Luxury self-drive holiday to the French Alps with overnight stops in Arras, Burgundy and Champagne
This 10-night self-drive holiday to the French Alps where you stay in the spa resort of Evian-les-Bains for a week, allowing plenty of opportunity to rest, relax and explore. The region caters for active as well as leisurely pursuits. The lakeside promenade in Evian-les-Bains can be the venue for gentle stroll, and boats take you over to Lausanne in Switzerland. There are shops and restaurants, as well as striking 19th Century and Art Nouveau architecture to admire. Market day is Friday here with nearby Thonon-les-Bains having market days on Mondays and Thursday too. Cultural events and festivities are held throughout the year and especially in July and August when there is a programme of concerts and theatricals. Activities are both land and water based. In the mountains to the south of the town are walks and hikes of gentle and not so gentle standards, mountain bikes can be hired and canyoning is possible with a guide. On the outward journey we include a stop in the city of Arras, known for its fine Flemish architecture, cobbled squares, town hall and belfry and then south of Beaune, in Burgundy, in the famous wine village of Puligny-Montrachet. On the way back, there is an overnight stop in Epernay, at the heart of the Champagne region. You return on a Eurotunnel crossing from Calais to Folkestone.
Highlights
Eurotunnel crossing from Folkestone to Calais • Arras • Burgundy • Evian • Lake Geneva • Champagne
Day by day
You start this self-drive touring holiday of France with the crossing on Eurotunnel for your car and passengers. From Calais to your first night’s stop in Arras it is a short drive, giving you time to check-in to your hotel and explore the Flemish architecture of this northern French town, including gabled houses that line elegant city centre, cobbled squares, a town hall and belfry. The city is about 10 kms from the front line of the First World War and the battleground at Vimy Ridge in 1917. Vimy Ridge should be visited on your way into the city.
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel travel southwards along the motorway passing the cities of Reims, Troyes and Dijon towards Burgundy and the small village of Puligny-Montrachet, famed for its white wines, and to the south of Beaune, situated at the heart of the Cote de Beaune. If you want to stop along the route, the historic town of Troyes is charming with half-timbered houses in its mediaeval old town and is home to several Gothic churches, renowned for their stained-glass windows.
Today you have a choice of two quite different routes. The obvious one is to head south towards Macon before turning eastwards towards the foothills of the Alps and first crossing into Switzerland near Geneva and again into France to follow the route towards Lake Geneva and the town of Evian, sitting on the south shore, facing Lausanne. Please note that to drive on motorways in Switzerland you have to buy a vignette to stick on your windscreen (can be purchased at the border). The other route is less obvious but takes you on less busy roads through the gently rolling, pre-Alpine landscape of the Jura before crossing the border and dropping down towards Lake Neuchatel and then Lake Geneva. You follow the northern shore of Lake Geneva, passing Lausanne and Montreux before entering France again and continuing westwards along the southern shore to Evian. Time to check-in to your hotel and relax.
You have six whole days to relax and explore both at your hotel and in the immediate area. As well as an array of sports, spa and leisure activities available at your hotel, the spa resort of Evian-les-Bains is a charming, lakeside spa town where you can stroll along the promenade, enjoy the architecture of the grand buildings from the 19th century when the resort came into its own, including the Palais Lumiere, the Casino and the Theatre. The Cachat pump room is renowned for its Art Nouveau style. There is a funicular railway from Evian from near your hotel down to the lakeside and the spa rooms. Nearby is the castle and arboretum of Ripaille, picturesque lake-side villages and the mountains that rise to the south. Boat trips are possible with Lausanne being just 35 minutes away across the lake. Two picturesque alpine ski resorts, Chatel and Morzine, are less than an hour’s drive away, with abundant opportunities for hiking and mountain biking.
Drive northwards and arrive in the Champagne region for your final night of this self-drive touring holiday in Epernay. Nestling between the Aisne and Marne valleys, Epernay and its nearby rival, Reims, are well situated to see the champagne vineyards thrive.
