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.
Arrival Transfer
Bordeaux 0h30m - 0h30m
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group
Bordeaux 1h - 1h
Your opportunity to meet your Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Dinner
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 center where you may wish to join your expedition leader for a stroll through the bustling Marché des Capucins 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.
Curated Panoramic Tour of Bordeaux
Bordeaux 2h - 2h
Experience the "Pearl of Aquitaine" through a curated panoramic journey that bridges three centuries of French genius. From the symmetrical beauty of the Place de la Bourse and its iconic reflecting pool to the historic spires of the Port of the Moon, this tour unveils the city’s UNESCO-listed heart.
Community Enterprise Coffee Shop Visit
Bordeaux 0h30m - 0h30m
A pioneering social enterprise, Café Joyeux is the first restaurant-café chain to specifically employ and train staff with cognitive disabilities, such as Down syndrome and autism.
Optional Walk to Marche des Capucins
Bordeaux 0h30m - 1h
A visit to the Marché des Capucins—affectionately known by locals as "Les Caps"—is a plunge into the authentic, beating heart of Bordeaux. Located in the vibrant Saint-Michel district, this is the city’s largest and oldest covered market.
Wine Chateau Visit and Tasting
Bordeaux 1h30m - 1h30m
A visit to Château Smith Haut Lafitte in the Pessac-Léognan appellation is the gold standard for what the French call Art de Vivre (the art of living). This Grand Cru Classé estate is a rare hybrid of a high-tech "Bio-precision" winery, an open-air art gallery, and a historic 14th-century manor.
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Lunch
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
Private Vehicle
Bordeaux - Saint-Émilion 1h - 1h
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Guided Monolithic Church and Catacombs Visit
Saint-Émilion
A visit to the Monolithic Church of Saint-Émilion and its subterranean catacombs is a journey into the largest underground sanctuary in Europe. Carved entirely out of a single limestone plateau during the 12th century, this hollowed-out cathedral is a staggering feat of medieval engineering and spiritual devotion.
Private Vehicle
Saint-Émilion - Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil 2h - 2h
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
National Museum of Prehistory
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil 1h30m - 1h30m
A visit to the National Museum of Prehistory (Musée National de Préhistoire) in Les Eyzies-de-Tayac is a journey to the "Capital of Prehistory." Perched against a dramatic limestone cliff in the heart of the Vézère Valley, this museum houses one of the world's most complete collections of Paleolithic artifacts, serving as the essential "instruction manual" for understanding the nearby painted caves.
Private Vehicle
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil - Sarlat-la-Canéda 1h - 1h
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Lunch
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.
Visit to Rouffignac Cave
Rouffignac-Saint-Cernin-de-Reilhac 1h15m - 1h15m
A visit to the Rouffignac Cave, also known as the "Cave of the Hundred Mammoths," is a surreal journey into one of the largest and most unique subterranean complexes in the Périgord.
Visit to Font de Gaume Cave
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil 1h - 1h
It is one of the last few "Sanctuaries" in the world where you can still see original, Paleolithic paintings, and unlike the reconstructions of Lascaux or Altamira, here you are standing in the very same atmosphere, breathing the same air, and seeing the same pigments applied to the stone nearly 17,000 years ago.
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Dinner
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.
Walk to Place de la Liberté Food Market
Sarlat-la-Canéda 0h30m - 1h
The day begins with a stroll amongst the quaint market stalls.
Visit International Centre for Cave Art at Lascaux IV
Montignac 1h - 1h
visit to Lascaux IV (The International Centre for Cave Art) is a masterpiece of digital and architectural storytelling. Located at the foot of the hill where the original cave was discovered in 1940, this facility is a 1:1 scale, millimetric replica of the entire cave system, designed to protect the original while offering a perfectly immersive experience.
Visit Castel-Merle With Prehistoric Lunch
Sarlat-la-Canéda 2h - 2h
Castel Merle is a remarkable archaeological site. Unlike a single cave or a museum, Castel Merle is a complex of ten distinct rock shelters (abris) that were occupied by both Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons over a period of nearly 30,000 years.
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Lunch
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.
Private Vehicle
Sarlat-la-Canéda - Rocamadour 2h - 2h
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Elevators to Sanctuary of Rocamadour
Rocamadour 0h15m - 0h30m
Lift Rocamadour offers a unique way to ascend or descend the medieval town and sanctuary. The journey involves a classic 50-meter elevator followed by a funicular ride to the highest viewpoint.
Guided visit to the Sanctuary of Rocamadour
Rocamadour 1h - 1h30m
A visit to Rocamadour is a vertical journey through time, faith, and gravity. Clinging to a sheer limestone cliff 150 meters above the Alzou Canyon, this UNESCO World Heritage site is one of France’s most iconic images.
Private Vehicle
Rocamadour - Cabrerets 1h30m - 1h30m
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Visit to Pech Merle Cave
Cabrerets 1h30m - 1h30m
A visit to the Pech Merle cave in Cabrerets, France, offers a guided tour through an authentic, prehistoric underground world, featuring over 800 stunning 25,000-year-old paintings and engravings, including the famous "Spotted Horses" and human handprints.
Private Vehicle
Cabrerets - Toulouse 2h - 2h
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
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.
Toulouse Walking Tour and Lunch at Victor Hugo Market
Toulouse 3h - 3h
This curated walking tour is a sensory immersion into the architecture and flavors of Toulouse. After exploring the Place du Capitole the journey culminates at the iconic Victor Hugo Market. Here, you’ll experience a true "market-style" lunch amidst the hustle and bustle of this historic markeplace.
Enjoy a free afternoon to explore the vibrant city of Toulouse, with its wonderful museums, parks and quaint cafes.
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
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.
Departure Transfer
Toulouse
You will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport at the end of your adventure.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
