Northern France School Trip Overview
Embark on a school trip to Normandy, Paris, and Versailles, where the history of France comes to life before your eyes. Explore the iconic D-Day landing beaches that stretch for miles, and witness the opulent decadence of the Château de Versailles. Our educational tours offer the perfect opportunity for young travelers to delve deep into the rich history and culture of northern France.
Students will come to understand the myriad forces that have shaped French history and culture over the centuries, starting with the Parisii settlers and culminating in the turbulence of the Twentieth Century. What better way to explain the history that has made Paris one of the world’s most vibrant metropolises? This popular educational tour, adaptable for all age levels, is the real-world application of everything students have learned in the classroom.
Our years of experience bringing students to France means that we know exactly how to educate, excite, and inspire. Join us for the chance to immerse your students in the best of France and leave them with memories to last a lifetime!
If you’re looking for a different kind of adventure, why not consider our school trip to the south of France? From the sun-soaked beaches of Nice to the glamorous streets of Monaco, our tour of the French Riviera offers a world of adventure and discovery.
Did You Know? Teachers travel for free! Learn more about the Benefits for Teachers.
Map and Route
- Day 1: Overnight flight to Europe
- Days 2-3: Paris
- Days 4-5: Normandy & Bayeux
- Days 6: Mont St. Michel & The Loire Valley
- Day 7-9: Paris & Versailles
- Day 10: Depart for home
Interested in learning more about this tour?
Detailed Trip Itinerary
Learn more about what each day is like on tour! Click on the day to discover the different sites and activities you will experience
DAY 1: Flight Departs for France!
Flight from your preferred airport to Paris.
DAY 2: Paris
Upon your arrival in Paris, you’ll be greeted at the airport by your Travel For Teens guides, who will accompany you for the duration of your journey. After getting settled into the hotel, we’ll have lunch and head to the Musée du Louvre for a guided tour. Here you will see firsthand some of the world’s most impressive masterpieces. Finish off the day with your first taste of authentic French cuisine at one of our favorite bistros.
Tour Highlights
- Musée du Louvre
DAY 3: Paris
No trip to Paris would be complete without going all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and that’s how we’ll start our day! We’ll then have a bike tour through “hidden Paris”, which is always a student favorite! Cycle with our local guide through the Marais, past Bastille, across the Seine and to the ancient heart of Paris.
Have free time to explore the Latin Quarter before enjoying a traditional dinner of fondue and raclette. Cap off this amazing day with a twilight river cruise down the Seine to see Paris lit up at night.
Tour Highlights
- Eiffel Tower
- Bike tour of Paris
- Twilight river cruise on the Seine
DAY 4: Normandy & Bayeux
Board your coach bus towards the coast of Normandy. On the way, we’ll stop at The White Cliffs of Etretat – a stunning natural wonder located in Normandy, France. These towering chalk cliffs rise up from the crystal clear waters of the English Channel and have been sculpted by the elements over millions of years, forming a dramatic and picturesque landscape. We’ll continue on to our accommodation in Bayeux. We’ll get settled in before heading out to see the Bayeux Tapestry & have dinner in town.
Tour Highlights
- Normandy Coast
- White Cliffs of Etretat
- Bayeux
DAY 5: Normany & Mont St. Michel
This morning, we’ll visit the Caen Peace Memorial and learn the history of the crucial WWII battles that were fought in France. Then, we will take a guided tour of the D-Day Landing Beaches. Led by an expert from the Memorial, we will have a guided tour of Omaha Beach, Arromanches Harbor, Point du Hoc, and the American War Cemetery.
After a very moving day, we’ll head on to Mont Saint Michel to check into our accommodation, a unique and enchanting destination that is sure to captivate you with its beauty, history, and charm!
