Paris - Blois - Tours - Villandry - Amboise
Total distance covered: 335 km.
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.
Amboise - Chenonceau - Chambord - Limoges
Total distance covered: 310 km.
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.
Limoges - Lascaux - Sarlat - Beynac - Rocamadour
Total distance covered: 222 km.
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.
Rocamadour - Padirac - Collonges-la-Rouge - Saint-Emilion - Bordeaux
Total distance covered: 295 km.
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.
Bordeaux - Lourdes
Total distance covered: 270 km.
Scenery: Picturesque vineyard landscapes.
Take time to savor the center of Bordeaux, which has been recognized as a World Heritage Site. Prepare to be captivated by the "Water Mirror" and explore the historic old town with its charming pedestrian streets and 11th-century cathedral. Later, you´ll have free time to stroll along the Garonne River banks, lined with quaint restaurants perfect for lunch, or if you wish, you can visit Cité du Vin, an impressive interactive museum that delves into the history and production of wine.
02:00 p.m. Departure from Bordeaux. We will continue our journey towards the Pyrenees.
05:30 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.
Lourdes - Carcassonne - Foix - Andorra
Total distance covered: 447 km.
Scenery: Pyrenees mountain range and snow-covered high peaks.
8:30 a.m. – Departure from Lourdes. We’ll travel to the south of France, passing through the Toulouse Métropole.
11:30 a.m. – Carcassonne. We’ll have time for lunch and a walk in this beautiful town, famous for its medieval walls, impressive castle, and picturesque historic district (La Cité).
02:00 p.m. – Departure from Carcassonne. We´ll continue towards the Pyrenees.
03:30 p.m. – Foix. Brief stop to stroll through this medieval town renowned for the Château de Foix.
04:30 p.m. – Departure from Foix. We’ll continue through the Pyrenees, with their snowy peaks visible year-round, and arrive in Andorra, a small country in the Pyrenees between Spain and France, where the official language is Catalan. On our route, we´ll make a short stop at Sant Joan de Caselles, a small Romanesque church from the 12th century.
07:00 p.m. Andorra la Vella. Arrival in the capital of Andorra. You´ll have free time to explore the city with its bustling commercial life or visit Caldea, the largest thermal spa in Europe. Dinner will be included.
Andorra - Montserrat - Barcelona
Total distance covered: 225 km.
Scenery: Picturesque mountain landscapes with stunning views around the abbey of Montserrat.
Important: Have your passport ready, as there may be occasional border checks.
We’ll spend the morning in Andorra, where you can explore this modern city nestled in the mountains or shop in its large, low-tax shopping centers. Lunch will be at your leisure.
02:00 p.m. - Departure from Andorra. We’ll cross into Catalonia and make our way to the beautiful area where the Benedictine Abbey is located.
04:15 p.m. - Arrival at the foot of Montserrat Mountain. We’ll take a rack train (tickets included) to the abbey, enjoying breathtaking views on the way up.
04:45 p.m. - Arrival at the abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat. You’ll have time to admire the views and visit Santa Maria de Montserrat, the abbey of the patron saint of Catalonia.
06:30 p.m. - Departure from Montserrat by bus.
07:30 p.m. - Arrival in Barcelona.
Barcelona
09:00 a.m. – We’ll begin with a panoramic city tour led by our guide or a local expert in Barcelona, also known as the "City of Counts." This great European city is renowned for Gaudí’s influence and its stunning modernist architecture. We’ll see the Columbus Monument, Plaza de Cataluña, Paseo de Gracia, Diagonal, Sagrada Familia, Montjuïc with its Olympic facilities, and Plaza de España. We’ll make a stop in Sagrada Familia to admire the exterior of the monument. The tour will end in La Rambla, where you can stroll through the historic Gothic Quarter. After the city tour, our guide will offer an optional visit to Gaudí´s masterpiece and symbol of the city: Sagrada Familia. The afternoon will be free for you to explore at your leisure.
06:30 p.m. - In the evening, we’ll include a transfer to Maremagnum, a modern entertainment and dining center by the sea, near Plaza de Colón. You can explore this lively area and enjoy dinner.
08:30 p.m. - Return to the hotel.
Barcelona - Peniscola - Valencia - Madrid
Total distance covered: 725 km.
Scenery: We’ll follow the Levantine coast, traveling between the Mediterranean Sea and landscapes dotted with orchards, citrus groves, and rice fields, before arriving in Valencia. The journey also takes us through the arid lands of the peninsular interior.
08:00 a.m. - Departure from Barcelona. We’ll travel to the Valencian Community along the Levantine coast.
10:45 a.m. - Peniscola. Dominating the sea with its imposing walls, this historic center, with its steep streets, white houses, and medieval castle, tells tales of popes and pirates. Peniscola is one of the most beautiful villages on the Spanish Mediterranean. You’ll have time for a walk.
12:30 p.m. - Departure from Peniscola.
02:30 p.m. - Valencia. Free time in the center for lunch. We suggest visiting the Lonja and the Cathedral. Why not try an authentic Valencian paella?
04:30 p.m. - Departure from Valencia. After passing through the avant-garde City of Arts and Sciences, we’ll continue towards Castilla-La Mancha and Madrid.
09:00 p.m. - Madrid. As a way of welcoming you to the city, we’ll include a transfer to the Plaza Mayor. Our guide will show you around the area and recommend places to eat.
Notes:
-In some cases, the journey from Valencia to Madrid might be carried out by train.
-In some cases, the transfer to Plaza Mayor may take place the next day, after the panoramic tour.
Madrid
The day will begin around 09:15 a.m. with a city tour through the center of Madrid, featuring landmarks such as Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Colón, and Plaza Mayor.
We´ll then visit Retiro Park, a serene oasis in the heart of the city, where we’ll see the lake and the Palacio de Cristal. Our next stop will be the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the iconic home of Real Madrid. Here, we’ll explore the areas reserved for players, the public sections, and a small museum dedicated to the team, often hailed as the best in the world.
Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure.
In the evening, we will return to the hotel.
After breakfast, our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.
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.
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