Tour description
France & Spain Food, Wine & Cultural Tour
Spain & France on the same trip? Experience the neighbouring wine & food regions on both sides of the Pyrenees on this 16-day private tour. Starting in Spain, in cosmopolitan Barcelona, your tour will then head to the Basque Country, known world-wide as a foodie mecca. Just across the border of Spain & France, you will discover the famous Bordeaux wine region and visit some stunning wine chateaux. Your luxury chauffeured private tour continues to idyllic rural Dordogne, with its unspoilt medieval towns and fairy tale castles along the river. More splendid iconic French countryside awaits you in Provence, with its charming stone houses with typical blue shutters. The grand finale of your food, wine & cultural tour of Spain & France is no less than the glamorous French Riviera, where you will taste the best local cuisine in Nice and marvel at the grandiose esplanades! Our 25 years of experience will have you seeing and tasting the best of France & Spain!
DAY 1 BARCELONA
On arrival at Barcelona airport to start your private food, wine and cultural tour, our chauffeur will be awaiting you with a luxury vehicle ready to transfer you to your 4* boutique hotel. Formerly the residence of a wealthy Duke, it is ideally located in the Barcelona Gothic Quarter, nearby to all major sights, but at the same time on the seafront. The hotel’s rooftop terrace bar and plunge pool provide an astonishing view of the city over the old Port and the Mediterranean. Enjoy the views of Barcelona, whilst sipping a glass of cava and relaxing with a little sea breeze. Barcelona is an all-round luxury travel destination offering architecture, culture, history, art, fashion, nature, fine food and good wine! This bustling cosmopolitan city has it all! A Gourmand Breaks representative will meet you at your hotel for a welcome drink and together you will discuss your personalized itinerary for your France & Spain Food, Wine & Cultural Tour. Apart from having available, prior to travel, your Online Personal Travel Webpage, you will be handed your printed Personal Travel Journals. These will both contain all your day-by-day tour itinerary details and plenty of suggestions for restaurants and free time activities.
On this first evening in Barcelona you might want to relax and unwind after your journey and settle into your lovely hotel before dining at one of the fantastic restaurants nearby. Our tour representative will provide you with some personalized recommendations, but you will also have available the best addresses in Barcelona city in the Personal Travel Journals we have prepared for you!
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured transfer from Barcelona airport. Overnight in a 4* luxury palace hotel overlooking the port in Barcelona.
DAY 2 BARCELONA
This morning your Gourmand Breaks officially licensed guide will await you at your hotel and together you will beat the queues as you enjoy a private guided tour of the incredible La Sagrada Familia, a work on a grand scale which began in 1882. Your private gourmet and cultural tour of Barcelona continues to La Boqueria, Spain’s most important, and world-famous marketplace. Here you will visit the famous bar where in-the-know celebrities of Barcelona frequent and try the best aperitifs, and sample some of the finest products of the marketplace! Next, you will traverse the city on a private gourmet walking tour through the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, home to an abundance of tucked away gourmet cafes and shops. You will taste some excellent Spanish cheeses paired with quality wines at a charming ‘fromagerie’. For something sweet, we will stop into the oldest venue in Barcelona for dried nuts, fruits, coffee and toasted almonds where you will sample some of their nuts and fruits.
Your luxury private tour of Barcelona’s best will be rounded off with a light lunch of exquisite Spanish delicatessen produce. This will include Spain’s best Iberian ham, Catalan fine cold meats, Galician seafood preserves, some of the best Spanish olive oils and olives, etc. In addition there are English speaking sommeliers on hand to guide you through more than 6000 wines. Your Barcelona guide will leave you at the finale of your tour when you are settled safely into this amazing delicatessen enjoying your meal. The rest of your afternoon will be free to enjoy as you wish.
Tour in a nutshell: Private guided tour of Barcelona. Gourmet food & wine tastings. Fine delicatessen lunch with wine. Overnight Barcelona.
DAY 3 BARCELONA
Today you can discover more of Barcelona on your own. Aside from the many suggestions in your France & Spain Food, Wine & Cultural Tour Personal Travel Journals, our Barcelona tour guide will have given you further sightseeing ideas. Maybe you wish to see some more of Gaudi’s fantastic architecture? Parc Guell is located in uptown Barcelona and is one of the most beautiful icons of the city. On the Passeig de Gracia, in Barcelona center, you can see other famous works of Gaudi’s including his famous Casa Batllo and la Pedrera. This is one of Gaudi’s main residential projects and one of the most imaginative houses in the history of architecture.
