Hamilton & Chase Tours
Bordeaux & the Dordogne — Private Package 8-day France tour: Grand cru vineyards, medieval villages & Périgord truffle country

8-Day Private Package Journey

Bordeaux & the Dordogne

Grand cru vineyards, medieval villages & Périgord truffle country

Available as Private Semi-Private Self-Guided
From €2,990 per person 8 days / 7 nights
View Itinerary

Tour Overview

8 days across France.

Eight days in southwest France — where the world's most celebrated vineyards meet medieval hilltop villages, prehistoric caves, and the kind of slow, generous food culture that makes you wonder why you'd ever eat anywhere else. From the elegant quays of Bordeaux to the truffle forests and golden-stone villages of the Dordogne, this is France at its most unhurried and rewarding.

Detailed Itinerary

Your journey, day by day.

Every day is designed with breathing room. Sleep in, take a detour, linger at lunch — the itinerary flexes around you, not the other way around.

Day 1 — Arrival in Bordeaux
Day 1
1

Day 1

Arrival in Bordeaux

Wine capital, river city, UNESCO World Heritage.

Arrive at Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport, where your private driver takes you to your hotel in the heart of the city — near the Place de la Bourse and the famous Water Mirror that reflects the 18th-century façades. The afternoon is yours to discover Bordeaux on foot: the golden limestone quays along the Garonne, the Rue Sainte-Catherine pedestrian street, and the neighbourhood bars where a glass of something excellent costs less than you'd expect. In the evening, a welcome dinner at a restaurant in the Chartrons district — once the wine merchants' quarter, now Bordeaux's most interesting dining neighbourhood.

  • Private airport transfer to central Bordeaux
  • Water Mirror and Place de la Bourse
  • Welcome dinner in the Chartrons quarter
4★ hotel, Bordeaux centre
Day 2 — Bordeaux: Cité du Vin & the Old Town
Day 2
2

Day 2

Bordeaux: Cité du Vin & the Old Town

The story of wine, told in the city that wrote the book.

Morning at the Cité du Vin — Bordeaux's striking contemporary wine museum, where the permanent exhibition takes you through the history, geography, and culture of wine in an immersive, multi-sensory journey. The rooftop tasting bar offers panoramic views and a glass of something from the region. After the museum, a guided walking tour through Bordeaux's UNESCO-listed old town: the Grand Théâtre, Saint-André Cathedral, the medieval Grosse Cloche gate, and the public garden where Bordelais come to read and argue. Free afternoon — we recommend the CAPC contemporary art museum in a converted warehouse, or simply the art of sitting in a Place du Parlement café with a canelé and an espresso.

  • Cité du Vin — immersive wine museum and rooftop tasting
  • Bordeaux UNESCO old town walking tour
  • Grand Théâtre and Saint-André Cathedral
Meals: Breakfast 4★ hotel, Bordeaux centre
Day 3 — Saint-Émilion: Underground Catacombs & Grand Cru Tastings
Day 3
3

Day 3

Saint-Émilion: Underground Catacombs & Grand Cru Tastings

The medieval wine village that set the standard for Bordeaux.

A thirty-minute drive east of Bordeaux brings you to Saint-Émilion — a medieval village built on a honeycomb of underground quarries, catacombs, and the largest underground church in Europe. Your guide takes you below ground to the Monolithic Church, carved from solid limestone in the 8th century, then up to the narrow streets and the panoramic viewpoint above the vineyards. After the village, private tastings at two classified estates — one Grand Cru Classé and one Premier Grand Cru Classé — where the winemaker explains the terroir, the grapes, and the decades of patience that go into every bottle. Lunch at a vineyard restaurant overlooking the vines. Return to Bordeaux in the late afternoon.

  • Saint-Émilion underground church and catacombs
  • Two classified Grand Cru estate tastings
  • Vineyard lunch overlooking the vines
Meals: Breakfast 4★ hotel, Bordeaux centre
Day 4 — Bordeaux to the Dordogne
Day 4
4

Day 4

Bordeaux to the Dordogne

Into the truffle forests and golden-stone villages.

