Bordeaux

Day Trips

Take a scenic drive to the beautiful wine region of Saint-Emilion and tour this World Heritage Site. Experience the intimacy of the private chateau, and learn the secrets of wine production and taste some of the finest wines. Depart Bordeaux at 13:45, and visit a charming family-run wine estate on the right bank of the Dordogne River. Tour the traditional vat room and cellar of this private chateau. Learn the steps of proper wine tasting at a tasting class. Train your nose to identify wine aromas before enjoying some fine wines. Next, visit a "Great Classified Growth" (Grand Cru) wine estate overlooking the Saint-Emilion vineyards. Hear about the wine-making process and reward yourself with an aperitif served with quality fresh bread and cheese.   Then, take a guided tour of the medieval village of Saint-Emilion in the early evening, and discover why it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to Bordeaux for a drop-off at the end of the tour services.      

Take a half-day tour to the charming village of St. Emilion, and sample a selection of wines. The history of the village goes back to medieval times, and the whole jurisdiction is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its natural landscape. You will be traveling in small groups and on arrival will take a tour of the village, made up of fascinating Romanesque churches and ruins that stretch along the steep and narrow streets. It was the Romans that introduced wine making to the village as far back as the 2nd century. Reminders of the Roman techniques of wine planting can be seen in some of the estates, such as Chateau Bellevue, owned by the world famous Angelus winery. The village was named after the monk Émilian, a traveling confessor, who settled in a hermitage carved into the rock in the 8th-Century. Follow your guide for a walking tour of the village to discover all the main attractions.  Then, enjoy a visit and wine tasting session in a Classified Growth Chateau of the Saint Emilion wine region. During the visit, you will learn all there is to know about the estate as well as the techniques used to produce this world-famous wine. From here return to Bordeaux.

The wine region of Libournais encompasses much of what is referred to as the Right Bank. Named after its historical capital, the expression Right Bank typically refers to wines from the Pomerol and St-Emilion areas of the Libournais. There are several villages around the region that share the Saint-Émilion name, such as Montagne-Saint-Émilion and St-Georges-Saint-Émilion that are named the satellite appellations. The area is bordered to the west by Pomerol. Merlot is the dominant grape in this area, followed by Cabernet Franc and a very small quantity of Malbec that is tending to disappear. The climate and damper, cool soils of the area makes it difficult for Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to fully ripen and as such is less often used. Depart for the Saint Emilion wine region and enjoy a visit and wine tasting at a famous classified growth Chateaux of the Pomerol or Saint Emilion appellation. Afterwards, arrive in the village of Saint Emilion and enjoy a guided walking tour with your guide to discover the main monuments of this quaint hilltop village. During your free time for lunch and personal discovery, why not discover the underground monuments of Saint Emilion? In the afternoon experience another visit and wine tasting session in one of the selected Classified Chateaus of Saint Emilion.

Departure from Olala Bordeaux, in the center of Bordeaux, and make your first stop at a small family-run estate for a visit and wine tasting to learn about the Medoc style and the art of blending. Visit the estate and enjoy your time in the relaxing tasting room with two blended wines. Enjoy a panoramic drive around the most famous Great Classified Growths of the Appellation and stop at Château Margaux for pictures. Carry on the exploration of the appellation with a wonderful Margaux Great Classified Growth. After a tour of the property, taste the passion behind the making of two wines from the estate. Drive back to Bordeaux around 6:00 PM.

Visit Saint-Émilion on a half-day tour from Bordeaux, and explore the vineyards and wines of the region. Meet your guide at Olala Bordeaux wine shop (located at 2 rue Mably in Bordeaux center), and relax on the drive to Saint-Émilion. Enjoy a wine tasting session at a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Château, where the passionate staff will explain their story and introduce you to the art of wine production and tasting. After this, your guide will lead you on a walking tour through the center of Saint-Émilion. Explore this well-preserved medieval city, with its steep winding alleys and maze of hidden passages. Afterward, drive back to Bordeaux.

Departing from a central location in Bordeaux, this small group, half-day tour explores the beautiful Medoc wine-growing region of France. The region you will explore includes the southern region of the Medoc wine area. You will visit 2 wine estates of Classified Growth or Cru Bourgeois estates that has been carefully selected for their exceptional setting and quality of wine. Learn all there is to know about the history of the estate, the wine making process, as well as the techniques used during wine making. A wine tasting session follows the visits. After your tasting session, follow the castle road to see some of the most famous chateaus of the region, such as Chateau Margaux or Chateau Palmer.

