TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Loire Valley. Villandry gardens. Dinner included.

We will start the day by going to the south of France, to the area of the Loire Valley with a stop at BLOIS, a picturesque city where we recommend visiting the castle. After this we continue to the Loire Valley, visiting TOURS, the regional capital on the banks of the Loire River, where you will be able to take a stroll and have lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the CHATEAU DE VILLANDRY, famous for its gardens and flowers (entrance to the gardens are included). Then we will journey on to AMBOISE, a city with a fascinating medieval quarter. Dinner included.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Castles of Loire.

A day to learn more about the Loire region. First a stroll through Amboise in the early hours to the Clos Lucé mansion where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last 3 years of his life. Exploring the Loire region in a little more depth, we visit CHENONCEAU CASTLE (tickets included), built like a bridge over the River Cher. We continue to CHAMBORD, the largest castle of Loire (entrance to the park included). We will then travel to the center of France, making a stop for coffee in ARGENTON SUR CREUSE, a small medieval town on the banks of the Creuse River. We continue to LIMOGES, a city known for its porcelain, where we recommend a stroll in the center to see its cathedral.

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: Dordogne Valley of unforgettable villages. Lascaux cave museum. Beynac medieval castle. Dinner included.

We will leave Limoges for the Dordogne. Few regions contain so many villages full of charm and unforgettable countryside. We arrive at LASCAUX, we will include admission to the museum and replica of the caves, we will learn about the site’s prehistory with the magnificent cave paintings. After that we see SARLAT, a world heritage town with an incredibly well-preserved Renaissance historic center, where there will be time to stroll and have lunch. In BEYNAC we see a medieval castle overlooking the river (admission included). ROCAMADOUR, a beautiful medieval village with an important sanctuary “hung” over a ravine; we suggest you walk down the via crucis and come back up in the lift. Dinner included.

HIGHLIGHTS: Padirac Caves, Midi Region and winemakers.

We will go to the impressive PADIRAC caves, where we include a boat ride on the river 75 meters underground. A stop at COLLONGE LA ROUGE, a very picturesque village built with red stone on the Way of St James. Time for lunch. After lunch we travel to ST. EMILION, at the heart of the Bordeaux wine producing region. Time for a stroll. BORDEAUX, arrival at the end of the afternoon.

Notice: The caves may be closed from November or due to the weather conditions.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Cite du Vin in Bordeaux. Lourdes. Dinner included.

The entire center of Bordeaux has been declared a world heritage site. You will be amazed by the “water mirror” and stroll through the old town with its pedestrian streets and 11th century cathedral. We will include admission (free visit with audio information in English, Spanish or French) to the CITE DU VIN, an impressive interactive museum that recounts the history of the wine and its production; wine tasting included at the viewpoint over Bordeaux. You will have free time later to stroll and have lunch on the banks of the Garonne River, an area full of small restaurants. We continue our way towards the Pyrenees, arriving to LOURDES in the mid-afternoon. We have time to see the sanctuary (we recommend attending the candle procession). Dinner included.

Salida temprano de Lourdes. Hoy atravesamos los Pirineos entre altas cumbres, muy hermosos paisajes. Siguiendo el camino de Santiago entramos por RONCESVALLES, donde podrá ver la hermosa iglesia colegiata gótica de Santa María. En PAMPLONA, ciudad conocida por sus encierros, tendrá tiempo para almorzar. Seguimos a OLITE, donde impresiona el castillo del siglo XIII, lugar de residencia de los reyes de Navarra. Continuación hacia MADRID. A su llegada tendrá lugar una breve visita panorámica de Madrid, seguida de un paseo por la Plaza Mayor.

Incluimos una excursión a la histórica ciudad de TOLEDO, protegida por el río Tajo. Sus calles medievales nos hablan de historias de cristianos, judíos y musulmanes. Tarde libre en MADRID. Esta noche, si lo desea, le proponemos opcionalmente un espectáculo flamenco.

After breakfast, end of our services.