The entire centre of Bordeaux has been declared a world heritage site. You will be amazed by the “water mirror” and stroll through the old town with its pedestrian streets and 11th century cathedral. A 9 days tour visiting Paris, Blois, Tours, Villandry, Amboise, Chenonceau, Chambord, Argenton, Limoges, Lascaux, Sarlat, Beynac, Rocamadour, Padirac, Collonge la Rouge, St. Emilion, Bordeaux, Lourdes, Saint Bertrand, Carcasonne, Marseilles, Arles, Les Beaux, Avignon, Lyon, Tournus, La Rochepot, Beaune, Dijon, Fontenay, Abbey, Semur en Auxois, Vezelay, Paris.

DAY 01 FRI. Paris- Blois- Tours- Villandry- Amboise.-
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Loire Valley. Villandry gardens. Dinner included.
We will start the day by going to the south of France, to the area of the Loire Valley with a stop at BLOIS, a picturesque city where we recommend visiting the castle. After this we continue to the Loire Valley, visiting TOURS, the regional capital on the banks of the Loire River, where you will be able to take a stroll and have lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the CHATEAU DE VILLANDRY, famous for its gardens and flowers (entrance to the gardens are included). Then we will journey on to AMBOISE, a city with a fascinating medieval quarter. Dinner included. Note: Sometimes the accommodation may be offered in the city of Tours.

DAY 02 SAT. Amboise- Chenonceau-Chambord- Argenton- Limoges.-
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Castles of Loire.
A day to learn more about the Loire region. First a stroll through Amboise in the early hours to the Clos Lucé mansion where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last 3 years of his life. Exploring the Loire region in a little more depth, we visit CHENONCEAU CASTLE (tickets included), built like a bridge over the River Cher. We continue to CHAMBORD, the largest castle of Loire (entrance to the park included). We will then travel to the centre of France, making a stop for coffee in ARGENTON SUR CREUSE, a small medieval town on the banks of the Creuse River. We continue to LIMOGES, a city known for its porcelain, where we recommend a stroll in the centre to see its cathedral.

DAY 03 SUN. Limoges- Lascaux- Sarlat- Beynac- Rocamadour.-
TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: Dordogne Valley of unforgettable villages. Lascaux cave museum. Beynac medieval castle. Dinner included.
We will leave Limoges for the Dordogne. Few regions contain so many villages full of charm and unforgettable countryside. We arrive at LASCAUX, we will include admission to the museum and replica of the caves, we will learn about the site’s prehistory with the magnificent cave paintings. After that we see SARLAT, a world heritage town with an incredibly well-preserved Renaissance historic centre, where there will be time to stroll and have lunch. In BEYNAC we see a medieval castle overlooking the river (admission included). ROCAMADOUR, a beautiful medieval village with an important sanctuary “hung” over a ravine; we suggest you walk down the via crucis and come back up in the lift. Dinner included.

DAY 04 MON. Rocamadour- Padirac- Collonge la Rouge- St. Emilion- Bordeaux.-
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Padirac Caves, Midi Region and winemakers.
We will go to the impressive PADIRAC caves, where we include a boat ride on the river 75 metres underground. A stop at COLLONGE LA ROUGE, a very picturesque village built with red stone on the Way of St James. Time for lunch. After lunch we travel to ST. EMILION, at the heart of the Bordeaux wine producing region. Time for a stroll. BORDEAUX, arrival at the end of the afternoon. Note: The caves may be closed in November or due to the weather conditions. 

DAY 05 TUE. Bordeaux- Lourdes.-
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Cite du Vin in Bordeaux. Lourdes. Dinner included.
The entire centre of Bordeaux has been declared a world heritage site. You will be amazed by the “water mirror” and stroll through the old town with its pedestrian streets and 11th century cathedral. We will include admission (free visit with audio information in Spanish, French or English) to the CITE DU VIN, an impressive interactive museum that recounts the history of the wine and its production; wine tasting included at the viewpoint over Bordeaux. You will have free time later to stroll and have lunch on the banks of the Garonne River, an area full of small restaurants. We continue our way towards the Pyrenees, arriving to LOURDES in the mid-afternoon. We have time to see the sanctuary (we recommend attending the candle procession). Dinner included.

