Family Getaway in Bordeaux and Dordogne

You arrive at the airport of Bordeaux. Pick up your car at the airport and drive to your hotel. 

You have the rest of the day at leisure to discover Bordeaux on your own. 

2000 years of history and not a wrinkle! Bordeaux, the world-wide wine capital, has seen much of the 18th century areas of the city listed as World Heritage by UNESCO. And for a good reason: it is the town with the most protected buildings in France (363), just behind Paris! 

Its historic center focuses indeed an exceptional architectural heritage: The Grand Theatre, the Place de la Bourse and the entire facade along the quays, as well as the Chartrons district; the birthplace of the wine trade in Bordeaux.

Bordeaux loves children, and the feeling is mutual. Whether at Cap Sciences, the skate park, the Miroir d'Eau, the Parc Bordelais or the riverside sports facilities at Saint-Michel, there is no shortage of stimulating places and activities for kids and teenagers. And when they need a little intellectual stimulation, the city's many bookshops, theatres and cinemas also cater for a young public.

Spend the morning exploring Bordeaux on a private food and history tour. Stroll the old city streets, visit the famous Capucins Market, taste local specialties, and dive deep into local legend. With over 2,000 years of history, there's something to see around every corner. Explore the city center. You can choose to do the tour either by foot, on bikes, Segway’s, or electric scooters. 

In the afternoon, learn how to make the traditional ‘canelé’ cake, an indelible part of Bordeaux and Aquitaine’s culinary heritage. Choose cannelé or canelé; both spellings are correct. Parallel fissures score the cylindrical circumference of each canelé, evoking a vague memory of the Devil’s Tower rock formation in Wyoming. The crackly yet rubbery outer crust has a color between molasses and dark brick, while the golden honeycombed interior tastes like custard and rum. It tastes even better than it sounds… bon appetit! 

In the morning, discover the amazing Bay of Arcachon with your family! Your kids will love it!

Arcachon is a bay of 1500 hectares fed by the Atlantic Ocean forming an inland sea with the colors of a lagoon, bordered on one side by a blond fine sand dune culminating at 110 meters: The Dune du Pyla. This dune is the biggest and highest sand dune in Europe! From its summit, you can also admire the beautiful Landes’ forest. 

In the afternoon, discover the prestigious wines of the right bank of the Gironde in Saint-Emilion.

Discover the famous village of Saint-Emilion and two chateaux on the right bank: a beautiful family-run estate and a Great Classified Growth estate. Enjoy the amazing hilly vineyard landscapes of the region. In this region, Merlot is the king of the grape varieties! Feel the intimacy and authenticity of a private chateau ran by a passionate family for generations. Visit the vineyards, the traditional vat room and cellar of this intimate estate!

Finally, enjoy a guided tour of the village of Saint Emilion, listed as another UNESCO site. Saint-Emilion is a typical charming French village dating back to medieval times surrounded by vineyards that took its name.

The driver-guide brings you back to Bordeaux at the end of the day. 

Start your morning with a drive to Sarlat la Canéda (approx. 210km / 2.5-hour). Arrive in time for lunch, then head out to explore the city. 

A picturesque tangle of honey-colored buildings, alleyways and secret squares make up the beautiful town of Sarlat-la-Canéda. Boasting some of the region's best-preserved medieval architecture, it's a popular base for exploring the Vézère Valley, and a favorite spot for film directors. It's also firmly on the tourist radar,so explore early in the morning, especially on market days. Markets sell a smorgasbord of goose-based products, and Sarlat hosts an annual goose festival, the Fest'Oie (early March), when live birds and market stalls fill the streets, and Sarlat's top chefs prepare an outdoor banquet.

Start the day by visiting two of Dordogne's major castles (in self-drive):  Beynac and Castelnaud la Chapelle. Chose to explore them on your own, with a guide, or with the help of a VR tablet. 

Castelnaud dates back to the 12th century. Held by Cathar lord Bernard de Casnac at the beginning of the 13th century, ownership of the castle changed hands to Simon de Montfort in 1214 during the Albigensian Crusade. A new castle was built during this time, and the keep and curtain wall date from that construction. The castle was listed as a Historic Building in 1966, subsequently undergoing restoration to bring it back to its original glory. Since 1985, the building has housed the Museum of Medieval Warfare. 

From here continue to the 12th-century Château de Beynac, Perigord's best-preserved fortress. It perches high on a cliff, where it's watched over the Dordogne for the last nine centuries. From its ramparts, you can see the five great castles of the valley, as well as great swaths of the surrounding countryside. The castle is carved out from the cliff rock and offers tours of the grounds as well as the stone building.

Head down to town for lunch, then spend the afternoon on the water on a self-guided canoe trip. Choose from a variety of route options, from 3 miles (5 km) to 16 miles (26 km) on either the Vézère, the Dordogne, or both rivers. Opt for a relaxing paddle on quiet water or set your sights on some small rapids and exciting white-water. Either way, the scenery alongside the river is spectacular: rolling hills, deep forest, pastureland and vineyards, and riverside cliffs.

Dive underground today on a historic tour of the Cave Paintings of Dordogne (small group / approx. 8 hours). Approximately 17,000 years ago, unknown artists created several cave paintings in the area, some of which are found in the Dordogne area. Explore these paintings, learn about the people who created them, and immerse yourself in the prehistorical times.  

Start the day in Les Eyzies de Tayac for a guided visit of the National Prehistory Museum, which opened in 2004. It possesses the world's largest collection of prehistoric artifacts, perfect for curious young minds to learn about and explore. 

From here, continue to Montignac to visit Lascaux IV Cave, a perfect reproduction of the original cave, down to the damp, dark, and muffled atmosphere. Inside, the cave employs a variety of set designs to bring the original cave to life for visitors. Displays, state-of-the-art interactive workshops, and immersive technology propel you back in time to the days of Cro-Magnon man.

End your day with a visit to Rouffignac Cave, where you can see original etchings and drawings. This cave was re-discovered in 1575 by François de Belleforest, who cites "paintings and animal traces" in his ‘Cosmographie Universelle’.

The driver-guide brings you back to your hotel at the end of the day. 

Today you enjoy a full-day tour with a driver-guide to the Gouffre de Padirac and the village of Rocamadour (small group / approx. 8 hours). 

After a drive of just over an hour, arrive in Padirac. Experience a unique visit of one of the most extraordinary natural phenomena of the region as you plunge in an unexpected underground world. The flooded network of Padirac Chasm is the second longest in the world after those located in the Yucatan province of Mexico. The visit of this vertiginous chasm begins with a 75-meter descent via a lift before actually entering the cave system. Following the descent, enjoy a peaceful boat ride on the mysterious subterranean river. Then, disembark and walk along a path that takes you through large caves decorated with stunning gigantic limestone concretions. 

After the walk, you return by boat to your original departure point and take the lift back up to reach the outside world.

Then board the minivan again and head to the nearby village of Rocamadour. Miraculous rock, collection of tales, legends and beliefs, sanctuary of the Black Virgin, pilgrimage site: the village of Rocamadour is all of these at the same time. Your guide certainly stops here for a breathtaking view of the whole site that allows fantastic photos.

The driver-guide brings you back to your hotel at the end of the day. 

In the morning you drive back to the airport of Bordeaux (approx. 220km / 3 hours). Drop off your car and take your international flight to your destination. Home sweet home !