THE CULTURAL AND NATURAL WONDERS OF NORWAY & ICELAND

This vacation is bookended by two of the most fabulous cities in the world—exciting London and evocative Paris. Between these two ancient urban gems are the Channel Islands, a grouping as diverse as they are enchanting. From London we experience the wonders of Winchester and Dorset before ferrying to Guernsey and to Jersey. Landing in Saint-Malo and then onward to Chartres and Paris, this journey is a once-in-a-lifetime love affair with travel.

Your local guide is with you every step of the way, introducing you to the indescribable joys of the Channel Islands. We travel in mini coaches with comfortable seats, air conditioning, and large windows that frame stunning views. With far more flexibility than a standard-size coach, we take the scenic routes and back roads through the countryside and small villages. Prepare to be awestruck by the London to Channel Islands to Paris vacation of your dreams.

Please bear in mind that ferry timetables can change at short notice, so there may be slight changes to the itinerary.

PLAN AND BOOK

Included Unique Activities

  • Visit to Corfe Castle, established by William the Conqueror.
  • Tour of Winchester's Gothic Cathedral and city center.
  • Ferry to Guernsey, with possible tour of the grand Sausmarez Manor.
  • Visit the highly decorative Little Chapel.
  • Spend a day on beautiful Sark, the iconic 'Dark Sky Island'
  • Explore the only part of the British Isles to be occupied during WWII.
  • Discover Western Europe's best-preserved Neolithic sites, La Hougue Bie, plus geology and archaeology museum.
  • Visit Mont Orgueil Castle, a beautiful medieval fortress.
  • Sail into the dramatic port town of St-Malo.
  • Expert orientation tour of Saint-Malo's labyrinthine streets.
  • Journey to Dinan, nestled upon a hilltop overlooking the Rance Valley.
  • Travel the coast of Normandy to magical Mont Saint-Michel with a medieval monastery.
  • Visit Château de Fougères, the largest medieval castle in Europe.
  • Trip to Cathedral of Chartres, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Accommodations

1 Night

Luxury Westminster Hotel

1 Night

Gracious Elizabethan Hotel

3 Nights

Elegant Seaside Inn

2 Nights

Spacious Oceanside Hotel

3 Nights

4-Star French Charm

1 Night

Sumptuous Country Manor

Transportation and Guides

  • Premium Mini-Coach Transportation with Professional Driver/Guide
  • Ferry Crossings

Meals Included

  • Full Breakfast Each Morning
  • 5 Evening Meals

Available Dates

18 - 29 May 2024

From $5,585 per person
Single Supplement $1,523

01 - 12 June 2024

Sold Out!

29 June - 10 July 2024

Sold Out!

13 - 24 July 2024

From $5,837 per person
Single Supplement $1,596

17 - 28 August 2024

Sold Out!

31 August - 11 September 2024

From $5,638 per person
Single Supplement $1,522

14 - 25 September 2024

From $5,638 per person
Single Supplement $1,522

Prices are per person based on 2 people traveling together and sharing a room. For solo travelers, a Single Supplement will be added to the price per person.

"Great trip in Ireland & Scotland"

Tena

Ireland/Scotland trip was a great trip planned with our group and Jorie. We thoroughly enjoyed each city we visited in both countries. All our hotels were very nice but as older adults, I would advise to pack light which is hard to do if your visit is extended but we had to climb stairs in several places. My favorite thing in both countries are the people. Everyone was so friendly and inviting at hotels, restaurants and local sites. We felt completely safe and comfortable. I would agree with other travelers that driving is stressful for both driver and passengers especially in Ireland where the roads are extremely narrow with rock walls on each side. Next trip will include staying in certain cities with tours out. JerPoint Park in Ireland was a favorite of our group of 4. Authentic Vacations plans, reservations and communications were first rate.

