Beautiful Bordeaux, the Dordogne & La Rochelle

Your holiday begins at London St Pancras, where we meet the Tour Manager and fellow travellers before journeying on the Eurostar to Paris. From the French capital, we travel by coach and rail through the French countryside to Bordeaux, where we board our ship on the banks of the Garonne River.

There's time to settle into your cabin and familiarise yourself with your new surroundings, exploring the ship's inviting lounges or the open deck, where you can take in the riverside scenery. This evening, we enjoy a welcome cocktail before our first dinner, accompanied by an evening of entertainment.

Due to navigational considerations and tidal influence, the order of the itinerary may change.

• Dinner

Setting sail early this morning, our ship moors in the fortified 13th-century town of Cadillac on the banks of the Garonne. With two excursions today, we begin with a tour of the medieval Roquetaillade Château, named after the troglodyte caves beneath it. Built in 1306 and owned by the same family for more than 700 years, this remarkable fortress opened to the public in 1956. Today, it also encompasses a working farm with Bazadais cattle and a small vineyard that produces the celebrated Châteaufort de Roquetaillade white wine.

Later, we enjoy a short, guided walking tour of Cadillac to uncover the charm of this medieval town. With its limestone streets, historic ramparts and stately 15th-century Ducal Château, Cadillac offers a fascinating insight into the region's past.

We return to our ship and set sail for Bordeaux, gathering this evening for dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning after breakfast, we begin exploring this celebrated wine city on a guided tour. Bordeaux blends 18th-century elegance with a modern spirit, and its grand boulevards, historic squares and quaint Old Town earn it the title of the world's largest World Heritage Site.

Famous for its exceptional wines, Bordeaux boasts an array of inviting wine bars and museums dedicated to its craft. This sets the stage for our upcoming journey along the Médoc wine route, where we will discover some of the region's most prestigious vineyards and châteaux. 

Returning to the ship this evening, we enjoy a wine tasting, sampling Bordeaux's bold and flavourful wines before settling in for a relaxed dinner onboard.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We set off on our first cruise on the Dordogne after breakfast this morning. Our destination is Libourne and, as we sail, you can relax on deck and admire idyllic scenery of rolling farmland and hillside vineyards.

Stepping ashore this afternoon, we travel by coach to St Émilion for a guided coach tour of this UNESCO-listed city. According to legend, a Benedictine monk named Émilion sought refuge in one of the natural caves in the area to escape the celebrity status bestowed on him for performing a miracle. We see this very cave on our tour, as well as the largest monolithic church in Europe and other sites that tell the story of this beautifully preserved medieval commune.

Later, we visit a family-run vineyard for a tasting of popular local wines before returning to our ship, where we sail to Cussac during dinner, mooring overnight. 

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we wake in Cussac, a sleepy village on the banks of the Gironde river. We begin our day after breakfast with a guided tour through the celebrated Médoc wine route, travelling the famed Route des Châteaux, famous for its medieval castles and grand estates. Here, we enjoy another wine tasting, learning how the region's unique blend of soil, climate and tradition shapes the rich character of its renowned wines.

After lunch, we spend the afternoon onboard as we sail from Cussac towards Royan. Along the way, enjoy the passing scenery or unwind in the ship's comfortable lounge area.

This evening we arrive in Royan, a coastal town known for its beautiful beaches, seaside promenade and mid-century architecture. We moor here overnight and enjoy dinner alongside some entertainment.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we travel by coach to Rochefort, an ancient maritime city on the banks of the Charente River. On a tour into the city's intriguing past, we visit the Corderie Royale, a historic rope-making factory which supplied the French navy for centuries and remains a symbol of the town's naval heritage.

We then continue to La Rochelle, one of the most historically important seaports on Europe's Atlantic coast. After lunch at a local restaurant, we explore the city's blend of natural beauty and distinctive architecture on a tour, from elegant streets to its iconic harbour towers that have guarded the port for centuries.

Afterwards, there is time at leisure to enjoy La Rochelle at your own pace, perhaps strolling through the Old Town, relaxing by the harbour or visiting one of the city's many museums. We return to our ship and set sail for Bordeaux, gathering this evening for a gala dinner, a memorable finale to our cruise.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On this relaxing cruise, we have discovered the elegant castles, towns and vineyards of the Bordeaux region. From the city's 18th-century architecture to tasting world-famous wines on the Médoc wine route and exploring Rochefort, La Rochelle, Roquetaillade Château and Cadillac, this journey has offered a memorable blend of heritage, scenery and culture.

After a final breakfast onboard, we say farewell to our crew this morning and head to the station by coach to board the train to Paris. Here, we connect with the Eurostar back to London St Pancras.

• Breakfast