If you wish, we can include a Spanish cooking class today, where you will first meet with the chef to learn about the local produce and subsequently head to the market to buy the ingredients required for your class. It’s then off to the cooking school where, on chef’s instructions, you will prepare lunch which you will then enjoy with local wines. Alternatively, we can arrange for you a private wine tasting with our local expert, including some of the top Spanish wines from the best Spanish wine regions.Maybe you would like to do your own thing today and take advantage of Barcelona’s shopping, stroll along the beachfront of Barceloneta or return to the old Gothic Quarter, the choices are yours! We have many suggestions for restaurants which will suit your mood of the moment, whether it’s an informal dinner you are looking for or a Spanish Michelin star experience.
Tour in a nutshell: Free day Barcelona. Optional Barcelona cooking class/ Spanish wine tasting. Overnight Barcelona.
DAY 4 SAN SEBASTIAN
Early this morning our chauffeur will await you in a luxury car to transfer you to Barcelona train station for your first-class train journey to San Sebastian, the heart of the Basque Country, which takes around 5.5hrs. In San Sebastian you will check into your luxury seaside hotel, one of the best in the city and with an incredible beach front location. The famous Spanish La Rioja wine region is on the way to San Sebastian, so if you wish to include some La Rioja winery tours and tastings in your private tour with us, we can happily customize your tour itinerary accordingly.
In the late afternoon our officially licensed San Sebastian tour guide will await you and escort you on a fantastic private gourmet & cultural tour of San Sebastian. This wonderful “beach in the city” is renowned as the best city to eat in Spain! Our France & Spain Food, Wine & Cultural Tour guide will show you around all the most interesting parts of San Sebastian, where you will be privileged not only to go to the best bars, frequented by local foodies, but also to sample the specialties of each place, accompanied by the best Txakoli wine. Although tapas were invented in Andalucia they have been perfected in San Sebastian and here are known as pinchos. Each bar is bursting with so many different and creative pinchos that Spanish tradition suggests to have one or two and a wine in one bar and move on to the next. For sure you will try a glass (or two…) of the best local Txakoli wine!
Tour in a nutshell: First class train tickets from Barcelona to San Sebastian. Private guided tour of San Sebastian with tapas hopping & wine. Overnight in a 4* luxury hotel with sea views in San Sebastian.
DAY 5 SAN SEBASTIAN
Today you are free to discover San Sebastian at your leisure. Aside from the many suggestions in your France & Spain Food, Wine & Cultural Tour Personal Travel Journals, our San Sebastian tour guide will have given you further sightseeing ideas yesterday. If you are feeling adventurous why not climb Monte Urgell for some amazing views over San Sebastian and the surrounding Basque Country. At the top of this hill you will also see the remains of the walls and canons from San Sebastian’s military past and, guarding the city, stands the Sacred Heart statue (Cristo de la Mota). It’s no Rio de Janeiro but this giant statue of Christ measures over 12 meters. San Sebastian is known as a stylish city and an image-conscious one, so it is stuffed with high-end shops. Peruse La Parte Vieja (the old part of town) for cool boutiques filled with quirky designer gear. Stop, as the locals do, to get your strength back at one of the numerous bars and restaurants with a little glass of Txakoli wine and the odd ubiquitous pintxo!
You may like to head out of the city and have a chauffeured tour of the Basque Country scenic coast and its rugged seaside villages. We can also arrange for you a fun cooking class with our chef from one of the Basque Gastronomic Societies, to discover why the Basque Country is a foodie mecca! This evening, why not revisit some of the authentic San Sebastian tapas bars you visited with our tour guide, or you may wish to dine in style at one of the many Basque Michelin star restaurants. Prior reservations are necessary and we will be delighted to assist with a booking.
Tour in a nutshell: Free day in San Sebastian. Overnight San Sebastian.