Tour Highlights
- Caen Peace Memorial
- D-Day Landing Beaches
- American War Cemetery
- Mont Saint Michel
DAY 6: The Loire Valley
Today we’ll head out on our coach from Mont Saint Michel towards the stunning Loire Valley. On the way, the stop at the Château de Chambord, a royal castle built by King Francois 1. This breathtaking structure is one of the most famous chateaux in the world, blending distinct French Renaissance architecture with traditional medieval forms.
Check into our Loire Valley accommodation – a traditional castle! We’ll enjoy a dinner here & spend the night.
Tour Highlights
- Château de Chambord
- Explore the castle on the river Loire, the Château de Chenonceau
- Loire Valley Castle Experience
Tour Highlights
- Eiffel Tower
- Musée d’Orsay
- Montmartre
- Moulin Rouge
DAY 7: Paris
After enjoying breakfast in our castle, we’ll board our transportation back to the City of Lights. We’ll have a picnic lunch in the Luxembourg Gardens (weather-permitting) before climbing the impressive Arc de Triomphe for incredible views of the city.
In the afternoon, explore Montmartre, a historic neighborhood in the north of Paris, known for its picturesque streets, bohemian atmosphere, and stunning views of the city. Montmartre was once home to many famous artists, such as Picasso, Van Gogh, and Toulouse-Lautrec, and the area still retains a strong artistic vibe.
Tour Highlights
- Arc de Triomphe
- Montmarte
DAY 8: Versailles
Take a short train ride out of Paris to the spectacular Château de Versailles, a hunting lodge-turned-palace. Our staff will teach students about the most important historical moments that have taken place here, including the reign of the Sun King, the French Revolution, the Treaty of Versailles signed in the Hall of Mirrors, and more. Stroll through the gardens and see Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet before picking up fresh lunch ingredients in the Versailles farmers’ market.
Tour Highlights
- Château de Versailles
- Hall of Mirrors
DAY 9: Paris
We understand that student travelers have diverse interests and needs, so our staff does their very best to accommodate everyone’s must-sees. Students can choose to visit the Musée d’Orsay, home to Post-Impressionist masterpieces by van Gogh, Monet, Degas, Cézanne, Signac, and more, or check out the modern art at the Centre Pompidou, where the museum itself is just as much a work of art as what’s within.
We’ll have some free time for last minute souvenirs before our final dinner together in Paris!
Tour Highlights
- Musée d’Orsay
- Centre Pompidou
- Free time in Paris
DAY 10: Depart for home
Return flight to your preferred airport.Your TFT guides will accompany you to the airport in Paris and assist you with check-in for your flight. Wave goodbye as you head through security and sit back and relax on your flight home.
The TFT Difference
We Never Combine Groups (unless you want to!)
Your tour is special and just for you and your students! We will never combine two or more groups on the same bus or tour unless you request traveling with another teacher. We will lead a trip with as few as six people and a teacher. Your Trip Director travels with you for the duration of your educational tour. If you have another group you would like to travel with, let us know and we can arrange for that as well!
Stress-Free Planning and 24/7 Support
We are there for you every step of the way, and our support begins the moment you decide to do a TFT educational tour! We will provide you with a team member who will help bring your tour to life, along with everything you need to help get students to sign up for the adventure! On the tour you will have 24/7 dedicated staff with you to ensure everything runs smoothly and because we know travel is full of surprises, solve anything that may pop up along the way.
Photos and Email Updates
We make sure your travel memories are captured forever! Expect frequent personal email updates and hundreds of photos from your TFT staff shared with you and your students’ families so everyone can follow along on the journey. We are the only educational tour company to offer this in-depth trip communication and it truly makes all the difference!
Central Accommodation and Local Meals
Authenticity is engrained in everything we do. We stay at locally owned accommodation in the city center so you don’t waste your valuable time commuting. We dine at charming authentic restaurants to get a real flavor (literally!) for the local culture. The best way to travel is like a local. So ditch the tour bus and have a real traveler’s experience with us!
Photo Gallery
Travel with us and discover why we are consistently winning awards for Top Youth Travel Organization.
