Itinerary
Air Journey staff will welcome you at the Chateau de Frontenac for introductions and to attend a detailed briefing and flight safety demonstration. We’ll cover the route, regulations, flight plans, safety, etc.
Afterwards we’ll meet for a welcome cocktail before dinner.
Fly to Kangerlussuq. There will be a technical stop in Kuujjuaq to
refuel.
After refueling, we will fly over southern Greenland’s beautiful scenery before landing at Kangerlussuaq in western Greenland. The airport’s Kangerlussuaq Museum illustrates the town’s past as a U.S. airbase during WWII. Because we will be approaching the Arctic Circle and the “land of the midnight sun”, we will have an astonishing 20 hours of daylight!
Fly over ice-covered Greenland and then do our second water crossing.
Upon arrival, we’ll transfer to the Hotel Borg where we will enjoy luxury accommodations in the very center of Reykjavik. The Hotel Borg overlooks the beautiful square of Austurvöllur, and is situated across from Althingi, the Icelandic parliament and the cathedral.
After dinner at the hotel, you may want to venture on your own to experience the local nightlife.
Golden Circle Tour
Today we will witness Iceland’s most exciting natural attractions; we will see the one and only original Geysir, the magnificent Gull-foss Waterfall, the volcanic crater Kerid and across Gjabakkave-gur. We will spend some time here observing the eruptions and exploring the hot springs before moving on to the Thingvellir Na-tional Park – a unique place of beauty with its interesting geology and history.
After lunch, we will head to the Sky Lagoon, located in the downtown Reykjavik for a swim in its naturally warm waters.
Fly to Amsterdam. Often referred to as the other “Royal Palace of Amsterdam”, De L’Europe Amsterdam occupies a scenic waterfront location on the Amstel River. The stylish rooms of the hotel embrace local heritage with special attention to design detail and modern technology.
The hotel also offers a selection of the finest haute cuisine in Am-sterdam; Michelin-starred restaurant Bord’Eau and brasserie Marie.
With our local guide we embark on a walking tour for an intimate and insider’s view of this beautiful city. We will view Amsterdam’s historical center including Dam Square, the Royal Palace, the Anne Frank House, the Rembrandt House Museum and the infamous Red Light District while we learn about an intriguing historical background and snap photos of the UNESCO-listed canals and 17th-century gabled houses.
After lunch, we will visit the Van Gogh Museum and experience a canal cruise on the Amsterdam river.
Today is at leisure to relax or explore on your own. Visit the Spa sanctuary at the hotel for luxurious body treatments and sublime skincare. Le Spa by Skins Institure is designed to pamper and nourish the mind, body and soul in complete seclusion of distractions.
Fly to Colmar. Upon arrival, we will transfer to Hotel des Berges situated in the heart of a small village of Illhausern, in Alsace between Colmar and Strasbourg, in the garden of the Auberge de l'Ill.
The hotel’s restaurant, L’Auberge de I’lll is a famous two-Michelin starred gourmet restaurant that serves local French cuisine. We will enjoy a culinary Journey during our stay at des Barges.
Today we will take a winery tour on the route des Vins d’Alsace. Meet the local wine makers and learn about Alsace’s history and sample grape varieties at the vineyard.
The Alsatian wine route offers a true picture-postcard image; fresh vines climbing to the forests of the Vosges, ruins of castles dating back to the Middle Ages, villages with old ramparts and lively cellars. We will also enjoy a picnic style lunch at the vineyard.
Today is free to relax and explore on your own. Experience the beauty and benefits of nature, by discovering the Spa des Saules or the heated swimming pool at the hotel. Bike rentals are also available to explore the local neighborhood.
Upon arrival, we will transfer to the waterway town of St Jean de Losne for our cruise on Barge Napoleon and sail along the Saône River through Burgundy.
A champagne reception welcomes you on board and gives you a chance to meet the crew. A cocktail cruise gives you your first taste of cruising on the river. Later that evening, enjoy your first dining experience on board.
Cruise Highlights
• Guided tours of Arles and Avignon – ancient cities with fascinating histories, unique treasures and modern cultures.
• Pont du Gard, the Pont d’Avignon and the Palais du Papes.
• Visit to a truffle farm, a lavender distillery, an olive mill and a traditional French market.
• Private wine-tastings, including Châteauneuf du Pape.
