Land Journey

Paris, Dordogne & Bordeaux

All departures are Small Groups averaging 15 or 24 guests
Days
14
From (per Person)
$23,290 AUD
Journey Type
Land
Passengers
15
Time of Year
Apr - Jun, Sep - Oct
Cities & Landmarks
Paris, Lyon, Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, Dordogne, Biarritz, Route des Grand Vins

Dordogne

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Overview

EXPERIENCE WITH TAUCK

All small group departures averaging 24 guests or smaller group departures averaging 15 guests

 

An early opening private visit to 12th-century Château de Beynac, one of the best preserved and most famous feudal castles in Périgord

 

Torch-light visit to Lascaux IV, replicating the Paleolithic paintings in the  prehistoric caves of Dordogne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before dinner prepared by a Michelin-starred chef

 

A private tour and tasting at Château de Ferrand, one of the premier wineries in Saint-Émilion

 

TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES

 Tastings along the Route des Grand Vins

 

A guided visit to Musée de Cluny in the Latin Quarter of Paris to view its medieval art and Ladu and the Unicorn tapestries

 

SEE WHAT YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES

Activity

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Active components such as hiking, bicycling and walking longer distances may be included, and hills and/or uneven terrain may be encountered on several days. Guests should be able to walk two to three miles and stand for long periods of time with no difficulty.

Pace

4
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Consistently robust – very full and active days, extended travel times, use of different modes of local transport, and a possibility of early starts.

View Full Itinerary

Along Europe's Scenic "Yellow Roads"

From the historic monuments of Paris to countryside châteaux in the Dordogne, the lush vineyard-studded landscapes of Bordeaux and the seaside scenery of Basque-inspired Biarritz, the cultural riches of France unfold in a romantic rhapsody of traditions, stories and culinary pleasures, distinctively French. Discover a taste of Parisian pastimes, from the days of its Roman origins to the works of 17th-century artists to wine-making secrets and gourmet fare on visits to acclaimed museums and during lunch at an Eiffel Tower brasserie, a private visit to a centuries-old city vineyard and a foodie tour tempting with classic favorites.

Board a fast train to Lyon where dining delights day and night and local landmarks tell stories of daily life, past and present. Stunning pastoral views of hillside villages and volcanoes seduce during a three-night stay in the Dordogne in southwest France, inspiring with a pre-opening visit to Château de Beynac, guided discovery of the Bastide village of Monpazier and Cadouin Abbey, a private tour of Lascaux IV Caves, replicating the original caves, and a gastronomic dinner by a Michelin-starred chef at Lascaux IV Museum. If you could bottle up the experiences you'll have in Bordeaux, you'd find a bespoke visit to Chateau de Ferrand Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Emilion;, walking tours of wine-making villages, and tasting visits in the Medoc along the Route de Grand Vins. Basque villages, sand dunes and beaches line the seascapes of Biarritz, giving you the opportunity to bask in its coastal charms from your oceanfront accommodations at the former imperial residence of Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie, Hotel du Palais. The memories you'll make will be unforgettable.

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Prehistoric caves in Lascaux

Prehistoric caves in Lascaux

Estimated to be up to 20,000 years old, the Paleolithic cave paintings that were found in caves in the Dordogne region of southwestern France in Lascaux, primarily depict large animals, once native to the region, and are of exceptional quality, size, and sophistication. With the original caves currently closed for preservation purposes, you'll enjoy a private guided torch-light visit to an exacting replica of the UNESCO World Heritage cave site, followed by an exclusive dinner prepared by a Michelin-starred Périgord chef at Lascaux IV Museum.

French Basque country

French Basque country

Nestled along the Atlantic coast in the south of France between Switzerland and Spain, French Basque country enchants with alpine views, coastal charms and culinary treats destination inspired. Villages like Seaside Saint-Jean-du-Lux are treasured places to visit, inviting with great food, natural beauty and cultural history. Here you'll also find the elegant resort town of Biarritz, favored by jet-setters since European nobility began visiting in the 1800s. Stay two nights here in a grand dame hotel overlooking the Ocean that was once the palatial summer residence of Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie and feel like royalty yourself.

