Small Group Combo, Lunch, 10 Hours

Giverny and Versailles Small Group Day Trip from Paris with Lunch.

Overview

This Extime Travel day trip packs two of the most visited sites near Paris into a single 10 hour outing: Monet's house and gardens at Giverny, and the Palace of Versailles, with a three course lunch and drinks in between. The group is capped at 15 travellers according to the listing, with a guide who stays with you for the day and reserved timed entrances at both sites. Transport is by air conditioned coach, departing from and returning to a single meeting point on Avenue de la Bourdonnais in Paris.

The shape of the day is straightforward. You visit Giverny first, including the Clos Normand flower garden and the grounds of the Fondation Claude Monet. Lunch is a sit down affair with drinks included, and reviewers repeatedly single it out as one of the best parts of the day, describing good food and wine in a country setting. The afternoon goes to Versailles: a guided visit of the palace, including the Hall of Mirrors, followed by free time in the gardens before the drive back to Paris, which the listing puts at around 6 PM.

It suits travellers who want both heavyweight sights without booking two separate days, and who would rather not wrestle with trains, tickets and queues on their own. It is not a fit for anyone with serious walking difficulties or a wheelchair, and the pace is brisk. Expect crowds at both destinations, especially in high season, something both the listing and multiple reviewers warn about plainly.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet in central ParisThe group meets at 45 Avenue de la Bourdonnais, 75007 Paris, where an Extime Travel ambassador checks everyone in.
2. Drive to GivernyRound trip transport for the day is by air conditioned coach.
3. Monet's house and gardensA guided visit of Monet's Gardens, passing the Clos Normand and the Fondation Claude Monet grounds.
4. Three course lunchA sit down lunch with drinks included, at a stop that reviewers describe as a scenic country setting.
5. Palace of VersaillesA guided visit of the castle and the Hall of Mirrors, with entrance included, followed by free time to visit the gardens.
6. Return to ParisThe coach heads back to the original meeting point, arriving around 6 PM per the listing.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points come up again and again in the listing and in traveller feedback, and they shape how the day feels.

• Footwear and surfaces. Flat shoes are strongly recommended, and the listing explains why: parquet floors inside Versailles and cobblestones in its courtyard. Giverny adds gravel paths, which one reviewer found hard with a mobility scooter. Skip the heels.
• Fitness and pace. The listing asks for moderate physical fitness and says the tour is unsuitable for people with walking difficulties. It is a long day with a lot of standing and walking at both sites. Several reviewers noted that parts felt rushed and wished for more time, especially in the Versailles gardens.
• Crowds. Both Giverny and Versailles get very busy in high season, and the listing warns of unavoidable queues even with reserved entry. Multiple reviewers said the crowds at Versailles diminished the experience, so go in expecting shoulder to shoulder rooms in the palace.
• Lunch. The three course meal with drinks included is a repeated highlight. Reviewers praised the food, the wine and the setting. It is a proper sit down stop, not a grab and go break.
• Guide quality. A guide stays with the group all day and handles entries. Many reviewers named knowledgeable, patient guides as the reason the day ran well.
• What is extra. Gratuities and the entrance ticket to the Trianon at Versailles are not included. If the Trianon matters to you, budget for it separately or plan to skip it. Everything else on the main route, including both timed entrances, is covered.

Common issues. Group size is the biggest complaint: the listing promises a maximum of 15, but several reviewers reported groups of 20 to 34 people, describing the result as a bait and switch. One reviewer also reported a late start, a bus without working air conditioning, and a shortened Versailles visit as a result. Crowds and traffic are recurring frustrations, and the listing itself warns of queues in high season. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, strollers are forbidden inside the Versailles Palace, and anyone with walking difficulties is advised against booking.

Common Questions