Jewels of the south west with Biarritz, Sarlat and Carcassonne

Reference: 26BRT

Highlights of the Jewels of the South West tour

Savour the tantalising flavours of fresh Arcachon Bay oysters, Bayonne ham, and world-famous Bordeaux reds
Admire the famous prehistoric paintings of the UNESCO-protected Lascaux Cave at Lascaux II
Visit the UNESCO-listed medieval citadel of Carcassonne.

JEWELS OF THE SOUTH WEST REGION

11 Day / 10 night tour

During the Jewels of the South West tour, close your eyes and imagine the ripple of grapevines swaying in Bordeaux’s warm breeze. The satisfying crunch of fresh Atlantic oysters being shucked in Arachon Bay. The tap of footsteps meandering slowly along the cobblestones of ancient Carcassonne. The honeyed scent of fresh Périgord strawberries at the Sarlat Market. These are just some of the moments you can experience in Southwest France – and we can’t wait for you to relish them with us on this intimate tour.

Delicious oysters. Exquisite wines. Rich Bayonne ham. Take time to savour the finer things in life on this journey of discovery through Southwest France.
Starting in Bordeaux (just a two-hour train journey from Paris), we’ll seek out the region’s gastronomic gems and treasured vineyards – travelling over soaring mountains, along the Atlantic coast, and into enchanting castles and prehistoric caves as we go.

Tour inclusions

10 Nights in hand-picked accommodation
15 Meals 10 Breakfasts, 5 Dinners
Experienced Tour Leader and Driver
Premium mini-coach transportation

Things we think you'll love

A hunt for truffles - Usually found on elegant menus in high-end restaurants, you'll discover the black truffle's origins in Périgord at a local farm. After, sip a glass of wine crafted with freshly picked truffles - savouring its walnut flavours for as long as possible.

Carcassonne citadel discoveries - Take your time exploring Carcassonne - a two-thousand-year citadel, where its passageways lure you deeper into the past.

Famous French flavours - Nibble, sip and relish a mix of traditional French cuisine and wine, from plump Arcachon Bay oysters to a full-bodied Bordeaux red.

2026 Tour departure dates.

Tue 18 Aug - Fri 28 Aug - $7,400.00
Tue 1 Sep - Fri 11 Sep - $7,300.00
Tue 8 Sep - Fri 11 Sep - $7,300.00
Tue 15 Sep - Fri 25 Sep - $7,400.00
Tue 22 Sep - Fri 2 Oct - $7,300.00
Tue 6 Oct - Fri 16 Oct - $6,650.00
Tue 13 Oct - Fri 23 Oct - $6,650.00

2027 Tour departure dates.

Tue 13 Apr - Fri 23 Apr - From $6,700.00
Tue 27 Apr - Fri 7 May - From $6,710.00
Tue 4 May - Fri 14 May - From $7,590.00
Tue 11 May - Fri 21 May - From $7,520.00
Tue 18 May - Fri 28 May - From $7,700.00
Tue 25 May - Fri 4 Jun - From $7,520.00
Tue 1 Jun - Fri 11 Jun - From $7,400.00
Tue 8 Jun - Fri 18 Jun - From $7,400.00
Tue 22 Jun - Fri 2 Jul - From $7,400.00
Tue 6 Jul - Fri 16 Jul - From $7,400.00
Tue 17 Aug - Fri 27 Aug - From $7,400.00
Tue 31 Aug - Fri 10 Sep - From $7,400.00
Tue 7 Sep - Fri 17 Sep - From $7,520.00
Tue 14 Sep - Fri 24 Sep - From $7,520.00
Tue 21 Sep - Fri 1 Oct - From $7,400.00
Tue 5 Oct - Fri 15 Oct - From $6,700.00
Tue 12 Oct - Fri 22 Oct - From $6,700.00

