8D/7N - 2020 Bordeaux Grands Crus & Essential Dordogne

day 1 Bordeaux: Arrival Transfer

Pick up at the airport or at the train station in Bordeaux and private transfer to your centrally located accommodation in Bordeaux.

day 2 Saint-Émilion Wine Tour Full Day

The wine region of Libournais encompasses much of what is referred to as the Right Bank. Named after its historical capital, the expression Right Bank typically refers to wines from the Pomerol and St Emilion areas of the Libournais. There are several villages around the region that share the Saint-Émilion name, such as Montagne-Saint Émilion and StGeorges-Saint Émilion that are named the satellite appellations. The area is bordered to the west by Pomerol. Merlot is the dominant grape in this area, followed by Cabernet Franc and a very small quantity of Malbec that is tending to disappear. The climate and damper, cool soils of the area make it difficult for Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to fully ripen and as such is less often used. Saint Émilion wines were first classified in 1955 and have been continuously revised with the most recent revision occurring in 2012. Chateaus are divided into two First Growth Classification -Premiers Grands Crus Classés A, which currently includes Château Ausone, Château Cheval Blanc, Château Pavie and Château Angélus and Premiers Grands Crus Classés B which currently includes 14 chateaux such as Château Beau-Séjour Bécot and Château Figeac. Below the Premiers crus are the Grands Crus Classés which currently includes 63 chateaux.
Today, depart for the Saint Emilion wine region and enjoy a visit and wine tasting in a famous Classified Growth Chateau of the Pomerol or Saint Emilion appellation. Then, arrive in the village and participate in another visit of a Classified Growth Chateau. After the visit, follow a commented tasting that will take place in the village and that will include wines from the surrounding appellations such as Pomerol, Cotes de Castillon, Lussac, Montagne or Saint Georges Saint Emilion. Then discover the village on foot and free time for personal discovery and lunch. In the afternoon, experience another visit and wine tasting session in a local winery of the Pomerol or Saint Emilion wine producing region. The wine tasting fees, the guided walking tour of the village and bottled water in the minivan are all included.

day 3 Medoc Wine Tour Full Day

The Medoc area covers approximately 5,700 hectares of declared vineyards, annually producing on average 300,000 hectoliters of wine. Of the grape varieties permitted, 50% of the viticultural area is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and to a lesser extent Petit Verdot and Malbec. Also allowed within the AOC regulations are the varieties Cabernet Franc and Carménère. The region you will head to spans from the mouth of the river down south and includes the four famous communes of St Estephe, Pauillac, St Julien and Margaux.
Today, depart from a centrally located pick up point in Bordeaux and head towards the famous Medoc wine region. During this full day tour, you will experience 3 visits and wine tasting sessions in Classified growth or Cru Bourgeois estates that have been carefully selected for their exceptional setting and quality of wine. During these visits you will learn all there is to know about the history of the estates, the wine making process as well as the techniques used during the wine making. The visits are followed by a wine tasting session. The wineries are usually located in Margaux, Saint Julien, Pauillac or the Haut Medoc appellations. Then, follow the castle road to admire some of the most famous chateaus such as Chateau Margaux, Chateau Palmer or Chateau Pichon Longueville. Wine tasting fees are included and there is bottled water in the vehicles.
day 4 Transfer: Bordeaux-Sarlat

This morning we will come and pick you up at your centrally located accommodation in Bordeaux and transfer you to the Dordogne region. Upon arrival in Sarlat, check in at your accommodation and rest of the day is at leisure.