Depending on the time of your Eurotunnel crossing from Calais to Folkestone, you may want to linger amid the Champagne houses of Epernay and Reims. We can give you suggestions of Champagne houses to visit. Laon is an historic town perched on a hill-top visible from the autoroute that you also might want to call in at on the way back to Calais.
Excellent. So much easier coming to you than trying to book accommodation ourselves. Will certainly come to you again, especially for a self-drive holiday.Mr D, Sep 2023
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,470 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Holiday Code FRSD16
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive holiday to the French Alps with overnight stops in Arras, Burgundy and Champagne
You start this self-drive touring holiday of France with the crossing on Eurotunnel for your car and passengers. From Calais to your first night’s stop in Arras it is a short drive, giving you time to check-in to your hotel and explore the Flemish architecture of this northern French town, including gabled houses that line elegant city centre, cobbled squares, a town hall and belfry. The city is about 10 kms from the front line of the First World War and the battleground at Vimy Ridge in 1917. Vimy Ridge should be visited on your way into the city.
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel travel southwards along the motorway passing the cities of Reims, Troyes and Dijon towards Burgundy and the small village of Puligny-Montrachet, famed for its white wines, and to the south of Beaune, situated at the heart of the Cote de Beaune. If you want to stop along the route, the historic town of Troyes is charming with half-timbered houses in its mediaeval old town and is home to several Gothic churches, renowned for their stained-glass windows.
Today you have a choice of two quite different routes. The obvious one is to head south towards Macon before turning eastwards towards the foothills of the Alps and first crossing into Switzerland near Geneva and again into France to follow the route towards Lake Geneva and the town of Evian, sitting on the south shore, facing Lausanne. Please note that to drive on motorways in Switzerland you have to buy a vignette to stick on your windscreen (can be purchased at the border). The other route is less obvious but takes you on less busy roads through the gently rolling, pre-Alpine landscape of the Jura before crossing the border and dropping down towards Lake Neuchatel and then Lake Geneva. You follow the northern shore of Lake Geneva, passing Lausanne and Montreux before entering France again and continuing westwards along the southern shore to Evian. Time to check-in to your hotel and relax.
You have six whole days to relax and explore both at your hotel and in the immediate area. As well as an array of sports, spa and leisure activities available at your hotel, the spa resort of Evian-les-Bains is a charming, lakeside spa town where you can stroll along the promenade, enjoy the architecture of the grand buildings from the 19th century when the resort came into its own, including the Palais Lumiere, the Casino and the Theatre. The Cachat pump room is renowned for its Art Nouveau style. There is a funicular railway from Evian from near your hotel down to the lakeside and the spa rooms. Nearby is the castle and arboretum of Ripaille, picturesque lake-side villages and the mountains that rise to the south. Boat trips are possible with Lausanne being just 35 minutes away across the lake. Two picturesque alpine ski resorts, Chatel and Morzine, are less than an hour’s drive away, with abundant opportunities for hiking and mountain biking.
Drive northwards and arrive in the Champagne region for your final night of this self-drive touring holiday in Epernay. Nestling between the Aisne and Marne valleys, Epernay and its nearby rival, Reims, are well situated to see the champagne vineyards thrive.
Depending on the time of your Eurotunnel crossing from Calais to Folkestone, you may want to linger amid the Champagne houses of Epernay and Reims. We can give you suggestions of Champagne houses to visit. Laon is an historic town perched on a hill-top visible from the autoroute that you also might want to call in at on the way back to Calais.
