DESCRIPTION :
DEPARTS EVERY SUNDAY & WEDNESDAY FROM BORDEAUX
Follow us on a thrilling 9 day tour that will take you from the world famous vineyards of Bordeaux to one of the most unique regions of France: the Dordogne. Finally end in the amazing UNESCO heritage sites filled region of the Languedoc.
Start the tour in Bordeaux where your local driver/guide will make you discover the best of the Bordeaux vineyards. Pick up will be at centrally located 1-3 Allée de Tourny Airport shuttle bus stop and you will depart towards all the main Bordeaux wine regions that are famous worldwide. From the famous Grand Cru Classé of the Médoc to the more intimate garage wines that produce only 3000 bottles a year in saint Emilion , our Bordeaux wine tours are designed to bring you where wine tasting has become an art. This wine tour has been carefully designed so that wine enthusiasts or novices alike will be able to comprehend the different techniques involved in wine making, understand the relationship between the wine grower and his/her vineyard and mostly get the feel and authenticity for a region where traditions and values are as deeply rooted as the vineyard itself. Certainly one of the main features of the tour will be the visit of some of the most famous Classified growth chateau's of the most famous appellations: the Médoc and St Emilion.
The tour will then move along towards the Dordogne region where you will be based in Sarlat. Here, your local driver/guide will make you discover the best the Dordogne region has to offer. Pickup will be at centrally located Place Pasteur bus stop and you will depart towards the main attractions this unique region offers every day. Small traditional Dordogne villages will be yours to discover as many are classified among the “most beautiful of France”. The region also boasts some of the most incredible medieval castles as this was the region where the French and English armies faced each other during the 100 year war. Amongst these castles you will see the ones in Beynac, Castelnaud and Marqueyssac that also presents some of the most beautiful gardens of the Dordogne. Certainly one of the main features of the tour will be the visit of Lascaux II cave. The Dordogne is famous in the world for having the largest number of prehistoric cave paintings and shelters in a sole location.
Your tour will then take you to the Languedoc region and we will base ourselves in Toulouse where your local driver/guide will introduce you to this area. Pickup will be at your centrally located Toulouse hotel. While in the Languedoc, you will experience and visit some of the most unique sites of which Carcassonne and Albi will be, without a doubt, highlights of the tour. Still standing and never over taken militarily since its original building more than 2000 years ago, the “Cité” still amazes all visitors imagination. As the tour moves along, the sites become more and more confidential. Albi is certainly one of these forgotten gems that one can only be happy to admire far from the crowds. The cathedral is a masterpiece of Southern Gothic Architecture as not only does it foreshadow the far away Counter Reformation, it also possesses the largest and most unique Renaissance painting program of France that covers the entire vaulting. A unique experience!
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When :
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April to October
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Duration :
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9 days
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Place departure :
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Bordeaux Pick up: n°3 Allee de Tourny Jet'bus stop. Pick up at hotel on DAY 3 - transfer to Sarlat.
Sarlat Pick up: Place Pasteur bus stop. Pick up at hotel on DAY 7 - transfer to Toulouse
Toulouse Pick up: Hotel pick up
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Prices :
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Program :
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Day 1 MEDOC FULL DAY WINE TOUR
Leave Bordeaux in the morning and follow the châteaux route where you will come across such pearls as Château Margaux, Château Palmer or Mouton Rothschild. Your first stop will be in one of our selected Classified growths where you will enjoy a visit of the installations and a wine tasting session. Then, enjoy some free time for lunch. In the afternoon, visit and wine taste in another of our selected classified growths. Appellations visited include Margaux, Saint Julien, Pauillac and Saint Estephe. Finally, end the day with a personalized 5 Bordeaux wine tasting session at “La Winery”, a modern complex dedicated to wine. Night in Bordeaux.
Day 2 POMEROL & SAINT EMILION WINE TOUR
Today your tour will take you to the right bank of the River Garonne. Your first stop will be in one of our selected classified growth chateau's of the appellation: Pomerol or Saint Emilion. Here you will follow a guided visit of the installations and enjoy a wine tasting session. Then follow your guide on a walking tour of the village. After some free time for lunch and personal discovery, we will take you to another selected chateau for a visit and wine tasting session. Return to Bordeaux after the visit and night in Bordeaux
Day 3 TRANSFER FROM BORDEAUX TO SARLAT
This morning enjoy some free time in Bordeaux to admire some of the UNESCO monuments or why not shop in one of the longest shopping streets of Europe? After lunch, pick up at your hotel and departure transfer for the town of Sarlat la Canéda. Night in Sarlat.
