7-Nights Signature: Bordeaux & Dordogne, Cradle of Prehistory - National Geographic Signature from $7,799

G Adventures

OFFER ID 1693523

Signature: Bordeaux & Dordogne, Cradle of Prehistory
Southwest France holds some of humanity's oldest secrets and finest pleasures side by side. Trace prehistoric masterpieces through the caves of the Dordogne, raise a glass in the celebrated cellars of Bordeaux, and lose yourself in the terracotta warmth of Toulouse - a region as rich in history as it is in culture.

Highlights
At the Castle Merle site join owner for a prehistoric meal and private exploration of ancient rock shelters, Discover the "Sistine Chapel of Prehistory" with a guided tour of this immersive cave replica at Lascaux IV, Victor Hugo market visit savouring regional flavours during a lunch amidst the vibrant energy of the local market in Toulouse, Visit Café Joyeux a pioneering community coffee shop supporting employment for those with disabilities.

Group Leader
All National Geographic Signature group trips are accompanied by one of our National Geographic Expedition Leaders throughout. The aim of the Expedition Leaders is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds.

Group Size Notes
Max 22

Meals Included
8 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners

What's Included
Your Welcome Moment: Meet
Your Expedition Leader and Group, Bordeaux Signature Moment: Visit Castel-Merle With Prehistoric Lunch, Sarlat-la-Canéda
Your Foodie Moment: Guided visit to the Sanctuary of Rocamadour, Rocamadour
Your Foodie Moment: Toulouse Walking Tour and Lunch at Victor Hugo Market, Toulouse.
Arrival and departure transfers. Curated Walking tour of Bordeaux, Bordeaux. Coffee Shop Enterprise visit and coffee, Bordeaux. Lunch in city center, Bordeaux. Visit Bordeaux Area Winery for tasting, Bordeaux. Guide for the Monolithic church and catacombs visit, Saint-Émilion. National Museum of Prehistory, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil. Visit to Rouffignac Cave, Rouffignac-Saint-Cernin-de-Reilhac. Visit to Font de Gaume Cave, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil. Morning Walk to walk to Food Market in Sarlat, Sarlat-la-Canéda. Visit International Centre for Cave Art at Lascaux IV, Montignac – Montignac. Visit to Pech Merle, Cabrerets. Elevators to Sanctuary of Rocamadour, Rocamadour. Guided visit to the Sanctuary of Rocamadour, Rocamadour. Engaging Discussions with the National Geographic Expedition Expert Throughout. Porterage at hotels and when getting on and off of vehicles. Tips are included for all activities, meals and porterage, except for your Expedition Leader.
All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

7 nights from $7,799 per person

Itinerary

G Adventures: Signature: Bordeaux & Dordogne, Cradle of Prehistory

Day 1: Bordeaux
Your expedition begins in the elegant port city of Bordeaux, where 18th-century facades reflect off the Garonne River. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel. Later, gather with your National Geographic Expedition Leader and National Geographic Expedition Expert for a welcome presentation that sets the stage for the history and heritage ahead. The evening air carries the scent of the nearby Atlantic as you join your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner, toasting the start of your French discovery.

Day 2: Bordeaux
Experience the soul of Bordeaux through its community and cuisine. Start with an orientation drive before stopping at Café Joyeux, a heart-warming community enterprise that provides training and employment for people with intellectual disabilities. Enjoy a short presentation of the project while sipping coffee and tasting local pastries. Continue your walk through the city with your expedition leader before sitting down for a traditional lunch in town. In the afternoon, the scene shifts to a renowned winery to explore historic cellars and taste emblematic red vintages before an intimate evening at leisure.

Day 3: Bordeaux/Sarlat-la-Canéda
Travel toward the medieval charm of Saint-Émilion to explore its extraordinary monolithic church and silent catacombs. Enjoy a local lunch on the way to your next destination. As you travel, the landscape transforms into the rugged beauty of Les Eyzies, where you delve into the National Museum of Prehistory. Conclude the day in Sarlat-la-Canéda, settling into your hotel for a delicious dinner as the golden stone buildings of the village begin to glow at twilight

Day 4: Sarlat-la-Canéda
Today takes you deep underground into some of the region's most extraordinary prehistoric sites. Descend into the cool, silent depths of the Rouffignac Cave, navigating its vast galleries on an electric train to spot prehistoric engravings. The morning continues at the highly restricted Font de Gaume, a rare site where original polychrome paintings still adorn the cave walls. After lunch on your own, return to Sarlat for free time among the timber-framed houses. In the evening, attend a private presentation by your Expedition Expert on the cultural heritage of Lascaux, gaining unique insights before tomorrow's highlight visit. Finish the day with dinner at your hotel.

