Explore Tradition and Modernity in France's Historic Cities
Premium | From $5,499 pp
Day by day
Day 1: Marseille
Private transfer upon arrival in Marseille
A private driver will pick you up from the airport and drive you safely to your accommodation.
Welcome to Marseille, the City of a Thousand Faces!
Nestled between the turquoise Mediterranean Sea, rocky inlets, and scenic hills, the Southern French metropolis is overhung and protected by the impressive Basilica “Bonne Mère” (the “Good Mother”). France’s oldest and second-biggest city was founded by Greek traders 2,600 years ago and has been full of surprises ever since. As in other troubled port cities, Marseille had a reputation for crime and defiant bombast, but the city has polished its image.
Today it skillfully combines tradition with modernity. New or refurbished trams, designer hotels, galleries, museums, cultural centers, sights, and chic restaurants make the Mediterranean city a fascinating attraction.
Day 2: Marseille
Private guided driving tour in Marseille
Discover the vibrant city of Marseille during this full-day tour.
Day 3: Marseille - Montpellier
Private transfer in Marseille
A chauffeur will meet you for a transfer between Marseille city center to Marseille train station.
Private transfer in Montpellier
A private driver will pick you up at Montpellier train station and take you safely to your destination.
Afternoon Private Walking Tour Through Montpellier
The square is dominated by the facade of the Theater (late nineteenth century), artistically interesting and very spacious inside with a bell shape and a series of galleries with wide corridors. The theater, which was inspired by the Paris Opera, is by Cassien Bernard (1848-1926).
It is perhaps inevitable that a city like Montpellier, traditionally a regional wine capital, has a particular focus on cuisine and local produce. Each morning the visitor can find various markets in the city – try the Esplanade Charles de Gaulle in the Antigone district with its farmers market for a good selection.
Day 4: Montpellier - Nimes - Uzès - Pont du Gard - Montpellier
Private guided tour to Nîmes, Uzes and the Pont du Gard
Day 5: Montpellier - Toulouse
Private transfer in Montpellier
A private driver will pick you up at your hotel in Montpellier and take you safely to the train station.
Private transfer in Toulouse
A private driver will pick you up for a private transfer from the train station and drive you safely to your hotel in Toulouse.
Private guided tour to discover the most important monuments of Toulouse
Day 6: Toulouse - Albi - Cordes sur Ciel - Toulouse
Full-day Albi & Cordes Sur Ciel private guided driving tour
In the morning, you will depart for the city of Albi, a newly declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Among the buildings of the town is the Saint Cecilia cathedral, a masterpiece of Southern Gothic architecture, built between the 13th and 15th centuries characterized by a strong contrast between its austere, defensive exterior and its sumptuous interior decoration.
In the afternoon, you will visit Cordes sur Ciel. The steep ascent transports you back to medieval times, past the porches, battlements, sculpted facades of the Grand Ecuyer and the Grand Veneur, and the splendid 18th-century Gothic mansions that belonged to wealthy traders. The narrow winding alleyways up to the city are also peppered with galleries and craft shops. Painters, writers, ceramicists, sculptors, and jewelers were drawn to this inspiring place many years ago and the tradition continues. On misty mornings, Cordes sur Ciel truly lives up to its name as it seems to float in the sky.
Day 7: Toulouse - Bordeaux
Private transfer in Toulouse
A private driver will pick you up for a private transfer from your hotel in Toulouse and drive you safely to the train station.
Private transfer in Bordeaux
A chauffeur will pick you up at the train station of Bordeaux for a transfer to your hotel
Welcome to Bordeaux!
Bordeaux is one of France’s most fascinating cities. It lends its name to its renowned wines and is praised for its fine cuisine. There is no need to go to a fancy restaurant to find an excellent meal, great eats can be found in many bistros.
Besides being France’s uncontested capital of good food and wine, it also boasts splendid monuments, mansions, and architecture.
Day 8: Bordeaux
Bordeaux – Breakfast food tour
Get ready to explore Bordeaux! Your tour starts at the impressive Porte de la Grosse Cloche, followed by a stroll down the charming Rue Saint-James. Savor a delectable chocolatine at a renowned local bakery – Delicious! The tour continues through charming, cobbled streets lined with historic buildings, including the Saint Andrew’s Cathedral.
Make your way to a delightful little coffee shop, the perfect stop for a cup of coffee and some Dunes Blanches pastries, a local treat. Next, follow the impressive Cours de l’Intendance to the unique Passage Sarget, a hidden alleyway teeming with charming shops, that opens unto the Place du Chapelet.
Pass by the magnificent Grand Théâtre as you reach the final leg of your tour. Delectable Bordelais ‘canelé’ pastries await as you admire the Saint-Pierre district and riverside quays on your way to a breathtaking viewpoint to wrap up your walk.
Suggestion for the afternoon – Aquitaine Museum
Discover the Museum of Aquitaine, officially created in 1963 by museologist Georges-Henri Rivière, who was tasked with reorganizing France’s museums of history, archaeology, and ethnology after the war.
You will also see the museum which boasts over 1.3 million pieces, illustrating the history of Bordeaux and the local region from prehistory to the twentieth century. Prestigious collections of regional and extra-European archaeology, history, and ethnography retrace the lives of the Aquitaine people and their relationship with the rest of the world.
All the guests of the museum can be a part of the activities organized by the museum – like a series of conferences, concerts, events, discussions and film screenings relating to the exhibition themes: history, archaeology, ethnology and subjects touching on civilization or society.
Day 9: Bordeaux
Private transfer to the Bordeaux Airport
A chauffeur will pick you up at your hotel and drive you safely to the Bordeaux airport.
End of Our Service
Your journey with us has come to an end. We hope to see you soon!
About This Trip:
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- Enjoy 24/7 English-spoken telephone assistance while traveling
- This itinerary includes transport, activities, guides, accommodations with breakfasts, and other listed services
- Price is in USD per person, assuming double occupancy. Note that prices and availability are subject to change.
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