Morning at your leisure in Bordeaux — the Marché des Capucins for oysters and white wine, or one final walk along the quays. Late morning, your driver takes you northeast into the Dordogne — the landscape shifting from vineyard flats to rolling hills, walnut groves, and honey-coloured villages perched above the river. Arrive in Sarlat-la-Canéda by early afternoon — the best-preserved medieval town in France, where every other building seems to be 14th century and the Saturday market has been running since the Middle Ages. Check into your hotel in the old town. Free afternoon to wander the streets, browse the foie gras and walnut oil shops, and find a café in the Place de la Liberté.

  • Scenic drive through the Dordogne countryside
  • Sarlat-la-Canéda — France's best-preserved medieval town
  • Golden-stone architecture and artisan food shops
Meals: Breakfast 4★ hotel, Sarlat-la-Canéda old town
Day 5 — Lascaux & the Castles of the Dordogne
Day 5
5

Day 5

Lascaux & the Castles of the Dordogne

Twenty thousand years of human art, then a river view that hasn't changed.

Morning visit to Lascaux IV — the astonishing full-scale replica of the prehistoric cave paintings that were sealed in 1963 to prevent further damage. The reproduction is so precise that the experience is genuinely moving: bison, horses, and deer painted on the cave walls by artists who lived here 20,000 years ago. Your guide contextualises the paintings in a way that makes the Stone Age feel close. After Lascaux, a scenic drive along the Dordogne river to the Château de Beynac — a medieval fortress perched on a cliff above the river, with views that Richard the Lionheart once fought to control. Lunch at a riverside restaurant below the castle. Afternoon, truffle hunting with a local guide and his dogs in the Périgord forest — learning to read the signs in the soil and the trees. Return to Sarlat with your haul.

  • Lascaux IV — 20,000-year-old cave paintings
  • Château de Beynac above the Dordogne river
  • Truffle hunting in the Périgord forest
Meals: Breakfast 4★ hotel, Sarlat-la-Canéda old town
Day 6 — Rocamadour & the Lot Valley
Day 6
6

Day 6

Rocamadour & the Lot Valley

A cliffside pilgrimage village that defies gravity.

A day trip south to Rocamadour — the medieval village built vertically into a 150-metre cliff face above the Alzou canyon. Pilgrims have been climbing the 216 steps of the Grand Escalier to the chapels since the 12th century, and the view from the ramparts above is one of the most dramatic in France. Your guide tells the story of the Black Madonna, the miracles, and the kings and saints who made the climb. After Rocamadour, a scenic drive through the Lot Valley — deep gorges, walnut orchards, and the quiet village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, voted the most beautiful village in France. Return to Sarlat for a free evening — we'll recommend our favourite Périgord restaurants for duck confit and walnut cake.

  • Rocamadour — the cliffside pilgrimage village
  • Grand Escalier and the Black Madonna chapel
  • Saint-Cirq-Lapopie — France's most beautiful village
Meals: Breakfast 4★ hotel, Sarlat-la-Canéda old town
Day 7 — Bergerac Vineyards & a Farewell Dinner
Day 7
7

Day 7

Bergerac Vineyards & a Farewell Dinner

One more glass, one more long lunch, one last French sunset.

A gentle final day. Morning drive west to Bergerac — the Dordogne's other wine country, less famous than Bordeaux but producing some of the region's most interesting and affordable wines. Visit a family domaine for a tasting of Monbazillac — the golden dessert wine that's been made here since the 16th century — and Pécharmant, the rich red that locals drink at every occasion. Walk through Bergerac's old town, where the statue of Cyrano stands in the square (though the real man was Parisian, the town has claimed him with enthusiasm). Return to Bordeaux in the afternoon. In the evening, a farewell dinner at one of the city's finest tables — a multi-course meal that brings together everything you've tasted over the past week: the wines, the truffles, the duck, and the canelés.

  • Bergerac wine tasting — Monbazillac and Pécharmant
  • Bergerac old town and the Cyrano connection
  • Farewell dinner at one of Bordeaux's finest restaurants
Meals: Breakfast 4★ hotel, Bordeaux centre
Day 8 — Departure
Day 8
8

Day 8

Departure

À la prochaine — until next time.

A final French breakfast — canelés, croissants, and café crème. Your private driver transfers you to Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport. If your flight is later, we can arrange a morning visit to the Marché des Capucins or a last walk along the Garonne. Your travel specialist remains on call until you're home.

