Garonne & Dordogne River Cruise Itinerary
DAY 1 - BORDEAUX
Check in between 6 and 7pm and settle into your cabin. Welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner on board and an evening of entertainment.
DAY 2 - BORDEAUX - PAUILLAC
Cruise along the River Garonne to join the Gironde River before arriving Pauillac in time for lunch on board. After lunch on board, there is an optional excursion to visit the Médoc – a renowned wine region with famous properties such as Châteaux Lafite-Rothschild, Latour and Mouton Rothschild. Return on board for dinner and an evening of entertainment. Moor for the night in Pauillac.
DAY 3 - PAUILLAC - GIRONDE ESTUARY - BLAYE
Set sail early in the morning, cruising along the Gironde to the estuary. Lunch on board and arrive in Blaye around 2pm. There is an optional excursion along the Corniche with a stop in the village of Bourg, a charming city built on a rocky outcrop enclosed by medieval ramparts. Return to Blaye to visit the citadel. Return on board for dinner and moor for the night in Blaye.
DAY 4 - BLAYE - LIBOURNE or BOURG - SAINT-EMILION
Set sail early heading towards Libourne and arrive in the early afternoon. After lunch on board, there is an optional excursion by coach to visit Saint-Emilion with its historic vineyard landscape. There is a guided visit of the underground monuments of this medieval city and Troglodyte settlement – the cave of Emilion. The visit concludes with a wine tasting. Return to the ship in Libourne at the end of the afternoon. After dinner on board there is an evening’s entertainment provided by the crew. Moor for the night.
DAY 5 - LIBOURNE or BOURG - CADILLAC
Breakfast whilst cruising to Cadillac, lunch on board before arriving early afternoon. Optional guided visit to the Château de Roquetaillade and to Cadillac. Return on board for dinner. Evening at leisure and moor for the night in Cadillac.
DAY 6 - CADILLAC - BORDEAUX
Breakfast and lunch on board whilst cruising back to Bordeaux, arrival in the early afternoon. Optional guided tour (coach) of Bordeaux. Return on board for dinner and evening at leisure.
DAY 7 - BORDEAUX - THE ARCACHON BASIN - or COGNAC - BORDEAUX
After breakfast there is optional coach excursion to the centre of the Arcachon basin (lunch included). The tour begins with a visit of the oyster centre and museum situated at Larros Port with an opportunity to taste some oysters. Lunch is in a local restaurant. The tour continues to Arcachon, for a boat trip on the Bassin d’Arcachon where you will see the famous houses on stilts and oyster beds. Continue to the Great Dune of Pilat, at 107m the highest sand dune in Europe. Return to Bordeaux at the end of the day, gala dinner followed by an evening of dancing.
OR...
After breakfast departure for the optional excursion to Cognac (lunch included). The tour starts with a visit of a major Cognac house, followed by a tasting session. Lunch is provided in a local restaurant before a tour of the town by tourist train, complete with commentary. Next you will visit Cognac Museum of Arts (closed on Mondays), where you will learn all about the “Liqueur of the Gods”; the vine growing and harvesting, wine production, distilling, barrel making, wine and Cognac trade. On Mondays, there will be a guided visit of the chateau of Cognac instead. The visit is followed by a tasting session in Baron Otard’s cognac cellars. Return to Bordeaux at the end of the day. Gala dinner on board followed by an evening of dancing.
DAY 8 - BORDEAUX
Breakfast on board, disembark around 9am and transfer to Bordeaux airport for your flight home.
Please note: for reasons of navigational safety, the captain and crew of the boat may decide to modify the cruise itinerary, which is beyond Orbital Travel's control.
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS
There is a comprehensive programme of guided optional excursions which can either be pre-booked or can be booked on board the boat. There is a 5% discount when you pre-book the whole excursions package.
Please contact us for more information on our excursion packages.
**Orbital Travel act as agents for the activity operator/supplier. Please note that the contract for these excursions, tours and activities is between the client and the local suppliers who offer them. Local suppliers are independent of Orbital Travel.**
CRUISE MAP
Click the image below to open / enlarge map in a new window.
