France Gourmet Tour

"I had a great time on the La France Gastronomique tour, and found Journey Out to provide a professional, personalized experience with a group of like-minded people. Careful thought had gone into every step of the trip from the charming hotels to the great restaurants we visited. I can gladly endorse Journey Out." – Dennis Coleman, Artistic DirectorSeattle Men's Chorus & Seattle Women's Chorus

On the list of grand things you must do in life, La France Gastronomique is sure to be the most delicious. You’ll spend almost two weeks in heaven on earth – living life the way it ought to be. You will sample all the great tastes of France, from the light Vouvray wines of the Loire Valley to the rich flavors of Boeuf Bourguignon and Coq au Vin in Burgundy and the German-influenced sauerkrauts, tartes flambées and Reislings of Alsace. Along the way, the great chefs of France will prepare special menus just for our group. You’ll meet some amazing people and be introduced to France as a guest, not a tourist, welcomed inside the culture instead of just skimming the surface. You’ll finish in Paris with a private cooking class and breathtaking sunset dinner cruise along the Seine

Well known for its sumptuous châteaux, the relics of French royalty, the glorious valley of the Loire is rich in both history and architecture. Like the river Loire, this vast region runs through the heart of French life. Its sophisticated lifestyle, luxuriant landscape and magnificent food and wine add up to a little piece of paradise on earth. Overindulgence is no sin in this rich region. It has a quality of life and light that is like no other. It bespeaks a more luxurious time. Here, life is savored, inhaled, and taken in at its fullest.

Burgundy is a prosperous region with world-renowned wine, earthy but excellent cuisine and magnificent architecture. Under the Duke of Valois, the duchy of Burgundy was France's most powerful rival, with territory extending well beyond its present boundaries. By the 16th century, however, the duchy was ruled by governors appointed by the French king, but it still managed to keep its privileges and traditions. Burgundy, now as in the past, is a wealthy region, a centre of medieval religious faith which produced Romanesque masterpieces at Vézelay, Fontenay and Cluny.

Caught in the wars between France and Germany, Alsace and Lorraine have changed nationality four times since 1871. It has a unique character that is not quite all French and not quite German either. There are amazing sites to see. Alsace abounds with castles, from the pastiche folly of Haut-Koenigsbourg to Saverne's ruined fortress, built to guard a strategic pass in the Vosges. In Alsace they take pride in local costumes, traditions and dialects. In Alsace, Route des Vins d'Alsace vineyards nudge pretty villages in the Vosges foothills. And in Alsace, cosy winstubs, or wine cellars, serve sauerkraut and flowery white wines, such as Riesling and Gewürztraminer

"As an American having what I would consider 'everything at my disposal,' I enjoyed the ability to live as the French do." – A. K.

A Note on Transportation . . . Our goal at Journey Out is to create a French experience for Americans, not an American experience in France. On this trip we travel primarily by train, because that's how most French people travel. We carry our own bags and use public transportation. The exceptions are when we feel the experience is significantly enhanced by using private transportation or when provided by local guides. We encourage guests with mobility issues to talk to us about how the trip can be adapted to suit their needs.