France and Barcelona

Note: In the event we count with very few English speaking passengers on board, the guide assigned to the portion of the journey between Paris and Tours may not be fluent in English.

Total distance: 310 km. Countryside: The River Loire scattered with beautiful villages and castles marks our route. Have your cameras ready, we will pass alongside the River Loire and see some castles along the way.


We will see the Loire region in a little more depth. In the morning, a stroll in Amboise, to the castle of Clos Luce where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last 3 years before his death (entrance not included).


10:30 hrs – Amboise. – Departure.
10:45 hrs – Chenonceau –Arrival. Many believe this is the most beautiful castle on the Loire, in the form of a bridge over the river Cher, a tributary of the Loire. Its interior is also magnificently preserved. Tickets included.


12:15 hrs – Chenonceau –departure. We continue along pretty local roads to Chambord.
13:15 hrs – Chambord –Arrival. Time to see the park of this immense castle on the Loire and for lunch.


15:30 hrs – Chambord. - Departure. We travel towards the centre of France, going through picturesque villages on our way.
17:30 hrs- Argenton sur Creuse –Arrival-. A stroll in this charming mediaeval town on the banks of the river Creuse.


18:30 hrs - Argenton –Departure-.
19:45 hrs - Limoges –Arrival to this city known for its porcelain-. We recommend a stroll around the Cathedral district.

Total distance: 222 km. Countryside: Small roads, mediaeval villages. Very beautiful scenery of the Dordogne Valley. We recommend comfortable footwear (visit to the caves).


18.00 hrs - Limoges –Departure-. We go on our way to the Dordgne region, pretty hillside scenery and charming villages on our way. –
09.15 hrs- Lascaux, we will include admission to the museum and replica of the caves, where we will learn about the site’s prehistory with the magnificent cave paintings.


11.15hrs.- Lascaux. Departure-.
13.00 hrs.- Sarlat – Time in this World Heritage town. The Renaissance historic centre is magnificently well preserved. Time for lunch and a stroll.


15.15 hrs – Sarlat – departure. Pleasant scenery and vineyards en route.
15.30 hrs.- – Beynac – We include tickets to this magnificently well preserved mediaeval castle. You will admire the views of the Dordogne Valley and we will hear more about life in the Middle Ages.


16:30 hrs - Beynac –Departure-.
18.00 hrs – Rocamadour - Arrival. - We are in an 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 a walk down the via crucis and coming back up in the lift. Our guide will accompany you to the entrance to the mediaeval village before giving you your rooms in the hotel. Dinner included.

Total distance: 295 km Countryside: Very beautiful scenery in the Dordogne region. We recommend comfortable footwear (visit to the caves).


08:30 hrs - Rocamadour –Departure-. Beautiful countryside of the Dordogne.
09.00hrs - Padirac Cave. - Considered the most impressive caves in France. We include tickets and a visit to these impressive caves, 3 lifts will take us to an underground river that we will see in a boat. NB: The caves may be closed in November or in certain weather conditions. -


11.15 hrs- Padirac- Departure.-
12.00 hrs- Collonge 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 hrs - Collonge la Rouge –Departure-.
17.00 hrs - Saint Emilion. This beautiful mediaeval village has based its wealth for more than 2000 years on its winemaking. Interesting stroll where the wine culture blends with the stones of the place.


18:00 hrs - St. Emilion –departure.
19:00 hrs – Bordeaux – Arrival, accommodation. We recommend a stroll around the classic centre of this city on the banks of the River Garonne.

Total distance covered: 270 km Countryside: Pleasant vineyard scenery. The entire centre 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 Spanish, French or English) 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.


13:30 hrs Departure from Bordeaux. We venture into the wine producing region of Bordeaux. 17.30 hrs - Lourdes –Arrival-. Time to visit the Sanctuary. We recommend you attend the candle procession, which normally takes place at 9 PM from the end of March to late October. Dinner included.

Total distance: 465 km. Countryside: Pyrenees mountain range. Snow-covered high peaks through a large part of the year.


08.30 hrs – Lourdes –Departure–.
09:30 hrs - San Bertran de Cominges. - A very pretty village at the foot of the Pyrenees, already existing in Roman times. Time to stroll and see its historic heritage.


11.00 hrs - San Bertran de Cominges –Departure-. Passage through the metropolis of Toulouse.
13:30hrs – Carcassonne – Arrival at the “cité”, the mediaeval walled city. Time for lunch and to see this beautiful city.


16.00 hrs – Carcassonne –Departure. – We travel to Andorra, a small independent country of the Pyrenees between Spain and France. Impressive high mountain scenery with summits often covered with snow.
19.15 hrs – Andorra–Arrival. Free time. Dinner included.

Total distance: 225 km. Countryside: Pretty mountain scenery. Huge scenery around the monastery of Montserrat.WARNING: Have your passport to hand, as there are sometimes border checks.


Free morning in Andorra. You can visit this modern city amidst the mountains or go shopping in its large shopping centres with low taxes. - Time for lunch.


14.00 hrs - Andorra –Departure-. Entry in Catalonia. We go to the beautiful area where the Benedictine Abbey stands.
16:15 hrs - Arrival at the foot of Montserrat Mountain. We get to the monastery on a rack train (tickets included), impressive views on the way up.
16:45 hrs - Monastery of Montserrat –Arrival-. Time to admire the views and visit the sanctuary of the Virgin of Montserrat, patron saint of Catalonia


18:30 hrs - Montserrat –Departure- (by bus).
19.30 hrs - Barcelona –Arrival-. Accommodation.

Highlights: Barcelona Guided tour lasting 3 hours; visit to “Poble Espanyol”, with admission included; transfer to Plaza de Cataluña and the Ramblas.


09:00h.- Tour of the city with a local guide (note: if the group has fewer than fifteen people, explanations can be given by our guide) who will tell us about this exciting city on the shores of the Mediterranean. We will visit the city’s historic central area with its Gothic neighborhood dating back to the Middle Ages. We will visit the area where the Olympic Games took place. It will be possible to see and photograph La Sagrada Familia basilica; the masterpiece designed by the architect Gaudí.


Subsequently, we include the entry ticket to “Poble Espanyol” (meaning, Spanish Village), an open-air museum that combines the art, traditions, architecture, arts and crafts and folklore of each of the Spanish regions. Time for lunch. Free afternoon.


18:30h.- Transfer to Plaza de Cataluña and the Ramblas, the heart of the city, where there are many restaurants where you can dine. Return to hotel.

After breakfast, end of our services.