Day 5: Sarlat-la-Canéda
The day opens at a local food market, where the scent of truffles and regional cheeses fills the morning air. Next, embark on a guided visit to the International Centre for Cave Art at Lascaux IV. This architectural masterpiece features a flawless, full-scale replica of the famous prehistoric artwork, allowing you to experience the atmosphere of the original cave. The afternoon leads to Castel-Merle for a rare experience: a prehistoric meal and a private tour led by the owner. Watch a live fire-making demonstration and walk the ancient rock shelters before an evening of free exploration.

Day 6: Sarlat-la-Canéda/Toulouse
Leave the Dordogne behind as the landscape opens up into a new chapter of prehistoric wonder. Start the day with a guided visit to the picturesque cliffside village of Rocamadour, where sanctuaries seem to cling precariously to the rock face. Next, share a family-style lunch at a local restaurant. Later, visit the Pech Merle cave to witness stunning prehistoric murals that have remained frozen in time for millennia. In the afternoon, arrive in Toulouse, known as 'The Pink City' for its warm, rosy terracotta architecture, as the setting sun casts a vibrant glow over the historic buildings.

Day 7: Toulouse
Immerse yourself in the vibrant life of Toulouse, wandering through hidden streets to admire unique architecture and historic landmarks. Head to the Victor Hugo Market to explore the stalls of a quintessentially French market, tasting popular local dishes on site. The afternoon is yours to spend at leisure—perhaps strolling along the banks of the Canal du Midi or exploring the city’s aerospace heritage. Later, gather with your fellow travellers for a memorable farewell dinner, celebrating the stories and connections made throughout the Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Day 8: Toulouse
Your expedition through Southwest France concludes this morning. Savour a final breakfast as the light glints off the water before your included transfer to the airport where your expedition concludes. Reflect on a week defined by the echoes of prehistoric caves, the refined taste of Bordeaux wines, and the warm hospitality of the Dordogne valley.

Featured Destinations

Sarlat (Sarlat-la-Caneda)

Toulouse

Bordeaux

Surrounding Bordeaux are world-renowned vineyards and châteaux. Visitors from all over the globe come here to learn about the winemaking process - from growing grapes to harvesting, fermenting and bottling these top-quality wines. Here in the wine region the title of château can mean anything from a palatial residence to a basic winery. There are thousands of châteaux that rank from very modest family establishments to large famous properties where grapes are raised, fermented and then matured to produce the area’s famous wines. Visit Rue Ste. Cathérine - a half-mile-long pedestrian street leading through the Old Town’s major shopping area and marking the beginning of the elegant 18th-century city. - and Musée des Beaux Arts -- a museum with a large collection of 17th-century paintings by Flemish, Dutch and Italian masters as well as works by Delacroix.

Excursions

Bordeaux - Gourmet tour - 8 hours

Bordeaux - Cultural tour - 8 hours

“The historic centre of Bordeaux forms an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the Age of Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century, with more protected buildings than any other French city, except Paris. It is also recognized for its historic role as a place of exchange of cultural values over more than 2,000 years, particularly since the 12th century due to commercial links with Britain and the Low Countries.

From its medieval quarters to the Classical splendour of the Golden Age in the 18th Century, you will be able to discover a city emerging from a long face lift of over 5 years of work.

The futuristic tram network established in 2005 is evidence of the dynamism of today’s Bordeaux and the historic heart which has been given back to pedestrians, allow the visitors to discover the principal monuments illustrating the city’s History: the Palais Gallien amphitheatre (4th century), the Saint Seurin Basilica (11th century foundations), the Saint André Cathedral (13th century), the Porte Cailhau and the "Grosse Cloche" ("big bell", 15th century).