This morning we will enjoy the scenery on deck as Napoléon weaves its way downstream to the pretty market town of Chalon sur Saône. After a delicious lunch on board, we arrive and disembark to visit the historic city of Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy. Here we enjoy a private tour of the magnificent 15th century Hotel Dieu, a splendidly decorated charity hospital which represents both the history of Burgundy and the story of its wine.
There will be time to enjoy the charming town and its shops and you will have the chance to explore Joseph Drouhin’s cellar, where the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy used to store some of their wines.
After breakfast, relax on board and savour the beauty of Burgundy as you cruise the Saône River to Tournus.
After lunch onboard, we will take a very scenic drive to the famous Abbaye de Cluny, for centuries the largest church in the world. The whole town was originally enclosed by its fortifications, two of which remain today. It is a remarkable site and of great importance to the church.
This evening’s dinner will be at a charming local Michelinstarred restaurant.
We will continue our cruise this morning to Mâcon and after lunch visit the Roche de Solutré, a picturesque site with a superb view of Mâcon, the River Saône and the vineyards.
We will stop along the route to enjoy a wine tasting in the village of Fuissé,. Later this evening, our mooring will be in Mâcon, a thriving market town bordering both the Mâconnais and the Beaujolais vineyards.
An early morning cruise gets us to our final destination in good time for a fantastic tour of the city of Lyon, the second city of France. Lyon is a cultural, historic, gastronomic and commercial centre, little known outside of France. Dominating the city is the splendidly ornate Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière
After Lunch, we will disembark, retrieve our planes and then fly to Menorca – one of the Balearic Islands located in the western Mediterranean Sea.
Today we will cruise the local waters by private boat (weather permitting) as we explore the island. There’ll be time for swimming and along the way we’ll stop at a local restaurant for lunch.
Today is at leisure to relax or explore on your own.
Fly to Bordeaux - the wine country of France, and spend the next three nights in a luxurious Hotel de Pavie. The hotel was once a convent where nuns offered shelter and protection to pilgrims and travelers.
Enjoy an outstanding experience in the heart of the medieval city of Saint-Emilion, a historic village. This region is one of the most famous in France and from the top of this beautiful village, you will discover a dazzling panorama of the ancestral vines of Saint-Emilion, a magnificent wine-growing landscape but also the first to have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A full day tour will give you the opportunity to meet and share the life of a winery family, enjoy breathtaking scenery, discover with your private tour guide the fascinating history of the medieval village of St Emilion.
Fly to Milan Linate Airport where we will transfer to Como – immerse yourself in Lake Como. Enjoy a breathtaking setting on the shores of Italy's most famous lake. Mandarin Oriental Lago di Como exudes romantic Italian style perfectly complemented by timeless Oriental charm. Atmospheric, elegant and incredibly private, the hotel effortlessly blends the romance of the past with the luxury of the present.
With our local guide we’ll begin an exploration of Como, the lake’s main town, as we discover its historic center. After lunch, enjoy a cruise along Lake Como.
We’ll have the opportunity to observe along its shores the various small and characteristic local villages and magnificent villas that are not possible to see from land. Lake Como sits at the foot of the Alps and offers some of the most beautiful scenery in Italy’s Lake District.
Today is at leisure to relax or explore on your own.
Fly to Deauville where we will spend three nights at the private and most unique chateau of Count Denis de Kergolay in Canisy. Enjoy the lifestyle of French royalty in this privately-owned Normandie castle. bSet on 800 acres of verdant Normandie countryside and in existence for 1,000 years, the Chateau de Canisy is a historic presence of monumental proportions. Even more special still, is the fact that for those thousand years it has belonged to the same family, and it’s their home.
We embark on a journey of discovery, of the sites of D-day (June 6, 1944) - the largest invasion force in history! Codenamed OVERLORD, it delivered five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy (codenames UTAH, OMAHA, GOLD, JUNO and SWORD). We will walk among the cliffs, bunkers and edges that old soldiers still talk about, visit several muse-ums, D-Day memorials and the very moving American Cemetery.
The Chateau de Canisy is a French Heritage Monument open only to guests of the chateau. Its 800 acre-park has lakes and colorful gardens. We will enjoy a guided tour of the Chateau Estate and the Park.
Later in the afternoon, we will take a drive to Bayeux for some shopping!
After breakfast, we will launch for our over-water crossing to Iceland. There will be a stop in Stavanger for lunch and to refuel.
After breakfast and another in-depth briefing, we will head to Goose Bay for lunch and to refuel. There is an optional fuel stop in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, for those that require one. We will then fly to Bangor, ME, to clear US customs before flying our separate ways as we complete our Journey home.