Explore the South West of France: fortresses clinging to the cliffs in the Cathar Country and Dordogne, many “most beautiful villages of France”, and a very rich and unique gastronomy. This is where to experience the authentic France.
So helpful and thoughtful! We had an amazing trip thanks to their planning and insights. Highly recommend, especially if you don’t have time to research places on your own. All the …
So helpful and thoughtful! We had an amazing trip thanks to their planning and insights. Highly recommend, especially if you don’t have time to research places on your own. All the b&bs were beautiful, restaurant recommendations fantastic, great suggestions of routes and stops on our longer drives and having the cell phone with our guide book already downloaded on it made travelling a breeze!
#1 - A B&B in Bastide Saint Louis lively district of Carcassonneenjoy an island of quietness in busy Carcassonne
#1 - A B&B in Bastide Saint Louis lively district of CarcassonneYour hosts have a very special taste for decoration
#1 - A B&B in Bastide Saint Louis lively district of Carcassonne...which makes the B&B home very welcoming
#1 - A B&B in Bastide Saint Louis lively district of CarcassonneYour hosts speak perfect English
#1 - A B&B in Bastide Saint Louis lively district of Carcassonneeverything is planned for you to have a very enjoyable stay
#2 - A Charming Boutique-Hotel in the Basque CountryNestled in a very typical and lovely town of the Basque region
#2 - A Charming Boutique-Hotel in the Basque CountryEnjoy a room which mixes the charm of the old stones & the comfort of a 4*hotel
#2 - A Charming Boutique-Hotel in the Basque CountryYour lovely hosts also run the restaurant, on the "place du village"
#2 - A Charming Boutique-Hotel in the Basque CountryA very charming place
#2 - A Charming Boutique-Hotel in the Basque Country...to get a real feel for the Basque culture & traditions
#2 - A Charming Boutique-Hotel in the Basque Countryand with great views over the countryside !
#3 - A Perigord style house, in central DordogneStay only 15 minutes to Sarlat in the heart of the medieval Dordogne
#3 - A Perigord style house, in central DordogneEnjoy a fantastic dinner by the swimming pool or the fire place
#3 - A Perigord style house, in central DordogneThis medieval castle is walking distance from your B&B
#3 - A Perigord style house, in central DordogneYour lovely hosts know the region perfectly
Step by step
Carcassonne Medieval Heritage
Carcassonne and the Cathar country are quite unknown but are very worthy of a visit. Carcassonne's medieval “Cité” will amaze you by its size and conservation.
You will reside downtown Carcassonne lively “Bastide St Louis”, a short walk to the UNESCO Medieval city. Your lovely and international hosts have a wonderful taste for welcoming and decoration which makes this place very special.
After Carcassonne day crowds, enjoy the quietness of the walled garden and refresh in the swimming pool. In the evening, you have a vast choice of nearby restaurants a few minutes walk - we will provide recommendations.
In the Cathar country, walkers/hikers will be rewarded with breath taking landscapes and fortresses such as Quéribus or Perpeytuse. History lovers will be intrigued by the Cathar history.
Wine lovers will spend a morning in Carcassonne bastide enjoying the local wines and chocolates. A must for gourmet travelers !
On the 4th day, you will drive about 3hrs along the Pyrenees Mountains to get to the Basque Country.
Le Pays Basque: regional culture between ocean and mountains
From the Atlantic coastline, its waves and tanned surfers, to the rugged Pyrenees mountains . . . from the peacefulness of the Basque untouched villages to the lively nightlife in Saint Jean de Luz . . . the Basque Country will not disappoint.
Stay 5 nights in a lovely town nestled in the Basque Country. This 4 star family boutique-hotel is a perfect place to enjoy the area from ocean to mountain.
We will craft your days so you get a feel of everything the Basque culture has to offer, and there is a lot: taste the local Bayonne ham after strolling a valley to discover the traditional and still alive mountain pig farming, get acquainted with the Basque weaving tradition, try to make your own Basque cake or stroll one of the many farmers markets.
Get introduced to one of the most famous games of the Basque culture: la pelote. Meet a former international player who will explain to you all about the history of this mythical game, the different variants . . . and then get on the ground and play. A very fun & cultural experience!
Several “most beautiful villages of France” will be on your scenic drives. Nature and outdoors lovers will enjoy endless walks and hikes in the Pyrenees foothills, occasional walkers will relax on the walks along the beaches and enjoy a coffee on a terrace watching surfers.
We will also plan for you to explore the very near Spanish Basque Country and spend some time in San Sebastian.
On the 9th day, drive North to Dordogne. We will plan for a nice stop along the way.
