Bordeaux, Dordogne, & Languedoc Snapshot
Your journey takes you through Périgord, the ancient kingdom of Aquitaine once ruled by Queen Eleanor. Known for its castles and medieval villages perched on hills, this region is said to be the most gastronomically rich area in France: truffles, foie gras, strawberries, and did we mention, wine?
DETAILSITINERARYPHOTOS
Tour Dates: September 7 – September 21, 2025
Tour Price: $7,999
Tour price includes:
- Airport transfers*
- 13 nights in small, elegant accommodations of regional character: Bordeaux (2), Brantôme (2), Sarlat (3), Rocamadour (3), Albi (2), Toulouse (1)
- All breakfasts, 3 lunches, 10 dinners (mostly gastronomic)
- Full-time tour leader
- Transportation by comfortable minivan
- All winery tours and tastings
- Highlights include: Bordeaux, Pauillac, Saint-Emilion, Brantôme, Les Eyzies, Périgueux, Sarlat, Beynac, Domme, Rocamadour, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Toulouse, Carcassonne, Cordes-sur-Ciel, Albi
- Visit authentic prehistoric cave paintings
- Boat ride on an underground lake in the famous Gouffre de Padirac Cave
- Optional balloon ride over Rocamadour Alzou Gorge
- All tips, taxes and entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary
Tour price is per person based on double occupancy. Single supplements are available for those traveling alone who would like their own room.
*Airfare not included, but Olde Ipswich Tours can assist with booking flights.
Read more about the wines of Bordeaux!
Depart the US, flying overnight to Bordeaux.
DAYS 1-2, BORDEAUX: Get to know this charming city with a private walking tour. Explore the wine road to Pauillac, and visit one of the famous wine châteaux of the Haut Médoc wine region. Gourmet welcome dinner.
DAYS 3-4, BRANTÔME: Spend two nights in the picturesque village of Brantôme, once home to Charlemagne. Visit the castle of Bourdeilles, and take an excursion to the ancient capital of Aquitaine, Périgueux. Spend the day in Saint Emilion. Enjoy gourmet cuisine and amazing local wines.
DAYS 5-7, SARLAT: Spend three days in Sarlat, capital of foie gras and truffles, as well as the ancient Dordogne region. Meander through the car-free streets of this medieval village. See prehistoric cave paintings in Les Eyzies, and tour the National Museum of Prehistory. Enjoy a gourmet “lunch with a view” from the top of the ancient village of Domme. Take a tour of 12th century Beynac Castle. Go on a truffle hunt in the countryside. Take a boat ride on the Dordogne River, gliding by the cliffs of La Roque Gageac.
DAYS 8-10, ROCAMADOUR: Drive through the idyllic Périgord countryside to a beautiful country inn outside the ancient cliffside village of Rocamadour. Spend three nights at a homey inn on a sheep farm. Relax with a boat ride on an underground lake in a spectacular cave. Optional balloon ride over the Alzou River Gorge. Learn how foie gras is made. Visit some of the prettiest villages in France.
DAY 11-12, ALBI: Visit the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum and tour the 13th century Sainte-Cecile Cathedral of Albi.
DAY 13, TOULOUSE: Take a walking tour of this beautiful city and enjoy a delicious farewell dinner.
DAY 14: Depart for Toulouse-Blagnac Airport for the flight home.
St. Andre Cathedral in Bordeaux, where Eleanor of Aquitaine married King Louis VII in 1137
Our first gourmet dinner in Bordeaux
Bordeaux has many pedestrian streets full of wonderful restaurants and cafes
Traveling up the Wine Route just north of Bordeaux, we visit one of the beautiful wineries in the Haut Medoc region.
Pichon Longueville Chateau in Pauillac, the Haut Medoc wine region
Lunch in the medieval wine village of Saint Emilion
Saint Emilion's ancient center with its 12th century underground cathedral
The village of Saint Emilion is surrounded by 1,000 vineyards
Place du Clocher, Saint Emilion
The beautiful town of Brantome, called "the Venice of Perigord" on the Vienne River
Here we are at our beautiful Relais et Chateau hotel on the river having a cocktail before a Michelin starred dinner
Dessert at Moulin de l'Abbaye
In Brantome we visit this 8th century cave, part of the abbey founded by Charlemagne
Charlemagne's abbey with the oldest bell tower in France
During our excursion to Perigueux we have lunch at a VERY special restaurant. The owner, Patrick, welcomes us to Le Clos St. Front.
The Cathedral St. Front in Perigueux
A medieval street in Perigueux
A visit to the Chateau de Bourdeilles
Medieval Sarlat is the heart of Perigord
Exploring the car-free streets of Sarlat is a journey into the 14th century
Visiting a wine shop in Sarlat
Dinner in medieval Sarlat
Sarlat is the FOIE GRAS capital of the world!
Dining in medieval Sarlat is dreamy
Hunting for truffles in the Perigord
Les Eyzies is the world capital of prehistory
Prehistoric cave painting in Lascaux, near Les Eyzies
Gardens of the Château de Marqueyssac
Looking down on the Dordogne River from Chateau de Beynac
Visiting the 12th century Chateau de Beynac
View from Chateau de Beynac
The castle road at Chateau de Beynac
Gourmet lunch with a view from the hill top medieval village of Domme
Lunch at l'Esplanade restaurant is always a highlight
The traditional "Cabarres" riverboats of La Roque-Gageac have been navigating the Dordogne for centuries
Taking a "Cabarre" boat ride on the Dordogne at La Roque-Gageac
We are in the most gastronomically rich region of France
Visiting the ancient chapels of Rocamadour
Rocamadour was founded about 14 centuries ago, carved into the side of a mountain
Spectacular Rocamadour, a stop for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela
Our home-away-from-home in Rocamadour. Our friends have welcomed us here since 1997.
Have you ever taken a balloon ride?
Have you ever taken a balloon ride floating above Rocamadour?
Gourmet dining every night
Nothing like a French pique-nique
Gouffre de Padirac - third deepest cave in France with awesome stalagmites and stalactites...see them on a boat ride on an underground lake
The Perigord region has a wealth of picturesque villages. This is Loubressac.
A quaint corner in Loubressac
The quaint village of Collonges-la-Rouge
Happy hour at Domaine de la Rhue, Rocamadour
With our friends at Domaine de la Rhue, Rocamadour
Yet another of the prettiest villages in France: Saint Cirq-la-popie
Exploring Saint Cirq-la-popie
Saint Cirq-la-popie: maybe the prettiest village in France?
Try the chef's Crepe Suzette
Cordes-sur-Ciel, another of the most beautiful villages in France
A favorite dish in the Languedoc region: duck confit
The incredible walled village of Carcassonne
Carcassonne's original castle
Farewell dinner in the street: Toulouse
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