Le Grand Tour isn’t just a 6-day, 5-night train journey around France—it’s a moving work of art. With only 36 guests aboard 18-cabins, this luxuriously restored Belle Époque-style train travels from Paris through the famed regions of Champagne, Bordeaux, and the Loire Valley in a jagged circular path. This is boutique travel at its most poetic, a seamless blend of cultural immersion, fine dining, and slow luxury. Whether you’re new to France or searching for a fresh perspective, this curated experience offers a new way to sip champagne, both literally and figuratively. Below, what to see, do, and eat aboard this train tour.
What to See
Ruinart
The journey begins in the northeastern city of Reims, the unofficial capital of Champagne, where Gothic grandeur and effervescent indulgence coexist. Make time for the Reims Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site where 33 French kings were crowned, and the adjoining Palais du Tau, a cultural landmark once the Archbishop of Reims’ palace.
As the train glides into the Champagne region, guests disembark for the possibility of exclusive access to the chalk cellars of Maison Ruinart, the oldest established Champagne house. Here, a guided descent into the luminescent caves unveils centuries of winemaking tradition—capped by a tasting, of course.
What to Do
heinstirred/Getty Images
Onboard, expect more than just white-glove service. Theater artists and storytellers perform vignettes throughout the journey, weaving historical anecdotes and local legends into the itinerary. It’s not uncommon for a costumed noble to pass through the dining car mid-dinner or a violinist to serenade passengers at sunset.
Off-train excursions are equally curated. In the northern town of Épernay, stroll down the famous Avenue de Champagne—often called the richest avenue in the world due to its quantity of champagne stored in underground cellars—where guests are granted private tastings, like the one at the houses Moët & Chandon. In the Loire Valley, Le Grand Tour guests may find themselves enjoying an after-hours château visit—no crowds, just candlelight and clinking glasses.
Where to Eat
Anne-Emmanuelle Thion/Les Crayeres
Meals on Le Grand Tour are far more than sustenance; their narrative experiences. Three-star Michelin chef Alexandre Couillon, who is the owner of the Michelin Green Star restaurant La Marine, curates menus inspired by the villages you traverse. Think: scallop carpaccio with Champagne vinaigrette, or duck breast with cherries and a reduction made from local Pinot Meunier. Each course is paired with wines and champagnes chosen by an onboard sommelier.
In Reims, if you extend your stay pre- or post-tour, don’t miss Brasserie Excelsior for an Art Nouveau ambiance and fresh seafood; or the city’s two-star Le Parc restaurant at Domaine Les Crayères hotel, for classic French cuisine like duck foie gras and herb coulis.
Where to Stay
While your suite aboard Le Grand Tour is lavish, with plush linens, en-suite bathrooms, and panoramic windows, the train itself feels like a historic five-star hotel on rails. For those staying in Reims before boarding, La Caserne Chanzy Hôtel & Spa was once the city’s centralfire station before transforming into a luxury hotel just steps from the Notre-Dame Cathedral. In Épernay, Les Suites du 33—a hotel owned by the Champagne de Venoge house—offers four vineyard-adjacent rooms and one apartment.
Final Toast
France’s Champagne region has long been synonymous with elegance, but Le Grand Tour elevates the experience into something transcendent—because every sip tells a story, every window frames a chapter, and every mile deepens your sense of place.
Note: Scheduled dates for the 2026 season have not been released yet.
Jennifer Schwartz is a member of Travel + Leisure’s A-List and specializes in Iceland, France, and Food & Wine trips. You can create a tailor-made itinerary with Schwartz by contacting her at [email protected].
