Region
in Burgundy, Dordogne, Bordeaux, Loire Valley & Normandy
Wine Tasting
Towns & Villages
Gourmet Food

This itinerary is for independent travelers who may already know the southern coast of France and who are looking for discovering the “inside” of the country. Five regions that are totally different from each other, showing you the diversity of France.

 

Includes

25 nights in premium B&Bs that we personally selected for you
A rental car with automatic transmission & full insurance coverage, for 26 days
2 «Table d’Hôtes» dinners, with your Hosts and fellow travelers
The assurance that you can contact us at any time, for any reason, while you're in France
A guidebook made for you and all road maps with recommended itineraries, activities & visits
FJFY App all your trip, contacts, GPS destinations, weather… in your smartphone
5.0
Bobbi
We like to travel independently and Emilie was fantastic in providing us everything we needed to do so. We had wonderful information to read beforehand and received maps and GPS …
Duration
26 days
Price
US$ 7 560
Per traveler, including taxes,
based on double occupancy.

Your accommodations

Pictures of the specially selected accommodations

Step by step

Paris Dordogne Normandy Loire Valley Burgundy Bordeaux Giverny

Welcome to Burgundy

  • As you will probably land in a Paris airport, we plan for you to pick up your rental car right at the airport and drive 3 hours to Burgundy. We will plan for a nice lunch stop on the way.
  • You will reside for 4 nights in a beautiful house, nestled in a lovely village of the Burgundy countryside. Situated in the heart of Burgundy, between Dijon and Beaune, you will be perfectly located to tour the region and taste its wines. One night, enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by your host who used to be a Chef !
  • Authentic Burgundy is much more than the vineyards: winding roads leading to tiny timeless villages - some of them "Most Beautiful Villages of France" - will give you a real feel for this region. Dijon has kept a lot of ancient monuments and houses, yet it is a modern and lively city full of charm. Taste some local cheese, the "Epoisse" at the cheese factory or stroll around Beaune, from the cellars to the ramparts.
  • For the "Gourmets", you will meet with Olivier who was a chef in star-rated restaurants. He will teach you how to cook some typical Burgundy dishes revised to make them some very sophisticated courses. A great cooking class ! 

 

Paris Dordogne Normandy Loire Valley Burgundy Bordeaux Giverny

Prehistoric & Medieval Dordogne

  • On the 5th day, you will drive across the Massif Central to reach the Dordogne region.
  • In Dordogne, history is around every corner. In the lush river valley, you will spend the following 5 nights in a beautifully restored stone house. Your lovely hosts will cook a delicious dinner inspired by local traditions. We'll tell you where to find the most typical goat cheeses - and if you like outdoor activities, you'll be in paradise.
  • Dordogne is famous for the prehistoric caves such as Lascaux and we will recommend to you much more intimate visits, in 20,000 year old caves. If you are interested in history or if you are a JM Auel reader, these are a must!

 

Paris Dordogne Normandy Loire Valley Burgundy Bordeaux Giverny

The Bordeaux Wine Region

  • Get acquainted with the Bordeaux region, staying first for 3 nights in the Médoc, in a house surrounded by the vineyards. Your lovely hosts will be happy to share with you all the wine places that they keep selecting all year long.
  • Visit a Medoc wine estate with an English-speaking guide: from the vineyards near the castle to the wine storehouses. After the tour, you'll make your own blend with different varieties and end this 2hr tour with a wine tasting, but of course!...pairing wines with chocolates !
  • You will then spend 2 nights in downtown Bordeaux and enjoy discovering this lively city and within walking distance from the historical district.
  • Built along the banks of the Garonne river, the opulent merchants' homes are very specific to Bordeaux. The rise of colonial trade together with the growth of the wine industry contributed to the amazing expansion of the Gironde region during the 18th century.

 

Paris Dordogne Normandy Loire Valley Burgundy Bordeaux Giverny

The Loire Valley in a castle

  • On the 15th day, you will move to the Northern Loire Valley and treat yourself with 2 nights in a charming and romantic Renaissance castle in the heart of the Loire Valley. The perfect place to be introduced to the "castle country" while enjoying the warm welcome of the owners themselves. 
  •  

Central Loire

  • Your trip continues to the wilder part of the Loire Valley. Stay for 5 nights in a very pleasant family house which is located half-way between Blois and Amboise, in the heart of the "castle country." Also, a Michelin-star restaurant is only 1.5 miles away . . . a great opportunity to plan for an extraordinary dinner !
  • From here, you will explore the Loire Valley's most famous sites: Chambord or Chenonceau, Chaumont gardens and if you want to do some shopping, you may enjoy Tours.
  • Touraine is also famous for its vineyards – Chinon, Bourgueil, Vouvray and many more – and we have planned a special wine tasting. You will have the opportunity to taste different wines - in a privately owned 16th century castle - accompanied by some local specialties.
  • You will also wander into tiny villages dotted along the Loire river and get a taste of French gastronomy in restaurants and local markets we have tested for you.

