First Time Picardy

Day 1 – 6: Your continental driving course and arrival in France

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Day 1 – Arrive at Alderstead Heath Caravan Club Site

Begin your tour at Alderstead Heath Caravan Club Site. Relax at the campsite and meet your fellow first timers and Caravan and Motorhome Club tour hosts.

Day 2 – Driving course at the Ardingly Showground

Join your tour hosts and the instructors from L-Busters driving school at the Ardingly Showground for a driving course, set-up especially to prepare you for motoring abroad with your outfit. The day will also include a presentation about your route to the campsite in France given by Caravan and Motorhome Club staff and your tour hosts. Lunch and refreshments are provided.

Day 3 - Travel to Black Horse Farm Caravan Club Site

Today you'll be travelling from Alderstead Heath to Black Horse Farm for one night before your Dover to Calais ferry crossing the next morning.

Day 4 – Ferry crossing and arrival at Au Bord de L’Ainse (P02)

Head down to Dover and enjoy your P&O ferry crossing to Calais, where breakfast is included onboard. Take a leisurely drive through the beautiful Picardy countryside and arrive at the campsite. A welcome meeting and drink with your tour hosts and fellow members will give you the chance to familiarise yourself with the campsite and meet the campsite owners.

Day 5 – Free day to enjoy at your leisure

Day 6 – Excursion to Reims and Pommery Champagne House

Enjoy a coach excursion and guided tour of Reims Cathedral, where the kings of France were once crowned. After free time for lunch and a look around the city, you will take a guided tour in English of the Pommery Champagne Domaine. Discover the cellars, the Gallo-Roman chalk quarries and learn all about the craft of making this iconic sparkling wine. Of course, no visit to Pommery would be complete without a bit of Champagne tasting to finish with.

Day 7 – 11: Caverne du Dragon and Laon

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Day 7 – Free day to enjoy at your leisure

Day 8 – Excursion to the Caverne du Dragon

Experience the history of the Caverne du Dragon. There will be an English speaking guide to take you through the cavern which was once used as a military barracks. With its amazing and powerful scenography, this unique setting, called the ‘Drachenhöhle’ by the Germans, plunges you into the shadowy underground galleries of the First World War.

Day 9 – Coach Excursion to Laon

Discover this quaint medieval city and its cathedral with a guided tour this afternoon, followed by some free time to look around at your own pace.

Day 10 – Free day and farewell dinner

Enjoy your final day of leisure. Why not explore the local countryside or maybe visit the 13th Century Château de Coucy? End the tour with a farewell meal organised by the campsite. You will be taken by coach to the ‘La Mairie’ restaurant in nearby Berry-au-Bac.

Day 11 – Return ferry

It’s time to say goodbye to the campsite and travel north for your ferry back to the UK.

 

Please note this itinerary may be subject to change and minimum numbers may apply.

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