DAY 6 BORDEAUX
Today you will be heading to the legendary wine region of Bordeaux, home of the most sought-after and expensive red wines in the world. The Bordeaux wine region has 57 appellations, with about 7,000 wine-producing chateaux and 13,000 wine growers! Bordeaux’s reputation as a great wine region rests on its most superb reds, legendary and long-lived wines made by historic French wine estates which improve for several decades. Your Bordeaux wine immersion will start with lunch at a prestigious winery on the famed Left Bank of the Garonne River. This historic French winery’s restaurant offers an array of delicacies for you to enjoy, lovingly made with a focus on local Bordeaux heritage. Your wine tour will continue to a quintessentially French castle winery, replete with fairytale turrets.
On to your next Bordeaux wine tour of the day! Here is a thousand-year-old estate whose terroir is one of the most elevated of the Médoc, where nature provides all the necessary elements for creating their well-rounded, velvety wines of a rich bouquet. Enjoy the expanse of greenery which surrounds you as you tour their exceptional estate. Later this afternoon you will arrive to your romantic ivy-covered 5* winery spa hotel. The scenery is directly from a Monet painting – willow trees hanging over lakes with wooden row-boats – an idyll. After your wonderful day immersed in French wine heritage, you may like to relax and dine at the gourmet restaurant of your hotel this evening, though we will provide you with our many restaurant recommendations in the city of Bordeaux as well.
Tour in a nutshell: Private chauffeured transfer to Bordeaux with Bordeaux Grand Cru Wine route tour. Lunch with wines at a prestigious Bordeaux winery. Wine tour and tasting at an iconic cellar. Wine tasting at a second Bordeaux winery. Overnight in a 5* winery spa hotel in the Bordeaux wine region of France.
DAY 7 BORDEAUX
Your Food, Wine & Cultural Tour takes you on a private walking tour of Bordeaux. Our knowledgeable guide will not only introduce you to the city’s fascinating history and culture, but also show you her favourite corners and beloved typically French shops. Sample delicious morsels of chocolate, cheese, bread and more while chatting with the passionate shop owners. Listen as your charismatic tour guide offers insight into Bordeaux’s food and wine history as you walk. Delve into this French culinary and wine wonderland and at the end of your private Bordeaux food and wine tour, enjoy a delicious lunch of local specialties accompanied by fantastic Bordeaux wine.
This afternoon a tour of the renowned Bordeaux winery at your hotel awaits. Visit their state-of-the-art wine cellars and learn about the latest Bordeaux wine-making techniques which reflect their magnificent terroir. Their efforts range from increasingly organic vineyard management to ageing the wine in superb cellars and serving it to wine lovers! Your wine tour will end with tastings of the most iconic wines from this famous Bordeaux estate. Relax after your wine tasting in the tranquil and luxurious surroundings of your 5* wine spa hotel, located among vineyards of Bordeaux Grand Cru. Here surrounded by exquisite nature, you have at your disposal several unique French spa treatments, combining the natural hot spring water rich in minerals with the most recent scientific discoveries of the benefits of the grape and the grapevine. For dinner, your wine spa hotel has two great restaurants, one of two Michelin stars and the other a more relaxed affair, both of which offer many French gourmet delights.
Tour in a nutshell: Private food & wine tour of Bordeaux with lunch. Tour of your hotel winery with wine tastings. Overnight in the Bordeaux wine region.
DAY 8 ST EMILION & BERGERAC
This morning our chauffeur will collect you from your wonderful Bordeaux wine hotel, and take you to visit the lovely French towns of Saint Emilion and Bergerac before your arrival in your next French tour destination – Dordogne.Enjoy your morning wandering the hilly, cobbled and adorable streets and squares of Saint Emilion. This tiny town is possibly one of the most famous viticultural centers in France outside the city of Bordeaux itself. Here, despite the myriad wine lovers from all over the globe, Saint Emilion remains unspoiled in character and atmosphere. Charming boutiques, restaurants and wine shops add to the lure of this UNESCO-listed village.