 

Paris Dordogne Normandy Loire Valley Burgundy Bordeaux Giverny

Normandy – World War & Middle Ages

  • For 3 nights, taste the Norman quietness in a manor from the 11th century. Jump into the Middle Ages while still enjoying all the modern amenities . . . and amazing breakfasts cooked by your lovely hostess.
  • Perfectly located between Bayeux and the WWII beaches, you will get a real feel for the Norman history, from William the Conqueror to the Second World War.
  • To help you better understand the events of the Battle of Normandy and bring them to life, we have planned a guided tour with a specialist in WWII history. You will be shown all the main landing sites and learn in detail about what happened here on D-Day.

 

Paris Dordogne Normandy Loire Valley Burgundy Bordeaux Giverny

Last night in Giverny

  • Spend your last night in Giverny, which is only a 1hr drive to Paris and to CDG Airport, so very convenient. Get a last feel for Normandy and if you are interested in painting, you will enjoy Monet’s house and gardens very much.
  • We can plan for you to return the car where it is the most convenient for you. 

 

In this tour, you will uncover the Many Facets of France !

Activities included

cooking class burgundy

Burgundy Cooking Class

Meet with Olivier who was a Chef in star rated restaurants. He will teach you how to cook some typical Burgundy dishes revised to make them some very sophisticated courses.  

bordeaux wine tasting

Bordeaux Wine tasting & blending

Visit a Medoc wine estate with an English speaking guide: from the vineyards to the wine storehouses. After the tour, you'll make your own blend with different varieties and pair wines with 3 chocolates.

wine tasting in the Loire

A Wine Tasting in a castle in the Loire

Visit a family-owned 16th century castle and winery surrounded by over 100 acres of vineyards and forests.
Enjoy a commented tasting of the wines with some local-product snacks.

WWII sites in Normandy

D-Day Sites Tour

Get a better feel for what happened during the Battle of Normandy in 1944, with a local specialized guide. Spend half a day to visit several US or Canadian sites. You will be in a group of maximum 8 travelers. If you wish, we can also hire a private guide

Let us craft your perfect Travel Plan

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Customize this tour

We are glad to customize this itinerary to include additionnal night stays, extra activities or any specific request you have.

YOUR Guide Book

100% customized to your itinerary, it is the perfect tool before, during & after your trip.

Explore the French regions

Brittany

Alsace

Lyon

Somme

Champagne

Verdun

Normandy

Provence

Dordogne

Loire Valley

Paris

Bordeaux

Our Travelers’ Reviews

Kathy
My wife and I were planning a special trip to Provence and although we didn't want a canned tour, we did want support to ensure we didn't miss out on experiences we simply weren't aware of. In our search we got lucky and found Emilie. She interviewed us in advance so she could customize the trip to our desires and interests and ultimately created …
Martha
Emilie did a fantastic job of planning our 13 day trip from Avignon to Bordeaux, with time spent in Provence, Cathar Country, Basque Country, and Bordeaux. Emilie is an excellent & responsive communicator. Emilie tailored our trip from reserving the rental car and the bed & breakfasts (wonderful places with wonderful hosts), setting up private …
Linda & Scott
This was our first visit to France to celebrate my 40th birthday. We started in Reims/Champagne region, Burgundy, Loire Valley Normandy and finished in Paris. Our 21 day trip was exceptional in every way! Emilie and her team thought of everything and their service from fist email to our return home could not be faulted. The only way I can describe …

Our Travelers’ Photos

Stuart
from Australia
Who stumbled upon Alice Cooper rock star in Galeries Lafayette in Paris
Jim
From Australia
At the top of the Rhune mount in the Basque Country
Shirley & Bob
from the US
After a concert in Paris
Linda
From Australia
Making Chou-Buns at Valerie's
Bruce from Australia
Cooking outdoor in Provence, bon appétit !
Beth & Joe
From the US
Enjoying breakfast at the B&B in Southern Provence
Shirley & Brad
from Canada
On a honeymoon in Dordogne
Mona, Yvette, Vernon, David
from the US
in Mont Saint Michel Bay in Normandy
Bridget & Tyler
from the US
In Monet's house kitchen in Giverny
Susan & Gary
From the US
At the summit of the famous Mont Ventoux in Provence (famous as a mythical step of the Tour de France)
Roy & Maureen
From Australia
In Biarritz Food Market, enjoying some white wine with oysters
Cynthia & Roger
from the US
Wine Tasting in the Loire Valley