  • Private airport transfer
  • Optional Marché des Capucins morning visit
Meals: Breakfast

Where You'll Stay

Hand-picked hotels, every night.

We choose properties for character, location, and the kind of service that makes you feel looked after — not just checked in. Every hotel can be swapped for an alternative if you prefer.

4★ hotel, Bordeaux

Bordeaux

4 nights

4★ hotel

Centre / near Place de la Bourse

Walking distance to the quays, old town, and Chartrons

4★ hotel, Sarlat-la-Canéda

Sarlat-la-Canéda

3 nights

4★ hotel

Old town

Medieval heart of the Dordogne, steps from the market square

Hotels shown are indicative of the standard we book. Upon request, we will provide a detailed itinerary with specific hotel options tailored to your preferences and budget.

What's in the Price

Included

  • 7 nights in 4★ hotels (double occupancy)
  • Daily breakfast at each hotel
  • 2 signature dinners (welcome Chartrons, Bordeaux farewell)
  • 2 curated lunches (Saint-Émilion vineyard, Dordogne riverside)
  • Private airport transfers in Bordeaux
  • All transfers in air-conditioned private vehicles
  • Private expert guides throughout
  • Cité du Vin entry and rooftop tasting
  • Saint-Émilion underground tour and two Grand Cru tastings
  • Lascaux IV entry
  • Château de Beynac entry
  • Truffle hunting in the Périgord
  • Rocamadour guided visit
  • Bergerac wine tasting (Monbazillac and Pécharmant)
  • 24/7 travel specialist support
  • All entrance fees and museum tickets
  • Hamilton & Chase digital travel booklet

Not Included

  • International flights to/from Bordeaux
  • Travel insurance (required — we can arrange coverage)
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Personal expenses
  • Gratuities for guides and drivers (optional but appreciated)
  • City tax (typically €2–4 per person per night)

Good to Know

  • This itinerary is a starting point — every detail can be adjusted.
  • Hotels confirmed at booking. Upgrades and château stays always available.
  • All guides and experiences are exclusively for your party.
  • Comfortable walking shoes recommended — cobblestones and vineyard paths.
  • Flexible booking: adjust or postpone dates up to 60 days before departure at no charge.

Make It Yours

Optional add-ons & upgrades.

Every trip is different. These extras can be woven into your itinerary — just let your travel specialist know what catches your eye.

Médoc wine route

Half-day visiting two classified Médoc estates — Margaux and Pauillac

From €220 pp

Canoeing on the Dordogne

Half-day canoe trip past castles and cliff villages

From €60 pp

Cooking class — duck and truffles

Learn to prepare Périgord specialities with a local chef

From €140 pp

Arcachon Bay and the Dune du Pilat

Day trip to Europe's tallest sand dune and the oyster villages

From €180 pp

Professional photo session

1-hour portrait session in the vineyards or Bordeaux old town

From €350

"The wine tastings were incredible, but it was the truffle hunt and Lascaux that truly surprised us. Sarlat is the most charming town we've ever stayed in, and Bordeaux was far more beautiful than we expected. We're already planning to come back."

Michael & Eleanor W.

San Francisco, CA · Bordeaux & the Dordogne, October 2025

Common Questions

Questions about this trip.

Can I change the hotels?

Absolutely. Château stays and wine-estate accommodations are popular upgrades.

When is the best time for this tour?

April through October for the best weather. September–October for harvest season. November–February for truffle season.

Private Package Journey

Bordeaux & the Dordogne

8 days / 7 nights

From €2,990

per person

Ready to go?

Share a few details and a specialist will reply within one business day.

More France Tours

Prefer to Talk?

+1 646-466-6841 [email protected]

Available Mon–Fri 9am–6pm CET.
On-trip support is 24/7.

Keep Exploring

More France journeys.

Best of France

9 Days · Private Package

Best of France

Paris, the Loire Valley & Provence

From €3,490 View Trip →
Essence of France

7 Days · Private Package

Essence of France

Paris highlights & the lavender fields of Provence

From €2,690 View Trip →
Provence & the Côte d'Azur

8 Days · Private Package

Provence & the Côte d'Azur

Lavender, rosé & the sun-drenched south of France

From €3,190 View Trip →
Plan My Trip