Upon arrival, make a quick trip to Pont du Gard, the largest remaining aqueduct in France, showcasing Roman engineering prowess. (B, L)

Day 10 – Tuesday, September 29
Take a walking tour of Nimes, visiting the Jardins de la Fontaine, Tour Magne, Temple de Diane, Amphitheatre of Nimes, and Maison Carrée. (B, D)

Day 11 – Wednesday, September 30
Head to Béziers for a day of relaxation and exploration. Enjoy a half-day cruise with lunch on the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Spend the afternoon exploring the locks, Béziers Cathedral, and other local sites. (B, L)

Day 12 – Thursday, October 1
Today, enjoy a free day in Béziers. Perhaps you will visit the Béziers Cathedral, Plateau des Poètes, or the local markets. Conclude the day with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant in Carcassonne, celebrating the end of your journey through France. (B, D)

Day 13 – Friday, October 2
Tour ends. Set out for home with many magnificent memories. (B)

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Tour Information & Pricing

Jefferson’s France
September 20 – October 2, 2026
Paris — Loire Valley — Dijon — Nimes — Carcassonne 
13 days, 12 nights
$7,699 / person, double occupancy
$2,100 single room supplement (single rooms are limited and must be requested)
A deposit of $698 per person is due upon reservation. Final Payment is due on June 22, 2026.

Price does not include airfare
NOTE: Your passport MUST be valid for 6 months AFTER the end of this trip.

Note the difference in arrival & departure cities:
Our tour begins in Paris and ends in Toulouse, France.

We are pleased to offer air travel and hotel/airport transfers through our partner, Collette Tours.

Included: 

• Historical commentary by Clay Jenkinson throughout duration of tour
• Experienced tour guides
• Accommodations, meals, entrance fees, and river cruise fees outlined in itinerary
• Gratuities to tour guide and coach driver

Not Included: 

• Airfare to/from France with airport/hotel transfers (available for additional fee when you make your deposit)
• Travel insurance (available for an additional fee when you make your deposit)
• Meals not specified in the itinerary
• Items of personal nature — laundry, in-room hotel purchases, etc.

Questions? Please contact Liz Eagle for help.

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Terms and Conditions

Deposits and Payments
A non-refundable deposit of $698 per person will reserve your spot on this tour. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure. All payments will be processed directly through our tour operator, Collette Tours.

Refunds and Cancellation Policy
Our international tour operator Collette will provide refund and cancellation terms and conditons before accepting your deposit.

Travel Insurance
We highly recommend you purchase travel insurance. Collette will offer you travel insurance before accepting your deposit. If you have your own preferred insurance partner, we recommend contacting them before paying any deposits.

Participation Courtesy
We ask there be no audio or video taping of presentations without the prior consent of the individual presenters. Participants are to refrain from smoking or vaping inside all modes of transportation, during group meals, and lectures or events.

Itinerary or Program Modifications
The itinerary is subject to our modifications and changes. Every effort will be made to carry out the program as planned, but alterations may still occur after the final itinerary is sent.

Responsibility
Our company acts only as the agent in making arrangements for the owner or operators of such transportation, accommodations, services or facilities engaged in our tours. Our responsibility is limited to that of an agent. We accept no responsibility for accidents, injuries, property damage or personal loss to you or to those traveling with you in connection with any accommodations, transportation or other travel or outfitter and guide services, or resulting directly or indirectly from any occurrences or conditions beyond our control, including but not limited to acts of terrorism, defects in vehicles, breakdown in equipment, strikes or theft.