Day 1:
Arrive Paris
Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Sofitel Paris Baltimore. A transfer is included upon arrival from Charles de Gaulle or Orly airport to the Sofitel Paris Baltimore, ideally located steps from the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the elegant Champs Élysées. Join us tonight for a welcome reception and dinner, prepared by a Michelin-starred chef.
Overnight: Sofitel Paris Baltimore
Meals Included: D
Day 2:
Medieval art & lunch at the Eiffel Tower
Discover the landmark sights of Paris today with a locally guided visit to Musée de Cluny (Le Monde Médiéval) located in the lively Latin Quarter and home to the famous Lady and the Unicorn tapestries. Enjoy lunch amidst stunning views of the city at a French brasserie in the Eiffel Tower. The remainder of the day is free.
Overnight: Sofitel Paris Baltimore
Meals Included: B, L
Day 3:
Art & wine in Montmartre and a tasting lunch
Drive to hilltop Montmartre today for a morning of sightseeing, choosing to walk along the cobblestone walkways or ride aboard the Petit Train to the start of your walking tour in this artsy village. Visit Musée du Montmartre, set in a 17th-century manor house where local artists, including Auguste Renoir, Raoul Dufy, and Maurice Utrillo would meet to discuss their art. Enjoy a private visit to Montmartre winery, regarded today as the last operational vineyard in Paris. A walking tour follows with lunch in a classic French bistro.
Overnight: Sofitel Paris Baltimore
Meals Included: B, L
Day 4:
TGV to Lyon & a feast of Lyonnaise specialties
Board a fast TGV train bound for Lyon this morning, arriving in the culinary capital of France for a locally guided walking tour through the heart of Old Town, pausing for a taste of local specialties. Take funicular up to Fourviere and the Basilica with fantastic views of the City of Lyon, then continue to your hotel on the banks of the Rhône and join us this evening for dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight: InterContinental Lyon - Hôtel Dieu
Meals Included: B, L, D
Day 5:
Landmarks of Lyon
This morning, head to Vieux Lyon for a locally guided walking tour through the heart of Old Town and a visit to a silk weaving workshop. In addition to its gastronomic pleasures, Lyon is known as the world's silk capital with a history dating back more than 2,000 years. Stroll through Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, the city's famed indoor market, where stalls overflow with cheeses, charcuterie, chocolates, and regional specialties beloved by chefs and locals alike, followed by lunch at a local restaurant and the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight: InterContinental Lyon - Hôtel Dieu
Meals Included: B, L
Day 6:
Drive to the Dordogne
Leave Lyon this morning and drive to the Dordogne, stopping en route in the Auvergne region to view its dormant volcanoes and enjoy a cheese tasting and lunch in the village of Orcival. Continue on to your hotel in Périgord Noir, known for its rich history and stunning natural landscapes. Enjoy an aperitif and expert lecture on the region's prehistoric sights, before dinner prepared by a Michelin-starred chef.
Overnight: Hotel les Glycines
Meals Included: B, L, D
Day 7:
Château de Beynac and Sarlat
Begin your day with an experience for Tauck guests only – an early opening private visit to 12th-century Château de Beynac, one of the best preserved and most famous feudal castles in Périgord. Enjoy free time in the village of Beynac before a stop at La Roque-Gageac; perched between a soaring limestone cliff and the tranquil Dordogne River, La Roque-Gageac unfolds like a storybook village – its golden stone houses embracing the rockface, exotic gardens thriving in a microclimate below, and ancient troglodyte fortifications (defensive structures) adding layers of history to every winding lane. Continue on to the sun-dappled, stone-paved streets of Sarlat, a beautifully preserved medieval town known for its golden limestone architecture and lively market squares; you'll have a short orientation tour, then free time to spend as you please. Return to Les Eyzies. where this evening you'll have time to experience the town as you wish.
Overnight: Hotel les Glycines
Meals Included: B, D
Day 8:
Legends, landscapes & the art of Lascaux
This morning, venture to the mysterious lost village of Madeleine, an evocative prehistoric settlement perched above the Vézère River. Here, stone ruins and ancient terraces whisper stories of the people who once thrived in this rugged landscape, offering a fascinating glimpse into human history. Continue to the exquisite gardens of Eyrignac, where meticulously sculpted boxwoods, cypresses, and yews create a living masterpiece – an ever-changing canvas of green, shaped by centuries of horticultural artistry. This afternoon, your exploration takes one of two paths. You may choose leisure time to soak in the Dordogne's charm at your own pace, or join a guided walking tour of Les Eyzies, famed as the "Capital of Prehistory." As you wander its charming lanes and dramatic limestone cliffs, you'll discover the village's close ties to some of the world's most important archaeological finds. The evening promises an unforgettable finale: a private, torch-lit tour of the Lascaux IV caves – an exacting, state-of-the-art replica of the original, adorned with Paleolithic paintings over 17,000 years old. Conclude your day with an exclusive dinner at the Lascaux IV Museum, where a Michelin-starred chef crafts a meal inspired by the region's rich culinary traditions.
Overnight: Hotel les Glycines
Meals Included: B, D
Day 9:
Medieval Saint-Émilion & Bordeaux
Depart for Saint-Émilion this morning, stopping for a private tour and wine tasting at Château de Ferrand; dating to 1702 and owned by the same family since 1978. Drive through the countryside through the heart of wine country for a walking tour of Saint-Émilion with a local guide and free time for lunch. Have dinner at your leisure in your hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Burdigala by Inwood Hotels
Meals Included: B, D
Day 10:
Best of Bordeaux, your way
Explore the beautiful city of Bordeaux on a locally guided sightseeing tour and during free time, by trolley if you wish, to discover the sights on your own. Nestled on the Garonne River, Bordeaux is home to more than 350 historic buildings, monuments, museums and galleries, the multi-level La Cité du Vin center and some of the best food in France.
Overnight: Hotel Burdigala by Inwood Hotels
Meals Included: B
Day 11:
The Medoc and the Route des Grand Vins
Travel along the Route des Grand Vins, enjoying the scenery and stopping at different châteaux for guided visits, lunch and tastings. Visit the village of Blaye, a key French seaport for centuries. Return to Bordeaux for an evening spent as you please.
Overnight: Hotel Burdigala by Inwood Hotels
Meals Included: B, L
Day 12:
Bordeaux to Biarritz
Savor the seaside scenery in Arachon, famous for being the site of Europe's tallest sand dune, the Dune of Pilat, and for the oyster beds that make the town a haven for seafood lovers; enjoy lunch overlooking the beach. Continue to Biarritz in France's Basque country for a two-night stay. Your grand dame hotel, once the palatial summer residence of Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie, overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and offers views of the Bay of Biscay.
Overnight: Hôtel du Palais Biarritz
Meals Included: B, L
Day 13:
Basque villages
Embark on a guided sightseeing drive through the Basque countryside surrounding Biarritz, stopping to sample a taste of daily life and immerse in Basque traditions as you view arts and crafts workshops and more. Join us tonight for our farewell dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Hôtel du Palais Biarritz
Meals Included: B, D
Day 14:
Journey Home
Tour ends: Hôtel du Palais. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Hôtel du Palais to Biarritz Airport. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in.
Overnight: Meals Included: B
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