Featuring the Périgord region and its pre-historic caves, the Pyrénées, the French Basque Country, and Bilbao, Spain—the wine, cheese, art, music and history of the regions.


Traverse one of the most spectacular scenic landscapes in Europe, revel in the delicious regional food and wine, and enjoy a unique cultural introduction to this wondrous region on a unique, guided, 12-day tour to Southwestern France and the Spanish Basque Country, June 16-28.

The tour will be accompanied by Tim Kahn, 35-year veteran of the French classroom and executive producer of the documentary film, The Last Link, about the French Basque and Béarnais shepherding culture of the Pyrénées and Sandra dal Poggetto, widely traveled wine and cheese specialist and critically acclaimed Montana artist, and a representative from the Flynn Center.

Traveling from Bordeaux, France to Bilbao Spain, by way of the Dordogne Valley, Pau, St. Jean de Luz and Biarritz, you will visit charming, historic hill top villages, world renowned prehistoric caves and the extraordinary Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Along the route, you will meet with shepherds, singers, musicians, vintners and chefs. You will taste wines of regional vineyards such as St. Emilion and Bergerac and sample various delicacies, such as the famous fromage (cheese) Ossau-Iraty and locally produced honey. Superior accommodations are charming, beautifully sited and conveniently located.

Itinerary:

Note - Meals included as noted below by day: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner.

Day 1
Depart from Montréal, Québec

Day 2
Arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, France at 6:05 am. Leave Charles de Gaulle Airport on Air France flight #7620 at 7:15 am. Arrive at Bordeaux Airport at 8:30 am. Meet other travelers who have arrived separately. Private coach transfer from the airport to Sarlat, with a luncheon stop in the charming town of St. Émilion. Located 22 miles from Bordeaux on a northern hillside of the Dordogne Valley, St. Émilion is in the center of its own world-class wine producing region. Presentation and sampling of various wines of the region with lunch. Continue on to the historic, exceptionally preserved town of Sarlat, capital of the Black Perigord. After checking into the hotel, the group will explore the many charming streets and admire the roofs and stone walled buildings that bring the Renaissance to life. Representing over 1,000 years of architecture, Sarlat has been the backdrop for numerous motion pictures. Light dinner, at a restaurant of your choice, and overnight will be in Sarlat. (L)

Day 3
Today the group will stop at Le Musée National de la Préhistoire, (the National Museum of Prehistory), at Les Eyziés-de-Tayac, "the capital of prehistory", for an introduction to the painted caves in the area, before visiting the Grottes de Lascaux II. This cave is an exact replica of the most famous 17,000 year-old site for Pre-historic cave art in the world, located in the limestone banks in the region of the Vézère River. After lunch, stop at the village of Le Roc, topped by the fortified Chateau de Béynac, to admire the panorama of the Dordogne River below, and stop by the fortified town of Domme on the way back to Sarlat. Dinner and overnight in Sarlat. (B, D)

Day 4
In the morning, depart for the prehistoric caves, Les Grottes du Pech-Merle, known for their extraordinary rock formations, consisting of seven caverns that contain hundreds of paintings, drawings and engravings of animals, human figures and abstract symbols. Following lunch in the historic town of Cahors, with its 14th century fortifications, including ramparts, 3 fortified bridges, 11 towers and 2 gate houses, return to Sarlat via the town of Bergerac and the vineyards of the Chateau de Monbazillac which produce some of the best sweet wines in France. Dine at a restaurant of your choice, and overnight in Sarlat. (B, L)

Day 5
After breakfast, visit the bustling Saturday market in Sarlat, where you can sample some of the delicacies of Le Perigord, known as the region that produces the best food in France. While at the market, choose items to eat for lunch en route. Depart Sarlat in the late morning for Pau, the capital of Les Pyrénées Atlantiques. On arrival in Pau, check into the hotel and then stroll to Le Boulevard des Pyrénées, with its commanding view of the high peaks of the Pyrénées, and continue to the Beaumont Gardens, and Le Chateau de Henri IV. Dinner in Pau. (B, D)

Day 6
After breakfast, depart for La Vallée d’Ossau, exploring small medieval villages such as Béost, Castet and Bilhères-en-Ossau on the way. Meet a bee keeper. Sample and learn about the different types of honey produced in the mountain valleys of the Pyrénées. Lunch, featuring some of the cuisine and the wines of Le Béarn, will be in Laruns. After lunch visit the famous Col d’Aubisque, one of the most challenging mountain ascents in Le Tour de France. Dine at a restaurant of your choice, and overnight in Pau. (B, L)