A private taste of life at Château de Ferrand

A private taste of life at Château de Ferrand

Saint-Émilion wines are renowned the world over and are traditionally produced on estates centuries-old in this bucolic region of France. Enjoy a private tour and tasting at one of its premier wineries, Château de Ferrand, stunning with panoramic views of the Dordogne Valley. The château dates to 1702 when it was built as a homage to King Louis XIV. It remained in the same family until 1978 when Baron Bich, creator of Bic pens, purchased it. Since 2010, his daughter, Pauline Bich Chandon-Moët and her husband Philippe have brought Château de Ferrand into the 21st century with design-led renovations, ushering in a new era of modernization and excellence in winemaking.

The magic of Montmartre

The magic of Montmartre

Overlooking the city of Paris and sharing its hilltop perch with Sacré-Coeur basilica and an ancient vineyard, Montmartre is one of Paris' most famous villages, charming with cobbled café-lined, streets where local artists, including Auguste Renoir, Raoul Dufy, and Maurice Utrillo, have plied their craft for centuries. Learn more about what inspired them when you go inside Musée du Montmartre, housed in a 17th-century manor house where artists would meet to discuss their art, and enjoy a private visit to Montmartre winery, tucked behind the basilica, for a tour of what is regarded as the last operational vineyard in Paris.

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About Booking This Tour

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Travel Documents

If you are a U.S. citizen traveling internationally, you will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Tauck journey for entry into France. You are not required to obtain a visa for the short duration of this tour.

If you are a citizen of another country traveling internationally, you should contact a French embassy or consulate to determine what travel documentation is required.

Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

To facilitate Travel Requirements, destinations are increasingly utilizing online forms that require digital proof that you've successfully completed your submission (via an email, QR code, etc.) To ensure smooth travels and peace of mind, we strongly recommend all guests carry a personal smart phone and sign up for international data plans before traveling overseas.

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN AS A GUARDIAN: If you are traveling as the guardian of a child/children, we strongly suggest that you carry a letter from both parents of the child authorizing emergency treatment in the event of illness or accident. For travel abroad, many foreign countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling internationally without BOTH parents. (These requirements are in response to the increased incidence of children being abducted and taken abroad.) PLEASE NOTE THAT TAUCK IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for children traveling without both parents.

Deposit & Booking Information

See your travel advisor, or call Tauck at 1800-962-043 to make a reservation.

Deposit Information:

The deposit and the fees for the optional Protection Plan are due at time of booking. Your deposit is AUD $750.

Terms and Conditions:

For additional information pertaining to our Tauck Journeys, including Cancellation Information and Booking Conditions, click here to learn more.

At the time of booking, please have the following information ready:
  • Tour Name and Departure Date Desired
  • Traveler Name(s):  Please have first and last names as they appear on the passport or driver's license.
  • Traveler's Address(es)
  • Traveler's Phone Number(s)
  • Emergency Contact Information: This would be a relative or friend whom we could contact during the tour in the event of an emergency. Please provide their name and phone number(s).
  • Interest in purchasing a travel protection product (US and Canada)
  • Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
  • Interest in our specially negotiated airfares.

Regarding your final payment:

Final Payment is due to the Tauck Australia office 90 days before departure for lands trips, and 120 days before departure for cruises and rail journeys. If your deposit was made by credit card, final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be a considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.

