Bordeaux and the Dordogne – GetAwayàlaCarte

UPCOMING TRIPS

Bordeaux and the Dordogne Valley

October 2 - October 10, 2023

I have teamed up with Mindy Riley at Olive Tree, a local olive oil store in Overland Park, Kansas, for a custom tour to Bordeaux and the Dordogne Valley. This exciting itinerary is packed with unique excursions where you will be immersed in the culture and history of the region while focusing on the rich culinary traditions of France.

$3,500 per person based on double occupancy. Price includes accommodations for eight nights, seven full days of excursions, transportation throughout the tour, all meals with the exception of one dinner (wine included at lunch and dinner). Price does not include airfare and transportation to and from Bordeaux.

For more information or to register, please email me at kathy@getawayalacarte.com.

ITINERARY*

DAY 1

Our tour begins late afternoon at the hotel in Bordeaux, in the heart of the pedestrian district near the Grand Théâtre. We will kick off our adventure with a welcoming apéritif before setting out for dinner, just a short walk from the hotel. (D)

DAY 2

After our breakfast at the hotel, the day begins with a journey on the Route des Châteaux to the Médoc wine region on Bordeaux's left bank, known for the dominant Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety. We stop at one of the classified wineries for a personal tour and tasting, followed by lunch in a local restaurant. Upon our return to Bordeaux, enjoy free time to garner more wine knowledge at the Cité du Vin, do some shopping or walk around the elegant “Sleeping Beauty” town of Bordeaux before our dinner in the center of town. (B,L,D)

DAY 3

Today we put on our walking shoes and head for breakfast outside the hotel, hosted at an artisan bakery that still bakes bread in a wood-fired oven built in 1765 under Louis XIV. We then continue our walking tour of the city center while seeing the main sights and breathtaking XVIII century architecture this majestic city has to offer. After enjoying a savory galette and a sweet crêpe, we continue our journey on foot and attend a cheese workshop to learn more about this French favorite. For dinner we dine at a top-notch restaurant located inside the Grand Théâtre. (B,L,D)

DAY 4

After our breakfast at the hotel, we head out for a day on beautiful Arcachon Bay, located just off the Atlantic Ocean. Our first stop is a local Chocolate Boutique for a hands-on chocolate workshop with a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Artisanal Chocolate Maker). We then meet with an oyster farmer at his regionally-inspired wooden oyster shack and learn more about this delicacy before tasting the local oyster variety as well as shrimp and other specialties. Enjoy the rest of the day relaxing at the beach, people-watching from a café or shopping in the charming beachside town of Arcachon. We then head back to Bordeaux where you can find a restaurant to your taste for dinner. (B,L)

DAY 5

Today after breakfast we venture across the Garonne river through the “Entre Deux Mers” wine region to stop at the market in the port bastide town of Libourne for a unique opportunity. You will help select fresh, seasonal products for your lunch with the owner and chef of a close-by restaurant. We then join our personal restaurateurs at the restaurant for lunch. We spend the afternoon in the Medieval village of Saint Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage site, winding through cobblestone streets, finishing with a tour and tasting of the renowned local sparkling wine “Crémant de Bordeaux”. Once back in Bordeaux, we meet for another memorable meal together before packing up to leave in the morning. (B,L,D)

DAY 6

This morning we make our way to the Dordogne Valley, capital of French prehistory and home of 1001 castles, driving alongside the winding Dordogne River. Our first destination is the Medieval and Renaissance town of Sarlat to visit the expansive, renowned outdoor Saturday market. Lunch will be in Sarlat, feasting on local specialties. The afternoon takes us to a truffle farm to meet with the farmers and their truffle-hunting dogs to discover the secrets behind this mysterious and expensive mushroom. Apéritif and dinner will be enjoyed together in the restaurant at the countryside Village de Gîtes where we are staying, just north of Sarlat. (B,L,D)

DAY 7

After enjoying breakfast in your gîte, today’s outings will include a visit to Marqueyssac Gardens, boasting magnificent boxwood gardens and spectacular views overlooking the Dordogne River. Also on the agenda is an exclusive meeting with a top-notch chef for a cooking class/demonstration. After dinner and strolling through the gorgeously illuminated Sarlat by night, be sure to pack your bags for our return to Bordeaux. (B,L,D)

DAY 8

Following another breakfast in your gîte, we travel back to Bordeaux with a stop for lunch at a delightful restaurant housed in a former presbytery across from the village church, cemetery, community oven and stone grain barn in a tiny countryside hamlet. Once back in Bordeaux you have the opportunity to do any last minute sightseeing or shopping before meeting up for our farewell dinner in a local wine bar. (B,L,D)

DAY 9

Your stay with Get Away à la Carte ends this morning and you are free to continue your travels. Bon voyage et bon appétit! (B)

*Please note that excursions included on this itinerary are based on our current plan. However, should any of our partner’s schedules change we might have to make necessary modifications.