DAY 4 SARLAT MARKET & VISIT / DORDOGNE VILLAGES / GABARRE BOAT RIDE
In the morning, follow your guide for an enriching walking tour of historic Sarlat, a rich merchant town of the 18th century that has kept and renovated its architectural treasures in a traditional style. Also, discover one of the most beautiful and authentic markets of the region, the Dordogne being one of the most famous "Food Destination" of France. After some free time to enjoy the market and for lunch, your afternoon will take you to the small village of Domme. Walking tour in the village and off to La Roque Gageac savor a boat ride on the River Dordogne on board an authentic Gabarre. Finally, reach the small village of Beynac to admire the castle and participate in a walking tour through the villages, free time for personal discovery. Night in Sarlat
Day 5 PADIRAC CHASM / ROCAMADOUR VISIT / MANOR OF EYRIGNAC GARDENS
Set off on an excursion to the Padirac abyss, a natural, 75 metre chasm. Once at the bottom of the chasm you will be taken deep inside the natural cave on a unique underground River boat ride. Then off to the pilgrimage and fortress town of Rocamadour. Visit the renowned Notre Dame Chapel and one of the most dramatic pilgrimage sites in Europe. Finally stop at the Gardens of Eyrignac Manor, one of the most famous and beautiful topiary gardens of France. Night in Sarlat.
Day 6 PREHISTORY & THE ART OF THE CAVES IN THE DORDOGNE
Thousands of years ago unknown artists created breath taking paintings, engravings and etchings on the walls of natural caves of which the most extraordinary examples are found in the Dordogne area. Today you will be introduced to this art and to the fascinating civilization that created it: Modern Man. Start the day in Les Eyzies and follow your guide on an English guided tour of the National Prehistory Museum one of the most complete in the world in the number of prehistoric artifacts. Then, we will take you to Rouffignac Cave, the cave of 160 Mammouths, that possesses original and authentic etchings, engravings and drawings. Finally, visit world famous Lascaux II a perfect reproduction of the original cave. Here, you will discover 90% of the paintings that can be seen in the original and will be awed by the more than 20 year achievement to create this facsimile.
Day 7 PECH MERLE CAVE/ ST CIRQ LAPOPIE VILLAGE / TOULOUSE
This morning depart for Pech Merle cave where once again you will admire some unique cave art and understand the techniques used by the artists. After the visit, off to the quaint hilltop village of St Cirq Lapopie considered by many to be the most beautiful of all the beautiful villages of France due to its dramatic setting and picture perfect unity. Finally, reach Toulouse. Night in Toulouse
Day 8 ALBI UNESCO VISIT / CORDES SUR CIEL VILLAGE / GAILLAC WINE TASTING
This morning depart for the newly declared world heritage city of Albi. Enjoy a guided walking tour of the historical city center and of the St Cecilia cathedral. You will then have some free time for personal discovery or why not visit the Toulouse Lautrec museum that houses more than 1000 works of the artist? You will then be driven to the Bastide town of Cordes sur Ciel, one of the most beautiful villages of the region. After a walking tour in the village and some free time, finish the day with a wine tasting session in Gaillac one of the oldest vineyards of France.
Day 9 CARCASSONNE UNESCO VISIT
This half day tour will take you to one of the most fascinating sites of France: the walled town of Carcassonne. At your arrival, follow your guide on a tour of the medieval town during which you will walk along the walls, discover 13th century houses, understand the Cathar heresy and visit the St Celsius basilica. Enjoy some free time for personal discovery and return to Toulouse. End of our services.
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Inclusions :
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Exclusions :
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- 4 Visits and wine tasting in Bordeaux
- 5 Bordeaux wine tasting session at "La Winery"
- Wine tasting session in Gaillac
- Guided walking tour of Sarlat, Rocamadour, Albi, Carcassonne
- Boat ride on the River Dordogne
- Entrance fees to Padirac, Eyrignac gardens, National Prehistory Museum, Rouffignac, Lascaux and Pech Merle caves.
- Walking tours in Beynac, Domme, Saint Cirq Lapopie & Cordes sur Ciel
- Services of an English speaking driver guide in Bordeaux, Sarlat & Toulouse
- Travel in recent, comfortable and fully equipped minivans
- Small group tours of 8 passengers maximum
- Fresh small bottle of water per day per person.
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- Accommodation
- Entrance fees to monuments, museums or activities other than those mentioned
- Meals, drinks, gratuities and personal expenses
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Price information :
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Additionnal informations :
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- Prices are listed as a guide only
- Child prices are applicable for children aged 4 - 12 years
- Prices are per person
- Currency is in EUR
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- Confirmation of the tour will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Tour is operated in English unless otherwise stated
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible
- Tour requires minimum 2 passengers to operate
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