You will board your motor coach at the pier and drive along the famous Quai des Chartrons, the center of the Bordeaux wine trade. Your tour of Médoc will start just north of the city. The Medoc Wine Road, located between the Gironde estuary and the Landes forest, will provide magnificent views of vine-covered gravelly rises as far as the eye can see. You will have the opportunity to take photos of some of the most famous Châteaux of the area such as Margaux, and Pichon Longueville.  Médoc vineyards are orderly and well-kept almost to the point of fanaticism, and the region's world famous châteaux produce wine that are nothing short of divine... Moulis, Listrac, Saint Julien, Saint Estèphe, Pauillac, Médoc, Haut Médoc and Margaux (with the celebrated château of the same name). You will be able to visit the cellars of one of these famous châteaux -  Giscours, Lynch Bages, Siran,Lagrange, Dauzac, Desmirail, Camensac,Palmer, Issan, Kirwan, Prieuré Lichine, Rausan Ségla, or d'Arsac. You will learn the techniques of wine making during your visit of the cellars and before a wine tasting.

Please note: There will be stairs to get to the chateau cellar. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

La Cité du Vin is a unique cultural facility where wine comes to life through an immersive, sensorial approach, all set within an evocative architectural design. La Cité du Vin gives a different view of wine, across the world, across the ages, across all cultures and all civilizations. At first sight, the architecture of the building is a place filled with symbols of identity: the knotted vine stocks, wine turning in the glass, the swirls and eddies of the Garonne river. Each and every architectural detail evokes liquid elements and the very soul of wine. The bold architectural design by architects Anouk Legendre and Nicolas Desmazières from is impressive for its shape and curves, as well as its ever-changing reflections depending on the season, the day or the time.  You will take a tour,  a journey through time and space to discover wine in its universal, heritage, civilizational and cultural dimensions. Whether mythical, sacred, religious or magical, experience the culture of wine as it has shaped mankind and the way we live, which has been a source of inspiration in both past and present. Throughout your visit you will be guided by the travel companion, an innovative and technological tool available in 8 languages, helping you to explore the circuit at your own pace and adapted to your own profile. The final phase of the journey will take you up to the Belvedere of La Cité du Vin where you can take in a 360° view of the city, a unique panorama to enjoy while sipping a glass of wine from one of the great vineyards of the world.

 

Please note:  Wear comfortable and flat walking shoes.  Heels are not recommended.

 

 

 

There can be no better place to start a visit to this attractive region than Saint Emilion, heartland of the merlot grape, which produces delicious, rich, round wines. The vines on the "hill with a thousand châteaux," reach right up to Saint Emilion's 13th century town walls and surrounding moat dug out of solid rock.  You will stop at one of the nearby wine chateaux and will learn the techniques of wine making during your visit to their cellar and enjoy a wine tasting. Arriving in the village, your guide will take you for a walking tour to see the main attractions: the Collegiale Church and its magnificent cloister from the 12th century, the Ramparts, the Market Place, and the Monolithic Church. Strolling in the streets, you will also see the Cadene Gate and the King's Tower. Then, you will have some time at leisure for exploring the village on your own.

Please note:  The order of sites visited may vary. Flat, comfortable shoes are recommended as well as a warm garment.  Some of the walk is difficult on steep cobblestone streets  and not recommended for people with mobility issues.

Depart by coach from the ship for a panoramic drive of Bordeaux, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. This distinction recognizes the beauty and unity of style of Bordeaux's architectural heritage, which has developed harmoniously over the centuries and remains remarkably well-preserved. Discover the city’s major highlights : the Chartrons Riverfront where the wine trade started, L’Esplanade des Quinconces  which is one of Europe’s largest squares with its column commemorating the French Revolution, the 18th century Place de la Bourse, the Cailhau Gate (15th century), the Big Bell (14th century), the Palais Rohan (18th century) now the City Hall, the St. Andrew Cathedral (13th century )  where Alienor d'Aquitaine married Louis VII and the Grand Theatre (18th century), the Bordeaux Opera built by Victor Louis in 1773. Then, to continue your discovery of Bordeaux’s history and culture, you will drive to a nearby vineyard surrounding Bordeaux  and highlighting its really famous heritage: the wine culture. You will stop at one of the prestigious estates to visit their cellars, be introduced to the art of wine making and enjoy a wine tasting before heading back to your ship.

