Gourmet Paris & Bordeaux

Begin your unforgettable adventure in the City of Lights by flying into Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport where you’ll be met by your private driver. Transfer will be provided to the fashionable neighborhood of Saint-Germain, a beloved community of many artists, writers, and intellectuals from Voltaire and Picasso to Hemingway.

After checking into your boutique hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure, perhaps resting after a long flight and enjoying a short stroll with many upscale shops, cafes, and restaurants just steps away. Find an idyllic spot to sip a glass of wine or another refreshing beverage while watching the world go by.

A half-day tour begins a busy but exciting day. You’ll explore many of the incredible sites Paris has to offer, including some of its most iconic architecture like the Eiffel Tower which was built for the 1889 World Fair, the Notre Dame Cathedral, Champs-Elysees, and Arc de Triomphe. Paris is a big city so we’ve included a metro ticket, making it easy to get around. It’s also much quicker than traveling by car.

Your tour will conclude at the famous Louvre Art Museum, where you will change guides, use your tickets to skip the line inside, and explore some of the most famous art in the world with an expert at your side. Marvel at Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa while contemplating the artist’s remark: “A face is not well done unless it expresses a state of mind.” See the Venus de Milo that was uncovered on Milos Island in Greece – while the artist is unknown, it’s believed to have been sculpted around 130 BC. The Wedding at Cana is another highlight, painted in 1563 by Paolo Caliari. It measures an astounding 267” x 391” as the largest painting preserved in a French museum.

A day trip to the Palace of Versailles is something that really shouldn’t be missed by anyone who visits Paris, so we’ve included a half-day tour that will bring you there with your own private driver/guide. You’ll be able to admire the breathtaking Hall of Mirrors, a definite highlight with individual mirrors on all of the 17 arched windows, as well as tour the opulent Louis XIV State Apartments. The magnificent gardens are spread across 250-acre grounds with meandering garden paths that provide views of the colorful flowers, ornamental lakes, and the canal where King Louis XIV himself once enjoyed rides on a gondola.

The origins of chocolate in France date back to the early 17th century and Paris is home to over 300 chocolate shops, more than any other city in the world. Pastries are a part of everyday life here too, with patisseries, dedicated specifically to those sweet baked goods, found across Paris. Today is sure to be a treat for your tastebuds as you’ll get to explore both in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the fashion district par excellence, indulging your sweet tooth while marveling at the impressive architecture. Join your guide for a stroll through this cool neighborhood with stops along the way to discover the latest trends in sweets, with plenty of samples. On your private 3-hour tour, you’ll taste the specialties of exceptional chocolate makers and chef confectioners, including chocolates, macarons, pastries, and breads.

It’s time to say farewell to Paris, taking private transfer to the train station for the 2-hour ride to the famous Bordeaux region. The historic center of Bordeaux is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with many delights to discover.

Today you’ll explore Bordeaux’s 2,000-year history on a walking tour through the port city which serves as the hub of the renowned wine-growing region. It includes many 18th- and 19th-century mansions and the grand gothic-style Bordeaux Cathedral with its stone-carved façade, 11th-century nave, gorgeous arches, and a bell tower. See the medieval gateway known as Porte Cailhau with its gothic and Renaissance element that dates from the late 15th century but still remains impeccably preserved. The separate 37-story bell tower at Saint-Michel Basilica is yet another highlight.

It’s time for a discovery of what makes Bordeaux so well-known, its wine. Head out with your private driver/guide to explore the vine-filled region while enjoying tastings in some unique and breathtaking settings. Bordeaux wines are some of the most highly acclaimed in the world and the first cabernet sauvignon and merlot vines even originated here. They still make up more than 90 percent of the grapes grown here, although there are some whites, particularly in the Entre-Deux-Mer area. Another highlight of your day will be a visit to the 12th-century underground monuments of Saint Emilion which includes Europe’s largest subterranean church.

We’ve left today free for you to enjoy Bordeaux at leisure. However you may want to take an optional private tour of the Medoc wine region which lies between the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s been one of the most popular in France for some 300 years, known for its tradition of crafting and blending the benchmark merlots and cabernet sauvignons. Medoc hosts some of the most prestigious wine-producing villages which include Pauillac, Saint-Julie, Saint-Estephe, and Margaux, making some of the world’s most expensive wines. Your tour includes visits with tastings at three different chateaux which are sure to feature Bordeaux’s celebrity grapes along with some lesser-known gems.

After an unforgettable week through Paris and Bordeaux, your journey will soon come to an end. Your private driver will provide transfer from your hotel to the Bordeaux train station so you can take the train to Paris. Upon arrival, you’ll take a private transfer to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. From there, you might head out on further travels or catch your flight home. Should you need assistance with either, as always, our travel experts are here to assist.