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Discover France
From picture-perfect Provence to the shimmering French Riviera

Experience the elegance of France

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Carcassonne & the Canal du Midi
Five-Star Carcassonne, Châteaux & Vineyards
7 days £1,899 pp
  • Explore the medieval fortress of Carcassonne and the Châteaux de Lastours
  • Indulge in lunch and wine tasting at the 17th-century Château de Pennautier
  • Experience First Class rail travel and luxurious 5-Star riverside accommodation
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The Charming Dordogne
The Charming Dordogne
7 days £999 pp £899 pp
  • Enjoy idyllic views from a relaxing cruise along the Dordogne
  • Based in a 3-Star hotel in idyllic Les Eyzies, explore the region’s villages and cuisine
  • Travel in the open-air carriages of Truffadou Steam Train, a heritage railway
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Avignon, the Rhône & Provence
Avignon, the Rhône and Provence
7 days £1,899 pp £1,799 pp
  • Explore Provence with guided tours of Avignon, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, and Gordes
  • Enjoy a Rhône River cruise, a wine tasting, and visit the Pont du Gard
  • Savour Avignon's culinary delights with First Class rail travel
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Holiday Ideas for France

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Avignon, the Rhône & Provence
Save £100pp
4.3 stars(132 reviews)
2025AprMayJunAugSepOct
7 days from
£1,899 pp £1,799 pp
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Nice & the Cote d'Azur
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2025AprMayJunAugSep
7 days from
£1,999 pp £1,899 pp
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Nice
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4.1 stars(80 reviews)
2025AprMayJunSepOct
7 days from
£1,399 pp £1,299 pp
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Girolata Bay
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2025AprMayJunAugSep
12 days from
£3,499 pp £3,399 pp
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Nice Carnival
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4.5 stars(33 reviews)
2025Feb
7 days from
£1,799 pp £1,699 pp
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River CruiseRiver Cruise
Premium Rhône Cruise
Save £500
4.5 stars(107 reviews)
2025JunJulAug
2026AprJunJulAugSep
8 days from
£2,699 pp
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River CruiseRiver Cruise
The Waterways of Burgundy
4.1 stars(31 reviews)
2025JunAug
7 days from
£2,799 pp
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France Tours & Holidays

Rolling hills blanketed by tantalisingly fruitful vines, opulent châteaux surrounded by manicured gardens, glamorous, azure coastlines and mouthwatering cuisine. The beauty, culture and charm of France is within easy reach on its high-speed rail network, as we explore rivers and towns that inspired world-famous artists or bask in upmarket resorts on the glistening French Riviera. Indulge in tastings of Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines, savour delicious produce at Narbonne's colourful market, and enjoy an afternoon tea in a palatial villa in St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

France also possesses one of the most modern and efficient rail networks in Europe, and an escorted rail tour in France with Great Rail Journeys is one of the easiest and most comfortable ways in which to explore and enjoy a host of France's greatest attractions.

Find out more with a free brochure and enjoy weekly travel inspiration and offers in our e-newsletter.

