They say that France is not a country, it’s a world, and I truly believe it now that I have been there, especially with Thrillophilia. Here’s my story and review of the France tour with Thrillophilia.

I was in France for my fellowship for four months spending more than fourteen hours a day just working on my paper. Before going I had so many plans for travelling across the country but would only go out on weekends during my stay in Bordeaux. Luckily, I had an extended visa and decided that if not the whole of Europe I should at least cover the highlights of France!

I saw my friend’s story about his Kerala trip with the company and decided to check out France trip reviews of Thrillophilia. To my surprise, the packages were way more affordable than the ones I was offered by the nearby tour operator. Not only that, but those packages were covering stay, transfers, sightseeing, food and additional activities. So I made two bookings, one a four night five days France culture tour and the other two days Paris and Versailles tour. And the best part, this cultural tour was all customized by the company to my liking as I wanted to see very specific cities and towns!

 

 

CULTURAL EXPERIENCE:
MONTPELLIER, NICE, LYON, & BOURGES

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NICE, FRANCE ~ PHOTO BY POLINA KOVALEVA FROM PEXELS

My cultural tour of France was an unforgettable journey through Montpellier, Nice, Lyon, and Bourges.

On the first day, I arrived in Montpellier and checked into a charming boutique hotel in the city center. After settling in, I visited the Place de la Comédie and explored the historic Saint-Pierre Cathedral. Later I visited the Musée Fabre and admired its collection of European paintings. For dinner, I enjoyed a delicious dish of cassoulet at a local bistro which was recommended by another traveler in the Thrillophilia reviews section.

The next morning, I took an early train to Nice. The scenic coastal views were breathtaking. Upon arrival, I checked into my hotel and headed to the Promenade des Anglais. Later, I spent the day exploring the Old Town (Vieux Nice) and Cours Saleya market.

On the third day, I boarded a train to Lyon. By the way, I had a TGV pass so all the train rides were quite cheap. After checking into my hotel, I took a tour of the city's historic district, Vieux Lyon, and the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière with a guide. I also visited the Museum of Fine Arts. For dinner, I had a traditional Lyonnaise meal at a cozy Bouchon, complete with quenelles and tarte Tatin.

The fourth day saw me travelling to Bourges, a city steeped in medieval history. I checked in and went straight to the magnificent Bourges Cathedral, another UNESCO World Heritage site. Later, I spent the afternoon wandering through the old town, visiting the Jacques-Coeur Palace, and enjoying the peaceful ambience of the Marais, the city's historic wetlands.

 

 

CUSTOMIZED CITY TOUR:
PARIS CITY & GRAND PALACE OF VERSAILLES

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NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL ~ PHOTO BY PIERRE BLACHÉ FROM PEXELS

After my cultural trip, I began my customized two-day city tour. After a quick breakfast at my Paris hotel, I met the other members of the group and we all took a short train ride to the Grand Palace of Versailles. Upon arrival, we saw the opulent Hall of Mirrors and the lavish King’s and Queen’s apartments. We walked through the stunning gardens, admired the fountains and statues, and visited the charming Petit Trianon. For lunch, we enjoyed a delightful picnic on the Grand Canal, they served us fresh baguettes, cheese, and fruits and Wine- Classic French Brunch. We returned to Paris in the late evening and at night I dined at a lovely café near my hotel and had delicious escargot and duck confit.

The next day, I had a Paris city tour booked just for myself. I started with a visit to the iconic Eiffel Tower, the heart of France and the views from it were just wow. Next, I walked along the Seine to the Musée d'Orsay, where I saw masterpieces by Monet and Van Gogh. As the afternoon went on I visited Notre Dame Cathedral and roamed through the charming streets of the Marais district.

 

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ARC DE TRIOMPHE ~ PHOTO BY PIERRE BLACHÉ FROM PEXELS

Both the tours were just perfect! the tour guides, the stays, and the suggested attractions! This customized tour truly made my journey fruitful and made me come out and write this Thrillophilia review of France trip. I hope to do more such trips with them!

 

~ WORDS CONTRIBUTED BY E. FERNANDEZ, COVER PHOTO BY GÖKBERK KESKINKıLıÇ FROM PEXELS