| FRANCE: SOUTHWEST TOUR
12 days/ 11 nights including Bordeaux (wine
capital), Arcachon, Dune du Pilat, Biarritz, Saint-Jean de Luz, Pau, Lourdes,
Pyrenees Mountains, Toulouse, Carcassonne (medieval fortress), Albi, Pech
Merle, Rocamadour, Sarlat, Dordogne, Saint-Emilion and more.
DEPARTURES: Please
contact us for more details
Over the last half-century, the French
have aggressively and tenaciously recovered, and although recently rocked
by the violent protests of youth, modern France is a strong economic force
and a consequential leader among European nations. Its presidential democracy
is stable and it proudly stood at the forefront in the development of
the European Union (EU).
France today is a sophisticated powerhouse
of architecture, art, cinema, cuisine, fashion, literature, music and
wine. Its countless attractions, enchanting culture and pastoral countryside
attract more visitors than any other country on the planet.
As always, the celebration of life continues
here, non-stop, so pop the cork and fill your glass to the brim with the
sparkling champagne that is France. Viva La France
Itinerary:
Day 01:
Bordeaux - city tour - wine tasting - Bordeaux
In the morning, your personal driver-guide collects you from
your Bordeaux accommodation (not included), airport or railway
station. This first day of our tour is dedicated to Bordeaux,
the wine capital. Besides wine, Bordeaux also offers an interesting
architecture, with 5,000 odd buildings from the 18th century,
all built in the local ocher stone. Numerous amazing sculptures.
Wine caves tour. Accommodation overnight out of Bordeaux town,
in a quiet and picturesque hotel. (L,D)
Day 02: Bordeaux -
Arcachon - Biarritz
Arcachon waterfront tour. Dune du Pilat: an enormous, ever
changing sand dune. Accommodation two nights in Biarritz area,
a popular holiday resort on the Atlantic coast. (B,L,D)
Day 03: Biarritz - Saint-Jean-de-Luz
- Biarritz
Biarritz tour: Rocher de la Vierge, waterfront, old port.
In the afternoon, tour to Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the Corniche
Basque. Abbadie Castle, Urrugne Church, Uturbie Castle. Cogwheel
train ride to the Rhune, the icon mountain of the Pays Basque:
splendid panorama over the Atlantic Ocean, Landes Forest and
Pyrenees Mountains. Second night in Biarritz.(B,L,D)
Day 04: Biarritz - Pau
- Lourdes - Luz-Saint-Sauveur
Pau, the birthplace of King Henri IV of France: boulevard
tour, Henri IV castle tour. Lourdes, a pilgrimage city where
the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared several times (tour
of the most important spots). Two nights in Luz-Saint-Sauveur.
(B,L,D)
Day 05:
Luz-Saint-Sauveur
Val Jeret tour: Lutour waterfall, Gaube lake. Garvanie valley.
Natural landscapes and nature walks. Second night in Luz-Saint-Sauveur.
(B,L,D)
Day 06:
Luz-Saint-Sauveur - Saint-Lary-Soulan
Scenic road from Luz-Saint-Sauveur to Sainte-Marie-de-Campan:
Tourmalet pass, Pyrenees Mountains panorama, Garet cascade.
In the afternoon, Aspin pass, Oredon lake, Aumar lake. Néouvielle
mountains and nature reserve (part of the Pyrénées). Overnight
in Saint-Lary-Soulan. (B,L,D)
Day 07:
Saint-Lary-Soulan - Toulouse - Carcassonne
Discover Toulouse, a city with mixed colors and architectural
periods. Renaissance courtyards, Saint-Raymond museum (archeology).
Carcassonne, an amazing city-fortress. Two nights near Carcassonne.
(B,L,D)
Day 08:
Carcassonne - Cabardes - Montolieu - Carcassonne
In the morning, Carcassonne tour: Europe's largest fortress,
surrounded by a double wall comprising 36 towers. In the afternoon,
driving tour of the area including Villelongue Abbey (13th
century), Clamoux Gorge, Conques-sur-Orbiel picturesque village.
Second night in Carcassonne. (B,L,D)
Day 09:
Carcassonne - Albi - Cordes-du-Ciel
Leave Carcassonne to Albi. Albi city tour: Sainte-Cécile cathedral,
Albi la Rouge walk, Toulouse-Lautrec museum. In the afternoon,
short drive to Ambialet village and its fortified castle.
Then on to Cordes-du-Ciel mediaeval town with. Gothic architecture
walk. Overnight in Cordes-du-Ciel. (B,L,D)
Day 10:
Cordes-du-Ciel - Pech Merle Caves - Rocamadour
Pech Merle caves tour: amazing prehistoric cave paintings.
Rocamadour breathtaking historic town. Guided tour in Rocamadour.
Gouffre de Padirac natural site. Overnight in Rocamadour area.
(B,L,D)
Day 11:
Rocamadour - Sarlat
Tourist route Sarlat la Caneda. Picturesque Dordogne valley,
in the South of Périgord area of France. Castelnaud Castle,
Beynac-et-Cazenac cliff village. Sarlat tour: gothic and Renaissance
houses, mediaeval streets. Overnight in Sarlat. (B,L,D)
Day 12:
Sarlat - Saint-Emilion
Saint-Emilion, a pleasant village of the Aquitaine region of France. Village
walk and wine tasting. In the afternoon, drop-off in Bordeaux or at Bordeaux
airport for your transfer to Paris. Au revoir et bon voyage, honorés voyageurs.
(B,L)
Tours must be booked at least 45 days prior to arrival.
Email us at worldexplorertours@gmail.com
or call Toll Free in the USA/Canada 1 (888) 999-2354 for full details.
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