Aquitaine
Aquitaine is the region with the most variety: magnificent capital Bordeaux, the sea, mountains and rivers, the stunning landscape and the « vignoble Bordelais », the famous wine region.
One week is fairly enough to experience that region of France: climb up the Dune du Pilat, visit the medieval cities of the Dordogne and Périgord, the spanish influenced region of the Pays Basque and the Pyrenées, taste some foie gras with a glass of Sauternes or some oysters in Arcachon, make a wine tour in St Emilion or Medoc, try surfing in Biarritz or Hossegor, hike in the Foret des Landes, go up the Rhune by a historic train, visit the caves of Lascaux and its prehistoric paintings, the fabulous gardens of Marqueyssac or Josephine Baker’s château les Milandes…..the list is even longer!
Part of the pilgrim route of Santiago de Compostela goes across the region. The mild oceanic climate makes Aquitaine an ideal place for hiking and horseback riding.
Sample Tour
Here is how we could organize the program for this tour
1
day
ARRIVAL IN BORDEAUX
Arrival in Bordeaux (BOD)
Check in at your Hotel for 5 nights.
2
day
BORDEAUX
Visit of Bordeaux on foot and by bus. During your walk, Bordeaux shows you one of the biggest historic centers of France with the Monument aux Girondins, the Place de la Bourse, the Place du Parlement, the Saint Pierre church.
The visit by bus in the afternoon takes you to the Quartier des Chartons, including the districts Notre-Dame and Mériadeck with the city hall – a visit between traditional and modern.
3
day
THE VINEYARDS
Saint Émilion is one of the most visited and beautiful cities of Aquitaine, surrounded by a world famous and well-preserved vineyard. Visit the subterranean part of the city with its monolithic church and stroll between bourgeois mansions, the Commandery, the convents of the Cordeliers and the Dominicans.
In the afternoon, visit a vineyard nearby, enjoy a wine tasting with cheese or chocolate.
4
day
THE BASSIN D’ARCACHON, LA DUNE DU PYLA, GUJAN MESTRAS
Visit of Arcachon with its extremely mild climate, the “summer city” (which is the city center) and the “winter city” on the heights with all the magnificent villas offering a unique architectural diversity. The sandy shores of the Dune du Pilat stretch over 2.9 kms and form the highest sand dune in Europe, about 110m high.
Enjoy a mini cruise to the heart of the Bay to discover the Ile aux Oiseaux.In Gujan Mestras watch fresh oysters being shucked and taste some of them in one of the “cabanes”.
5
day
THE HAUT MEDOC
Excursion to the Vineyard of Haut Medoc, the country of Castles and Grand Crus. In Blaye visit the citadel on the estuary of the Gironde. Take the marine shuttle from Blaye to Lamarque. The region of Pauillac along the Gironde is home to three of Bordeaux's five first-growth wines: Château Laffite Rothschild, Château Latour and Château Mouton Rothschild. Visit of a cave in Pauillac followed by the discovery of a château in Margaux – both including a guided visit followed by a tasting.
6
day
DEPARTURE
Departure from Bordeaux (BOD)