*** All prices are per person in Twin-share - Single occupancy on request ***

ITINERARY MAP

Jewels of the South West Map

From $6,050.00 per person Twin-share

Single supplement on request

Enquire Now

Jewels of south west france arcachon bay oysters

Jewels of south west france carcassonne2

ITINERARY

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CLICK HERE for the day to day itinerary
Day 1 - Bordeaux (France)
- Where better to begin our journey of Southwest France than beautiful Bordeaux? After meeting the group, we’ll clink glasses over a delicious welcome meal. Bon appétit! Accommodation: Hôtel de Normandie (or similar)
Meals - Dinner
Day 2 - Bordeaux – Arcachon Bay – Biarritz
- This morning we'll move on to Atlantic Ocean-fringed Arcachon Bay, where we'll get our first taste of coastal cuisine with fresh oysters and a glass of local wine from one of the port's traditional cabins. We'll then stop to see the Great Dune of Pilat – Europe's highest sand dune, with panoramic views over the bay. This afternoon, we’ll round off our day in the glamorous seaside town of Biarritz – where we’ll have the evening free to wander the waterfront promenade and sample more local delicacies at our leisure. Accommodation: Alfred Hotels Port-Vieux (or similar)
Meals – Breakfast
Day 3 - Biarritz – Bayonne – Biarritz
- Today we’ve a full day taking in the beauty of the French Basque Country. First, we’ll indulge our cultural sides in Bayonne – an art and history hub just a short drive away from Biarritz. Here, we’ll discover a local family business going back three generations at the Bayonne Ham Museum – where we’ll indulge in a ham tasting before returning to the hotel for an afternoon of leisure time. Accommodation: Alfred Hotels Port-Vieux (or similar)
Meals - Breakfast
Day 4 - Biarritz – Lourdes – Midi-Pyrénées
- Today we’ll turn to the east – and on to beautiful Pau. We’ll then travel through the Midi-Pyrénées region (along roads made famous by the Tour de France), pausing en route at the spiritual town of Lourdes. Whilst here, we’ll have the opportunity to see the Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Lourdes and the Massabielle Grotto – a significantly holy site within the Christian faith. In keeping with the spirit of our surroundings, we’ll check into our atmospheric accommodation before enjoying this evening’s included dinner. Accommodation: Hotel du Barry (or similar)
Meals - Breakfast - Dinner
Day 5 - Midi-Pyrénées – Carcassonne
- Following the trail of knights, we’ll continue our own crusade through the Midi-Pyrénées and past picture-perfect bastides. Along the way, we’ll visit a local winery and enjoy a glass of the region’s speciality – a sparkling Blanquette. Our final stop of the day will be medieval Carcassonne, where we’ll have the evening to spend at our leisure. Accommodation: Hôtel Le Donjon or Mercure Carcassonne Cité (or similar)
Meals - Breakfast
Day 6 - Carcassonne
- Today you’ll be free to discover Carcassonne’s chivalric secrets at your own pace. From the alleys, passageways and 52 towers of the UNESCO-listed medieval citadel (which dates back two millennia) to the Château Comtal and its ramparts, there’s plenty to keep you occupied. Later this evening, we’ll come together for an included dinner at a local restaurant – swapping stories and photographs of the day’s discoveries. Accommodation: Hôtel Le Donjon or Mercure Carcassonne Cité (or similar)
Meals - Breakfast - Dinner
Day 7 - Carcassonne – Albi Region
- Today we’ll leave the stronghold of Carcassonne behind and make tracks to the ‘red city’ of Albi. Here, we’ll enjoy a leisurely walking tour around the town – taking in the magnificent Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile as we go. Enjoy some free time for lunch before we venture onwards to our hotel for the night that’s tucked away in a nearby medieval village typical to the Albi region. Tonight, we’ll savour a sumptuous meal together. Accommodation: Hôtel des Consuls (or similar)
Meals - Breakfast - Dinner
Day 8 - Albi Region – Sarlat-la-Canéda
- After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll have a little free time to wander the village’s charming streets. Then, it’s onwards to one of the most beautiful towns in the Dordogne: Sarlat-la-Canéda. En route, we''ll stop off in several idyllic French villages to stretch our legs and admire the scenery. Accommodation: Hôtel Saint-Albert (or similar)
Meals - Breakfast
Day 9 - Sarlat-la-Canéda – Beynac-et-Cazenac – Sarlat-la-Canéda
- On the itinerary this morning: a stroll through stunning Sarlat-la-Canéda with our Tour Leader, including a visit to the town’s traditional market. We’ll follow this up with a delightful visit to the riverside town of Beynac-et-Cazenac. We’ll enjoy some free time to explore the town’s magnificently well-preserved medieval château – which has kept watch over the Dordogne from its hilltop position for nine centuries. Afterwards, we’ll return to Sarlat-la-Canéda for an evening spent at our leisure – perhaps exploring the picturesque alleyways or dining at one of the charming local restaurants in town. Accommodation: Hôtel Saint-Albert (or similar)
Meals - Breakfast
Day 10 - Sarlat-la-Canéda – Vézère Valley – Sarlat-la-Canéda
- Today our travels through the Dordogne will lead us to the prehistoric paintings of the UNESCO-protected Lascaux Cave – which was discovered when it was happened upon by a group of teenagers back in 1940. We’ll admire the replica Lascaux Cave II before making a stop at the pretty village of Les Eyzies. Then, we’ll follow the ‘Royal Road’, winding between craggy rocks and flowing rivers until we get to a local truffle farm. Local guides will give us an exclusive lesson in seeking out the rare delicacies and we’ll have a chance to savour some delicious truffle products during a tasting session. Tonight, we’ll come together in Sarlat-la-Canéda and savour a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodation: Hôtel Saint-Albert (or similar)
Meals - Breakfast - Dinner
Day 11 - Sarlat-la-Canéda – Saint-Émilion – Bordeaux
- We’ll spend the final day of our tour in historic Saint-Émilion, a village perched above beautiful rolling countryside and countless vineyards. Here, we’ll have the chance to sample some of the region’s ‘heavy reds’ and say a final santé. We’ll then return to Bordeaux, where we’ll say our goodbyes.
Meals - Breakfast
2026 Day to Day itinerary - CLICK HERE

