You will be traveling from Bordeaux and its world famous vineyards to the fabulous Perigord, renowned for its gastronomy, historical heritage and amazing landscapes.
Our trip was arranged and detailed well in advance, with reservations for activities and places of special interest, and free days with suggestions for things to see and do. We …
Our trip was arranged and detailed well in advance, with reservations for activities and places of special interest, and free days with suggestions for things to see and do. We fell in love with Dordogne and the Paleolithic caves for which we had reserved tours, and were able to take in another cave the next day at the suggestion of our B&B hostess. We would have missed many beautiful places, and certainly missed the fine lodgings and conversation with fellow travelers, had we not had the help of France Just for You. Emilie stayed in touch and resolved issues before we even knew about them, so we wasted no time and experienced no frustration at all.
#1 - A typical Bordeaux house, in the heart of the cityA Bordeaux classical architecture
#1 - A typical Bordeaux house, in the heart of the cityMixed with modern touches - which makes the place very special
#1 - A typical Bordeaux house, in the heart of the cityThe rooms are much larger than usual, being downtown a major city
#1 - A typical Bordeaux house, in the heart of the cityYour lovely hosts are multilinguals. Your host comes from a winemaker family
#1 - A typical Bordeaux house, in the heart of the cityEnjoy the views of Bordeaux roofs !
#2 - A Perigord style house, in central DordogneStay only 15 minutes to Sarlat in the heart of the medieval Dordogne
#2 - A Perigord style house, in central DordogneEnjoy a fantastic dinner by the swimming pool or the fire place
#2 - A Perigord style house, in central DordogneThis medieval castle is walking distance from your B&B
#2 - A Perigord style house, in central DordogneYour lovely hosts know the region perfectly
Step by step
Bordeaux Region : Wine & Heritage
You may plan to arrive to Bordeaux airport or train station to start this itinerary (or we can help you get there if needed).
Start your journey with 3 nights downtown Bordeaux Unesco city and enjoy discovering this lively city being within walking distance from the different historical districts.
Built along the banks of the Garonne river the opulent merchants' homes are very specific to Bordeaux. The rise of colonial trade together with the growth of the wine industry contributed to the amazing expansion of the Gironde region during the 18th century.
You will find everything you need: from villages nestled into the Medoc or St Emilion vineyards, to the bustling night life in Bordeaux. Also, bear in mind that Bordeaux's Sainte Catherine Street is the longest shopping street in Europe!
In a famous wine estate in Medoc, we have planned a special tour for you: after visiting the estate from the cellars, to the vats, passing by the vineyards to understand the different grape variety, you will play the sorcerer's apprentice and make your own wine (your own blend) to match different chocolates. You'll see that it's not that easy!
Dordogne : quaint villages & gastronomy
Continue your sightseeing expedition in the Dordogne region. In Black Perigord history is around every corner. In the lush river valley, you will spend the following 4 nights in a beautifully restored stone house.
Your lovely hosts will cook a delicious dinner inspired by local traditions. We'll tell you where to find the most typical goat cheeses - and if you like outdoor activities, you'll be in paradise.
Spend a special day with Bea: a private guide in Dordogne. She will take you back to the prehistoric and medieval times . . . away from the beaten paths. Dordogne is famous for the prehistoric caves in Lascaux and we'll recommend you a much more intimate visit, in a 20,000 year old cave. If you are interested in history or if you are a JM Auel reader, this is a must! Visit the old city of Sarlat and feel the buzz of activity on market days.
Another day, let a passionate villager take you on an unforgettable search for the black diamond: Perigord truffles. Nestled in a typical Dordogne hamlet, the view on the surrounding valley is gorgeous. This is an experience you'll remember!
There is a lot to do in this region: medieval castles to visit, wonderful food to taste - we'll tell you where to find the most typical goat cheeses - and if you like outdoor activities, you'll be in paradise.
In Dordogne "to be le Roi Carotte" means that you are the happiest man on earth - we hope that you'll feel like being Le Roi Carotte.
