Bordeaux Wine Region & South of France
Tournesol Travel specializes in private, customized travel experiences based on the individual interests, pace and schedule of our customers. Below an example of such an itinerary.
Day 1 | Arrival in Bordeaux
Upon arrival at Bordeaux airport, your private driver will meet you for the short trip to the heart of Bordeaux, a Unesco World Heritage city with so much to offer. Check in to your luxury accommodations. Once you have settled into your hotel, you are invited at 5:30 by your host in the center of Bordeaux to discover the art of cheese & wine pairing in a private cellar housing an extensive cheese selection. A must for visiting gourmets, this intimate gathering and quintessential French experience is your welcome-to-Bordeaux celebration.
As you enter the "100 cheese cellar," you will be introduced to cheeses from all over France from the most common to the lesser known. Come prepared with an appetite to savor nine different cheeses and three different Bordeaux wines to go alongside and get answers to all your questions.
You will taste, drink and discover Bordeaux in quite a unique way.
Day 2 | Bordeaux
In the morning check out the Marché des Capucins, an immense local market with several hundred years of history, locally named “the belly of Bordeaux:'' a place to wander and sample regional specialties along with produce of all kinds, oysters, fish, cheeses, pates, olives, spices, honeys, breads, crêpes and wines of course.
At 11:00 join a wine masterclass. This workshop, led by an expert sommelier, introduces you to six different Bordeaux wines, along with a cheese and charcuterie board. Improve your wine knowledge and vocabulary with a blind tasting, learn to identify different grape varieties, all in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
Now you will spend an unforgettable afternoon with a guide expert in wine amidst the most prestigious appellations of the Bordeaux wine region: Mouton-Rothschild, Latour, Haut-Brion. Your guide will drive you through the panoramic "Route des Châteaux, across the gorgeous Medoc region. Discover the amazing Crus Classés 1855, their most beautiful wineries, famous wines, and become a Médoc wines' expert!
Day 3 | Bordeaux
This morning meet your guide and a small group (8 or less) in central Bordeaux and drive to the beautiful town of Saint-Émilion, known for its vineyards and beautiful hills scattered with 1,000 castles. The medieval village of Saint-Emilion is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn what makes Bordeaux wines so special as you drive through vineyards and wine estates where bold contemporary cellars compete with 18th-century classical buildings.
The first stop will be a wine tasting at a Saint-Emilion Château. Tour the winery, learn about French winemaking, terroir, varietals and the complex system of French wine labeling and classification.
After a second winery visit and tasting, you will continue to the medieval village of Saint-Emilion. Stroll the cobbled streets on a walking tour, before enjoying free time to browse the shops and savor lunch at a local restaurant.
Your final stop is at a Grand Cru Classé Château in neighboring Pomerol Appellation.
Day 4 | Bordeaux to Aix en provence
It is time for your short flight to the Mediterranean coast.
Upon landing in Marseille at 12:30 PM, Laurent, our favorite driver-guide will meet you and take you to your magnificent Relais-Chateau, a castle with 300 years of history outside of Aix en Provence: Chateau de Fonscolombe. It is set in an immense park inviting romantic strolls, with a swimming pool and a terrace shaded by bald cypress to enjoy great Provence wine. For dinner, Chef Quentin Durand proposes a menu rich in Mediterranean flavors that harmonize perfectly with the produce from the Chateau’s vegetable garden.
But before you get to this haven, Laurent will suggest an ideal spot to stop for lunch after your flight from Bordeaux and show you around Aix en Provence. Laurent was born and raised in Provence and knows every secret and off-the beaten path spots. His intimate knowledge of the history, geography, art and culture of the area will greatly enhance your appreciation of Provence.
Day 5 | Provence
You will awake to the famed sunlight and blue skies of Provence.
Day of rest, basking in the luxury of your French Château.
Day 6 | Cassis
No journey to Provence is complete without visiting the seaside village of Cassis, one of the French Mediterranean most beloved coastal gems.
On the drive there, take a detour to the wine tasting domaine of Bandol or visit the village of Castellet, soaking up breathtaking views along the picturesque Corniche des Crêtes road.
Cassis is the perfect place to experience the charm of a quaint Provencal fishing village first-hand and admire its pretty pastel-colored houses. Stroll along its harbor, check out its picturesque cafés and pick the one that enchants you the most for a leisurely lunch.
Saving the best for last, enjoy a boat ride through five famous Calanques, these miniature fjords and inlets carved out of white cliffs set against the deep turquoise waters. They remain one of the greatest natural wonders of the Côte d’Azur, not well known by foreign tourists.
End your day at the most extraordinarily luxurious and stunning hotel right on the water in Cassis, Hotel Les Roches Blanches, at the entrance of the Calanques National Park.
Day 7 | Cassis
Today may be the climax of your France adventure.
Built in 1887 by the sea and retaining some beautiful elements of Art Deco architecture, Les Roches Blanches hotel takes its name from the limestone rocks that line the coast from Cassis to Marseille. It enjoys a unique location, between the village of Cassis and the Calanques, with a breathtaking view of the majestic cliff of Cap Canaille.
The gardens are planted with trees, umbrella pines, succulents, and its terraces have direct access to the sea. It is a true cocoon away from the eyes, bathed inthe softness of the Mediterranean. Watching the night sky from the infinity pool over the Calanques will truly be an unforgettable treat to celebrate a life well-lived.
Nothing will make you want to leave your hideaway, but should you wish to venture out, you are in luck today as it is the weekly outdoor market in Cassis, a sight to behold!
Day 8 | travel Day
Your hotel will arrange your transfer to the airport for your flight home. Bon voyage!
Per-Person pricing estimate: $6,899.00
(flights not included)