FRANCE: Boutique Small Group Foodie Tour - 10 days

Destination:  FRANCE: Paris | Dordogne | Bordeaux

Tour Commences In:  Paris

Tour Concludes in:  Paris

Number of Days:  10 days / 9 nights

Tour Style; Luxury / Deluxe Small Group Tours (groups, couples & solo travellers)

Accommodation: Modern & Boutique Hotels

Meals: Breakfasts; 9: Lunches; 10: Dinners; 5:

Leaders: Australian chef and food educator & Tour Director and one or more local guides

Transportation:  Luxury private chauffeur driven air-conditioned vehicles and local transfers

Tour Grading: Moderate: Suitable for travellers with an average level of fitness and mobility

• Tour the famous Left Bank of Paris, tasting as you go 

• Shop like a Parisian in high end home ware and food boutiques 

•  Discover the most chic department store in Paris 

•  Sample truffles at a famous truffle bar 

• Learn why some of the oldest restaurants in Paris are still so popular 

• Explore and shop lively and bustling markets 

•  Immerse yourself in hands on cooking classes 

• Experience travel on the famous TGV through the French countryside 

• Discover why traditional French food is enjoyed in so many restaurants the world over

• Wander in awe at one of the most perfectly preserved medieval French towns 

• Be taken back centuries as you tour the old town of Sarlat 

• Shop regional delicacies at the market and choose food for a picnic en plein air 

• Experience the best of French food at a Michelin starred restaurant 

• Explore an ancient chateaux and bridges 

•  Sample artisanal ice cream and liqueurs direct from the producers 

• Stroll magnificently preserved gardens 

•  Explore an historic winery 

• Wander the historic heart of Bordeaux 

• Enjoy a food tour and learn all the foodie secrets of Bordeaux

• Dine on the best French food and wine 

• Taste, inhale, touch and see the most beautiful food in a country that is a foodie’s dream! 

Day 1:    Tuesday:    Paris:     (D)
Bonjour et bienvenue à Paris. Hello and welcome to Paris, the ‘City of Light’ and home to some of the best food in the world. You will be met by your tour director and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may have free time to explore Paris at your leisure. Later this evening we meet in the hotel for an apéritif, introduction and tour briefing before departing for our ‘Welcome Dinner’ in a classic French bistrot. 

Day 2:     Wednesday:     Paris:     (B/L/D)
We start our day the only way to start in Paris, touring the Left Bank. We’ll be tasting as we go - cheese, bread, wine, charcuterie, chocolate and, of course, patisserie! We visit artisanal shops, meet the vendors, mix with the locals and shop the exceptional produce that is quintessentially Parisian. We set off next to an upscale Left Bank district to explore fascinating high-end speciality home ware, kitchenware as well as food and book shops. Shop like a Parisian and take home wonderful mementoes of your time in Paris. Then we head to the chic and glamorous Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, which houses one of the best food halls – La Grande Epicerie - in the world. Here you will find everything from rare gourmet delicacies and prestigious wines to vegetables and pantry basics. It’s a food lovers haven and one of my favourite food shops in Paris! If you’re up for it take a seat at Maison de la Truffe and sample a dish or two featuring the ‘Black Diamond’. Free time here before we wander back to our hotel. We rendezvous for an apéritif before dinner at a 1920’s brasserie. 

Day 3:    Thursday:     Paris:    (B/D)
Join me for an optional early morning walk to see Paris stretching and waking up. Then we’re off on the Métro to visit one of the most popular marché (market) in Paris, where vendors shout out their wares and some of the freshest cheeses, breads and produce from local farms are on offer. We soak up the atmosphere as we rub shoulders with Parisians carefully choosing each and every purchase. Afterwards we’re off to explore a lively, historic street, much loved by Parisians, lined with boutiques, cafés, restaurants and bars. There is every gourmet food shop imaginable as well as fromageries, boulangeries, patisseries, chocolatiers and glaciers. We spend the rest of the morning here and have lunch at our leisure. Then there is the option of an afternoon of free time or join me to peruse the most famous cookware shop in the world, wander the historic covered arcades and spend some time reflecting in a magnificent church that is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. We then rendezvous in the late afternoon for a delicious fun foodie cooking class. 

Day 4:    Friday:     Paris – The Dordogne - Sarlat-la-Canéda:    (B/D)
We say au revoir to Paris this morning as we make our way to Gare Montparnasse to catch the TGV (Fast Train) to Bordeaux. We sit back and enjoy the view as the train weaves its way through the French countryside. After arriving in Bordeaux, we journey through the Dordogne region, dotted with chateaux, charming villages and verdant hills to our destination in the heart of the Périgord Noir, Sarlat-la-Canéda. This magnificent medieval town is one of the most beautifully and perfectly preserved in France, with its winding, cobblestoned streets, picturesque squares and Gothic and Renaissance architecture. It is also renowned for its superb food, as we will discover tomorrow. You are free to relax or wander the town before a simple dinner at a local bistrot. 

