Travel to Saint-Émilion for a wine tasting and dinner on an optional evening excursion from Bordeaux. Sample wines associated with this celebrated growing area and enjoy a meal in the heart of Bordeaux wine country.

Saint-Émilion’s vineyards and limestone-built town reflect a long relationship between place and winemaking. This experience offers a closer taste of that heritage beyond Bordeaux itself. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

• 3 Dinner (D)
• 8 Breakfast (B)

• Bordeaux: See Bordeaux’s boulevards, squares and 18th-century architecture on an orientation drive through the city. Set on the Garonne River, Bordeaux has long been shaped by trade and winemaking, with a historic centre that reflects its place as one of France’s best-known wine capitals.
• Bordeaux: Explore Bordeaux with a Local Specialist, from Place des Quinconces, one of Europe’s largest public squares, to the Grand Théâtre, built in the 18th century. See Place de la Bourse reflected in the Miroir d’Eau, follow the riverfront to medieval Porte Cailhau, then continue through Saint-Pierre Quarter to Bordeaux Cathedral.
• Moissac: Get to know Moissac on an orientation before viewing the UNESCO-listed Abbey of Saint-Pierre, one of the key monastic sites on the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Known for its Romanesque cloister and richly sculpted portal, the abbey reveals the religious importance and artistic legacy that shaped this part of southwestern France.
• Albi: Visit Sainte-Cécile Cathedral, built almost entirely in brick and known as the largest cathedral of its kind in the world. Inside, you’ll see this UNESCO-listed site’s vast scale and decoration reflect the power of the Catholic Church in this part of France, while its fortress-like exterior reveals a very different side of religious architecture.
• Albi: Visit the Palais de la Berbie Gardens, laid out beside the former bishops’ palace high above the Tarn River. As you explore these formal gardens, you’ll see how their design, setting and views connect to the power once held here, with a vantage point that also gives you a wider look at Albi and its historic centre.
• Rocamadour: Explore Rocamadour, the UNESCO-listed village built into the cliff above the Alzou Canyon. As you make your way through its steep streets and religious landmarks, you’ll see why this dramatic hillside setting became one of France’s most important pilgrimage sites and remains one of the best-known places in the Dordogne region.
• Sarlat-la-Caneda: Browse Sarlat’s market, where you can see how market shopping still shapes daily life in France. As you move through the stalls, you’ll find local produce and regional specialities sold in the streets and squares of the old town.
• Lascaux: Visit Lascaux II and explore the replica caves created to protect the original prehistoric paintings nearby. As you walk through the chambers, you’ll see the animal figures and Paleolithic art that made Lascaux one of the most important prehistoric sites in Europe.
• Loire Valley: Travel into the Loire Valley, where the Loire River, vineyard landscapes, historic towns and château-lined horizons introduce one of France’s best-known regions. As the scenery changes, you’ll get your first look at the valley that became a centre of royal power, architecture and court life.
• Amboise: Join a Local Specialist to discover the design of the Loire Valley’s largest château. Built for Francis I from 1519, Chambord brings you into the scale of French Renaissance architecture and the royal ambition behind one of France’s most recognisable châteaus.
• Paris: Join a Local Specialist to discover the hidden squares and secret lanes of Paris.

• Selected hotel dinners plus a locally hosted meal
• 4-star stays
• Deluxe coach travel

Trafalgar

Discover Bordeaux on an orientation drive through its boulevards and squares, gaining a first look at the grand architecture of this Garonne River city. Pause at Place des Quinconces, one of Europe’s largest public squares.

Bordeaux’s elegant streets reflect centuries of river trade and the prosperity of its wine industry. The drive offers a sense of the city’s layout and character, from its monumental public spaces to its lively urban centre.

Explore Bordeaux on foot with a Local Specialist, taking in the Grand Théâtre and Place de la Bourse before seeing the latter reflected in the riverfront Miroir d’Eau. Follow the historic streets past Porte Cailhau, through the Saint-Pierre Quarter and towards Bordeaux Cathedral.

The walk reveals a city shaped by medieval trade and 18th-century prosperity. Its limestone facades, old gateways and squares show why Bordeaux’s historic centre is recognised for its architectural heritage.

Get to know Moissac on an orientation of this historic town before viewing the Abbey of Saint-Pierre. Look for the sculpted portal that makes the abbey one of southwestern France’s notable examples of Romanesque art.

