Although I have touched down in several European cities, I have never had the time to actually tour them or experience them. When you’ve waited for years to see your family, The Mona Lisa fades in the background. All you care about is uniting with your loved ones. Most Desis who live away from home will know what I mean. We work hard every minute or every day, and the carrot that gets us through it is the next trip home.

Anyway, I will not digress. We are talking about the ideal Yatra here. That one magical trip! For me, France wins the battle. Tuscan landscapes, German forests, Austrian hills, all fade into the background compared to France. France itself is a big country with lots to offer.  And yes, it is any food lover’s dream destination, even a vegetarian one’s.

One could lose themselves in Paris for a month and still not see it all. Then there are the D-day beaches of Normandy, the castles of the Loire valley, Burgundy vineyards, Provence, and the South of France with its yachts and the Mediterranean.

But we always have time and money constraints. So this is the itinerary of my dream trip to France, a realistic one, I hope.

Flying to Paris is easy, with Air France and also Air India and Jet Airways. Emirates Airlines is also a good choice if you don’t care for a 9 hour flight. Stopping over in Dubai to stretch your legs makes sense. This way, you can at least see the Burj Khalifa from air – not a bad bonus. Having a 2 day layover on the way back is also tempting. But mixing France and Dubai is like adding garam masala to your pasta – not attractive to me. Both places have such a different vibe.

Four days in Paris sound good for a first visit. I will choose a hotel in the 80-100 € price range, close to a railway station or ‘gare‘ as they are called in France. This will allow me to tour the length and breadth of the city. The next thing I will do is get a museum pass, the kind that lets me skip lines. The day I reach there, I will mostly just walk around near my hotel, and orient myself. If I luckily get a hotel near the Seine, I will walk along the Seine, and maybe enjoy a glass of wine at some bistro. A visit to a fromagerie or cheese shop is a must.

Armed with some fancy French cheese, a hard baguette, and maybe some fresh tomatoes or fruit, I will just breathe in the French atmosphere.

Day 1 in Paris will start with a breakfast of coffee and rolls, more precisely, chocolate croissants and cafe au lait. I will head to the Orsay museum and spend a lot of time there, admiring my favorite Impressionist art. Later in the day, I will take a cab to the Eiffel Tower and just hang out at some cafe or on the lawns around the tower, waiting for it to light up.

Day 2 will of course be reserved for the Louvre. Most tours allow you only a couple of hours at the Louvre for a glimpse of the Mona Lisa. But I intend to give it much longer. Time permitting, I will also visit the Tuileries gardens to see Monet’s famous water lilies. Dinner will be at some local restaurant, hopefully within my budget. This evening is also a great way to take a Hop on Hop Off bus tour of all the Paris sights at night.

Day 3 will be a guided tour to the Loire valley castles or to Versailles. I find it hard to decide between the two. I’m sure I will be exhausted by the time I get back from this 9-10 hour trip.

That’s 4 nights in Paris gone just like that.

One of the places I really want to visit is the Swiss Alps. But if you can’t go to Switzerland, the next best thing to do is just see them from the French side. Yes, Mont Blanc is where I am headed next.

 My fifth day in the country will see me boarding a TGV or fast train for Chamonix. I’m not into skiing and stuff, nor do I want to try it. The reason to go here is just to stare at the mighty mountains, ride the ski lifts or cable cars, and just relax. A hotel right in Chamonix will be expensive but it will put me in the middle of the action. I expect to reach by evening after a 6-7 hour train ride, so I’m gonna take it easy that evening.

The next day, I will ride the Mont Blanc express, a small train that offers stunning views and also goes across the border into Switzerland. Lunch at some scenic restaurant overlooking the mountains, and maybe a small alpine walk will cap off the day.

My second day in the Alps, I might try to get a bus or train to Annecy, a picturesque town with Alpine lakes and beautiful mountain views.

The third day, I will catch a train back to Paris. The last evening in Paris will be just hanging out in some cafe, soaking in the atmosphere. Hardly any time for shopping, eh? Well, not everything you want can be bought.

My 9th day in the country, I will board a flight back home. I could squeeze in a day to Provence, but it depends on the budget or rates I get when I book my trip. I love this particular trip plan because it will give me an immersive French experience.

Yes, this is my dream trip to France. Where do you dream of going?