DAY 06 WED. Lourdes- Saint Bertrand- Carcasonne-Marseilles.-
TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: Medieval villages of St. Bertrand or Carcassonne.
Following the Pyrenees, we stop at Saint BERTRAND, a medieval town hung on the mountainside, dominated by its great cathedral. Time for a stroll before continuing to CARCASSONNE, a city surrounded by the most beautiful walls in Europe. Time to stroll and have lunch. In the afternoon, we continue to MARSEILLES, France’s second city, to see its vibrant “Vieux port” (old port). Note: If the group is mall, the section from Carcassonne to Marseilles may be done by train (our guide will give you the tickets and inform you, and another different guide will be waiting for you upon your arrival in Marseille).

DAY 07 THU. Marseilles- Arles- Les Beaux- Avignon- Lyon.-
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Provence region. Carrieres de Lumiere in Les Beaux.
Villages, landscapes, history, today we see some of the most beautiful places in Provence. ARLES, a world heritage city, shows us its legacy of the Roman and medieval times and reminds us of Van Gogh. In LES BEAUX, we have the chance to visit this small medieval village and we will include admission to the CARRIERES DE LUMIERE, an impressive show of art, image and sound underground, in some former quarries. Time for lunch and stroll in AVIGNON, with its immense Palais des Papes. We continue to LYON, here we can walk through the World Heritage Site old town and we will include the cable car to climb Notre Dame de Fourviere, a huge basilica from where we have a great view over the city.

DAY 08 FRI. Lyon- Tournus- La Rochepot- Beaune- Dijon.-
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Burgundy region. Rochepot Castle.
We will leave Lyon for Burgundy. We stop at TOURNUS, a nice little town with its huge stone door and large abbey. After this, on small roads we travel through beautiful vineyards and countryside to LA ROCHEPOT, we include admission to its powerful medieval castle. BEAUNE, time for lunch and stroll in the wine capital of Burgundy; you can visit the wine museum or see the historic hospice. In the early afternoon, arrival in DIJON, the capital of Burgundy, with its lively streets, magnificent urban complex and many medieval and Renaissance buildings, particularly the Ducal Palace.

DAY 09 SAT. Dijon- Fontenay Abbey- Semur en Auxois- Vezelay- Paris.-
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Burgundy region. Admission to Fontenayabbey.
We leave Dijon for FONTENAY ABBEY, a world heritage site, where we include admission to this Cistercian centre. After this, a stop in SEMUR EN AUXOIS, a medieval city surrounded by impressive walls. Still in Burgundy, we will have time for lunch and a stroll in VEZELAY, one of France’s most beautiful villages, where its immense basilica was one of the starting points of the Way of St James. In the afternoon we continue our route to PARIS. Arrival mid-afternoon. End of our services. Check the time of your flight in case you need an additional night. 

• Travel by bus with English speaking guide.
• Basic travel insurance.
• Hotels according to the itinerary.
• Breakfast buffet.
• Arrival transfer
• Boat: Padirac Caves
• Ticket admission: Villandry gardens, Chenonceau Castle, Castle park of Chambord, Museum and Replica of Lascaux Caves, Beynac Castle, Padirac Caves, Cité du Vin in Bordeaux
• High Speed Train: Bordeaux to Paris
• 2 Lunches or Dinners included in: Amboise (01), Rocamadour (01)
• Ticket admission: Carrieres de Lumiere show, La Rochepot Medieval Castle, Fontenay Abbey
• Funicular: Lyon
• 1 Lunch or Dinner Included in: Lourdes

2022

• May.22: 06, 20
• Jun.22: 03, 17
• Jul.22: 08, 22
• Aug.22: 05, 19
• Sep.22: 09, 23
• Oct.22: 07, 21
• Nov.22: 04

PRICES PER PERSON

SEASON              DBL                 SINGL
High S.              $1.537              $2.074
Mid S.                $1.513              $2.050
Low S.               $1.482              $2.019

• Sometimes the accommodation may be offered in the city of Tours. 
• The caves may be closed in November or due to the weather conditions.
• If the group is small, the section from Carcassonne to Marseilles may be done by train (our guide will give you the tickets and inform you, and another different guide will be waiting for you upon your arrival in Marseille) 
• It is a general policy in the hotels that may request a deposit of money on arrival at each of the hotels where you will be staying. This deposit is charged at the time of check in and is refunded upon departure if you did not make any expenses at the hotel.
• The space in the holds of the coaches and in the train wagons is limited and this determines the maximum amount of luggage authorized per passenger on our circuits: one suitcase per person and one handbag. Carrying more luggage than allowed can be checked in at destination.