The 18th century gave the city its outstanding "Grand Theatre", a national opera house built in 1781, and the Allées de Tourny, as well as the remarkable waterfront buildings and the Place de la Bourse (formerly the Place Royale), a quarter over 4 kilometres in length which serves as the backdrop for the port’s trading activities.

Tour Duration:8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light

Package includes

Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal
All entrance fees
All tax and Vat

Does not include

- Lunch

- Gratuities

- Travel insurance and personal expenses

Departure dates : all day , all year

Not available on May 1st, January 01st & December 25

Bordeaux -Saint Emilion Wine Tour - 8 hours

In the morning, departure with your English speaking driver guide to Saint Emilion.

Surrounded by its vineyards, the city offers ancient ramparts, monuments and narrow streets. The village and the vineyards have been classed as a World Heritage Site by the Unesco in 1999.

“Grape production was introduced into this fertile region of Aquitaine by the Romans and was intensified during the Middle Age. The area of Saint-Émilion benefited from its position on the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostella and several churches, monasteries and hospices were built there from the XIth century onwards. It was granted its own jurisdictional status during the period of English rule in the XIIth century. This is an exceptional landscape entirely given over to grape-production and whose towns and villages are home to outstanding historic monuments.” (Unesco Cit.)

Centuries after the Latin poet Ausonius, the hermit Emilion found here peace and tranquility, which were necessary for his meditation. He discovered a grotto watered by a natural spring in the rocky centre of what is now the town bearing his name, where he lived until his death.

Private guided tour of the principal sights of the medieval town: the Emilion Hermitage, the Tour du Roy built in the 13th century by Richard the Lion heart, the collegiate church and its 14th century cloister and, above all, the exceptional monolithic church and its catacombs dug out of the limestone cliff between the 9th and the 11th centuries. Its 38 metre span makes it the largest such church in Europe.

Lunch will take place at a restaurant located in the city.

In the afternoon, visit with wine tasting at a Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion.

Tour Duration:8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light,

Package Includes

Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal
All entrance fees & tasting
All tax and Vat

Does not include

- Lunch

- Gratuities

- Travel insurance and personal expenses

Departure dates : all day , all year

May 1st - due to French law, cost double and most of the Wine estate are close

Bordeaux - A Wine, a Vintage, a Tasting… - 8 hours

A Wine, a Vintage, a Tasting…

Taste and identify the differences between the great Bordeaux wines, according to the vintage…

Wine experts give a great importance to Vintages. Why is it so important? How to recognize the quality of the vintage? How to guess the vintage? Should we agree or is it a matter of taste? Let us taste 4 vintages from the same wine property and comment. The expert guides you and shares his knowledge while you comment and learn tricks of the trade.

Château Grand Vertical Tasting Workshop

The privilege of tasting 6 great vintages dating back as far as 20 years:

• Château de Ferrand 1988 & 1989

• Château de Ferrand 1998 & 1999

• Château de Ferrand 2008 & 2009

This workshop includes a private tour, an initiation into aromas, a tasting of 6 vintages, and a food/wine pairing with our “Assiette Gourmande”.

Schedule:

09:00am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux

10:00am - First winery tour such as Château Faugères

11:30am - Discover the enchanting medieval village of Saint-Emilion, classified by Unesco in 1999. A luminous, ochre-colored jewel built of limestone and Roman roof tiles, it is perched on a plateau and completely surrounded by a sea of vineyards.

The steep and narrow cobblestone streets are lined with remnants of monasteries and convents dating from the 11th to 18th centuries that tell the story of the village. A Unesco World Heritage-inspired scavenger hunt will bring you face to face with the art, wine and stunning landscapes of Saint-Emilion.

12:30pm to 02:00pm - Time to stroll and have lunch

02:30 pm - Wine tasting at Chateau La Dominique

05:00pm - End of the tour

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light,

Package price includes

Transportation: Pick up/drop off at the Port
Day Tour: English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
2 winery visits and vertical workshop

Bordeaux - About Grape Varietals… - 8 hours

Several possibilities based on the theme of grape varietals, be it wine tastings or, practical activities. The great Bordeaux wines will no longer hold any secrets for you.

It's possible to have this activity in any Bordeaux wine appellation!

