Bordeaux Tour Itinerary : 6 Day Tour

Best Adventures in Bordeaux

Detailed Day-by-Day Bordeaux Tour Itinerary

Bordeaux Tour Itinerary

Six Delicious Days of Wine, Food, Friendship & French Joie de Vivre; France with Friends!

Welcome to Bordeaux—Christy’s home city and one of the most beautiful wine regions in France.

Unpack once at our boutique hotel in historic Bordeaux and spend six unforgettable days discovering the places, flavors, and people we love most. Blend your own Saint-Émilion wine, cook beside a master chef in his family home, cruise the Arcachon Basin aboard a traditional French boat, and enjoy private winery experiences reserved especially for our guests.

This is Bordeaux beyond the vineyards—a warm, personal journey filled with beautiful landscapes, remarkable wines, memorable meals, and the genuine pleasure of experiencing France with our local friends.

Bordeaux Tour Highlights

• Experience Bordeaux Like a Local: Explore Christy’s home region with our locally based Bordeaux guiding team and receive the kind of personal welcome usually reserved for friends.
• Unpack Once in Historic Bordeaux: Settle into our stylish boutique hotel in the Chartrons district and enjoy the ease of returning to the same comfortable home base each evening.
• Blend Your Own Saint-Émilion Wine: Step into the role of cellar master during a private, hands-on wine-blending workshop and take home a half bottle of your personal creation.
• Harvest Alongside the Winery Team: On select fall departures, receive the rare invitation to pick and sort grapes alongside the winery team, then gather around the table with them for a traditional harvest picker’s lunch—a wonderfully convivial and authentic taste of life during Bordeaux’s most exciting season.
• Lunch Overlooking the Saint-Émilion Vineyards: Savor a gourmet meal at one of our favorite Premier Grand Cru Classé wine estates.
• Cook at Home with Our Friend Chef Antoine: Prepare traditional Bordelaise dishes with a master chef, cookbook author, and lifelong friend of Christy before gathering around the family table for lunch.
• Cruise the Arcachon Basin with Our Local Friend: Explore the bay aboard a traditional French pinasse with our friend, one of only two professional women fishers on the Arcachon Basin. Enjoy spectacular coastal scenery, local foodie tastings, wine, and Champagne as she shares her fascinating life on the water with us.
• Dine Beside Europe’s Tallest Sand Dune: Enjoy a gourmet seaside lunch overlooking the Arcachon Basin and magnificent Dune du Pilat.
• Enjoy Private Grand Cru Wine Experiences: Visit exceptional family-owned estates for private tours, VIP tastings, and thoughtfully paired local cheeses.
• Two Optional Vineyard Walks: Guests who enjoy walking may choose two easy, guided walks during the week—one through the celebrated vineyards of Saint-Émilion and another through the rolling countryside of Sauternes. Both offer beautiful château views, fascinating local stories, and plenty of opportunities for photographs. Guests who prefer not to walk can enjoy thoughtfully planned alternatives with our Bordeaux guiding team.
• Discover Bordeaux at Your Own Pace: Enjoy time to explore the city’s museums, boutiques, neighborhoods, riverfront, and celebrated culinary scene.
• Small-Group Travel with Exceptional Local Guides: Share the week with an intimate group of just 10 guests, personally cared for by our warm and knowledgeable Bordeaux guiding team. Discover the region through the stories, friendships, and local insight of guides who call Bordeaux home—while enjoying wonderful food, beautiful wines, authentic encounters, and the relaxed pleasure of experiencing France with friends.

Click to view 2027 Bordeaux Tour Dates

Day-by-Day Bordeaux Tour Itinerary

Day 1 — Welcome to Bordeaux

Arrival, Welcome Apéritif & Dinner

Meals Included – Dinner

Meet your guides at Bordeaux Saint-Jean train station at 3:00 p.m. and transfer together to our boutique hotel in the historic Chartrons district.

Unpack once, settle in, and join us for a welcome apéritif followed by dinner at one of our favorite gourmet addresses—a delicious introduction to Bordeaux and the new friends with whom you’ll share the week.