Activities included
Bordeaux Wine tasting & blending
Visit a Medoc wine estate with an English speaking guide: from the vineyards to the wine storehouses. After the tour, you'll make your own blend with different varieties and pair wines with 3 chocolates.
Private Guide in the Dordogne
Spend a special day with Bea in Dordogne. She will take you back to the prehistoric and medieval times...away from the beaten paths.
Truffle Hunt
In Dordogne, spend a memorable time looking for truffles with a passionate professional and his truffle hound.
Without a doubt one of the best vacations my friend and I have ever taken! We keep raving to all about how authentic the trip was. Not only was every aspect of this trip gorgeous from the grape vineyards to the lavender fields to the mountainous towns and cathedrals, but the details were second to none. Emilie and Laura provided my friend and I …
Without a doubt one of the best vacations my friend and I have ever taken! We keep raving to all about how authentic the trip was. Not only was every aspect of this trip gorgeous from the grape vineyards to the lavender fields to the mountainous towns and cathedrals, but the details were second to none. Emilie and Laura provided my friend and I with the perfect girls getaway. When we first planned this trip, we had no idea what an amazing trip would lie ahead.
The B&Bs were absolute perfection, and their owners were lovely and catered to all of our needs. The pools on the grounds of the B&Bs were just beautiful. We loved the delightfully French cuisine laid out on the breakfast tables and the opportunity to meet other travelers. The ten wine tasting with Francois in his range rover and the cooking class with Jacques were highlights for sure! Every day held beautiful travel memories.
The guide book is AMAZING!!! Its easily the best replica we will now have long after the trip was over. Awesome to read long after the trip concludes. The details, the care, and the time put into the plans of our trip were unbelievable. Pictures even how to insert money into the tolls on the highways!! Every question was answered. Note to all: beware the speed check zones!! There are no police on the highways, only boxes with cameras checking speeds randomly and you will get a ticket later on if you exceeded the speed! : ( But that was the only surprise..France was so driveable, packed with roundabouts and gorgeous scenery to see every day!
We cannot thank Emilie and Laura enough for the time and attention they paid to our trip. We were truly blown away by the details in our itinerary, and the beautiful sights we experienced on our travels in France. Thank you again!!!
Ed
This is the third year in a row that we have traveled to France, as part of a two country vacation. Because of our positive experiences with Emilie's help in the past, and our desire to be relatively independent, we chose to have her craft our French trip again this year. In a word, she is incredible! We have such a high level of confidence in her …
This is the third year in a row that we have traveled to France, as part of a two country vacation. Because of our positive experiences with Emilie's help in the past, and our desire to be relatively independent, we chose to have her craft our French trip again this year. In a word, she is incredible! We have such a high level of confidence in her that we will not consider any other agency. She creates an itinerary for you that is faithfully based on your interests. The personalized book she prepares for each traveler is legendary, and presents an easy, chronological, and thoughtful guide and resource for the relevant history, points of interest, lodging and restaurants. The B & B's she uses are personally screened for you, and truly delightful. We know from our hosts, that Emilie is very highly regarded by them, because the clientele she attracts are curious, respectful, independent, and desirable. Emilie personally has inspected the lodging she has arranged to be sure it is first rate, and maintaining it's excellence, over time. Although all of our prior communications have been by internet, the highlight of our trip this year was meeting Emilie in Tours. We wish her continued, well deserved success!
William
Laura did such an amazing job tailoring our dream trip through the south of France. Everything was professionally done and the service and communication were perfect. Thanks to their hard work organising all of the minute details we were able to enjoy and relax all of the fun activities that they planned for us. And the guidebook is an absolute …
Laura did such an amazing job tailoring our dream trip through the south of France. Everything was professionally done and the service and communication were perfect. Thanks to their hard work organising all of the minute details we were able to enjoy and relax all of the fun activities that they planned for us. And the guidebook is an absolute treasure!