Protect Your Travel Investment

Deposit Protection Plan – Tauck provides a "Deposit Protection Plan" at a cost of AUD $89 per person per tour or cruise. The cost is non-refundable and non-transferable and must be paid at the time of booking with your deposit. It only applies when you cancel your tour or cruise prior to final payment date. The deposit held in credit will exclude fees imposed by third parties in relation to air, rail travel, hotels, transfer or applicable cruise cabins. When booking airfares through Tauck (including when taking advantage of a special offer that includes air travel), standard airline cancellation fees will apply. In some cases, airfares will be non-refundable. In the event of cancellation, these fees will be deducted from the deposit paid, and therefore the credit being held. We will only credit the remainder of deposit to a future tour or cruise booking if you book within 24 months of cancellation of the original Tauck tour or cruise. This offer expires after the 24 months. We will only credit the remainder of the deposit to a future tour or cruise booking Balance Due and it can't be used as a credit for the initial deposit of a future tour or cruise booking. The Tauck "Deposit Protection Plan" only covers a Tauck tour or cruise and it does not replace Travel Insurance, which we recommend at the time of booking.

If You Have To Cancel

If you cancel within 10 days of initial deposit

Within the first 10 days after you place your initial deposit, you may cancel your reservation for any reason with no cancellation fees.

 

If you cancel more than 10 days after initial deposit

Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in costly penalties and fees from hotels, ship operators and other travel providers. Therefore, the per person fees listed below will apply:

 

Land Tours

 

Cancellation penalties for land tours apply as follows:

90 days or more before departure

Loss of Deposit.

 

89-30 days before departure

25% total cost of tour

 

29-1 days or less before departure

50% of total cost of tour

 

Cruises & Train Tours

 

120 days or more before departure

Loss of Deposit.

 

60 days before departure

Loss of 50% of tour cost, not including air (if applicable)

 

59-1 day before departure

Loss of 100% of tour cost, not including air (if applicable)

 

Please note -  Airfares included on On-Tour Flights required with any of Tauck tours may be subject to different cancellation fees not outlined above.

* For services included in your booking that are not provided by Tauck, additional cancellation fees may be incurred

* Travel Professionals may impose their own cancellation fees.

 

Time of cancellation is when notice is received in Tauck's Wilton, CT office.

 

In the event of an unforeseen circumstance beyond our control, Tauck reserves the right to amend the cancellation terms outlined herein.

 

Tour Interruption Fees: If you have to interrupt your tour en route, you may be entitled to a refund for the unused land portion if it exceeds 24 hours; certain restrictions apply. Such refunds are based upon the number of overnights missed less a fee of AUD $50 per person per day for unused transportation and other fixed expenses.

Partial Room Cancellation: A person who cancels or leaves a tour while a roommate remains constitutes a cancellation of one type of accommodation and rebooking of another type of accommodation. The price charged to the remaining person is the new, higher price for the new accommodation.

 

Travel Requirements For This Tour

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Air Information and Luggage Restrictions

AIRFARE: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your air elsewhere, it is very important to provide us with your confirmed arriving and departing flight information no later than 3 weeks before your arrival date. Flight information can be submitted to Tauck (or verified, if you've already provided it) in the My Account section of Tauck.com.

TAUCK AIRPORT TRANSFERS are included at the start and end of the journey between the airport and the Tauck hotel. Airport transfers are available for any pre tour or post tour hotel stays immediately consecutive to the tour, providing flight information is received in the Tauck office no later than three weeks in advance. Details on locating your transfer upon arrival to the tour start city will be included in your final documents.

AIRLINES and CHECKED LUGGAGE: Due to space limitations during your Tauck journey, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and are free to revise luggage policies without notice. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a tour that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights.

Checked Luggage – General

Due to space restrictions, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one suitcase per person weighing no more than 50 pounds (23 kg) and with overall dimensions (length + width + height) not exceeding 62 inches (158 cm).

Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and luggage exceeding airline standards for size or weight may result in expensive overage fees or other consequences.

Airlines are free to revise luggage policies without notice, and certain airlines have different baggage allowances for different classes of service. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies.

Tauck luggage tags will be provided by your Tauck Director on Day 1 of your itinerary. Please do not attach a Tauck luggage tag to any carry-on items, as the Tauck tags designate luggage that is to be handled and transferred by ground operators and hotel staff during your journey.