Please note: The order of sights visited may vary. Flat, comfortable shoes are recommended.

 

 

Enjoy a 40-minute panoramic transfer from your ship to St. Martin-de-Ré on Ré Island, the historical capital of the island, where you will meet your bicycle guides at the bicycle rental next to the harbor. You will listen to a quick presentation and then bicycles, helmets, baskets and lockers will be distributed. You will then depart for the 10-mile guided bicycle tour starting from the harbor and finishing in Ars-en-Ré village. You will tour St Martin-de-Ré, a bustling town with houses steeped in history, outside terrace cafés, and a vast urban surrounding wall of huge dimensions and semicircle shape declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2008.  You will get on one of the most beautiful cycle paths of the island towards La Couarde. Passing by oyster huts, just next to the Atlantic Ocean, you can have a break with a lovely ocean view or just enjoy the beautiful scenery.  After La Couarde, you now cross a salt marsh area where annually about 2,500 tons of salt and 250 tons of Fleur de Sel are mined, Fleur de Sel is considered one of the world's finest salts. Finally you will arrive in Ars-en-Ré with its picturesque harbor, the most important  one of the island, and its white and black church tower. The village is as well classified as one of the “most beautiful villages of France” and is well known for its hollyhock lined streets and the surrounding salt pans, which have been in use for the last 800 years.

Please note: Wear flat, comfortable walking shoes and sportswear. Bring bottled water from ship.

Discover the town of La Rochelle with its picturesque harbor, surrounded by medieval fortifications and a wide skyline which opens to you along this half-day motor coach tour departing from the pier. Take a scenic drive along the picturesque sea front of La Rochelle: La Corniche, the elegant gardens of Le Mail, the Harbor and its two towers. One of the towers is called the Chain Tower which for centuries safely chained off the harbor each night. The Great Clock will welcome you to the Old District where your walking tour will start.  La Rochelle Old Town ancient arcades once sheltered the 16th century craftsmen’s workshops on cobblestone streets. You will discover architectural treasures from many different periods: 15th  and 16th  century half-timbered houses, splendid 18th century Hotel de la Bourse, the Law Court with its Corinthian façade and the Renaissance-style house of Henry II. The imposing Town Hall features a Renaissance lodge in the courtyard and a monumental staircase. Continue your guided tour to the stomach of the city : the bustling food market where you can discover the local gems and produce!  Continue your gourmet time with an oyster tasting paired with wine! You will then have some free time to explore this interesting town and its food market on your own. The return journey will take you through the very fine gardens established on the site of the ancient ramparts. Before re-boarding your ship you will pass by the commercial harbor of La Pallice, once used as a submarine base during World War Two.

Please note: Wear flat, comfortable walking shoes. The order of sites visited may vary. Total walking time will be about 3 hours (including exploration on your own). This tour is not recommended for those with mobility issues. 

