Cruise FHT 2025 -Wine, culture, gastronomy, from Biarritz to Reims

Culture, Gastronomy & Wine from Biarritz to Reims

13 days / 12 nights

Programme

This 13-day journey through France begins in Biarritz, exploring the villages of Espelette and St-Jean-Pied de Port with wine tastings in Irouleguy. A river cruise from Bordeaux follows, visiting Saint-Emilion, Blaye, and enjoying Médoc wine tastings. The Loire Valley offers guided tour of Blois in a carriage, a cruise to discover Chenonceau castle by the river Cher and wine tastings in Montlouis. The adventure continues in Paris with a degustation in the 800 years old Louvre wine cellars. It ends in Reims with a visit to its World Heritage Cathedral, champagne initiation and a farewell lunch. This tour perfectly blends culture, gastronomy, and beautiful landscapes. Sept 8th - Sept 20th 2025 (13 days, 12 nights)

Travel :
Cruise ship 5-anchors, 1st class High Speed train (TGV) and high comfort coaches for day visits.

Accommodation :

Pays Basque: 2 nights, 4-star hotel in Biarritz / 1 night on the cruise ship
Bordeaux region : 4 nights on a cruise ship along the rivers Garonne & Gironde
Loire Valley: 3 nights, 5-star hotel in Blois
Paris: 1 night, 4-star hotel in Paris
Champagne: 1 night, 4-star hotel in Reims

Meals :
Breakfast & either lunch or dinners included, full board on the boat

Day 1 – Meeting in BIARRITZ, Pays Basque

Group settles in 4-star hotel,
Welcome cocktail at 5 pm,
Dinner and night at the hotel.

Day 2 –Biarritz and area, Pays Basque

Visit the lovely city of Espelette and its famous “pepper of Espelette”,
Traditional Basque lunch in Espelette,
Guided visit of the charming village of St-Jean-Pied de Port, on the way to Compostelle before the Pyrenees, one of the most beautiful villages of France,
Wine tasting in Irouleguy wine cellars amid the Basque vineyards,
Back to the hotel in Biarritz, dinner and night at the hotel.

Day 3 –Biarritz and area, Pays Basque

Morning spent on a guided visit of Bayonne old city,
Visit a salted-meat workshop to see ham-making and taste its products.
Enjoy a traditional Basque meal at lunch in a local cider house. Have a glass of cider directly from the barrel!,
Then the group goes to Bordeaux by coach, and settles onto the boat,
Crew introduction at a welcome cocktail,
Dinner and 1st night on the boat.

Day 4 – Cruise, Bordeaux region
on the river “La Garonne” from Bordeaux to Cussac-Fort-Medoc

Morning: Sail to the Bec d’Ambès, northern islands of Bouchaud and Patiras and then Cussac-Fort-Medoc
Afternoon: following the trail of the grands crus wines of Medoc and wine tastings,
Back to the boat,
Dinner and night on the boat.

Day 5 – Cruise, Bordeaux region
in the estuary of the river Gironde, from Cussac-Fort-Medoc to Blaye

Morning: Sail and stop in Blaye,
Afternoon: guided discovery of Blaye citadel, built by the Maréchal Vauban upon the request of Louis the XIVth, to protect the city of Bordeaux from invasions as part of the “verrou Vauban” (World Heritage site),
Back to the boat,
Dinner and night on the boat.

Day 6 – Cruise, Bordeaux region from Blaye to Libourne, on the river Dordogne to Saint Emilion.

Morning: Sail along the river Dordogne to Libourne
Afternoon: departure by coach for excursion in the famous village of Saint Emilion. This unusual medieval town, nestled in a setting of vineyards, has retained all the charm of its origins.
A wine tasting at one of the wineries is a must.
Back to the boat,
Dinner and night on the boat

Day 7 – Cruise Bordeaux
from Libourne to Bordeaux

Morning: Sail from Libourne to Bordeaux,
Afternoon: visit of Bordeaux, the quartier des Chartrons which is a blend of bourgeoisie and bohemian spirit. A must-see stroll in Bordeaux. Then head to the Musée du Vin et du Négoce, which traces the history of the wine trade in Bordeaux followed by a wine tasting,
Back to the boat,
Dinner and night on the boat

Day 8 – From Bordeaux to Blois

Morning: disembark and take the High Speed train (TGV) to the city of Tours in the Loire Valley; a coach will take us from Tours to Blois.
Lunch in a troglodyte restaurant between Tours and Blois,
The group will settle in the 5-star hotel in the afternoon,
Afternoon: visit of Blois in horse-drawn carriage and drop off at the Château de Blois,
Complete and unique visit of the castle of Blois !
Free for dinner,
Evening : Sound and light show,
Night in Blois.

Day 9 – Loches, Chedigny, Chenonceaux, Loire Valley

Morning: guided tour of the royal city of Loches (World Heritage site) and then the castle,
Guided tour of Chedigny, the only French city with the appellation “garden-town”,
Free for lunch in Chenonceaux,
Afternoon: boat cruise on the Cher aboard “la Bélandre” and discovery of the castle of Chenonceaux by the river,
Evening : gastronomic dinner in Blois by famous chef Christophe Hay, 2 Michelin stars
Night in Blois.

Day 10 – Amboise, Clos Lucé, La Bourdaisière, Loire Valley

Morning: guided visit of Amboise castle followed by a guided visit of the Clos Lucé (last place where Leonard de Vinci lived and died).
Visit to a local wine producer in Montlouis followed by lunch accompanied by a selection of wines chosen by the producer.
Lunch accompanied by his different wines.
Afternoon: guided visit of Château de la Bourdaisière: national conservatory of tomatoes (700 varieties of tomatoes).
Free for the evening,
Night in Blois

Day 11- From Blois to Paris by coach

Morning: Transfer to Paris by coach.
Afternoon: 2.5 hour guinguette-cruise on the Canal Saint-Martin… a very poetic place, an incredible aquatic alley with romantic walkways, immersed in an unusual, romantic and mysterious Paris; the boat will cross locks and descend to the Seine, at the lock of «La Bastille» ;
When you arrive on the Seine, you will see in front of you the magnificent private hotels of the Île Saint-Louis, then Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Tuileries until you reach the Port Solférino, under the Musée d’Orsay.
Evening: guided tour of the wine cellars of the Louvre, 800 years old; the visit will be followed by a wine tasting in the cellars of the Louvre and a dinner nearby.
Transfer by taxi to the hotel,
Overnight in Paris.

Day 12- From Paris to Reims, Champagne

Morning: Taxi transfer to Gare de l’Est and High Speed train (TGV) to Reims,
Afternoon: guided visit of Reims Cathedral (World Heritage site), one of the biggest Christian world cathedrals, and famous for its beauty and historic importance: French Kings were crowned there.
Rest of the afternoon and evening is free in Reims,
Night in Reims.

Day 13- Champagne !

- Morning: by private coach to Ay en Champagne for an initiation to the Champagne at l’Ecole des vins de Champagne,
- Farewell Lunch served with champagne at one of the local producers,
- Afternoon: transfer back to Paris train station

The price includes

Accompanied by Tour Leader/Tour Manager throughout the tour.
Transport during the tour: cruise ship 5- anchors, Trains first class, high comfort coaches.
4-star hotel, 5-star Hotel in Blois accommodation,
Breakfast and one main meal a day either lunch or dinner including a gourmet dinner and few gastronomic meals.
All expenses related to entries, guided tours and visits.

The price does not include