Wine tasting: Merlot or Cabernet?

There are 2 major top grape varieties in Bordeaux: Cabernet Sauvignon produces Ch. Mouton Rothschild and Merlot Pétrus. Each grape variety taste very different. The terroir and the work carried out by Man can exalt each grape and create amazing Bordeaux wines. During the blind tasting find out which grape has been used in the wine before or after its oak ageing. Merlot or Cabernet?

Theory put in practice:
Blending is an art

Several grape varieties tasting different are available to the wine maker. He/she is an artist making rational or subjective choices in order to elaborate a great wine. Be the wine maker and create your own cuvée but explain your logic first. Does it match? Each group forms a team.

Wine taster & Expert

Learn how to taste wines like a professional with fun. You also learn about the tricks of the trade. Words like single variety, futures, blended wines, bottled wine and ageing wine will have no more secrets for you. While tasting several wines, you may recognize which wine and term match together.

09:00 am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux

10:00 am - First winery tour

12:30pm to 02:00 pm - Time to stroll and have lunch

02:30 pm - Wine tasting separate grapes varieties and then have a blending session

05:00pm - End of the tour

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light,

Package price includes

Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
2 winery visits
Blending sessions

Bordeaux - Wine Architecture in Saint-Emilion - 8 hours

Modern Temples of Bacchus

To wine lovers everywhere, the grand vintages of the Bordeaux region of France have long been regarded as the true pinnacle of excellence.

The methods and philosophies used in their production have by and large remained true to the old traditions; modern technology however has undeniably played an ever-more important role in recent years.

To add even more significance to this glorious culture of the grape, if that was possible, the past decade has seen some of Europe’s most highly-acclaimed and imaginative architects taking time off from their ground-breaking and spectacular major urban projects to contribute their innovative designs to the cellars and vat rooms of some of the region’s top châteaux.

Discover Architectures / Understand Classification/Discover techniques of wine making and appreciate wine tastings!

09:00 am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux

10:00 am - First winery tour such as Château Faugères

11:30 am - Discover the enchanting medieval village of Saint-Emilion, classified by Unesco in 1999. A luminous, ochre-colored jewel built of limestone and Roman roof tiles, it’s perched on a plateau and completely surrounded by a sea of vineyards.

12:30pm to 02:00 pm - Time to stroll and have lunch

02:30 pm - Wine tasting Chateau La Dominique

05:00pm - End of the tour

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: no
Physical Activity Level: Light,

Package price includes

Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
2 winery visits
Monument tour in Saint-Emilion

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

05/29/2027 - 06/05/2027

from $7,799 per person

08/28/2027 - 09/04/2027

from $7,799 per person

10/09/2027 - 10/16/2027

from $7,799 per person

* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

from $7,799 per person

Length

7 Nights

Air City

Call for airfares from your city.

Vacation Rating

Moderate
Moderate facilities have modest enhancements to amenities and décor. These hotels or resorts are dependable, comfortable and some may offer standard features, such as select business services, Continental breakfast or coffee service and may have a swimming pool or small fitness center on-site. Guestrooms are comfortable, moderately spacious, in-room telephones, televisions and limited amenities. Moderate establishments provide suitable accommodations and service for budget-minded travelers.

Remarks

Pricing is per person, land only, in US dollars and based on double occupancy. For specific validity dates, discount amount and tour information, please return to the promotion in question. Promotion valid on G Adventures small group tours excluding Independent, MS Expedition or National Geographic Journeys, unless otherwise stated. Promotion applicable to new bookings only and cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Does not apply to airfare (unless otherwise stated), pre-/post-accommodation, 'My Own Room' or 'My Own Tent', transfers, theme packs, insurance, polar kayaking & camping excursions or other in-country services. G Adventures reserves the right to withdraw this offer from sale at any time. Itinerary and map subject to change. Dossier Disclaimer
The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary. VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you view a final copy of your Trip Details a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.

Itinerary Disclaimer
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1693523

Reference this number when contacting our agency so we may better serve you. Also keeping this number handy will allow you to locate this document again quickly.

Swain's Travel, Inc.

35 Old South Road
Nantucket, MA 02554
USA

(508) 228-3201