Near La Rochelle, there is a famous area of unique charm: The Poitevin Marshland, described as “The Green Venice,” a patchwork of marshes offering unique scenery and a glimpse of fascinating wildlife. Driving through the countryside, located along the quiet canals, you will stop nearby the village of Coulon. Local boatmen will take you for a ride in their flat-bottomed punts to discover a picturesque universe in a labyrinth of shaded canals, concealed in a forest of trees: these wet marshes offer unique and original scenery. The Green Venice's exceptional ecosystem and location on the Atlantic coast has earned it a spot on the list of Regional Natural Parks. As your boat slips across the water's placid surface, marvel at the astonishing quiet of the marsh, completely silent except for the occasional sounds of the resident wildlife and the ones coming from the scattered small white-washed houses, homes of the happy inhabitants of this land. You may see plovers, swans, snipes, and ashen and crimson herons. Depending on the season, you may even observe hundreds of wild geese making their migration to Spain. Your skilled captain will guide your boat through the tunnels created by the arched limbs of poplars and ash, along the shores of property owned by prosperous farmers and past small, picturesque villages. But be warned: the "red hand," which according to legend lurks below the thick carpet of duckweed, may reach out and catch you. Having spied the many intriguing creatures of the marsh, disembark your boat and, after a short transfer, enjoy some free time to venture through the streets and traditional houses of this little village of Coulon settled in the heart of the marshland

Please note: Total walking time is about 30 minutes. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

At a distance of about 9 miles  from La Rochelle, Ré is one of the jewels of the Charentaise coast. A bridge nearly two miles long has linked it to the continent since the beginning of 1988. As soon as you reach the Island, you will be won over by the atmosphere and brightness (the Island inspired many painters) and charmed by its quiet but lively fishing ports surrounded with ramparts. First, you will stop in the village of St Martin-de-Ré, the Island capital which is known for its penitentiary. After a guided walking tour of the village to explore the port, you will have time at leisure to enjoy the narrow streets or simply enjoy a refreshment at one of the numerous café terraces with a view of the Atlantic Ocean. 

 

Please note: Wear flat, comfortable walking shoes. Order of sights visited may vary.

 

 

 

Your tour will begin driving by the outside of the submarine base built by the German navy during World War II which became the setting for the movie Das Boot. A German stronghold, La Rochelle was the last French city to be freed at the end of the war. En route to La Rochelle pass the sea front, Port-Neuf district, and the elegant gardens of Le Mail. Enter the city center from the Verdun Square and La Rochelle Cathedral.  You will disembark  the tour bus close by the Saint Sauveur Church and continue the guided tour on foot: discover the Old Harbor with the two towers at the entrance of the harbor, the larger of these is Tour Saint-Nicolas (15th century, 138 feet high), the other, Tour de la Chaîne (14th century), was built to house the great chain now lying at its base, which used to be strung across to St Nicolas each night to safely close off the harbor from attack. Continue towards the archway of the Great Clock giving access to the mostly pedestrian Old District. See the many arcaded streets and elegant architectural buildings from different periods: The Hôtel de la Bourse (18th century, with its two wings joined by a columned gallery), the Law Court (rebuilt in the 18th century with a Corinthian style façade), the House of Henry II (Renaissance), the Town Hall (Renaissance building, Henri IV period) in the heart of old town, protected by a surrounding Gothic wall. During the walking tour, visit the WWII Museum located in a former German underground bunker in the heart of the city. This bunker was used as refuge by the German Kriegsmarine officers and the museum represents the life of La Rochelle during the Second World War.  Enjoy some free time to discover the city on your own before re-boarding your coach and driving back to ship

Please note: Wear flat, comfortable walking shoes.

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, driver, and English-speaking guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own car. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver and English-speaking guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own.

Please note:  Capacity: 1-2 guests. Private cars are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private car, driver and English Speaking Guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the area and does not exceed the duration of 4 hours.  Recommended for physically challenged guests.

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, driver, and English-speaking guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own van. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver and English-speaking guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own.

Please note:  Capacity: 3 - 6 guests. Private vans are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private van, driver and English Speaking Guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the area and does not exceed the duration of 4 hours. Recommended for physically challenged guests.

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, driver, and English-speaking guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own car. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver and English-speaking guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own.

Please note:  Capacity: 1-2 guests. Private cars are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private car, driver and English Speaking Guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the area and does not exceed the duration of 8 hours.  Recommended for physically challenged guests.

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, driver, and English-speaking guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own van. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver and English-speaking guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own.