Excellent. So much easier coming to you than trying to book accommodation ourselves. Will certainly come to you again, especially for a self-drive holiday.Mr D, Sep 2023
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,470 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Holiday Code FRSD16
Our prices include
● Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais return for car and passengers
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Classic room at the Hotel de l’Univers, Arras
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Classic room at Le Montrachet, Burgundy
● 7 nights’ bed and breakfast in a South-facing room at the Hotel Ermitage, Evian
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Classic room at Hostellerie La Briqueterie in Epernay, Champagne
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Our prices do not include
● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers and meals except breakfast at hotels
● Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
● Local tourist tax, usually between Euros 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
Additional information
Driving times for this self-drive holiday
Calais to Arras 1 hr 15 mins
Arras to Puligny-Montrachet 5 hours
Puligny-Montrachet to Evian 3 hrs 10 mins
Evian to Epernay 6 hours
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive holiday to the French Alps with overnight stops in Arras, Burgundy and Champagne
Hôtel de l'Univers in Arras is a charming and historic 4-star hotel in an excellent central location. The hotel is wonderfully atmospheric, with extensive wine cellars and a lovely terrace, offering guests a relaxing haven in the centre of Arras.
Classic double room
COMO Le Montrachet is a boutique 4-star hotel in the superb wine village of Montrachet. Excellent cuisine and comfortable accommodation make this property a relaxing haven and an excellent spot to explore the Burgundy wine region.
Classic double room
Evian Resort-Hotel Ermitage is a luxury 4-star hotel set in beautiful lakefront grounds. The excellent golf course, superb spa facilities and delicious cuisine afford guests a relaxing and indulgent retreat.
South-facing double room
Hostellerie La Briqueterie is a 5-star boutique hotel, perfectly situated for exploring the wineries of the Champagne region, including some of the most prestigious champagne houses. Delicious cuisine and excellent spa facilities afford guests a truly tranquil experience.
Classic double room
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
Excellent. So much easier coming to you than trying to book accommodation ourselves. Will certainly come to you again, especially for a self-drive holiday.Mr D, Sep 2023
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,470 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Holiday Code FRSD16
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive holiday to the French Alps with overnight stops in Arras, Burgundy and Champagne
About Burgundy
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Burgundy is an opportunity to explore an area which is famous throughout France as being a region rich in wine and gastronomy as well as in history and art. The best-known area of Burgundy is that of the Cote d`Or and the Cote de Beaune located close to Beaune with its villages whose names are those of some of the most famous wines; Gevrey Chambertin, Nuits St Georges, Pommard, Meursault and Montrachet. Beaune itself, deserves a visit with its enchanting 15th Century Hotel Dieu and wine museum. While on holiday in Burgundy you will find that almost everywhere there are offers of wine tastings and direct sales. This area of eastern France is all too often visited just en route from the north to the south, but we would urge you to linger a little longer and enjoy a longer holiday in Burgundy to explore the region in detail. A self-drive touring holiday is an excellent way to explore Burgundy, offering the chance to discover the vineyards of northern France; to combine a stay here with one in Beaujolais; to travel further south en route to Provence; or to enjoy a tour around the whole of France.
Highlights of Burgundy
Cultural highlights include Burgundy wines and marcs, local wine festivals, the Beaujolais vineyards, and the Romanesque architecture.
