Duration
8 Days
Physical rate
Moderate
Starting city
Paris
Available
April 2024 / March 2025
Detailed day by day description
Introduction
Dear Traveler: thank you for choosing us to perform this Tour! We hope you enjoy your trip.
Here we give you a guidance on their tour with the information that we believe may be of your interest. The information is indicative, may exist variations on designated hours.
TRANSFER from the airport, if you have it included or purchasing. Our transfer will be waiting for you with a poster on behalf of Europamundo or its name to the output of the custom (after collecting your luggage)..
Remember to inform us by phone if you lost your connection flight or expected delay of their arrival, in your VOUCHER figure the phone of the transfer.
IMPORTANT: If you had additional nights upon arrival the hotel will have your reservation, but his travel guide normally will not be until the night before the start of the tour.
Optional Activities: During your trip, your guide will likely offer optional activities. If these activities are available in the Europamundo app or through your "My Trip" link, we strongly recommend booking them well in advance to ensure availability. Waiting until the last minute often means missing out on the opportunity to participate due to lack of tickets, coach seats, etc.
Joining the tour at the designated meeting point and time is crucial. Please verify these details in advance, as there are multiple joining points available. If you have any questions, contact Europamundo before your trip using the emergency telephone number or the chat feature on your "My Trip" website.
Please be on time as we travel together in a group; everyone´s cooperation is essential for a successful trip.
Enjoy your tour!
Note: If we have very few English-speaking passengers on board, the guide assigned to the journey between Paris and Tours may not be fluent in English.
08:00 a.m. – Departure from Paris (time may vary depending on the hotel pick up points).
10:30 a.m. - Blois. Arrival in the center of the Loire Valley, a lively town dominated by its stunning castle. We recommend a stroll through its charming center.
11:45 a.m. - Departure from Blois.
12:15 p.m. - Tours. Brief stop for lunch.
03:30 p.m. - Departure from Tours.
04:00 p.m. - Villandry. Admission included to the gardens of this magnificent castle, considered the most beautiful gardens in France.
05:30 p.m. - Departure from Villandry.
06:15 p.m. - Amboise. Arrival in this picturesque town on the banks of the Loire Valley where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life in the Clos Lucé Castle. Dinner included.
Scenery: Get your cameras ready as we cruise along the scenic River Loire, dotted with picturesque villages and stunning castles along our route.
Today, we will explore the Loire Valley region in greater depth.
08:00 a.m. - First thing in the morning, after a walk in Amboise, you´ll have some free time to explore the area around Château du Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last three years (admission not included).
10:30 a.m. – Departure from Amboise.
11:00 a.m. – Chenonceau. Spanning the river Cher like a bridge, many consider this to be the most beautiful castle in the Loire Valley. Its interior is also splendidly well-preserved. Tickets included.
12:30 p.m. – Departure from Chenonceau. We will continue our journey along charming local roads towards Chambord.
01:30 p.m. – Chambord. Time available to explore the park of this immense Loire castle and have lunch.
03:30 p.m. – Departure from Chambord. We will travel towards the center of France, passing through picturesque villages on our way.
06:45 p.m. - Limoges. Arrival in the city renowned for its long tradition in porcelain production. We recommend taking a stroll through the cathedral district.
Scenery: Small roads and mediaeval villages. Beautiful views of the Dordogne Valley. We recommend comfortable footwear since we plan on visiting the caves.
08:00 a.m. - Departure from Limoges. We’ll head towards the Dordogne region, home to one of the great historic rivers in central France. Few regions contain so many charming villages and enchanting landscapes.
09:15 a.m. – Lascaux. We’ll visit the museum and the replica of the caves (tickets included) and learn about the site’s prehistoric times with its magnificent cave paintings.
11:15 a.m. – Departure from Lascaux. We’ll head south with pretty hillside scenery and charming villages on our way.
01:00 p.m. – Sarlat. We´ll arrive in this city, considered one of the most beautiful in France and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its incredibly well-preserved medieval and Renaissance historic center. We´ll have time to stroll through its picturesque streets and enjoy lunch.
03:15 p.m. – We´ll depart from Sarlat, enjoying the pleasant scenery and vineyards along the way.