Please note:  Capacity: 3 - 6 guests. Private vans are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private van, driver and English Speaking Guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the area and does not exceed the duration of 8 hours. Recommended for physically challenged guests.

Departing from Saint Malo, drive to Dinan via Barrage de la Rance, a unique power station that works with the tides.  About 45 minutes along the winding road through lovely countryside will bring you to Dinan, located at the head of the Rance estuary on which its little port is built. On arrival you will start a walking tour of this charming medieval town.  See the houses of the Old Town clustered together behind the long circuit of walls built by the Dukes of Brittany in the 14th century as protection against the Normans.  You will see St. Sauveur’s Basilica; Place des Merciers, with its triangular gables and porches, and Rue du Jerzual, which links the main part of the town with the port. After this tour you will enjoy a refreshment and local pancake together with some time at leisure before returning back to St.-Malo.

Please note: You will be walking on cobblestones at Dinan. It is recommended that you dress in warm, layered clothing and wear flat, comfortable shoes. You should also bring raingear in case of inclement weather. 

You will depart from pier for the 75-minute drive to Fort Lalatte. This spectacular headland, set on 229-foot-high pink sandstone cliffs, offers breathtaking sceneries, among the most beautiful ones in Brittany. Heathland, covered with a wide variety of heather and gorse species, creates a landscape of colors changing with the seasons. Follow your guide on about  a 2-hour walk along the coastal guard’s path. Listen to the stories of the two lighthouses standing there, admire seabirds nesting in the neighboring small island. End your hike at the Cap Fréhel where you will enjoy a time at leisure for a personal discovery before you drive back to St. Malo.

Please note: Wear casual comfortable clothes and flat walking shoes. Bring rain protection.

Mont St. Michel is considered one of the great religious sites in all of Europe and is often compared to St. Peter’s, Chartres, and Durham. First built following the appearance of Archangel Michael to the Bishop of Avranches, the abbey is constructed at the summit of an immense granite precipice 250 feet above the sea – a monument to the heyday of Norman power and influence in the world. Mont St. Michel makes its strongest impression when seen from a distance, on the approach from a 5-mile long causeway at Pontorson where Mont St. Michel joins the mainland.  Once at the abbey, your guided tour on foot will involve numerous stairs and steep paths – yet you are rewarded with magnificent views at every juncture. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. You’ll have free time to stroll the labyrinth of streets, browse the shops, and take in this magnificent architectural achievement. Following your exploration, return to the yacht along the coastal road, passing small towns and traditional fishing harbors along the way. 

 

Please note: Inside the abbey, proper attire is required (no shorts or bare shoulders) and flash photography is not permitted. Due to its great popularity large crowds of visitors must be expected at the site. This tour requires heavy walking; up and downhill and on cobblestones. To reach the very top takes climbing between 197-350 steps.  Due to new regulations motor coaches are no longer allowed to enter Mont St. Michel.  There is a 20-30 minute from the parking lot to the shuttle bus that will take you to Mont St. Michel. 

 

 

 

Known as the oyster capital of Brittany, Cancale is an ideal destination for anyone interested in an authentic taste of French culture.  Situated on the bay of Mont St. Michel, Cancale garners most of its resources from the sea. In particular, oysters have been a famed harvest since the days of Julius Caesar, when these sea delicacies were savored by his soldiers.  King Louis XIV also enjoyed oysters and received daily deliveries of these delicious mollusks.  You will discover why Cancale is renowned for its oysters as you independently experience the town. Stroll the pier where you can see the expansive oyster beds and stop in one of numerous restaurants to sample the oversized oysters for which the region is so well known. With a guided visit to an oyster farm, you will taste 9 oysters. Return to the ship with your appetite for local food and culture having been satisfied.

Please note: This excursion involves walking over uneven surfaces, and is not recommended for guests with walking difficulties or limited mobility.  It is recommended that you dress in warm, layered clothing, wear flat, comfortable shoes, and bring raingear in case of inclement weather.