Climate of Burgundy
Average air temperatures in centigrade: Jan: 6.1, Feb: 5.9, Mar: 10.3, Apr: 15.3, May: 15.8, Jun: 23.8, Jul: 25.8, Aug: 26.1, Sep: 21.2, Oct: 15.5, Nov: 9.1, Dec: 6.2. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive holiday to the French Alps with overnight stops in Arras, Burgundy and Champagne
About Champagne
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Champagne offers the chance to explore one of the great historic provinces of France. Known in the 9th century under Charlemagne for its agricultural riches, it became famous for its produce and celebrated fairs. Today, though known of course for its eponymous sparkling wine, and despite lying en route from the UK to the south of France, Champagne is one of the least visited regions in France, an under sung gem waiting to be explored. Naturally, bubbly looms large on the list of attractions for visitors to the region, with Epernay, a lovely town on the chalky hills southwest of Reims, the undisputed champagne capital of the world. Here, you can enjoy tastings at the home of several champagne producers, including Moet & Chandon and Perrier-Jouet. Smaller producers can also be visited between the pretty towns of Bar sur Aube and Les Riceys. Champagne can also be tasted at the celebrated Taittinger cellars in Reims, the largest town in the Champagne. A bustling university city, Reims has all the feel of a busy regional capital, with a fabulous old town and magnificent 13th century cathedral, one of the greatest gothic buildings of northern France. Largely made up of undulating hills and pretty farmland, Champagne's landscape rises in the north towards the densely wooded, river-riven walker's paradise of the Ardennes, with the Plateau de Langres in the south home to the fortified Roman hill town of Langres, sometimes known as the Carcassonne of the North - without the crowds. Due to its proximity to the north coast of France, the Champagne region can easily be incorporated into a self-drive touring holiday of the Northern Vineyards or can be used as a stopover en route to the French Alps and Lakes.
Highlights of Champagne
Champagne cellar visits in Reims, Epernay and in vineyards along the Aube; the old town of Charleville Mezieres, capital of the Ardennes department; Charles de Gaulle's country residence and burial site, Colombey les Deux Eglises; Reims, with one of the finest medieval cathedrals in France, once the coronation place of French kings, now with one of the best son-et-lumieres in France; Reims' magnificent Roman triumphal arch; Lac du Der, the biggest reservoir in Europe, one of the most important migration routes for Europe's waterfowl, sheltering vast flocks of cranes, passing through in their thousands in spring and autumn; the fortified hill town of Langres, ‘Carcassonne of the North’ - minus the crowds; la foret d'Orient near Troyes and Montagne de Reims, both Regional Natural Parks; river trips along the Seine, the Marne, and the Aube; the 13th century gothic cathedral of Troyes, with its spectacular stained glass windows; autumn wine festivals.
Travel around the Champagne region
The Champagne region is reached very easily from the UK by air and rail. With the most extensive rail network in Western Europe, France is a great country to explore by train. The nationally owned SNCF (Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer) runs fast, efficient services between the main towns. Buses cover the rural areas, but services can be rather sporadic, with departures often at awkward times. To visit Champagne's cellars - the main reason for being here - by far the best option is to rent a car.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive holiday to the French Alps with overnight stops in Arras, Burgundy and Champagne
About French Alps
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to the French Alps allows you to experience one of the most spectacular mountain ranges in the world, stretching from Lake Geneva in the north almost 230 miles south to Provence. Offering probably the finest skiing and snowboarding on the planet, the Alps are nevertheless a holiday destination for all seasons: when the snow melts, the lakes and mountains, meadows and valleys transform into a delightful summer playground for walkers and hikers. Divided into two distinct regions - Savoy and Dauphiné - the chain reaches its 15,782ft zenith on the junction of its borders with Italy. Here, the snow-capped summit of Mt Blanc is the highest mountain in Western Europe. Backdrop to a foreverness of chocolate box villages and picture postcard towns, the Alps offer a fantastic setting for a holiday, whether you're into skiing and walking, mountain-biking and river rafting, or simply travelling about in stunning scenery. Towns like Meribel, Chamonix, Courchevel and Val d'Isere are well known holiday destinations for their skiing and summer hiking, but the Alps also have some of the prettiest towns in France which you don't have to be active to enjoy, including Annecy, Chambery and Grenoble. Spectacularly situated against an amphitheatre of peaks at the confluence of the Drac and Isere rivers, Grenoble is the ‘capital of the Alps', with a bustling university town ambience and superb modern art museum; at the northern end of the French Alps, Annecy is a beautiful lakeside town, with a stunning old town, 13th century castle, and wonderful boat trips to medieval villages around the lake. From the gentle southern shores of Lake Geneva, to the clear, dark waters of Lake Annecy, from pretty alpine pastures to the rugged mountain peaks that culminate in Mont Blanc, the Alps is a land of dizzying beauty. In the summer you`ll appreciate the scent of alpine flowers by the roadside as you wind your way along mountain passes, the sound of cowbells in the distance, the odd ibex disappearing into the crags, and of course, the famous hillside vineyards. Hiker or not, there's something here for everyone to fall in love with during a holiday in the French Alps. We have selected a range of luxury hotels in the French Alps which provide the perfect location from which to explore the region. A self-drive touring holiday of the French Alps offers a wonderful opportunity to explore and discover the diversity of this stunning region.
