Enchanting Loire to Romantic Rhine Journey - 13 Days

From Paris, we travel to the Loire Valley, beginning with a stop in Blois – known for its remarkable château. We continue to Tours – the regional capital on the banks of the Loire – where you’ll have time for a leisurely stroll and lunch. In the afternoon we visit the Château de Villandry to explore its celebrated gardens – entrance to the gardens is included. We then head to Amboise to discover its medieval quarter along the river. Dinner is included. Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

We begin with a morning stroll in Amboise, home to the Château du Clos Lucé where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final three years. We then continue into the Loire Valley to visit the elegant Château de Chenonceau – tickets included – famously built like a bridge across the river. Next, we head to Chambord, the largest château in the Loire – access to the park is included.

We continue into central France to Limoges, renowned for its porcelain. On arrival, you can explore the historic centre – Saint‑Étienne Cathedral is a highlight.

Leaving Limoges, we travel into the Dordogne – a region shaped by one of France’s great historic rivers and dotted with charming villages. Our first stop is Lascaux, where we visit the museum and the replica prehistoric caves – tickets included – to learn about the site’s famous cave paintings. We continue to Sarlat, whose Renaissance historic centre is exceptionally well preserved; you will have time to stroll and choose a place for lunch. This afternoon we follow the river to Beynac to explore its medieval castle overlooking the water – admission included. We end the day in Rocamadour, a cliffside village with an important sanctuary. You might like to walk down the Via Crucis and take the lift back up. Dinner is included.

From Rocamadour, we travel to the Padirac Chasm for an impressive underground experience – a boat ride along a river some 75 metres below the surface. We then continue to Collonges-la-Rouge, a striking red-stone village on the Way of St James, where you’ll have time for lunch. Afterward, we journey to Saint-Emilion in the heart of the Bordeaux wine region, where you’ll have time for a leisurely stroll. We arrive in Bordeaux in the evening.

Note: The Padirac Chasm may be closed from November until the end of March due to weather conditions.

We spend the morning in Bordeaux, whose historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We take in the Water Mirror, wander the old town’s pedestrian streets and see the 11th–century cathedral. Later, you have free time to stroll the Garonne riverbanks – lined with restaurants that are ideal for lunch – or, if you prefer, you can visit the Cité du Vin, an interactive museum on the history and production of wine. In the afternoon we continue south towards the Pyrenees, arriving in Lourdes by mid–afternoon. You will have time to visit the sanctuary – we recommend the candlelit procession. Dinner is included.

We leave Lourdes and travel across the south of France to Carcassonne, famed for its medieval walls – among the most impressive in Europe – where you will have time to wander the citadel and explore at your own pace. After lunch, we continue to Narbonne, and you have free time to discover this historic Occitan city and its picturesque old town. By late afternoon we arrive in Marseille, France’s second-largest city, where you could take an evening stroll around the lively Vieux Port (Old Port), lined with small restaurants.

Starting in Marseille, we journey through Provence’s highlights – villages, landscapes and history. In Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage city, we explore its Roman and medieval heritage and places linked to Van Gogh. We continue to Les Baux to visit its small medieval village, with admission included to Carrières de Lumières, an underground show of art, image and sound staged in former quarries. In Avignon, home to the immense Palais des Papes, you’ll have time for lunch and a leisurely stroll. We then travel on to Lyon, where we walk through the World Heritage old town and take the cable car up to Notre-Dame de Fourvière for views over the city. Note: if tickets for Carrières de Lumières are unavailable due to closure or high demand, we will instead transfer to the Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard.

We leave Lyon for Burgundy, stopping first in Tournus to see its imposing stone gate and impressive abbey. We then continue to Beaune, the wine capital of the region, with time for lunch and a wander – you can visit the Wine Museum or the historic hospice if you wish. In the afternoon we visit Savigny Castle, a 15th‑century estate that houses remarkable collections of motorbikes, racing cars, planes and helicopters. We finish the day in Dijon, the regional capital, known for its lively streets and fine medieval and Renaissance architecture, including the Palace of the Dukes.

We leave Dijon and make a stop in Besançon, a city of Roman origin with a handsome historic centre and a 17th‑century citadel overlooking the town. We then continue into Alsace – a region long shaped by both French and German influence, with its own Alsatian dialect, distinctive architecture and enduring traditions. Our first stop is Colmar, known for its colourful half‑timbered houses and canals. You’ll have time for lunch and a relaxed wander.

In the afternoon we visit Riquewihr, one of Alsace’s most beautiful medieval towns, with cobbled streets and brightly painted houses that inspired scenes from Beauty and the Beast. We also visit an old winery for a tasting of local wine served with a typical sweet. We arrive in Strasbourg in the evening – we recommend a stroll around the cathedral area and Petite France, where you’ll find plenty of places to eat.

We begin the day in Strasbourg, capital of Alsace and home to the European Parliament. Its historic centre blends medieval lanes, a striking Gothic cathedral and canals lined with flowers. We include a boat cruise through the canals of Petite France to take in the city from the water.

Afterwards, we cross into Germany and travel through the Black Forest’s mountain scenery. In Freiburg im Breisgau, you’ll have time for lunch and a stroll around the medieval centre and cathedral area. We then continue to Triberg, famed for its cuckoo clocks, where we include admission to the Triberg Waterfalls – Germany’s highest – reached along a pleasant walking path. We also make a brief photo stop in Gengenbach to see its attractive central square before arriving in Baden-Baden for the night, a historic spa town known for its elegant architecture, parks and casino.

We pause in Baden-Baden for a relaxed walk through its parks before continuing into Rhineland–Palatinate. In Speyer, on the banks of the Rhine, you can visit the UNESCO‑listed Romanesque cathedral and wander the old town, where the Alte Münze tower stands out.

We then continue to Heidelberg and take the funicular – ticket included – up to the castle, with access to the exterior grounds, the wine cellars and the pharmacy museum included. Afterward, you’ll have time for lunch and to explore the old town and its Marktplatz. By late afternoon we arrive in Frankfurt, a major financial hub with modern skyscrapers, an old town and views of the River Main. You’ll have free time to stroll and dine around the Römerberg Square area before we head to the hotel.

We depart Frankfurt for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, a small country where Luxembourgish and French are spoken. We arrive in Luxembourg City – a cosmopolitan capital that blends a UNESCO-listed old town with the modern presence of European institutions and finance – and take in the highlights of the historic centre, including the fortifications, the Grand Ducal Palace and Notre-Dame Cathedral. After lunch we continue into France and pause in Reims, at the heart of the Champagne region – you can visit its impressive Gothic cathedral, the historic setting for numerous French royal coronations. We reach Paris by the end of the day.

After breakfast in Paris, we conclude the tour – you can depart for your onward journey at your convenience.