11 Days 10 Nights: Enchanted France

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 on the banks of the Loire. Dinner included.

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 center of France. LIMOGES, a city known for its porcelain, where we recommend a stroll in the center to see its cathedral.

We will leave Limoges for the Dordogne. Few regions contain so many villages full of charm and unforgettable countryside. We will 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 center, 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.

We will go to the impressive PADIRAC caves, where we include a boat ride on the river 75 metres underground. A stop at COLLONGES LA ROUGE, a very picturesque village built with red stone on the Way of St James. Time for lunch. After lunch we will 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.Notice: The caves may be closed from November until the end of March due to the weather conditions.

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 English, Spanish or French) 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 at LOURDES in the mid-afternoon. We have time to see the sanctuary (we recommend attending the candle procession). Dinner included.

We travel through the south of France and stop in CARCASSONNE, a city surrounded by the most beautiful walls in Europe. Time to walk. After lunch we will continue to NARBONNE, free time to get to know this historic Occitan city with its picturesque historic centre. At the end of the afternoon we will arrive in MARSEILLE, the second city of France. We recommend a walk through its vibrant “Vieux port”, full of life and small restaurants.

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 mediaeval times and reminds us of Van Gogh. In LES BEAUX, we have the chance to visit this small mediaeval 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, where 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.Note: When due to closure or influx of public it is not possible to obtain tickets for the show of Carrieres de Lumière, as an alternative there will be a transfer to the Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard.

We will set off from Lyon and head to the Burgundy region. We stop at TOURNUS, a quaint little town with an imposing stone gate and a large abbey. After that, we will travel to BEAUNE. Time to have lunch and explore a bit through the wine capital of Burgundy. We recommend you to visit the wine museum or the historic hospice. Next, we will visit the CASTLE OF SAVIGNY situated in the heart of this winemaking region. The castle was built in the 15th century and houses some extraordinary museums (museum of motorbikes, racing cars, planes and helicopters!). We continue to DIJON, capital of Burgundy, which boasts of lively streets as well as numerous mediaeval and Renaissance buildings, among which, the palace of the dukes stands out.

Yet in the Burgundy region we make a stop in BESANÇON, a city of Roman origin with a beautiful historic centre and citadel of the 17th century that dominates the city. We continue our route towards Alsace, a French region disputed over the centuries between France and Germany, which maintains its own German dialect, “the Alsatian” and the architecture and traditions with deep Germanic roots. We make a stop in COLMAR, a city with unique architecture, with colourful wooden houses and canals that cross it. It is known for its white wine and its gastronomy. We will have time to have lunch and a walk. In the afternoon we will visit two of the most beautiful towns in Alsace RIQUEWIHR, a mediaeval town with cobblestone streets and colourful houses that seem to come out of a fairy tale and that inspired scenes of the Beauty and the Beast movie. RIBEAUVILLE, with its historic centre and ruined castles that dominate the town. STRASBOURG, arrival in the evening. We suggest walking through the cathedral area and Petite France, full of charming places and small restaurants.

Time in STRASBOURG, the capital of Alsace. The city is the seat of the European Parliament. Its historic centre is wonderful with its picturesque mediaeval streets, its impressive Gothic cathedral and its canals and flowers. We include a boat trip through the canals of Petite France, where we include the entrance to a traditional Champagne cellar and there we will learn during the visit and tasting, the secrets of the most famous sparkling drink in the world. After that, we´ll make a brief stop in EPERNAY, the capital of Champagne, for a stroll through this charming little town where some of the most famous wineries in the world are located. We will continue to PARIS, arriving in the evening.

After breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport (depending on the flight timings). End of our services.