Dordogne: ducks, knights & nuts
You will endyour sightseeing expedition in theDordogneregion. InBlack Perigord,stay in a restored stone house for 4 nights and share a mouth-watering dinner with your hosts. They will happily share with you tips and hints to help you make the most of your journey.
Dordogne is famous for theprehistoric cavesin Lascaux and we'll recommend to you a much more intimate visit, in a 20,000 year old cave. If you are interested in history or if you are a JM Auel reader, this is a must! Visit the old city ofSarlatand feel the buzz of activity on market days.
There is a lot to do in this region:medieval castlesto visit, wonderful food to taste - we'll tell you where to find themost typical goat cheeses- and if you like outdoor activities, you'll be in paradise.
You may return the rental car in Toulouse or Bordeaux airports or train stations – less than 3 hrs drive from your last B&B.
A great trip to get off the beaten path and explore these culturally rich regions!
Activities included
Pelote Game with a Player
Get introduced to one of the most famous game of the Basque culture: la pelote. Meet with a former international player you will explain you about this mythical game history, the different variants…and then get on the ground and play: A very fun & cultural experience!
We would highly recommend “France Just for You” and will most defiantly use the services of Emilie again. At the end of April 2017 we spend two weeks in France visiting Normandy, Mont Saint Michel, Lorie Valley and Paris. We can would sum the trip in one word “Perfect!”. Emilie well prepared us with a personalized book, (179 pages) , describing our …
We would highly recommend “France Just for You” and will most defiantly use the services of Emilie again. At the end of April 2017 we spend two weeks in France visiting Normandy, Mont Saint Michel, Lorie Valley and Paris. We can would sum the trip in one word “Perfect!”. Emilie well prepared us with a personalized book, (179 pages) , describing our accommodations, things to see and the history of the area. She gave great recommendations of restaurants, sights and always provided the GPS coordinates which were invaluable. All of the B&B accommodations were wonderful with welcoming host that spoke English. I cannot tell how easy Emilie made traveling abroad for us, we looked forward to what each and every day would bring, except of the last day when we had to leave.
Naomi
My boyfriend and I spent a week in Paris last month and we decided that we would do a couple of day-tours outside of the city during our trip. We really wanted to avoid the typical tour-bus day-tour and the crowds that come along with these kinds of tours – we wanted something more personalized that would allow us to go at our own pace. I found the …
My boyfriend and I spent a week in Paris last month and we decided that we would do a couple of day-tours outside of the city during our trip. We really wanted to avoid the typical tour-bus day-tour and the crowds that come along with these kinds of tours – we wanted something more personalized that would allow us to go at our own pace. I found the France Just For You website and the ‘Bayeux and World War II Sites in a Day’ tour seemed to be exactly the type of thing we were looking for, as we’re both really interested in history. On a personal note, this tour appealed to me because my grandfather fought in Normandy in World War II. I filled up the contact form on the website and Emilie got back to me the same day. She organized every little detail to make it the perfect tour for us: she booked our return train tickets from Paris, organized for us to spend the morning on our own in the picturesque old town of Bayeux, where we enjoyed exploring the cathedral and saw the famous Bayeux Tapestry. Emilie sent over maps and directions and recommended a fantastic restaurant for lunch. After lunch, our private guide Christophe met us at the agreed meeting point in Bayeux and took us to the Normandy landing sites. I had explained to Emilie that I specifically wanted to visit this site as my grandpa had fought for one of the American infantry divisions that landed in Normandy in 1944. Christophe was extremely knowledgeable (and very patient with all of my questions!) and took us to the sites where my grandpa’s battalion would have fought. It was a very moving experience, especially when I thought back to the stories that my grandpa used to tell me about the war.
I really couldn’t have chosen a better tour option. It was perfectly customized to the preferences that I had given to Emilie, and she was very thorough and asked all of the right questions to help her plan the perfect day for us. We knew how to contact her in case there were any problems on the day (which there weren't), and the fact that everything was planned for us meant that we could just focus on enjoying the day. Thank you so much, I wouldn’t hesitate to book with you again!
Carol & Don
For our journey in the Loire Valley, we could not have hoped for more gracious, firendly and hospitable hosts. They made us feel like long time friends. It has been wonderful sharing this time with this French family and we hope we may meet again. The guidebook was totally professional and indispensable ! Aurevoir et merci beaucoup
For our journey in the Loire Valley, we could not have hoped for more gracious, firendly and hospitable hosts. They made us feel like long time friends. It has been wonderful sharing this time with this French family and we hope we may meet again.
The guidebook was totally professional and indispensable !
Aurevoir et merci beaucoup