Roundtrip transfers on Day 1 and Day 6 of the tour :

TOUR BEGINS:  Group transfer at 3 pm from Bordeaux Saint Jean rail station, Bordeaux, France.

TOUR ENDS:  Group transfer at 10 am to Bordeaux Saint Jean rail station, Bordeaux, France.

Please note : There is no scheduled group transfer from/to Bordeaux Merignac airport. For travelers arriving and/or departing at Bordeaux Merignac airport, taxis are available outside the arrivals area and the tram also departs directly from the airport and arrives downtown Bordeaux.

Day 2 — The Wines and Vineyards of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol

Wine Blending Workshop, On Fall Tour Dates: Participate Hands-on in Harvest Activities, Vineyard Lunch & Saint Emilion Village

Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch

MORNING – Journey into the celebrated vineyards of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol for a private and immersive day of wine experiences.

We’ll tour & taste at one of the great estates of the jurisdiction near Petrus where we are invited to try our hand at being a “maitre de chai” (cellar master). Our visit here is an immersive one. We will participate in a 2-hour wine blending workshop composing a wine by blending the grape varieties from the estate’s vineyards. Best of all, you’ll take home a half bottle of your very own blend to uncork and enjoy after the tour.

LUNCH – After creating our own wine blends, we’re invited as private guests  to “passe à table” for a convivial lunch overlooking the magnificent vineyards.

AFTERNOON – Guests who enjoy walking may choose an easy, guided walk through the vineyards into the nearby medieval village of Saint Emilion. Those who prefer not to walk will travel comfortably by shuttle to the village with one of our team guides. Everyone will have leisure time to explore Saint-Émilion’s historic center, artisan boutiques, and wine shops.

During the fall harvest: We receive the rare invitation to participate hands-on in the harvest to pick and sort grapes alongside the winery team before our wine-blending workshop. We then join the harvest team around the table for a convivial, traditional picker’s lunch. To allow plenty of time for these special activities, we enjoy a scenic drive through the vineyards to Saint-Émilion rather than the optional walk.

Late afternoon return to our hotel in Bordeaux.

DINNER – Independently in Bordeaux dining at one of the fabulous restaurants in town or along the river bank. Your guides will be happy to share recommendations.

WALKING RATING for Saint Emilion Day : For WALKERS: All walking today is rated EASY. Ideal for those who walk on a regular basis. Walking on a paths in and outside of the village. Approximately 1 hour of walking with pauses for photo-ops.

For NON-WALKERS: Shuttle to the village and enjoy exploring the boutiques and historic highlights in the village.

Day 3 — Cooking at Home with Friends in Sauternes

Hands-On Cooking, Family Lunch & Optional Vineyard Walk

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

MORNING – Travel into the beautiful Sauternes countryside for a day of food, wine, and warm French hospitality at the family home of Christy’s dear friend Antoine—a master chef, cookbook author, and former culinary professor.

Working together in Antoine’s kitchen, we’ll prepare a multi-course meal inspired by traditional Bordelaise cuisine.

LUNCH – Afterward, gather with Antoine and his wife, Claire, for a mid-day “apéritif” and a leisurely lunch of the recipes we prepared together in class accompanied by carefully selected classified wines from Antoine’s private cellar.

AFTERNOON – After a full morning of cooking at home, creating Bordelais culinary masterpieces and sharing moments and laughter together around the lunch table with our dear friend and chef Antoine and his wife Claire, it’s time to carry-on with yet another French tradition; the “post meal walk.”

After saying goodbye to Antoine and Claire, we head to one of our favorite spots near their home in the Sauternais for a walk through the vineyards to burn off a few culinary calories and to also wind through the vines of some of the appellation’s most famous producers and their beauiful chateau estates, along the rolling hills above the magical Ciron River.

LATE AFTERNOON – Return to the hotel.

DINNER – Independently in Bordeaux this evening. Your guides will be happy to share recommendations.

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Day 4 — The Irresistible Arcachon Basin

Traditional Pinasse Cruise, Local Tastings, Dune du Pilat & Seaside Lunch

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

MORNING – Today we leave the vineyards behind and travel to the spectacular Arcachon Basin—one of Christy’s favorite places and the coastal region she calls home.