Onward now to the stately French town of Bergerac for an excellent gourmet lunch at a local restaurant. Bergerac, with its lovely location on the Dordogne River, is renowned for its art, history and old town centre with many quaint and delightful streets and squares to explore. At the heart of the old town is a lovely square, always full of flowers and edged with cafes and restaurants. The nearby Maison de Vins de Bergerac, located in a 12th century cloister is a must-see if you are a wine enthusiast as it details the history of Bergerac wine and its 13 appellations. Once arriving at your charming and quintessentially French accommodation in the heart of the most beautiful town in Dordogne, Sarlat-la-Caneda, you most probably will want to explore this wonderful medieval town on foot. We will provide you with many personalised recommendations for what to do and where to eat in your France & Spain Food, Wine & Cultural Tour Personal Travel Journal and Personal Travel Website.
Tour in a nutshell: Private chauffeured transfer and tour of St Emilion and Bergerac. Excellent lunch with wine in Bergerac. Overnight in an elegant guest house in the heart of Sarlat-la-Caneda.
DAY 9 DORDOGNE
Your private tour of France continues when you set off exploring the famous French Valley of the 5 castles (or 1000, as many rightfully point out!) in the heart of Dordogne. Get your camera ready to visit the impressive medieval fortress of Château de Beynac, perched above the river and carved out of the rock of the cliff! Continue your scenic Dordogne tour to the beautifully-preserved example of French gothic architecture,Château de Milandes (the home of the famous dancer and humanitarian Josephine Baker). Time permitting, you might wish to stop at Château de Castelnaud; owned by the same French family for several generations and today the home of the Museum of Mediaeval Warfare.
Your delicious lunch at a charming local restaurant will be the perfect stop in-between visiting Dordogne’s castles. Enjoy beautiful French gardens at the picture-perfect Château de Marqueyssac. Perched on a spur overlooking the Dordogne River it offers the most beautiful panoramas of the Dordogne. This lovingly maintained spot is the perfect place to relax and watch nature take its course in the middle of an otherwise busy sightseeing day. Your Dordogne tour today would not be complete without a mandatory Gabarre boat ride along the river from the pretty medieval village of Domme this afternoon. Once back in Sarlat-la-Caneda, enjoy the gentle hum of this charming authentic French town as you relax in your accommodations or find a great place for dinner thanks to our personalised recommendations for what to do and where to eat in your France & Spain Food, Wine & Cultural Tour Personal Travel Journal and Personal Travel Website.
Tour in a nutshell: Private chauffeured tour of the Dordogne region and its castles. Fantastic local lunch with wine. Gabarre boat ride on the Dordogne river. Overnight Sarlat.
DAY 10 ROCAMADOUR & TOULOUSE
Your France & Spain Food, Wine & Cultural Tour continues to Toulouse, but on the way you will visit the incredible vertical village of Rocamadour, hanging high above a canyon. Considered one of the most beautiful villages of France, Rocamadour was built on the site of a shrine to the Madonna, which became famous for its healing powers. It has a beautiful and dramatic setting as it winds up a cliff side. Like the pilgrims in the old days, climb up the stairs to the church square and the 7 sanctuaries and gaze at the incredible French countryside around you. Before you depart from Rocamadour, we have arranged another wonderful Dordogne lunch at a local restaurant. Enjoy a glass or two of wine while watching the activity of this quaint French village before heading on to Toulouse.
Once you have checked in to your boutique hotel in the centre of Toulouse, you will have the remainder of the afternoon to stroll the pretty streets of La Ville Rose. Toulouse is known as the “Pink City” of France, due to the pinkish-hue of its stonework. This southern French city joyously mixes French heritage and lifestyle, great cultural events, chic boutiques and very typically French cafes on its beautiful squares. Enjoy a French aperitif be it Pastis or the Toulousain Quinquina, or head down to the river and stroll along the wide Garonne towards the iconic Pont Neuf, “New Bridge”, or walk along the Canal du Midi.
Tour in a nutshell: Private chauffeured transfer and tour of Rocamadour. Delicious Dordogne lunch with wine. Overnight in a boutique 4* hotel in the heart of Toulouse.
