01943 605999
Dordogne & Bordeaux Cruise
The Dordogne & Garonne Rivers & the Gironde Estuary
This tailor-made 4* cruise package includes 7 nights accommodation on a full board basis with ‘All Inclusive’ drinks. Entertainment is included onboard most evenings. The itinerary content and mode of transport of your choice will be discussed at the time of enquiry.
- Our suggested itinerary could include:
- Boarding and disembarkation in Bordeaux
- Pauillac and the Chateaux du Medoc Road
- Excursion on the Corniche Road + Guided Tour of Bourg
- A Guided tour of St Emilion and Wine Tasting
- A Guided tour of the Chateau de Roquetaillade and Cadillac
- A Guided tour of Bordeaux
- A full day in the Arcachon basin including lunch
- Group Organiser benefits
- Single cabin supplement (on request)
To tailor-make your tour or for a personalised quotation call 01943 605999.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1 – Embarkation of this cruise is in Bordeaux. Welcome cocktail and presentation of the crew. Dinner included.
Day 2 – Bordeaux - Pauillac - (4 hour excursion predominantly by coach)
Médoc is a prestigious wine-growing region, which produces the most famous red wines on the planet. Travel along the famous ‘Châteaux Road’ where a stop will be made to taste the famous wine of the region. Vineyards here include Châteaux Laffitte-Rothschild, Latour and Mouton Rothschild.
Day 3 – Pauillac – Gironde Estuary - Blaye – (4 hour excursion predominantly by coach).
Follow the Corniche Road by coach. See pleasant gardens, old fishermen's houses and remarkable dwellings nestled in the cliffs as well as the famous "carrelets", the curious fishermen's cabins perched above the water. Pass through some unusual scenery with a mixture of river, stone and vineyards. Visit Bourg, a delightful village built on a rocky outcrop surrounded by medieval ramparts. Return to Blaye. Visit the Citadel, an imposing structure listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site,which overlooks the Gironde estuary and offers a splendid panorama of the river.
Day 4 – Blaye – Libourne or Bourg (depending on mooring availability) - Saint Emelion
(3 hour excursion– The tour in St Emilion is entirely on foot).
A guided walking tour of Saint-Emilion including the underground monuments of this historic medieval town, which is also an exceptional troglodyte site. See the cave of the monk Emilion, founder of the town, and the Trinity Chapel which was built in his honour and the catacombs. The Monolithic church was built entirely into the lime stone and is the largest of its type in Europe. Visit a family-owned wine-growing estate, where the owner who will explain the stages of the wine-making process. A wine-tasting session with commentary will complete this visit.
Day 5 – Libourne or Bourg – Cadillac & the Château de Roquetaillade - (4 hour excursion).
Visit the magnificent and prestigious medieval castle of Château de Roquetaillade which is listed as a XIIth and XIVth century historic monument. See its medieval keeps, the first Renaissance chimneys in the region (ca 1600), but above all the unique XIXth century interiors, a masterpiece by Viollet-le-Duc, today classified as a historic monument. Return to Cadillac for a guided tour of the town. Situated on the right bank of the Garonne, the Grailly family & Lords of Cadillac, founded this "bastide" (walled town) where the Duke of Epernon built his wonderful castle. See the listed gates and ramparts, its arcaded central square, the old houses and the XVth century church.
Day 6 –Cadillac – Bordeaux - (2 hour excursion –Visit by coach & on foot)
Enjoy a panoramic tour of the city by coach which will take in many of the main monuments, followed by a walking tour of old Bordeaux. From the wide avenues of the neo-classical Les Quinconces quarter and the Grand Théâtre to the narrow lanes of the Saint Pierre quarter, this walking route will show you the diversity of Bordeaux's heritage.
Day 7 – Bordeaux – Arcachon Bay - Bordeaux (9 hour excursion–Included lunch at a restaurant)
Explore the Bassin d’Arcachon, beginning with a visit to the oyster centre and museum at Larros Port. This modern & interactive scenography will help you to discover oyster farming and the history of the oyster. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to Arcachon for an included boat trip on the Bassin d’Arcachon. See Bird Island, the famous "Cabanes tchanquées" (houses on stilts) and the oyster beds. Continue onto the Great Dune of Pilat, which at a height of 107m in the tallest sand dune in Europe. The view from the top is awe-inspiring. Return to Bordeaux at the end of the day where the finale to this cruise is an on board gala dinner followed by an evening of dancing.
Day 8 – Bordeaux –UK
Disembarkation takes place after breakfast this morning.
* The cruise ship offered will be based on availability and dates of travel.*
Simply Groups reserve the right to make changes to the intenerary due to circumstances beyond our control.
With all packages we supply a tailor-made flyer to assisst in the promotion of your group holiday, along with a booking form which provides us with all the details we require from each participant.