Board a traditional wooden pinasse for a two-hour private cruise with our local friend, one of only two professional women fishers on the Arcachon Basin. Through her intimate knowledge of the bay, discover its oyster villages, maritime traditions, Cap Ferret peninsula, and magnificent views of the Dune du Pilat.

Along the way, savor local foodie specialties accompanied by wine and Champagne.

About Arcachon

Arcachon is a seaside town south of Bordeaux known for oyster harvesting. Its 4 districts are named after the seasons of the year — The Ville d’Été (summer quarter) is home to shopping streets, the town’s sandy main beach and a casino in the 19th-century Château Deganne. Ville d’Hiver (winter quarter) has extravagant 19th-century villas of spectacular architecture and a unique history that we’ll discover during a short cultural walk in the afternoon.

PILAT DUNE – At its southern entrance from the Atlantic Ocean, Arcachon Bay is crowned by Europe’s largest sand dune that is nearly 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) long, 500 meters (1,600 feet) wide, stands 110 meters (360 feet) in height, and is moving inland at a rate of about 5 meters (16 feet) a year.

At the begining of the 19th century Arcachon was still just a small fishing village. The ville d’été started growing principally as a place of healing where sick people could take in the sea air as part of their recovery process. From 1860 the Ville d’hiver with improved transport, developed train links to Bordeaux and Paris. The sea air and the pine forests were found to as beneficial as the mountain air and since Arcachon is in a bay, it is protected from the strong winds of the rest of the Atlantic coast. A group of business men, and in particular the Pereire brothers, and the owners of the railway line between Bordeaux and La Teste came up with the idea of extending the line to Arcachon and developing Arcachon as a winter resort. When Napolean III came to visit, Arcachon’s success was assured. Alexandre Dumas lived in Arcachon for a while and Toulouse-Lautrec had a house on the sea-front.

LUNCH –  A gourmet seaside lunch at the Pilat Dune overlooking the Bassin d’Arcachon.

AFTERNOON – A short culturual walk of the “Ville d’Hiver” quarter of Arcachon followed by leisure time to explore the town.

WALKING RATING for Arcachon Day : The afternoon Arcachon cultural walk is rated EASY. Ideal for those who walk on a regular basis. Walking on a defined path in town and through the park. Approximately 1 hour of leisure walking with pauses for photo-ops.

DINNER – Independent dinner this evening. Your guides will be happy to share recommendations.

Day 5 — Grand Cru Wines, Leisure Afternoon in Bordeaux & A Spectacular Farewell

Private Winery Visit, Bordeaux at Leisure & Farewell Dinner

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

MORNING – Our final full day begins in the historic Graves wine region at a family-owned Premier Grand Cru Classé estate.

Enjoy a private tour of the property and cellars, followed by a VIP tasting of the estate’s wines paired with a selection of local cheeses. It is a relaxed and delicious opportunity to deepen your appreciation of Bordeaux’s winemaking traditions.

LUNCH – Independently in Bordeaux. Your guides will be happy to make recommendations.

AFTERNOON – The afternoon in Bordeaux is your’s at leisure to discover why we love this city. Visit the Cité du Vin or one of the city’s museums, browse the boutiques, explore the historic neighborhoods and riverfront, or simply settle into a café and enjoy Bordeaux at your own pace. Your guides will gladly share their favorite places and recommendations.

DINNER – This evening, gather for a celebratory apéritif followed by an exceptional farewell dinner—a memorable finale to six days of wonderful wine, delicious food, beautiful places, and new friendships.

Day 6 — Au Revoir, Bordeaux

Breakfast & Group Departure

Meals Included: Breakfast

Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel before our group transfer to Bordeaux Saint-Jean train station, arriving at 10:00 a.m.

You may arrive as guests, but after six days of cooking, tasting, laughing, and exploring together, departures often feel more like saying au revoir to friends.

Arrival & Departure Details

• Tour begins: Group transfer at 3:00 p.m. from Bordeaux Saint-Jean train station on Day 1.
• Tour concludes: Group transfer at 9:30 am arriving at Bordeaux Saint-Jean train station at 10:00 a.m. on Day 6.
• There is no scheduled group transfer from Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport. Taxis and a direct tram service connect the airport with central Bordeaux.
• Earlier or later private transfers may be arranged upon request.