DAY 11 AVIGNON
This morning you will catch the high-speed train with first-class seats from Toulouse to Provence. On arrival our chauffeur will be waiting for you. Before heading to your charming hotel in Avignon, he will whisk you away to two truly beautiful French villages, Saint-Remy and Les-Baux de Provence. Picturesque St. Rémy is built on one of the oldest archeological sites in Europe and the ancient Gallo-Roman interior is circled by the remnants of the 14th-century wall and its buildings. A vivacious French village, its pretty squares, medieval buildings, cobblestone streets and charming restaurants are sure to enchant you! For lovers of gourmet food the old town is full of artisan food shops of all kinds, for typically Provençal delights; such as almonds, honey and nougat. Lunchtime will allow you some repose in a fantastic bistrot with French wines and food typical of the Provence region. Try the hearty and healthy ratatouille or even a delicately flavoured fish stew bouillabaisse, originally from Marseille, but mastered at some of our favourite Saint- Remy restaurants.
Your next stop is at another of France’s most beautiful villages. Les Baux-de-Provence is stretched out along a steep hillside within a valley, where the stone walls creating the ancient fortress seem to have been created by a giant cutting into the stone with his knife! The tiny village of Les Baux is quintessentially medieval French: narrow cobblestone streets nestled closely between stone medieval buildings, with some charming artisan-ware shops and quaint cafes. After your lovely day touring the Provence countryside, settle in comfortably while our chauffeur takes you to your historic hotel in the heart of Avignon, a UNESCO world heritage site and a truly lovely and bustling French town.
Tour in a nutshell: High-speed first-class train tickets to Provence. Private chauffeured tour of Provence. Delicious Provençal lunch with wine. Overnight in a historic 4* hotel in the heart of Avignon.
DAY 12 LUBERON VILLAGES
Today you will tour the famous Luberon villages, some of them ranked as “the most beautiful villages in France”. Experience the Provençal way of life as our chauffeur drives you through peaceful countryside. Admire the serene uniformity as you pass ancient rural French stone houses with typical blue-coloured shutters, olive trees and in season, glorious lavender fields.Stop at the beautiful village of Gordes, perched on the edge of a high plateau. The stone houses here are built up against the base of the cliffs and those perched on the rocks above, including the 12th-century castle, are made of a beige stone that glows orange in the morning sun. The village has a big square and an impressive chateau in the center that was remodeled in the Renaissance but dates back to the 10th century. You will find a wonderful selection of restaurants and cafés in Gordes as well as little shops and galleries.
Next you will visit another intrinsically Provençal village, Roussillon, named due to the mineral in the soil, upon which the village was built. Roussillon is famous for its red-tinted stonework where the dust from the ochre cliffs has tinted the village. Walk up the narrow streets to a viewpoint for stunning views over the mountains. Here you will enjoy an authentic Provençal lunch with local wines at a delightful French bistrot. Your final stop on today’s tour of Provence will be Ménerbes, also perched on a cliff. Here you can enjoy some Provençal truffle and wine tastings at a lovely specialized shop, before heading back to your wonderful hotel in Avignon.
Tour in a nutshell: Private chauffeured tour of Luberon villages. Delicious local lunch with wine. Overnight Avignon.
DAY 13 NICE
Your luxury private tour of Spain & France takes you on the last leg of your trip to the glamorous French Riviera. You will have first-class seats for the train to Nice. Enjoy the lovely countryside of Provence and the various rolling hillsides, some covered in sunflowers, others covered in vineyards, as you head down south towards the Mediterranean sea. On arrival in Nice, you might wish to enjoy a private food & wine tour of this beautiful French town or explore on your own with our suggestions at hand. Your fantastic hotel enjoys a privileged location on the famous Promenade des Anglais and a stroll along this grand esplanade funded by the British aristocracy at the beginning of the 19th century, is mandatory.
With our Nice tour guide, you will not only taste the flavor of Niçoise cuisine, but also hear of the unique history, culture and heritage of Nice, a port city which has been passed from France to Savoy rule for hundreds of years, became French in 1860. Delicious gourmet food and wine tastings will accompany you as you weave your way through Nice’s ‘Vielle Ville’ (old town). For a small city, Nice has contributed much to cuisine; Salade Nicoise, Ratatouille, fougasse (the delicious focaccia-like braided bread) and Socca (a very typical savoury flatbread made from chickpea flour). Stopping by at Cours Saleya food market, with its pretty striped awnings, enjoy the vivacity of both the vendors and buyers in this beautiful square with earth-toned buildings in a variety of hues.
Tour in a nutshell: High-speed first-class train tickets to Nice. Optional food & wine tour of Nice. Overnight in a 4* hotel overlooking the sea, in the heart of Nice.