day 5 Sarlat Gourmet Walking Tour: Villages of the Dordogne

Welcome to Sarlat, one of the most fascinating small towns of France. Today is market day, so follow your guide through the winding streets and stroll through the colourful stalls as he introduces you to the local delicacies. Your tour will include stops where you will taste delicious specialties of the region including duck, cheese, walnut & wine. Begin your tour in front of the tourist information centre. Follow your guide on a fun & informative walk in town to discover the cultural and gastronomic highlights this beautiful town has to offer. First, reach cathedral square a perfect setting for an introduction to the most impressive architectural wonders of the town. Admire the Maison de la Boetie private mansion, home to writer Etienne de la Boetie and then wander through the Market with your guide to taste some of the local specialties. After some free time for personal discovery and lunch, meet your guide and depart for your afternoon tour.
Drive to the beautiful village of Domme. With its trapezoid city plan, Domme is a bastide (a fortified medieval town) adapted to the surrounding terrain, and thus falling short of the rectangular city plan characteristic to bastides. The village is classified as one of the “Plus Beaux Villages de France” (The Most Beautiful Villages of France). In 1307, Knight Templars were imprisoned in Domme while during the Hundred Years’ War, the Bastid was coveted by the English who first took the town in 1347 and repeatedly changed rulers throughout the war until 1437 when it finally fell under French rule again. Then drive to La Roque Gageac and enjoy a peaceful cruise on the Dordogne River on board an authentic Gabarre to admire mighty castles that line the river.
Finally, reach Beynac to admire the village and the Castle. This Middle Ages construction, with its austere appearance, is perched on top of a limestone cliff, dominating the town and the north bank of the Dordogne River. The castle was built from the 12th century by the barons of Beynac (one of the four baronies of Périgord) to close the valley. The sheer cliff face being sufficient to discourage any assault from that side, the defences were built up on the plateau: double crenelated walls, double moats, one of which was a deepened natural ravine, double barbican.
day 6 Palaeolithic Art of the Dordogne
Some 15,000 years B.C. unknown artists created breathtaking cave paintings of which the most extraordinary examples are found in the Dordogne area. Today you will be introduced to this fascinating art and to the people who made it.
Begin the day in Les Eyzies de Tayac for a guided visit of the National Prehistory Museum. Opened in 2004, this national museum possesses the largest collection of prehistoric artefacts in the world. Continue to Montignac where you will visit Lascaux IV cave, a perfect reproduction of the original cave. Opened in 2016, Lascaux IV is a triumph of technology. Unlike any other cave visits, Lascaux 4 is employing different set designs, displays, state-of-the-art interactive workshops and immersive technology to bring it to life. In fact, the atmosphere inside the replica cave is just like that of a real cave: dark, damp and muffled.
Finally, end the tour with the visit of Rouffignac Cave that possesses original and authentic etchings and drawings. The Rouffignac cave was already mentioned in 1575 by François de Belleforest. In his Cosmographie universelle he cites “paintings and animal traces”. In the 19th century the cave was known as a tourist attraction. Famous archaeologists like Henry Breuil, André Glory and Martel had visited the cave in the early 20th century, but it was only in 1956 when Louis-René Nougier and Romain Robert, two prehistorians from the Pyrenees, rediscovered and confirmed the cave art. .

day 7 Rocamadour & Padirac: Half Day Tour (shared tour)
Depart for the pilgrimage and fortress village of Rocamadour that has attracted visitors for its setting in a gorge above a tributary of the River Dordogne. The village is renowned for its historical monuments and its sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which for centuries has brought pilgrims from every country, among them kings, bishops, and nobles. Follow your guide and visit the renowned Notre Dame Chapel, part of an extraordinary 13C chapel complex perched on a cliff and one of the most dramatic pilgrimage sites in Europe. Enjoy some free time for personal discovery and return to Sarlat. Lunch will be at leisure. This afternoon discover Padirac cave with a boat tour After an extraordinary boat journey along the Rivière Plane, the vault rises, the walls move further apart, and the Lac de la Pluie appears… This area of constant seepage is an unbelievable, unique vision. The ceiling is thinner and more fissured, so it lets in raindrops from ground level that constantly replenish this underground lake.The raindrops carry dissolved limestone, which they deposit in the form of stalactites that, over the centuries, have come to form spectacular decorations. Just above, the Grande Pendeloque (Great Chandelier), a 60-m-long series of calcite formations, hangs in mid-air, as though it were the set piece for an unusual theatre. 5.00pm Return to Sarlat and night at your hotel.
day 8 Departure

Your tour comes to an end after breakfast

Inclusions: private arrival transfer, 3* or 4* hotel sharing a double or twin, breakfast daily, services of an expert English speaking driver guide in Bordeaux and Sarlat, 2 full days scheduled small group tours to the Médoc and Saint Émilion, the Discovery Collection, 6 visits with tastings at classified chateaus of Bordeaux, private transfer Bordeaux/Sarlat, guided walking tours of Sarlat, Rocamadour, guided tour of the Prehistory museum, boat ride on the River Dordogne, visit and entrance fees of the Rouffignac and Lascaux caves, walking tours in: Saint Émilion, Beynac and Domme villages, travel in modern fully equipped minivans, small group scheduled tours (minimum 2, maximum 8 participants), bottled water, free Wifi access on board the vehicles.
Excluding: entrance fees other than mentioned in the program, meals, drinks, personal expenses and insurance, gratuities for the driver/guide