• Join your tour leader in the heart of Paris for a brief, guided train commute to Versailles. Upon reaching, allow them to accompany you on a trip tracing the history of the French monarchy. During the rule of Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, Versailles was the hotspot for the rich and famous. Today, it continues to attract a global audience who come to admire the awe-inspiring elegance of this magnificent castle. Our no queuing entry allows you to skip the extensive waiting lines that gather daily, and our personable local guides will efficiently direct you through the throngs of people, reviving the eminent personalities who once called this palace their home.

• Stand in awe in front of the dazzling Hall of Mirrors, and be engrossed in the tales of the royal dignitaries who had their existence in these grand surroundings.

You will gain insight into the public lives of the royal Kings and Queens, their control over the rumour-mongering courtiers, and how they dethroned Italy as the art hub of Europe by establishing Versailles in its place. Learn about a usual day in the life of Marie Antoinette; it will be clear why she had an aversion to the palace! Her luxurious life here was a significant factor leading to her ill-fated end during the French Revolution; she left Versailles in 1789 and never came back.

• After touring the royal suites within the palace, your guide will escort you around the remarkable gardens, the previous venues for dances, gatherings, and grand firework exhibitions. During fountain show days you will watch the impressive water features, still operational today the same way they were during royal times. Otherwise, appreciate the lovely Musical Gardens as you traverse with your guide.

• We then request you to join us to explore the hidden corners of this remarkable venue. After a pause for a meal, spend an afternoon uncovering the stunning lesser-known spots nestled in the vast gardens. In these secluded spots, only the monarchy and their intimates had access.

King Louis XVI presented a diamond-studded key to his dearly loved wife Marie Antoinette. It unlocked the portals to a clandestine domain, far separated from the public life at the palace and reachable by just a select few. Navigate her path, across the gorgeous English style gardens, into the refined and stylish rooms of her residence, furnished currently just as they were formerly. Also, have a look at her small theater, built specifically for her to act on stage, to small gatherings comprising friends and staff! This exquisite theater is often dubbed the hidden gem of Versailles.

• Marie Antoinette led a simplistic, countryside life at Trianon. You will tour her Hamlet, an exact reproduction of a Normandy village, furnished with thatched houses and vegetable patches where she would pretend to be a shepherdess amidst farm animals - completely different from the opulent rituals of the palace.

A Versailles visit remains incomplete without basking in the serenity of the Petit Trianon and Marie-Antoinette’s tranquil hamlet.

To ensure a comfortable tour, we will hop on the ‘Petit Train’ for the commute to and from the Petit Trianon.

• Ride on the Petit Train back to the palace from the Petit Trianon
• Round-trip RER transfer from central Paris
• Expert, fully accredited local guides
• Musical gardens or Fountain show: weekends & selected days April through October
• Full day guided tour of the Palace & Gardens of Versailles and the Domain of Marie-Antoinette including the Petit Trianon and hamlet

• Hotel pick up/drop off
• Gratuities
• Lunch