Southwest otherwise
Discover a unique experience combining culture, flavors and emblematic landscapes for a total immersion in the heritage and art of living of the Southwest.
Detailed program
Day 1: Bordeaux – Pays Basque
Depart Bordeaux for the Bassin d’Arcachon. Discover Arcachon and its beautiful “Belle Époque” villas. Enjoy a boat trip on the basin, approaching majestic “tchanquée” huts and sailing past oyster beds. Tides permitting, you can also approach the bird island. On to the Dune du Pilat. To this day, it is the highest dune in Europe and the only one still in motion. Drive to the Basque Country.
Dinner and accommodation in the Basque Country.
Day 2: Pays Basque
Discover Bayonne and visit the “Atelier du Chocolat” museum, followed by a tasting at the end of the tour. Stop in Espelette just before reaching Sare. Ascent of La Rhune on the little train. Built in 1924, this train takes you up the slopes of La Rhune in 35 minutes, at a speed of 8 km/h, to this mythical summit of the Basque country. As far as the eye can see, it takes in the peaks of the Pyrenean chain and follows the Basque coast, skirting the Atlantic Ocean from Saint-Sébastien to Biarritz and the beaches of the Landes. Then Ascain, Saint Jean de Luz ….
Dinner and overnight accommodation in the Basque Country.
Day 3: Pays Basque – Argeles Gazost
Drive to Lourdes via Saint Jean Pied de Port, Navarrenx, ranked one of France’s most beautiful villages, Oloron Sainte Marie , Saint Pé de Bigorre. Visit to the Betharram caves. Discovered in 1810 and one of the first caves open to the public, the Betharram caves explain the formation of natural caves. Arriving in Lourdes, where millions of pilgrims have flocked since the Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1858, enjoy free time in the sanctuary town.
Dinner and overnight stay in Lourdes.
Day 4: Argeles Gazost – Carcasonne
Drive to Carcassonne, famous for its two UNESCO World Heritage sites: the medieval city and the Canal du Midi. Visit to the Château de Mauvezin. Discovery of the medieval village of Saint Bertrand de Comminges. Suspended between heaven and earth, it stands out against the pristine backdrop of the Pyrenean foothills. Around the upper town, a veritable spiritual summit symbolized by Sainte-Marie cathedral, line Renaissance-style houses, held back by a rampart carved into the rock. Visit Saint Girons, a town nestled at the foot of the mountains at the crossroads of the eighteen valleys of the Couserans region. Stroll through the village, its church, facades and the castle of the Viscounts of Couserans. Then a stop in Foix, dominated by the imposing stature of its castle. Guided tour of Maison Guinot, producer of Blanquette de Limoux in Limoux’s Upper Valley. The oldest producer of Blanquette de Limoux opens its doors for an exceptional tour of its cellars. Arrival in Carcassonne.
Dinner and overnight stay in Carcassonne.
Day 5: Carcassonne
Guided tour of Carcassonne with a costumed tour guide on a variety of themes. Through anecdotes, astonishing details or even by entering places that are usually inaccessible… Carcassonne as you’ve never seen it before!
Dinner and overnight in Carcassonne.
Day 6: Carcassonne – Cahors
Departure for Albi. Discover the city: the magnificent “Pont-Vieux”, the Renaissance mansions and, above all, the sumptuous Cathédrale Saint Cécile, a masterpiece of Southern Gothic architecture offering an astonishing contrast between the rigor of its defensive architecture and its sumptuous interior decoration…. Visit the Palais de la Berbie, one of the oldest episcopal complexes in France. Built in the 13th century, it now houses the Toulouse Lautrec Museum, dedicated to the city’s most famous child. Dive into the heart of Cordes sur Ciel, a city that fascinates all those who discover it, because it is first and foremost a vision: that of a city climbing to the sky. Its exceptional site and remarkable architectural heritage make it one of France’s most significant medieval towns, and one of Europe’s heritage hotspots. Arrival in Cahors: the 14th-century “Pont Valentré”, the finest and best-preserved medieval bridge in Europe, the Cathedral of Saint Étienne and the old town, particularly the “Rue Nationale” and the “Pont Cabessus”.
Dinner and overnight in Cahors.
Day 7: Cahors – Les Eyzies
Drive to Rocamadour. A city of vertigo, a sacred city, Rocamadour has written a fabulous human and spiritual history in limestone. An impressive viewpoint over the Alzou canyon, this mythical place, inhabited by the cult of the Black Madonna, has remained a symbol of faith and hope down the centuries. Visit a farm and take a free, fun tour of the steps involved in making Rocamadour PDO cheese from the Causses du Quercy. From April to September, you can make up your own picnic with local products sold on site: bread, cheeses, charcuterie, etc. Discover La Roque Gageac, a magnificent village classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France, nestled at the foot of its high cliffs in the heart of the Dordogne. Those who wish to do so can climb up to the troglodytic fort built around the 12th century, whose fortifications withstood all assaults during the Hundred Years’ War before being dismantled in the early 18th century. Round off your day with a gabarre trip to Beynac, listed as one of France’s most beautiful villages.
Dinner and overnight stay at Les Eyzies.
Day 8: Les Eyzies
Discovery of Sarlat-la-Canéda and its market. The “Maison de la Boetie” built in 1525, the Saint Sacerdos cathedral, the enigmatic “Lanterne des Morts” tower dating from the late 12th century, Place de la Liberté, Place des Oies, Rue des Consuls… Visit Lascaux IV. Lascaux IV opened its doors to visitors in 2016, offering a unique experience that combines identical reproductions of the original Lascaux cave with the latest technology. Visit to a duck/goose farm and foie gras tasting.
Dinner and accommodation in Les Eyzies.
Day 9: Les Eyzies
Drive to Saint Emilion. Cooking classes on a wine estate: we start with a tour of the Château, followed by a convivial moment of sharing, guided by the chef’s advice. Create a menu highlighting regional seasonal produce and taste it with three wines from the estate. Discover the village of Saint Emilion through its specialties! A wide range of flavors, illustrated along the way, with a surprise in store to round off this gourmet escapade.
Return to your region.
Services included
- Transportation by coach or minivan according to the number of participants
- 8 nights in a hotel, youth hostel or accommodation center
- Half-board from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 9
- Visits and excursions as described in the program
- Travel file for tour leader
- VOYEL assistance 24 hours a day
Good to know
Program duration and activities can be modified
Optional / supplement
- Services of a VOYEL guide
- Lunches