Day 2. This morning we will depart for Concarneau, a medieval walled city built on the town’s harbor. Cross the drawbridge from the main town to enter this ancient city, once famous for ship building. It is still one of the most important towns for fishing and for canning sardines – a Breton specialty! You will have time on your own to visit the town and visit the fishing museum if you like. Free time this afternoon to enjoy the lovely setting of our inn and the surrounding park. If you like you can schedule a spa treatment at the “Spa au Fil de l’Eau”. Dinner tonight at Le Raphael at Moulins du Duc.

Day 3. Depart this morning for Quimper home of the Henriot Quimper ceramics. We will start with a tour of the ceramic manufacture followed by some time to shop in their amazing boutique.  After our visit here we will go to the lovely town center where the streets are lined with colorful half-timbered houses.  Choose from the many cozy cafes and restaurants for your lunch. After lunch the museums and shops are open. Both the Musee des Beaux Arts and the Musee of Breton Culture have wonderful collections and both are located in the center of town near the Cathedral. Late afternoon we return to our inn. Dinner at Raphael.

Day 4. After breakfast at the inn, we will drive to the town of Pont Aven which was the home of the School of Pont Aven painters: Gaugin, Max Jacob, Serusier, EmileBernard and more. This museum is filled with paintings depicting life in Brittany, centered on the sea and the Bretons dependence on it for their livelihood. Pont Avenwas a mill town and many of the buildings for the shops were once mills or mill houses.Try the butter caramels and purchase some Niniches, the chewy candies on a stick that were invented by a candy maker here after WWII. Don’t forget to try the Breton Butter cookies, the sardines and algae tapenade. We will take time for lunch in Pont Aven then drive to the tiny port on the Belon river for a presentation and tasting of the world famous Huitres de Belon. This afternoon we will drive to La Trinite-Sur-Mer to the lovely Lodge Kerisper, our home for 4 nights. Dinner on your own.

Day 5. This morning we depart for Vannes which is without doubt one of Brittany’s prettiest towns on the Gulf of Morbihan. The fortified walls of the city are built on the foundations of a Roman wall. Later Vannes was the favorite town of the Ducs of Brittany and home to a great maritime trade. Today is market day in Vannes and this market is known as the largest on the Golfe du Morbihan. It is a beautiful market! Lots of seasonal produce and foods, but that is not all. There are crafts, clothing, jewelry, flowers, spices, and great people watching. Stroll the narrow streets filled with colorful half-timbered houses before enjoying a harbor-side lunch. Back to Trinite for the late afternoon and evening. Dinner on your own.

Day 6. Today we can have a late sleep in and leisurely breakfast. We will depart from the hotel at 10 AM for our ride on the Petit Train to the site of the Megaliths at Carnac.At the site of the Maison des Megaliths we will disembark the train to walk around the site and view ancient standing stones and megaliths which are older than the Pyramids and predate the Celts! Enjoy lunch of Breton crepes at a charming restaurant set in the middle of these amazing megaliths. Free afternoon in La Trinite sur Mer, a very charming port town that is made for relaxing and breathing the sea air. There are lots of fun portside restaurants with views as well as boutiques for regional food, clothing (if you want an authentic French striped shirt this is the place), home décor with seaside themes.

Day 7. Depart La Trinité after breakfast for our boat cruise of the Golf of Morbihan. You will discover that there are as many as 365 islands in this gulf. Many are natural reserves while others have homes and little churches. The point of each island has a “calvaire” or monument to the cross made of stone or wood. You will also see more megaliths on some of the islands. We disembark on the largest of the islands, Ile aux Moines. We are here for 3 hours approximately. There will be time to stop for a leisurely lunch on the port and then time to walk through the adorable streets and see the quintessential thatch room cottages with the roses around the blue doors, windows with lace curtains – a story book setting. Late afternoon return to La Trinité sur Mer. Free time and dinner on your own.

Day 8. Depart La Trinité after breakfast for two exciting days in Nantes. We will begin with a visit to the Chateau of the Ducs of Bretagne. Much of the museum’s fascinating collection and information is about the Maritime life of Nantes in the 18th century and even earlier including pirates, history of slave trade, and the life of the extraordinarily wealthy merchant marines. The Chateau itself is the most important monument in Nantes and is quite impressive! After lunch we will check in to the beautiful Oceania Hotel de France. Free time this afternoon and dinner on your own.

Day 9. Today we have a full schedule of events and activities at the amazing Machines de l’Ile de Nantes: Ride the Jules Verne carousel, see the giant elephant walk, and participate in a guided/animated visit to the Gallery of Machines to see (and maybe help!) them operate the machines. We have a group lunch by the Loire River and a visit to the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery as well. A very special Bon Voyage dinner tonight!

Day 10. Departure day. Transfers provided to Nantes airport or train station.