Carry-on Luggage - General

Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and that you bring only those items you need handy during the day such as make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or on the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel.

Health, Safety and Mobility

HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

While drinking water is generally safe at all our hotels, bottled water will be available wherever the local water is not fit to drink. We also provide bottled water on the motor coaches.

If you have a medical condition which might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify us as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour. 

VACCINATIONS 

If you are a resident of the U.S., no vaccinations are currently required for travel to France. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, please contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to obtain information regarding vaccinations that may be required for your journey. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 800-232-4636 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC website by clicking here.

If you are a resident of another country, please contact a French embassy or consulate to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for your travel.

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS

The restaurants, hotels, caterers and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from Tauck guests. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants in more than 70 countries worldwide), some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests. We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal. Also, please note that where dietary requests can be accommodated, choices will frequently be limited.

MOBILITY

To enjoy this tour, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surfaces. Some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. The amount of walking you do, however, is at your discretion. Northwest France is home to innumerable historic buildings and sites, many dating from the Middle Ages. Therefore, roads, walkways and architecture may present difficulties for some guests with physical disabilities. Southwest France is known for delicious local cuisine, medieval picturesque villages, countryside and vineyard landscape and there will be a fair amount of walking up and down hills.

PLEASE NOTE:  We regret that this Tauck itinerary cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters.  Likewise, we regret that we're unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs.  The responsibility of the Tauck Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest.  Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.

Reading List

We have compiled a reading list of recommended books to give you more information about the destinations you will be traveling to on your upcoming journey!

You can view the reading list here.

Weather

The climate of Southwest France is reminiscent of the Mediterranean region with long, hot, dry summers; warm springs and autumns; and mild winters. From March to May, the weather is relatively mild. From June to September, the region is hot, although temperatures do not usually exceed 35°C (95°F). 

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website by clicking here.


What To Pack

Bringing the right clothing for your trip is important – we've partnered with Necessary Gear who provide an "easy-to-use, one-stop shop" for your Tauck travel needs, specifically selected for this trip. Click here to visit their site.

Your journey is designed with leisure in mind. Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is adaptable and allows for layering. Generally, during the day, casual, comfortable, cotton clothing is recommended. Cool weather at higher elevations or at night will require warmer, layered clothing.

In Europe, especially in finer restaurants, it is generally customary to dress somewhat formally. Slacks or a dress for women and a jacket for men are acceptable dining attire, but a sport jacket is not required. It is advisable to avoid wearing jeans, sneakers or shorts for dinner. You may also wish to dress up a bit for the welcome reception and the farewell dinner, but by all means be comfortable.

You will find a hair dryer located in your hotel guest room. Irons and ironing boards are available upon request. Valet laundry and dry cleaning services are also available for a fee.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor's prescription or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack for your trip to southwest France:

  • Casual daytime wear – shorts, slacks, long and short-sleeved shirts
  • An optional jacket and tie for men
  • Casually elegant evening wear for ladies
  • Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat
  • Swimwear
  • Gym wear
  • A light sweater or jacket for higher elevations or a breezy night
  • Binoculars (7x50 preferably)
  • Insect repellent
  • Camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards and device chargers
  • Lightweight, comfortable, sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in
  • Travel alarm clock/cell phone with alarm function (many hotels do not have clocks in the rooms)
  • Rain poncho and collapsible umbrella
  • Reusable zipper-lock bags or other waterproof bags
  • Daypack for camera equipment
  • Sundries and toiletries that may be difficult to find en route
  • Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room while traveling

The Tauck Experience

Why Tauck?

Leave Your Worries At Home

One Upfront Price – No Hidden Costs

Tauck Directors – Simply The Best

Never Settle For Ordinary

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Book Today... And Travel Dreams Begin

Discover The World

Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey.

Book Today... And Travel Dreams Begin

Discover The World

Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey.

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