France:
Paris to Bordeaux
14-day luxury tour of France
Trip Overview
Day 1 - 3 | Paris | Hôtel des Deux-Îles | 2 nights
Day 3 - 6 | Normandy | La Ferme de la Rançonnière | 3 nights
Day 6 - 9 | Loire Valley | Les Sources de Cheverny | 3 nights
Day 9 - 12 | Saint-Émilion | Hôtel de Pavie | 3 nights
Day 12 - 14 | Bordeaux | Les Sources de Caudalie | 2 nights
day 1 | Paris
Hôtel des Deux-Îles is a quietly charming boutique hotel in the heart of Île Saint-Louis, one of Paris's most romantic enclaves. Set in a 17th-century building, steps from the Seine and Notre-Dame, yet removed from the bustle in a way that feels almost secret.
Arrival & Private Transfer. Greeting at the arrivals terminal and private transfer to your hotel.
Welcome to Paris. Paris is made up of neighborhoods that each feel like their own world. Le Marais is historic yet buzzing with galleries and cafés, Saint-Germain-des-Prés embodies Left Bank elegance, the Latin Quarter is full of bookshops and winding streets, and Montmartre offers a romantic, artistic village perched above the city. Canal Saint-Martin feels effortlessly local, with waterside strolls and wine bars.
day 2 | Paris
A day at leisure on Île Saint-Louis and beyond.
Restaurants & Cafés on Île Saint-Louis. Sorza for modern Italian-inspired cooking. Les Anysetiers du Roy for traditional French dishes. Le Saint Régis, a classic Parisian brasserie for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Berthillon for world-famous artisanal ice creams and sorbets. Le Sergent Recruteur for Michelin-starred contemporary gastronomy in a historic setting.
day 3 | Normandy
Gothic Paris in the morning, the Norman countryside by evening.
Private Notre-Dame & Gothic Architecture Tour. With a historian guide, explore Notre-Dame and Gothic architecture as a living system rather than a single monument: how pointed arches, flying buttresses and stained glass reflect a 12th and 13th century push toward height and light, with the 2019 fire and restoration as one chapter in a longer history. The tour crosses to the Left Bank and the Musée de Cluny to see the recovered kings from Notre-Dame's original façade.
Private Transfer to Normandy. Rolling fields, sleepy villages and quiet roads ease you into a slower rhythm. By the time you arrive, you're on Normandy time.
La Ferme de la Rançonnière. A quietly poetic Norman hideaway where centuries-old stone walls and ivy-framed courtyards set the tone. Minutes from the D-Day beaches, with garden views, candlelight and the kind of understated charm that lingers long after departure.
day 4 | Normandy
Private Tour of Mont Saint-Michel. As you approach, the abbey seems to rise straight from the sea, perched on its tidal island like a guardian of centuries past. With your private guide, stop at the Pont de Juvigny, a 13th-century bridge used by pilgrims, and Saint Aubert's relics in Avranches, then walk the cobbled streets of the medieval town, climb its winding staircases and explore the abbey and the monks' living quarters.
day 5 | Normandy
A day of reverence and powerful storytelling.
Private WWII American Sector Tour. With a private guide who is an expert on the Normandy landings, follow in the footsteps of the American soldiers: Sainte-Mère-Église, Utah Beach, Pointe du Hoc, where Rangers climbed a 100-foot cliff, and Omaha Beach, where the scale of the landings comes into sobering focus. The day ends at the American Cemetery, where rows of white crosses stretch before you in heartbreaking symmetry.
day 6 | Loire Valley
Private Transfer with a Stop in Le Mans. A scenic drive through the heart of France with a two-hour stop in Le Mans, legendary home of the 24 Hours race and of the beautifully preserved Cité Plantagenêt, the medieval quarter tied to the dynasty that shaped England and France.
Les Sources de Cheverny. A refined countryside retreat in the Loire Valley, blending understated luxury, nature and wellness amid forests and vineyards near some of France's most iconic châteaux.
day 7 | Loire Valley
Châteaux and wine.
Château de Chenonceau. A guided visit with a historian of the Renaissance masterpiece that spans the River Cher, and its royal history and powerful female legacy.