Click to view 2027 Bordeaux Tour Dates

Enjoy Bordeaux Your Way—Walking Optional

Our Bordeaux tour is thoughtfully designed for both walkers and non-walkers. Guests who enjoy walking may join two easy, optional vineyard walks in Saint-Émilion and Sauternes, while those who prefer not to walk travel comfortably by shuttle and enjoy alternative activities with our guiding team.

All guests should be comfortable with the light, everyday leisure walking required during visits. If you have mobility concerns or questions about the level of walking involved, please feel free to contact us before booking. We’re always happy to discuss the itinerary with you and help determine whether the tour will be a comfortable and enjoyable fit.

  
 
 
 
  EXCELLENT  
  
 Based on 93 reviews 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Wanda Mittman 
 
17 September 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
My tour to the Loire Valley with Christy and her wonderful staff was memorable! She provided so many wonderful experiences from visiting the Chateau’s to fine dining and cooking with chefs in their home and restaurant. My favorite was the wine tasting and lunch at the owners beautiful historic home, what a wonderful day!! The attention to all the details, professionalism, and kindness made it a truly unique and and memorable experience!
  
 
 
 
 
 
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 Lisa Snabes 
 
17 September 2026
 
 
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+0
My experience with the Provence Off The Beaten Path tour will be hard to beat on my future travels. The attention to detail shown by our tour leaders, from the accommodations and meals to the transportation and carefully curated places we visited along the way, made the experience truly special  - one I'll remember for years to come.
  
 
 
 
 
 
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 Christina Mannino 
 
10 September 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Excellent tour! From the wonderful hotel accommodations and well-air-conditioned bus to all the thoughtful little touches—iced water to stay hydrated, refreshing mist sprays to cool us down in the heat, and always knowing where to find the best available bathroom—every detail was carefully considered. The small group size made the experience feel personal and relaxed, and our guides, Philippe and Summer, along with our driver, P2, were absolutely awesome! They were knowledgeable, attentive, fun, and made the entire experience so memorable. Highlights included our fabulous dinner at Catherine’s, abundant and delicious food and wine, and the fun-filled activities—making macarons, visiting a lavender distillery, and even making our own wine to bottle and take home! And a special shout-out to Summer, who doubled as our priceless personal photographer and captured so many wonderful memories along the way. Beyond the food, wine, and activities, I especially appreciated learning about the history, culture, and traditions of the region. It truly embodied the **joie de vivre** of Provence! I highly recommend this tour and look forward to taking another tour with this company in the future. My only recommendation would be to consider adding one additional day. Perhaps a half day to relax and enjoy the hotel pool or explore St. Rémy on our own, followed by another half day visiting an additional destination. It would be the perfect way to make an already wonderful experience even better!
  
 
 
 
 
 
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 Martha Zornes 
 
3 September 2026
 
 
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+1
Truly a lovely experience.  Staying at one hotel for the entire tour and taking bus trips to the surrounding countryside was great.  It eliminated changing hotels which can be an issue on other tours.  The guides were ever present and helpful with lots of information and assistance.  My tour was in early July and the temperature was very hot, but the bus was cool and the guides had water available whenever it was needed.  The lavender fields were spectacular and there was plenty of time each day to wander the small towns we visited. The restaurants and experiences selected for the entire group provided great food and lots of fun and laughter.  The small group of travelers quickly became friends.  My only caution would be for travelers who find walking challenging.  In order to fully enjoy the towns, one needs to be comfortable walking a good distance sometimes uphill as the bus cannot always drive into the towns.  Overall, the trip was wonderful and I would happily travel again with this company.
  
 
 
 
 
 
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 Mary Weigel 
 
24 August 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
This small group tour could not have been better. Their attention to detail was remarkable. Their guides were very well informed and were very fun to be with. We took the Best Adventures in Provence trip and it was amazing. All of the tiny towns, winerys, locally owned restaurants and local businesses that they shared with us along the way were perfect. We got to see so much of the area and I only wish I had some extra time to spend in the town of Saint Remy where our hotel was located. Although we spent time in the town, there were so many neat little shops and restaurants right around there and I’m sure I would’ve enjoyed another day or two. If I did it again, I would probably add a day or two on at the beginning or end for just that. You cannot go wrong booking with the store company.
  