"Wonderful Scottish and Irish adventure"

James

South Carolina

Lauren, thank you for putting together a wonderful Scottish and Irish adventure. In many unexpected ways it indeed was an adventure that we will remember forever. So sincere thanks. Despite a glitch in St Andrews your team's recovery actually made St Andrews the highpoint of our trip. Staying at Rusacks overlooking the first tee and eighteenth green of the old course was awesome. All the Hotels were first rate. Experiences - awesome The Clontarf Castle is an awesome way to the trip. Well done y'all.  Big city stays - We all felt like we could have used an extra day in the larger cities. They all had a story to tell, and we just had enough time to scratch the surface. Self-drive - while less expensive alternative, the person doing the driving misses out on a lot in transit, while the passenger's white knuckle thru the driver's learning process. Also, the roads in Scotland and Ireland are no joke.  Would recommend it is worth it to hire a private chauffer driver or go Small Guided for sure.

"Scotland Birthday Trip"

Michelle

Agency

Adina, I'm following up on my client's train/whiskey tour/ birthday trip to Scotland in October. They had a wonderful time! The whiskey tour day was their favorite, made extra special by their driver Alec who was a superstar. My client's boyfriend is a real train enthusiast. They enjoyed all the train trips, and Nick was like a child on the Jacobite train. Thanks so much for your help with this trip. You clearly know Scotland and planned a very nice route with some unique requirements. I greatly appreciate your expertise and attentive service. I look forward to working with you again in the future. An early Happy Holidays!

"Memorable Trip in Italy"

Loryl

Fort Thomas, KY

Amber, I received this email from my client Mrs. R this morning - I love being able to share these with you all :).

"Loryl, WOW! What a wonderful trip we had in Italy! Thank you for helping make this trip so memorable. We have so many wonderful memories that we will cherish forever. It was a trip of a lifetime. Thank You!  I guess we need to start thinking about our next trip. "

"Trip of a lifetime in Ireland"

Cathryn

Jennifer, I want to thank you for planning and arranging our wonderful vacation in Ireland. Everything was easy Peezy as my granddaughter would say. The hotels were all beautiful, each one was uniquely different and beautiful. We enjoyed each and the food was enjoyable. We enjoyed all the extra goodies. We were not able to take either sea cruise as the weather canceled the trips. The best decision we made was to have a guide /driver. Martin was an absolute wonder. I wanted to bring him home with us. He saw to every detail and was extremely entertaining to boot. His recommendations were spot on to our interests. I think he knows everyone in Ireland. The car was super too. The back seats were massage chairs. How cool can you get? As a great extra the Owner of Screebe House bought two of my paintings and commissioned two more. Again, many thanks for the trip of a lifetime.

"Two-week trip to Ireland and Scotland"

Wanda

Our vacation was wonderful we had a great time on our two-week trip to Ireland and Scotland. Jorie helped us plan our trip, she worked hard to include all the places we wanted to see and selected some great adventures for us to enjoy along the way. We truly loved Ireland, the countryside the beautiful sights and the flowers blooming everywhere made our visit one to remember for sure. 

"Wonderful Anniversary Trip in Ireland"

Tim

Hi Jorie, Rose and I had a wonderful time in Ireland! We couldn’t believe how well everything worked out and the locations selected for our stays were excellent. We really loved the Country House and Abbyglen Castle.  The staff at Abbbyglen Castle were so nice and made our anniversary evening wonderful! We had no idea there was so much aviation and radio history in Clifden! As for the other locations they were all first-rate as well. We went to the “Man O’ War” Pub for dinner our last night in Ireland. It was a great recommendation. The atmosphere, hospitality, and food were awesome. Again, thank you for helping to set up a wonderful trip which we will never forget. 

"All of my clients had only positive feedback"

Kelly

Mesa, AZ

This was my first time using Authentic Vacations. I worked with Ellie, and she knocked it out of the park! Every detail with transfers, trains, boutique hotels, castles, private tours and fantastic client feedback will keep me coming back! I had 5 vacations with varied budgets this past month. All of my clients had only positive feedback. Emails and phone correspondence were quickly answered, which can make or break my decision to partner with someone. If you are looking for a destination expert, AV will not disappoint! Thank you for making me look like a rockstar, Ellie and AV!!

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