Organic Winery Visit & Lunch. A guided visit of an organic vineyard and its underground caves, followed by an extensive tasting of Sauvignon, Gamay, Cabernet, Malbec, Pineau d'Aunis and more. Lunch is served at the winery, among the vines when the weather allows, with an organic meal paired with the estate's wines.
Château de Chambord. The grandest château of them all, with its monumental architecture, sweeping grounds and legendary double-helix staircase, with a historian-led visit.
day 8 | Loire Valley
At Leisure at Les Sources de Cheverny. A day to enjoy the spa, with its relaxation pool, hammam and outdoor hot tub, the Michelin-starred Le Favori and the country inn L'Auberge.
day 9 | Saint-Émilion
Train to Bordeaux & Transfer to Saint-Émilion. A fast train to Bordeaux, then an hour's drive through the vineyards to Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO-listed village of cobbled lanes and exceptional wine.
Hôtel de Pavie. A discreet five-star retreat in a 19th-century mansion overlooking the village's vineyards, with a Michelin-starred restaurant by Chef Yannick Alléno.
day 10 | Saint-Émilion
A day among the vines of Saint-Émilion.
Château Fleur de Lisse. A private visit and tasting at a Grand Cru Classé estate farmed biodynamically. Saint-Émilion's reds, mainly Merlot and Cabernet Franc, are powerful and structured, with black fruit, spice and a velvety tenacity that reveals itself over time.
Saint-Émilion Village. Time to wander the village with your specialist guide, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.
Lunch at L'Envers du Décor. A much-loved bistro in the heart of the village.
Château Mauvinon. A private visit and tasting at a family-owned property focused on organic and biodynamic viticulture.
Dinner at Chai Pascal. A recommended dinner in the village.
day 11 | Saint-Émilion
The grand châteaux of the Médoc.
Château Durfort-Vivens. Across to the left bank and the Route des Châteaux for a private visit and tasting at a Margaux second growth farmed biodynamically. The wines here are built on Cabernet Sauvignon, with remarkable aging potential.
Country Lunch at Château Ferrière. A seasonal menu built around produce from local growers, prepared by a private chef and paired with the estate's wines.
Château d'Angludet. A private visit and tasting at a family-owned Margaux estate.
day 12 | Bordeaux
Private Transfer to Les Sources de Caudalie. A leisurely final morning in Saint-Émilion, then through the vineyards of Pessac-Léognan to Les Sources de Caudalie, a five-star wine-country retreat known for its vinotherapy spa, Michelin-starred dining, pools and vineyard views.
Château Smith Haut Lafitte. An afternoon in the vineyards and cellars across from your hotel, experiencing the work of a vineyard manager or cellar master according to the season, followed by a tasting.
day 13 | Bordeaux
A day of sea air on the Atlantic coast.
Dune du Pilat. The tallest sand dune in Europe, rising more than 100 meters, with sweeping views over the ocean, the bay and the pine forests behind.
Arcachon. Free time in a graceful seaside town of belle époque villas, sunny terraces and small boutiques.
Private Pinasse Cruise on Arcachon Bay. A private two-hour cruise around the bay and its bird island aboard a traditional flat-bottomed wooden boat, with oysters and a chilled bottle of local white wine.
day 14 | Departure
Airport Transfer. Private transfer to Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport for your onward flight.
Pricing & Inclusions
See our Booking Terms & Conditions here.
Starting at $1,000 per person per day
Based on two people in double occupancy and subject to increase depending on itinerary specifics and dates.
Accommodation: All luxury hotels as listed in the itinerary.
Transport: All private transfers for the entire trip as listed in the itinerary.
Trains: All train tickets as required for your journey.
Tours & Activities: All tours, activities and excursions with an expert English-speaking guide as listed in the itinerary, along with the required entrance fees. Wine tastings with premium wines at top vineyards.
Meals: All breakfasts, some meals.
Other: City taxes associated with your accommodations. Restaurant reservations and coordination. 24-hour on-call emergency service during the trip.
Exclusions
Flights · Travel insurance · Tips