Day 7
Stop at a vineyard in Jurancon in the morning. The rest of the day will be spent in the High Pyrénées with shepherd Stéphane Chétrit. Take the gondola to the top of the Artouste ski area to picnic with Stéphane and learn about his family’s heritage in cheese making, and how he produces of one of the finest "fromage des Pyrénées". Hike or ride down into his mountain valley to visit his cheese cellar. In the late afternoon, take "le petit train" to the Lac D’Artouste. Dinner in Laruns with an evening of shepherds singing traditional music of "Le Béarn." Overnight in Pau. (B, D)



Day 8
Depart Pau for the spectacular "Vallée d’Aspe", and the alpine village of Lescun. Picnic (weather dependant) under the towering peaks of the Lescun Glacier and then continue on along the magnificent "Route de Fromage Ossau-Iraty", which travels along the high peaks of the Béarn and the Basque Country. Arrive at the Hotel Arcé, in the picturesque Basque village of St. Etienne de Baigory. Dinner will be in the Hotel Arcé, sampling the wines of the Basque Country and the cuisine prepared by well known chef, Pascal Arcé, whose family has owned the hotel for generations. Overnight at the Hotel Arcé in St. Etienne de Baigory. (B, D)

Day 9
Full day touring the Basque Country, visiting the Irrouligy vineyards, walking the streets of St. Jean Pied de Port, visiting La Fortresse, seeing the famous pilgrimage route leading toward Santiago de Compostela in Spain and exploring the village of Arnéguy, half of which is on the Spanish border. Evening of Basque Music. Lunch will be in a restaurant of your choice in St. Jean Pied de Port. Dinner will be at the Hotel Arcé. Overnight at the Hotel Arcé in St. Etienne de Baigory. (B, D)

Day 10
Depart for the Atlantic Coast (45 minute drive from St. Etienne de Baigory). Visit, the French composer Ravel’s birth place, the picturesque fishing village of St. Jean de Luz. Sample seafood of the Atlantic, or other regional specialties, at lunch along with wines of the region, at a restaurant of your choice. Afternoon will be spent in the Nice of the Atlantic, the elegant resort town of Biarritz. Walk the beach and explore the many shops. Dine at a restaurant of your choice perhaps featuring the delicious seafood of the Atlantic, and return to Hotel Arcé in St.Etienne de Baigory for the night. (B)

Day 11
Depart St. Etienne de Baigory for Spain and the city of Bilbao. Stop en route at the restaurant Zuberoa for lunch, in the town of Oiartzun, which represents the quiet revolution of new Basque cuisine. Taste such delicacies as foie gras in chickpea soup with fried bread and lobster in cinnamon oil. Visit a local vineyard featuring Basque wines of the region. Arrive Bilboa in the afternoon for a bus tour of the city. Dine at a restaurant of your choice in the local tavernas. Overnight in Bilboa. (B, L)

Day 12
Guided tour of the world famous Guggenheim Museum with the afternoon at leisure to continue visiting the museum, doing any last minute shopping, or exploring the city. Farewell dinner and overnight in Bilbao. (B, D)


Day 13
Depart Bilbao, Spain,

Tour Price Includes:

• 11 nights in superior *** hotels, double occupancy with breakfast
• All hotel service charges and taxes
• Private motor coach for the duration of the trip including transfers
• Full-time bilingual escort
• 6 group dinners
• 4 group lunches
• Entrance to Le Musée de la Préhistoire, Les Grottes de Pech-Merle and Lascaux II, Guggenheim Museum
• Local guides for June 18 and 19 in the Dordogne
• Guided visits: Pech-Merle, Lascaux II, Guggenheim Museum and a city bus tour of Bilbao
• Gondola ride at the Artouste Mountain Resort
• Meetings with shepherds and members of the agricultural community of the Pyrénées
• Musical presentations (Béarn and the Basque Country)
• 3 wine and 2 cheese tastings

Tour Price Does Not Include:

• Air fare to and from Europe
• Additional tipping of local guides and bus driver (at your discretion)
• Alcoholic beverages with meals
• Meals, other than those listed
• Entrance Fees, other than those listed
• Trip insurance (recommended and available with sign up)

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