Day 5:    Saturday:    The Dordogne - Sarlat-la-Canéda:    (B/L/D)
We rendezvous this morning for a tour of the famous, bustling, market with an 800-year-old history and tradition of trading. This market is considered one of the best in France and as we make our way shoulder to shoulder (it’s that popular!) from stall to stall we find all the produits de terroir on offer. Think foie gras, confit de canard, sanglier (wild boar) sausages, truffles, walnuts, wild cèpes and girolle mushrooms, strawberries, cabécou (the famous local goat cheese) and Le Pruneau (the local apéritif made from prunes). As we wander, we will select delicious goodies from the vendors and create our very own picnic basket. Later we sit back with our brimming basket and enjoy a tranquil picnic – en plein air – under the trees in the local gardens. After lunch we’ll step back in time and enjoy a private tour of medieval Sarlat, with its narrow, winding streets, ancient cathedral, and imposing architecture. We’ll discover the fascinating history, dating back to the Middle Ages of this magnificent town and its people. We meet later in the evening for a classic French dinner. 

Day 6:    Sunday:    The Dordogne – Sarlat-la-Canéda:    :    (B/L)
Have a relaxing morning or join me for an optional early morning power walk around old Sarlat. We then meet up for a scenic drive through the dramatic valleys of the Périgord Noir to a very special lunch at a Michelin starred restaurant where we enjoy the full French excellent food and wine experience. After lunch we need a walk and fresh air! So we set off to a nearby historically listed chateau complete with medieval defensive fortifications, Renaissance architectural elegance and breathtaking views. Explore at your leisure before we have a leisurely drive back to Sarlat and a free evening. 

Day 7:    Monday:    The Dordogne– Sarlat-la-Canéda:     :    (B/L/D)
Today we enjoy an excursion to a stunning formal garden, one of the most beautiful in the Dordogne. Sit in reflection by the manicured lawns, be inspired by the vegetable gardens, gaze at the elegant statues, admire the topiary or simply wander peacefully by the trees and flowerbeds. Then it’s a simple, but delicious lunch in the garden café. A truly peaceful morning. We then head to a glacier (ice cream shop) like no other, where we will sample some of the most incredible glaces and sorbets from a true artisan. On the way home we stop for a visit to a local distillery where we discover the secret to a centuries old aperitif, explore the cellars and have the opportunity to purchase liqueurs, brandies and other artisanal products. Make sure you have space in your suitcase for a bottle or two! We continue our ‘getting to know’ Sarlat by enjoying dinner in another fine, local restaurant.

Day 8:    Tuesday:    The Dordogne – Sarlat-la-Canéda:    :    (B/L)
It’s a very early start this morning but you will be well rewarded as we travel through the beautiful countryside to an historic wine estate. We explore the winery and are immersed in a fully hands on cooking class with a local chef. The winery is famous for its deliciously deep red Malbec wine and its Michelin rating for its cuisine. This will be a class with a focus on seasonal food – perhaps mushrooms or truffles – and will finish with tastings of the food paired with premium wines from the winery. After lunch we visit the medieval city of Cahors. Founded in Roman times this city has a wealth of history and a largely intact historic centre. We tour the 14th century, stone arch Valentré Bridge, spanning the famous river Lot and a remarkable example of medieval architecture with its three fortified towers. Then it’s time for home, some down time with a free evening. 

Day 9:    Wednesday:    The Dordogne – Sarlat-la-Canéda – Bordeaux:      (B /D)
This morning we farewell Sarlat and head to the UNESCO listed Bordeaux, the epi-centre of the famed wine region and a port city on the river Garonne. Bordeaux wine has been produced since the 8th century and is still renowned the world over. After settling into our hotel, we wander the historic heart of Bordeaux, the Saint Pierre district. Gaze in wonder at the magnificent monument of the Porte Cailhau, a royal entrance between the city and the river and wander the narrow streets and picturesque squares. In the afternoon we take a food tour, uncovering all Bordeaux’s foodie secrets and tasting our way from boutique to wine shops through the historic centre. Enjoy some down time before our farewell dinner at a classic Bordelais bistrot, where perhaps you may even try les escargot? 

Day 10:    Thursday:     Bordeaux – Paris:    (B)
Our small group tour concludes after our TGV Train to Paris and for most guests today it is time to say farewell to acquaintances, new-found friends on our tour.At your leisure before transferring to the airport for your onward or homebound journey.

Depending on your departure itinerary, you may have time for some last-minute sightseeing and shopping. We are able to organise our private guide to accompany you. Some guests may wish to stay another day or more. Please don’t hesitate to contact Boutique Tours & Travel for further travel arrangements

• A specially curated itinerary for Boutique Tours & Travel

• A Small Group Tour (8- 12 Guests)

• Private international airport arrival and departure transfers for all guests

• Hand selected modern & boutique hotel accommodation

• Meals as indicated in Itinerary; B = Breakfast: L=Lunch: D=Dinner:

• Internet Access where possible 

• Fully escorted by Australian Host 

• Private services of local bilingual cultural foodie & textile tour guide

• Concierge / Bellhop services throughout tour

• 24 hour on call support service 

• Luxury private chauffeur driven luxury air- conditioned vehicles for transfers & sightseeing

• Admission fees to all monuments, activities, excursions and shows as per the itinerary

• Bottled water whilst touring in vehicle

• Porterage, tipping and gratuities

• An exclusive BT&T Travel Information APP

• Room Sharing options for singles / solo travellers available  

Not Included:

• International airfares

• Arrival & Departure Taxes, levies or other charges

• Passport & Visa Fees

• City Taxes for hotels if required

• Personal Travel Insurance

• Excess baggage charges

• Cost of any ‘luggage delivery’. – via -FedEx or postal services

• Porterage and gratuities on your arrival at airport and hotel and in free time

• Extra gratuities to tour guides and drivers and others.

• Meals and Alcoholic beverages not included in the itinerary

• Expenditure of personal nature

• Optional activities not included in tour