The abbey formed part of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela and is celebrated for its Romanesque cloister. Its religious and artistic legacy offers a window into the journeys and beliefs that connected medieval communities across Europe.

Visit Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in Albi and see the contrast between its fortress-like brick exterior and richly decorated interior. Explore the formal Palais de la Berbie Gardens beside the former bishops’ palace, with views across the Tarn River.

These landmarks reveal the influence of the medieval Church in Albi. The cathedral’s imposing scale and the palace’s commanding riverside position give the UNESCO-listed historic centre its distinctive character.

Explore Rocamadour’s steep streets and religious landmarks, set into a limestone cliff above the Alzou Canyon. Take in the layered village and its dramatic position in the Dordogne region at your own pace.

For centuries, pilgrims have travelled to Rocamadour’s sanctuary. The close connection between its sacred buildings and the cliff face makes this more than a scenic village visit: its landscape is part of the story of pilgrimage itself.

Meet the Chambon family at Domaine de Vielcroze in the Périgord Noir. Explore their oil mill, walnut grove and truffle field, and learn how the family hunts for truffles with their dog. Sample produce from the estate and share a hosted three-course dinner.

Walnuts and black truffles are closely tied to Dordogne food traditions. Hearing how the family cultivates and prepares them brings a personal perspective to the skills and flavours preserved at this working estate.

Browse Sarlat’s market stalls among the streets and squares of its old town. Look for Dordogne specialities such as walnuts, truffles, duck products and seasonal produce, with time to explore the market at your own pace.

Sarlat’s honey-coloured stone buildings provide a striking setting for an everyday French ritual. The market offers a direct encounter with the ingredients and food traditions that shape cooking across the Périgord.

Visit Lascaux II to walk through replicas of chambers from the original cave and see reproductions of its prehistoric animal paintings. The replicas offer a close look at the scale and movement of Paleolithic art while helping protect the fragile originals nearby.

Discovered in 1940, the original Lascaux cave transformed understanding of prehistoric artistic expression. This visit makes its imagery accessible without placing further pressure on the ancient site.

Take in the Loire Valley’s river landscapes as you travel through a region of vineyards, historic towns and château-lined horizons. The changing scenery gives a broad view of the setting that made this part of France a centre of court life.

The Loire and its tributaries shaped where communities, estates and royal residences developed. Seeing the wider landscape adds context to the valley’s celebrated architecture and its long-standing connection with French history.

Visit Château de Chambord with a Local Specialist to discover the scale and design of the Loire Valley’s largest château. Examine the royal ambition expressed in its Renaissance architecture and elaborate roofline.

Construction began in 1519 for Francis I, who envisioned Chambord as a display of power and artistic taste. Its distinctive silhouette captures a period when French royal patronage reshaped the architecture of the Loire Valley.

Step into Pâtisserie Chocolaterie Bigot in Amboise to learn about techniques behind French pastry and chocolate-making. Meet a family business where traditional skills remain central to the craft.

Founded in 1913, Bigot offers a close look at how specialist know-how passes between generations. The visit supports a long-established local business and connects the Loire Valley’s food culture with the people who continue to practise it.

Discover Paris on a panoramic tour with a Local Specialist, gaining an introduction to the French capital’s streets, architecture and neighbourhoods. See how the city’s broad avenues and historic districts fit together from a wider perspective.

Paris has been shaped by centuries of royal, artistic and civic life. The specialist’s commentary adds context to the cityscape, helping you recognise the different layers of history behind its familiar urban character.

Visit Château des Milandes on an optional excursion in the Dordogne. Explore the château associated with entertainer and activist Josephine Baker, who made it her family home.

The château’s story connects a historic French estate with Baker’s remarkable 20th-century life. Its setting in the Périgord offers another perspective on the region beyond its villages and prehistoric sites. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Experience the Dordogne River with wine and local tastings on an optional excursion. Enjoy the river setting while sampling regional flavours that reflect the food and wine traditions of southwestern France.

The Dordogne runs through a landscape of wooded hills, historic villages and fertile valleys. Taking it in from the river offers a different sense of the region’s character and pace. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

See Château de Blois illuminated on an optional evening experience. Light brings the royal residence’s facades into focus and offers a way to encounter its architecture and history after dark.

Closely linked to French monarchs, the château brings together architectural styles from different eras in one Loire Valley landmark. Its evening presentation highlights that layered past against the setting of Blois. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.