03:30 p.m. – Beynac. A few minutes from Sarlat in the heart of the Dordogne valley, we’ll stop in this beautiful medieval village. Set atop one of the most impressive cliffs in the valley, overlooking the river, is its magnificent castle (entrance fee included). You´ll admire the stunning views over the Dordogne Valley and learn more about life in the Middle Ages.
04:30 p.m. – Departure from Beynac.
06:00 p.m. – Rocamadour. We´ll visit this important sanctuary town overlooked by its castle, considered one of the most beautiful towns in France. Don’t miss a stroll around its charming streets and we suggest walking down the Via Crucis and taking the lift back up. Our guide will accompany you to the entrance to the medieval village before giving you your rooms in the hotel. Dinner included.
Scenery: Very beautiful scenery in the Dordogne region. We recommend comfortable footwear since we´ll be visiting the Padirac cave.
08:30 a.m. – Departure from Rocamadour. Beautiful views of the Dordogne countryside.
09:00 a.m. – Padirac Chasm. We´ll include tickets to visit this impressive cave, regarded as the most significant in France. The visit will include a boat ride, facilitated by three lifts descending to its underground river.
Note: The Padirac Chasm may be closed from November until the end of March due to weather conditions.
11:15 a.m. – Departure from Padirac.
12:00 p.m. - Collonges la Rouge. A small village full of charm built with red stone on the Way of St. James. Time for lunch and to take a stroll.
14:30 p.m. – Departure from Collonges-la-Rouge.
17:00 p.m. - Saint-Emilion, at the heart of the Bordeaux wine-producing region, is a beautiful medieval village that has derived its wealth from wine production for over 2000 years. You will have time to explore and stroll through its picturesque streets.
06:00 p.m. – Departure from Saint-Emilion. We’ll travel towards Bourdeaux, admiring the vineyard landscapes throughout the journey.
07:00 p.m. - Bordeaux – Arrival, accommodation. We recommend taking a stroll around the historic center of this city, situated on the banks of the River Garonne.
Scenery: Picturesque vineyard landscapes.
Take time to savor the center of Bordeaux, which has been recognized as a World Heritage Site. You´ll marvel at the "Water Mirror" and stroll through the old town with its pedestrian streets and 11th-century cathedral. Admission to the Cité du Vin is included (with audio tour in English, Spanish or French), offering an immersive experience into the region´s wine history and production, complete with a wine tasting at the viewpoint overlooking Bordeaux. Later, you´ll have free time to stroll and enjoy lunch along the banks of the Garonne River, a charming area filled with small restaurants.
02:30 p.m. Departure from Bordeaux. We will continue our journey towards the Pyrenees.
06:00 p.m. - Arrival in Lourdes. Time to visit the Sanctuary. We recommend attending the candlelight procession, typically held at 9 p.m. from late March to late October. Dinner included.
Scenery: Beautiful mountain landscapes in the morning and picturesque towns along the route.
07:30 a.m. - Departure from Lourdes. We’ll follow the historic Way of St. James, crossing the Pyrenees amidst tall summits and stunning landscapes, entering Spain through the Navarra region.
10:30 a.m. - Roncesvalles. We’ll visit the beautiful Gothic Collegiate Church of Santa María, renowned for its 14th-century sculpture of the Virgin Mary.
11:30 a.m. - Departure from Roncesvalles. We’ll travel through mountains, meadows, valleys, and picturesque towns steeped in Basque traditions as we head to the capital of Navarra.
12:30 p.m. - Pamplona. Known for its bull runs during the San Fermín festival, Pamplona is a key city on the Way of St. James. Enjoy a stroll and lunch at Plaza del Castillo in the city center, famous for its pintxo bars.
02:30 p.m. - Departure from Pamplona.
03:15 p.m. - Olite. This little charming town features a 13th-century Gothic castle, once the residence of the kings of Navarra. It is one of the most impressive city-fortresses in Spain.
04:30 p.m. - Departure from Olite. We’ll journey towards the highlands of Soria, in Castilla. Our route will pass through sparsely inhabited lands.
09:15 p.m. - Madrid.
Note: Please be aware that the hotel check-out time is usually 10:00 a.m. You can leave your luggage in reception upon check-out, allowing you to explore the city without carrying your bags. You can retrieve your luggage at your convenience later in the day. If you require additional time to use your room, we recommend booking an extra night at the end of your tour.