 
 
 
 
 
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 Regina Kitching 
 
24 August 2026
 
 
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Wonderful tour, every last detail attended to. The itinerary was great and the guides amazing.
  
 
 
 
 
 
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 Susan Thompson (Hi) 
 
3 August 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
This was my first group travel experience and Off The Beaten Path gave my daughter and I a truly memorable immersion into Provence life, culture and beauty.   The Hotel Gournod in St. Remy was the perfect base located in the heart of town.  A lovely, authentic property, with an accommodating staff, and daily breakfast.  Coffee was excellent!. The tour staff has so much experience and carefully curated each place and restaurant we visited.  It was hard for me to let go and let  someone else handle all the details of a trip as I have always planned my trips, but I quickly learned how truly relaxing it was to allow Christy and her excellent staff to handle all of the behind the scenes details and just be carefree!  This was a small group tour and I really enjoyed the company of the other members and the kind and patient staff! I’m looking forward to another wonderful venture.
  
 
 
 
 
 
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 Julie Lecci 
 
1 August 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Great tour, very flexible and the team provided us with opportunities we would not have been able to find on our own. Well worth the cost!
  
 
 
 
 
 
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 Julia Sosa 
 
28 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Can all of the positive reviews be true? Yes, even the one that states that too many photos were taken (more on this below). The hotel is lovely, spacious room, comfy bed & bedding, the itinerary is as stated, the meals were delicious, the workshops were fun, the van transportation was comfortable, and the members of FOTBP team are gems. You’ll soon feel like you are traveling with long-time friends. The itinerary options and free time are great perks. It’s like having a tour personalized just to your liking and capability. I never felt rushed and had ample time to absorb what was around me and to take MANY photographs. Communication with the team members before, during & after was excellent. Members of the team were always by our side and within eyesight. Didn’t hear or understand what was said? Forgot something? Wondering if you’ll get to see something not on the itinerary? Want another bottle of water? Just ask and the matter is addressed immediately as if you were the only one on the tour and without disruption to the rest of the group’s experience. This team is AMAZING!! They enjoy every step of the way with you as if they were doing it for the first time. The success of the tour is due to the impeccable teamwork of Philippe (1) the head guide, the tour assistants Summer, Isabelle and Chloe, as well as Philippe (2) the driver. Christy has handpicked outstanding individuals to form this team. Don’t doubt the MANY in-depth positive reviews, including the one that comments that the FOTBP team takes too many photos. You don’t have to participate in the group photos, and you can simply ask that photos not be taken of you. However, I welcomed this perk. Photos of me, of and with my bestie were taken without having to ask anyone to take a pic for us. It’s like having a personal photographer with you. SUGGESTIONS The Hotel Gounod features serene outdoor areas and a pool. Consider booking an extra night or two to allow you more time for lounging in these areas. This hotel has 2 rooms with bathtubs. If you need a bathtub, or rather not have to climb into one, make sure to communicate this ahead of time. At Arles, ask a team member to book a tuk tuk for you. It is the best way to get around Arles and see the maximum number of sites. The price is reasonable, the seating was comfortable, the driver spoke English, he was punctual, informative and friendly, took us to the various Roman ruins, as well as other sites, waited for us as we explored and stopped whenever we saw a photo-op. Italian restaurant Da Peppe - On one of the dinner on your own evenings, I enjoyed a delicious & hearty Burger Da Рeppe with & fries. It’s located across the street of the hotel on Avenue Fauconnet, Indoor, outdoor & 2nd floor seating as well as takeout. Do I recommend FOTB’s Provence tour? YES!
  
 
 
 
 
 
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 JOYCE BRISLAWN 
 
25 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
+6
I had a fantastic time in Provence with its Lavender, wine blending class, beautiful shore lines of the Mediterranean Sea and shopping the markets.Fantastic hotel, Christy and her staff were knowledgeable, kind, caring. I can’t wait for the next trip💕
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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