Jewels of Southwest France
Day 1 | Bordeaux - Where better to begin our journey of Southwest France than beautiful Bordeaux? After meeting the group, we’ll clink glasses over a delicious welcome meal. Bon appétit! Meals: Dinner
Day 2 | Biarritz - This morning we'll move on to Atlantic Ocean-fringed Arcachon Bay, where we'll get our first taste of coastal cuisine with fresh oysters and a glass of local wine from one of the port's traditional cabins. We'll then stop to see the Great Dune of Pilat – Europe's highest sand dune, with panoramic views over the bay. This afternoon, we’ll round off our day in the glamorous seaside town of Biarritz – where we’ll have the evening free to wander the waterfront promenade and sample more local delicacies at our leisure. Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 | Biarritz - Today we’ve a full day taking in the beauty of the French Basque Country. First, we’ll indulge our cultural sides in Bayonne – an art and history hub just a short drive away from Biarritz. Here, we’ll discover a local family business going back three generations at the Bayonne Ham Museum – where we’ll indulge in a ham tasting before returning to the hotel for an afternoon of leisure time. Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 | Midi-Pyrénées - Today we’ll turn to the east – and on to beautiful Pau. We’ll then travel through the Midi-Pyrénées region (along roads made famous by the Tour de France), pausing en route at the spiritual town of Lourdes. Whilst here, we’ll have the opportunity to see the Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Lourdes and the Massabielle Grotto – a significantly holy site within the Christian faith. In keeping with the spirit of our surroundings, we’ll check into our atmospheric accommodation before enjoying this evening’s included dinner. Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 5 | Carcassonne - Following the trail of knights, we’ll continue our own crusade through the Midi-Pyrénées and past picture-perfect bastides. Along the way, we’ll visit a local winery and enjoy a glass of the region’s speciality – a sparkling Blanquette. Our final stop of the day will be medieval Carcassonne, where we’ll have the evening to spend at our leisure. Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 - Today you’ll be free to discover Carcassonne’s chivalric secrets at your own pace. From the alleys, passageways and 52 towers of the UNESCO-listed medieval citadel (which dates back two millennia) to the Château Comtal and its ramparts, there’s plenty to keep you occupied. Later this evening, we’ll come together for an included dinner at a local restaurant – swapping stories and photographs of the day’s discoveries. Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 7 | Albi Region - Today we’ll leave the stronghold of Carcassonne behind and make tracks to the ‘red city’ of Albi. Here, we’ll enjoy a leisurely walking tour around the town – taking in the magnificent Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile as we go. Enjoy some free time for lunch before we venture onwards to our hotel for the night that’s tucked away in a nearby medieval village typical to the Albi region. Tonight, we’ll savour a sumptuous meal together. Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 8 | Sarlat-la-Canéda - After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll have some free time to wander the charming streets of the village. Then, it’s onwards to one of the most beautiful towns in the Dordogne: Sarlat-la-Canéda. En route, we'll stop off in several idyllic French villages to stretch our legs and admire the scenery. Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 | Sarlat-la-Canéda - On the itinerary this morning: a stroll through stunning Sarlat-la-Canéda with our Tour Leader, including a visit to the town’s traditional market. We’ll follow this up with a delightful visit to the riverside town of Beynac-et-Cazenac. We’ll enjoy some free time to explore the town’s magnificently well-preserved medieval château – which has kept watch over the Dordogne from its hilltop position for nine centuries. Afterwards, we’ll return to Sarlat-la-Canéda for an evening spent at our leisure – perhaps exploring the picturesque alleyways or dining at one of the charming local restaurants in town. Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 | Sarlat-la-Canéda - Today our travels through the Dordogne will lead us to the prehistoric paintings of the UNESCOprotected Lascaux Cave – which was discovered when it was happened upon by a group of teenagers back in 1940. We’ll admire the replica Lascaux Cave II before making a stop at the pretty village of Les Eyzies. Then, we’ll follow the ‘Royal Road’, winding between craggy rocks and flowing rivers until we get to a local truffle farm. Local guides will give us an exclusive lesson in seeking out the rare delicacies and we’ll have a chance to savour some delicious truffle products during a tasting session. Tonight, we’ll come together in Sarlat-la-Canéda and savour a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 11 | Bordeaux - We’ll spend the final day of our tour in historic Saint-Émilion, a village perched above beautiful rolling countryside and countless vineyards. Here, we’ll have the chance to sample some of the region’s ‘heavy reds’ and say a final santé. We’ll then return to Bordeaux, where we’ll say our goodbyes. Meals: Breakfast

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