Highlights of the French Alps
Walking in Parc National de la Vanoise, France's first national park, studded with peaks, lakes and glaciers, and home to France's largest colony of Alpine ibex; summer skiing in Les Deux Alpes; elegant Chambery with its 14th century castle and enchanting old town; the resort of Les Trois Vallees, offering superb skiing of course, but also wonderful walking in summer, with cable cars whisking even the most indolent right to the top of the mountain ridges; Annecy with its picturesque lakeside setting and medieval villages close by, which you can reach by ferry; fondue and raclette, traditional French Alpine dishes that are an absolute essential, preferably washed down with a sharp Savoy white, in a mountain-top café overlooking the snow-capped summits; cheese-makers right across the region; Grenoble with its small but bustling university-town ambience and superb modern art museum.
Climate of the French Alps
Average air temperatures in Centigrade: Jan: 3.1, Feb: 3.7, March: 7.9, April: 13.8, May: 15.7, June: 22.4, July: 26.8, August: 25.7, September: 22.7, October: 15.9, November: 10.7, December: 6.3. Source: Direction de la Météorologique de France
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive holiday to the French Alps with overnight stops in Arras, Burgundy and Champagne
About Pas de Calais
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Pas-de-Calais is the chance to explore a region renowned for chic seaside towns such as Le Touquet, and for the long sandy beaches along what the French call La Cote d’Opale, or Opal Coast. Translating as the French equivalent of the Straits of Dover, Pas-de-Calais is the region bordering the English Channel. A mere 20-odd miles from England, Pas-de-Calais has a huge amount to offer, from its three National Parks and enchanting Flemish architecture, to its water sports and beach resorts, while everywhere you go you can enjoy simple, unassuming gourmet restaurants and fantastically fresh, seafood-based regional cuisine. Along with its famous seaside towns of Le Touquet, Boulogne-sur-mer and Wimereux, Pas-de-Calais has stunning inland towns, including St. Omer with its fortified upper old town and gothic cathedral, Arras, with two beautiful squares surrounded by Flemish-style facades, and Montreuil-sur-Mer, with a historic upper town surrounded by ramparts and citadel. As well as some of the finest, widest beaches in France, and haunting, evocative WWII battle sites, the region also boasts the stark, windswept wilds of Cap Griz Nez. Often neglected by visitors in their rush from the French ferry ports down to Paris and beyond, Pas-de-Calais is a fascinating, diverse, and captivatingly beautiful region, just a stone’s throw from home across the Channel.
Highlights of Pas-de-Calais
Seaside towns with fabulous seafood restaurants; Anglo-Norman and Art Deco architecture in the super chic Le Touquit; the castle museum, basilica and belfry of Boulogne-sur-Mer; a stroll along the promenade at elegant Wimereux; St-Omer’s narrow, winding streets, fortified upper old town and 13th century Notre Dame cathedral; the Flemish- baroque Heros and Grande Place squares of Arras, surrounded with cafes selling local gingerbreads, and galleries selling local artwork; the citadel and ramparts of Montreuil-sur-mer; locally brewed beer and cider; visit the crystal glass factory at Arque; Opal Capes and Marshes natural reserve, crisscrossed by waymarked trails; the 500ft sheer chalk cliffs at Cape Blanc-Nez, with footpath running above it.