25 results matching: France

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River CruiseRiver Cruise
Pfalzgrafenstein Castle
Save £500
4.4 stars(71 reviews)
2025MayJunJul
2026MayJunJul
8 days from
£2,199 pp
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  • DestinationFrance, Germany, The Netherlands
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
  • AccommodationCruise
  • TransportRail, Cruise
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Girolata Bay
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2025AprMayJunAugSep
12 days from
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12 days from
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£3,399
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  • DestinationFrance, Italy
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail
Map and accommodation
DiscoveriesDiscoveries
The Charming Dordogne
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4.1 stars(282 reviews)
2025AprMayJunJulAug...
7 days from
£999 pp £899 pp
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7 days from
£999
£899
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  • DestinationFrance
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
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Avignon, the Rhône & Provence
Save £100pp
4.3 stars(132 reviews)
2025AprMayJunAugSepOct
7 days from
£1,899 pp £1,799 pp
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£1,799
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  • DestinationFrance
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
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LandmarkLandmark
Carcassonne & the Canal du Midi
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4.2 stars(188 reviews)
2025MayJunJulAugSepOct
7 days from
£1,899 pp
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  • DestinationFrance
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
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River CruiseRiver Cruise
Paris
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2025JulSep
2026AprJunJulSep
8 days from
£2,499 pp
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  • DestinationFrance
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
  • AccommodationCruise
  • TransportRail, Cruise
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River CruiseRiver Cruise
Premium Rhône Cruise
Save £500
4.5 stars(107 reviews)
2025JunJulAug
2026AprJunJulAugSep
8 days from
£2,699 pp
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8 days from
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  • DestinationFrance
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
  • AccommodationCruise
  • TransportRail, Cruise
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San Sebastian
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4.5 stars(64 reviews)
2025AprMayJunSepOct
8 days from
£2,799 pp
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  • DestinationFrance, Spain
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail
Map and accommodation
River CruiseRiver Cruise
Rhine Gorge
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4.5 stars(208 reviews)
2025MayJunJul
2026MayJunJul
8 days from
£2,499 pp
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  • DestinationFrance, Germany, The Netherlands
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
  • AccommodationCruise
  • TransportRail, Cruise
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River CruiseRiver Cruise
The Waterways of Alsace and Lorraine
4.6 stars(58 reviews)
2025MayJunSep
7 days from
£2,999 pp
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7 days from
£2,999
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  • DestinationFrance
  • AccommodationCruise
  • TransportRail, Cruise
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Save £500
7 days from
£2,299
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  • DestinationFrance
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
  • AccommodationCruise
  • TransportRail, Cruise
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Save £500
10 days from
£2,699
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  • DestinationFrance
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
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Our customers love our France tours
The Majestic Rhine
11/Nov
F Poplar
5 stars
“Very well organised, interesting trips and excursions, fabulous food, friendly staff.
Collected by Trustpilot
Nice & The French Riviera
17/Oct
Glenise Lee
5 stars
“A great trip. Wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Collected by Trustpilot
Waterways of Alsace and Lorraine
11/Oct
Peter Hughes
5 stars
“Excellent!!
Collected by Trustpilot
Waterways of Burgundy
2/Oct
Mr richard garrard
5 stars
“Actual Barge trip was brilliant - good food, excellent service & staff. Gelled well as a group of passengers & had a really good time. Originally the outward Eurostar was for 9.31 so we booked an overnight stay in a hotel on a non-refundable basis. Train time was changed to...
Collected by Trustpilot
Waterways of The Yonne, Paris and The Petite Seine
26/Sep
J Dudney
5 stars
“Even though the weather was cool the 6 days on Raymonde were excellent. Only 14 passengers with 6 crew so we were looked after very well. The crew were friendly, attentive with a great sense of humour. We have 2 complaints, not for the Barge but for Great Rail. Their...
Collected by Trustpilot
Provence and The Elegant Rhône
10/Sep
Catharina Bekker
5 stars
“The whole trip was excellent. All Great Railways Staffa, managers were professional and helpful. The local guides were very informative and really made a difference when we visited the Towns , museums and the Camargue Delta.
Collected by Trustpilot
Mont Blanc Express and Rhône Cruise
10/Sep
Jeannie Seymour
5 stars
“A well organised and thoroughly enjoyable holiday from beginning to end. We were well looked after by the Tour Managers; excursions were informative and interesting; food and service, excellent.
Collected by Trustpilot
Secrets of Provence
21/Jul
Christine Sturgess
5 stars
“Lovey scenery and superb food and service on the barge.
Collected by Trustpilot
French Riviera and Rhône Cruise
21/Jun
norma arnold
5 stars
“We loved the boat, the accommodation and the food. Staff were friendly and helpful. I would have preferred an earlier time for evening meal and a staggered time for starting. the 4 days in Nice were also very good with some planned trips and some free time too. We used baggageman for our...
Collected by Trustpilot

Discovering the best of France with Great Rail Journeys

At Great Rail Journeys we offer our guests a variety of escorted rail tours in France covering everything from a romantic Seine cruise to a short break in the rustic Dordogne region or a longer relaxing stay on the shores of Lake Annecy. Whichever you choose, you can be sure that our French rail breaks offer excellent value. The price of your trip covers travel to, from and within France, accommodation of a high standard, an itinerary of excursions designed to highlight the best aspects of each French destination and a selection of meals.

You'll stay in hotels that we've personally selected for their quality and value to ensure that you enjoy the best comfort, service and facilities. Where possible you'll stay in family-run hotels which we find are more relaxed and give our guests a more personal service.

 

 

You'll be escorted throughout your French train holiday by our friendly and professional Tour Manager who is on-hand whenever needed to provide assistance, answer questions and offer information and advice about the places you'll visit.

France's History and Culture

France's modern history is a story of invasions and conflicts for control. The region of Europe originally known as Gaul was ruled by Celtic tribes until the Roman Empire, under Julius Caesar, took control in 58BC. When Rome fell, Gaul was ruled by a heathen tribe - the 'Franks', who gave the country its name and its first king: Charlemagne. The monarchy continued despite an attempted invasion by the English during the 'Hundred Years War' between 1337 and 1453. They were defeated thanks to the army-rallying efforts of a young French peasant called Joan of Arc. By the seventeenth-century, ruled by King Louis XIV France had become a European superpower but a subsequent financial crisis and disillusionment with the monarchy sparked the French Revolution in 1789. The monarchy was abolished and France became the republic that it remains today.

 

 

 

France's Climate

France's climate varies with location, but is generally mild and temperate throughout the year. The north and west of the country are the coolest and experience most rainfall, whilst the Mediterranean coast enjoys the driest, warmest and sunniest weather. Spring and summer are the best times to visit anywhere in the country unless you're a snow sports enthusiast, whilst autumn is typically the wettest season.

French Cuisine

Great Rail Journeys' tours allow you to enjoy French cuisine which is renowned for its culinary artistry, flair and flavour. Should Escargots de Bourgogne (snails in garlic butter) or cuisses de grenouille (frogs legs) not be to your taste there are countless other French classic dishes and specialities to enjoy such as baked Camembert cheese, Moules Marinières; mussels cooked in a white wine broth; Soupe à L'oignon; an onion soup traditionally served with a unique crust; Cassoulet; a popular stew of duck and beans and Bouillabaisse; a colourful stew of fish and shellfish flavoured with saffron.

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