This full day guided tour is the ultimate Bordeaux lifestyle experience. Impress your taste buds and get a real sense of life in France. You'll spend the day relaxing and exploring the remarkable richness and diversity of Bordeaux's wines. By the end of the day, you'll be a Bordeaux wine expert!  Start the tour with the Grand Cru Classé winery in the Graves region. Enjoy a variety of their red and dry white wines. Next, visit a family-owned wine estate in Entre-Deux-Mers, considered Bordeaux's 'Little Tuscany'. Here, indulge in a traditional French picnic with local produce, cheese, and cured meat. After lunch, visit the medieval village of Saint-Emilion. Your guide will show you the charming streets and tell you about the history of the region, which is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After visiting the village, you'll enjoy one last wine tasting at an authentic family-owned wine estate in Saint-Emilion or Pomerol. However, all good things must come to an end and you'll soon be comfortably returned to central Bordeaux.

Embark on a private wine tour where you can learn about top-rated wines from the Saint-Emilion producing area. As you travel along the Chateau Road, visit 3 carefully selected wineries with an expert guide. All visits consist of a short introduction to the history of the wineries, followed by a tour of the technical installations when appropriate. Finally, you can take part in wine tasting sessions of Chateau wines as to better understand why they are so highly rated.

Enjoy a drive from Bordeaux to the Medoc region along the Chateaux Route. On this 5.5-hour afternoon tour you’ll learn about the history of Bordeaux wines. Spend some time touring the vineyards and winery at a family run estate. Hear the story of the passionate family that has kept the vineyard alive for generations. Discover the intense colors, woody aromas and distinct tastes of Bordeaux wines during a tasting class. Visit a stunning Great Classified Growth wine estate, in one Bordeaux's most prestigious chateaux areas. Learn about their wine-making process and taste the estate's wines, accompanied by French delicacies, including cheese, fresh bread and dried sausage.

Enjoy a private full-day tour of Dordogne and discover the history of the King’s Musketeers, learn about Eleanor of Aquitaine, and visit prehistoric cave paintings. After the pick-up from your hotel in Bordeaux, Sarlat, Limoges, Toulouse, Agen Bergerac, or elsewhere nearby, you will head off on an exciting day filled with history, magnificent panoramic vistas, the finest gastronomy, and wine tasting. Whatever you desire can be incorporated into this private tailor-made tour. One of the places you can visit on this tour is Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, a lovely town which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site partly because of its proximity to the famous Lascaux Caverns and partly because of the newer site of Grottes de Cougnac. Here you can visit the caves and see the original art. Les Eyzies is also home to the National Prehistoric Museum. You also have the option of visiting Sarlat-la-Canéda, one of the most attractive and alluring medieval towns in south-western France. The town was developed around a large Benedictine abbey of Carolingian origin. Its town center of impeccably restored stone buildings – now a pedestrian zone – is perhaps the most representative of 14th century France. Discover another UNESCO World Heritage Site – Château de Rocamadour – perched up high on the side of a gorge of one of the Dordogne River’s tributaries, famous for its sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. You can also explore the Château de Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, with magnificent views over the landscape. Among other castles you can visit is the Château de Beynac, one of the best preserved and best known castles in the Dordogne region. Its austere appearance perched on top of a limestone cliff, dominating the town on the north bank of the Dordogne River over the sheer cliff face. It boasts double crenelated walls, double barbican, and double moats, one of which was a deepened natural ravine. Another castle to visit is the Château des Milandes, once the home of the Josephine Baker, an American dancer, singer, and actress who found fame in her adopted homeland of France. Josephine Baker and her husband renovated this beautiful castle, installing central heating, electricity, and running water. They lived here with 12 adopted children from 9 different nationalities to create what they tenderly call the “World Village”. You can also explore Domme, another typically charming Bastide village built on the cliffs overhanging the Dordogne River. It was here that many of the Kinghts Templar were imprisoned and you can still see some of their graffiti on the tower gates. Another option on this tour is to visit the Jardins de Marqueyssac, an amazing garden filled with topiary creation and a picturesque promenade with panoramic views over the Dordogne River. Visit the Eyrignac gardens, the French garden inspired by the 18th century Italian design. They were entirely modified into an English romantic garden in the 19th century. On this private tour you also have the possibility of visiting Chateau de Commarque, Chateau de Jumilhac, Monpazier, Puymartin, Eyrignac, Monbazillac, La Roque Gageac, Montfort, and Salignac.