DAY 14 EZE & MONACO
Explore more French culture today, as you head closer to the border of Italy, to discover Èze and Monaco; the most glamorous place along the French Riviera. Before reaching Monaco, our chauffeur will drive you along the famous Moyenne Corniche, the iconic cliff top road featured in the Cary Grant & Grace Kelly movie ‘To Catch a Thief’. Here you will visit the jaw dropping medieval village of Èze. At its summit, in the ruins of a medieval fortress there is an exotic garden where several hundred plant species are displayed. The breathtaking panoramic views over the Mediterranean embrace the entire French Riviera as far as Saint-Tropez. The views from here are so magnificent that they are almost unreal. This fortress village feels like you are walking around a castle, with thick stone walls richly covered with colorful flowers.
Onwards now you will explore the tiny yet upscale principality of Monaco, a perfect place to enjoy a glamorous French lunch at the iconic Cafe de Paris in Monte-Carlo and watch the parade of people pass by. This unique area on the French Riviera is intimately linked to the history of the Grimaldi family, originally heralding from Genoa, who have reigned over Monaco for some 700 years. Monaco is synonymous with luxury, exceptional festivals, casinos, the jet set, top brands, a yacht-lined harbor and the prestigious Grand Prix motor race. Besides the glitz and the glam, its hilly environment is what creates the French Riviera “joie de vivre”.
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured transfer and tour of Èze & Monaco. Overnight Nice.
DAY 15 FRENCH RIVIERA
Optional tour extension: This morning our chauffeur will take you to explore more iconic French Riviera spots: vibrant Antibes, fashionable Cannes and the tiny artsy village of Saint Paul de Vence. You will surely enjoy a stroll along La Croisette; esplanade of the modern and glamorous Cannes, home to the famous film festival. Expect luxury, glamour and glitz to ooze out of every boutique, fine dining restaurant and the impressive display of incredibly luxurious yachts. This French Riviera town offers many lovely neighbourhoods and you can admire the Belle Époque and Art Deco façades as you walk around. Next your tour takes you to the very heart of the French Riviera, the little Mediterranean port town of Antibes; of Greek and Roman origin. Navigate your way around the narrow streets or wander up to Château Grimaldi which owes its name to the Grimaldi family. There you’ll enjoy spellbinding views over the surrounding Mediterranean coast and mountains as you enjoy a fantastic seafood lunch, courtesy of your France & Spain Food, Wine & Cultural Tour.
This afternoon our chauffeur will take you inland to the small yet artsy Saint Paul de Vence. Stroll amongst world-class art galleries and antique shops hidden in the quaint nooks of this lovely French village. Wander through the tiny cobbled streets, where lush greenery overhangs the old stone buildings and brightly colored flowers flow from high terraced pots. For a great bird’s eye view make sure you visit the ancient city walls. There are plenty of cafes to sit and relax whilst taking in this charming, historic French Riviera village.
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured tour of French Riviera. Delightful seaside lunch with wine. Overnight Nice.
DAY 16 DEPARTURE
Today is the last day of your private France & Spain Food, Wine & Cultural Tour. After breakfast you will check out of your seaside hotel where our chauffeur will be waiting to transfer you to Nice Airport for your onward journey home.
You will surely take home with you some truly unforgettable memories of Spain & France and have experienced some great wines, foodie delights and unique cultural discoveries!
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured transfer to Nice airport.
Tour quotation
France & Spain Food, Wine and Cultural Tour Quote Request
We are excited that you are considering joining us on one of our fabulous custom-built tours of Spain, Portugal, SW France and/or Italy! Please fill in the form below and we will happily provide you with a non-committal initial quote for the sample tour itinerary chosen.
In case you would prefer us to build a personal tour proposal for you from scratch, please e-mail us at [email protected] and we will be delighted to start working with you on your personal and very special travel itinerary with us.
Tour in a Nutshell
Exceptional food: Barcelona & San Sebastian
Scenic beauty: Bordeaux, Dordogne, Provence & Nice
Fantastic restaurants, historic wineries & guided city tours
First class high-speed trains & private chauffeured tours
16 days/15 nights, high-quality hand selected hotels
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