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.
We are experienced travelers world-wide, generally organizing our own itinerary or having a travel group help us with a tour-for-two, and a personal guide, in several select …
We are experienced travelers world-wide, generally organizing our own itinerary or having a travel group help us with a tour-for-two, and a personal guide, in several select locations. This was our first visit to France. So to be on our own with the guidance and extremely comprehensive written support of France Just For You was just remarkable and very reassuring. We felt completely confident during our 26 day tour from Nice to Paris, and we were astounded by the range of experiences offered to us. The accommodation choices were lovely, and all of our hosts were extremely gracious. Do keep in mind that we are a long married couple, and a self-driving tour of this magnitude and length could be trying at times. But we are here to tell the tale. Highly recommended, and many accolades to France Just For You.
With thanks,
#1 - A beautiful house nestled in a lovely town near BeauneStay in a gorgeous valley, in the Burgundy countryside
#1 - A beautiful house nestled in a lovely town near BeauneIn a very typical town
#1 - A beautiful house nestled in a lovely town near BeauneYour charming hosts will turn breakfasts into a very special moment of your trip
#1 - A beautiful house nestled in a lovely town near Beaune..let's not forget about this host as well !
#1 - A beautiful house nestled in a lovely town near BeauneSpend very quiet nights, in a relaxing room
#1 - A beautiful house nestled in a lovely town near BeauneEnjoy a delicious dinner cooked by your host who used to be a Chef
#1 - A beautiful house nestled in a lovely town near Beaune...in a very nicely decorated room
#2 - A Perigord style house, in central DordogneStay only 15 minutes to Sarlat in the heart of the medieval Dordogne
#2 - A Perigord style house, in central DordogneEnjoy a fantastic dinner by the swimming pool or the fire place
#2 - A Perigord style house, in central DordogneThis medieval castle is walking distance from your B&B
#2 - A Perigord style house, in central DordogneYour lovely hosts know the region perfectly
#3 - A former wine estateStay right in the Medoc vineyards
#3 - A former wine estateRelax by the vineyards or at the pool or spa
#3 - A former wine estateMeet with your lovely hosts who used to live Sth America
#3 - A former wine estateYou room has a very relaxing decoration
#4 - A typical Bordeaux house, in the heart of the cityA Bordeaux classical architecture
#4 - A typical Bordeaux house, in the heart of the cityMixed with modern touches - which makes the place very special
#4 - A typical Bordeaux house, in the heart of the cityThe rooms are much larger than usual, being downtown a major city
#4 - A typical Bordeaux house, in the heart of the cityYour lovely hosts are multilinguals. Your host comes from a winemaker family
#4 - A typical Bordeaux house, in the heart of the cityEnjoy the views of Bordeaux roofs !
#5 - A gorgeous private castle in the LoireStay in a fairytale castle in the Loire Valley
#5 - A gorgeous private castle in the Loiresettle in a very spacious room, overlooking the park
#5 - A gorgeous private castle in the LoireRelax in one of the guests' reading rooms
#5 - A gorgeous private castle in the Loireif you are not too scared, take the underground passages to the swimming pool !
#6 - A comfortable B&B in the Kings' countryYour BB in the Loire Valley
#6 - A comfortable B&B in the Kings' countryEnjoy a very cozy room, with a nice view over the park
#6 - A comfortable B&B in the Kings' countryRelax at the swimming pool, playing billiards or in a nice living room
#7 - An Medieval Manor in the Norman countrysideA medieval manor between Bayeux and the landing beaches
#7 - An Medieval Manor in the Norman countrysideAfter a day visiting, relax in the Norman countryside
#7 - An Medieval Manor in the Norman countrysideEnjoy a very spacious room with all the modern amenities
#7 - An Medieval Manor in the Norman countryside...and amazing home-made breakfasts
#8 - A Gorgeous Mansion on the hill above Giverny townStay away from the crowds only 2 miles to Monet's house and gardens
#8 - A Gorgeous Mansion on the hill above Giverny townRest in a spacious room, lavishly decorated...
#8 - A Gorgeous Mansion on the hill above Giverny town...or in the welcoming living room
Step by step
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 !
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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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 & 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.
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.
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.
France-Just for You is the best agency/coordinator we have EVER used. We have traveled around the world to more than 50 countries and this was by far the best job of coordination we ever experienced. The owner, Emilie, lives in France and is 100% accessible by email or phone. We emailed her the first time we learned about her business and from then …
France-Just for You is the best agency/coordinator we have EVER used. We have traveled around the world to more than 50 countries and this was by far the best job of coordination we ever experienced. The owner, Emilie, lives in France and is 100% accessible by email or phone. We emailed her the first time we learned about her business and from then on her attention to detail and efficiency were outstanding. She outlined a custom trip for us based on our criteria and then created a detailed plan for us to follow with options for various activities. She took care of every detail, bike rental, car rental, cooking class , museum passes, directions etc etc. Then, about a month before we went , she mailed us a 300+ page book custom created for our trip which gave background information on all the places we were to visit, gps directions, options for different routes, recommendations for restaurants, background on bed and breakfast hosts (whom she personally meets with), comments on French customs, and hundreds of tips and suggestions. Her guide was so complete, we did not need any other books. She created an experience for us we will never forget. When we return to France we will ask her to plan the trip for us.
Clare & Greg
We just got back from a 2-week fairytale trip to the Southwest of France, perfectly planned for us by Emilie and Guillaume. We spent 3 days in Carcassonne, 4 days in the Dordogne, and 4 days in the Medoc. Each B&B was charming and the hosts were wonderfully welcoming. The special activities that were planned (truffle-hunting, wine-tasting and …
We just got back from a 2-week fairytale trip to the Southwest of France, perfectly planned for us by Emilie and Guillaume. We spent 3 days in Carcassonne, 4 days in the Dordogne, and 4 days in the Medoc. Each B&B was charming and the hosts were wonderfully welcoming. The special activities that were planned (truffle-hunting, wine-tasting and blending, a specially-arranged English-language tour of Michel de Montaigne's library, etc.) were amazing experiences that we probably would never have been able to arrange on our own. The "Emilie book" was indispensable! I cannot recommend France Just For You highly enough!
And we can't wait to come back to la belle France!
Jim
If you want to experience France, but are hesitant because you don’t speak the language, this company is for you. Emilie will prepare an itinerary that is so detailed that even the most inexperienced, non-French speaking traveler will be able to navigate France. Her attention to detail is so incredible that almost everything sitiuation you …
If you want to experience France, but are hesitant because you don’t speak the language, this company is for you. Emilie will prepare an itinerary that is so detailed that even the most inexperienced, non-French speaking traveler will be able to navigate France. Her attention to detail is so incredible that almost everything sitiuation you encounter can be assisted with a page in your “book.” You let her know what you’re interested in experiencing and she will make it happen.
I would highly recommend everything that she planned for us. Raphaelle’s walking tour of Paris, Christophe’s D-Day tour, Brigitte’s cooking class, a bike tour through the Loire Valley, and Amelie’s tour of Mont Saint Michel were incredibly enjoyable. There was plenty of flexibility in our itinerary to make other plans as well.
All of our accommodations were beyond wonderful and the restaurant suggestions were all perfect! Although we didn’t have the time to experience everything suggested, we definitely wish we did!
We are already planning our next trip!
