A relaxing cruise through Europe’s famous wine regions from Biarritz to Bordeaux, indulging in tastings, culture and history along the scenic Garonne and Dordogne rivers

Our holiday starts when we meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras ahead of our journey to Paris on the Eurostar, travelling in Plus class with a light meal served at our seats. From Paris we continue by First Class rail to the stylish city of Biarritz on the Atlantic coast, where we check into our hotel for three nights.

Set proudly along the Basque coast of southwest France, this stylish Belle Époque city overlooks rugged cliffs, sandy beaches and an impressive ocean promenade. Biarritz was once a favourite getaway for European nobility, as is evident in its grand hotels and historic landmarks. Besides its famous luxurious hotels such as the Hotel du Palais, built for the Empress Eugénie in around 1855, the town is known for its Art Deco casino and a relaxed surfing culture. This evening you are free to dine independently and you may like to choose one of several highly-rated restaurants set along the bay, which offer stunning views of the coastline.

Please Note - For standard class  departure 8th June we will stay at the Hotel Villa Koegui in Bayonne.

Your first day in Biarritz is free to begin exploring at your own pace. With its sweeping promenade and vast beaches, the coastal resort offers a range of activities. You could easily pass the day strolling along golden beaches and stopping to savour Basque cuisine at a local café.

Alternatively, you could walk along to the town's lighthouse or visit the beautiful historic casino on the bay. You might be tempted to sip a glass of wine on the casino's terrace, which has stunning views over the town's 'Grand Plage'. A popular walk is the path from the town's atmospheric Old Port to Rocher de la Vierge - a statue on a rocky headland, believed to protect local fishermen, which is now connected to the town by a footbridge.

Tonight you dine independently, and Biarritz offers a diverse range of eating places, from simple bistros to fine dining restaurants. Some of the most authentic places may be found at the Port des Pecheurs, where small boats and yachts are moored, and restaurants which were once fishermen's' cottages serve Basque-style tapas and seafood dishes.

On today's excursion we travel by coach to Col de Saint-Ignace, where we connect with the Le Petit Train de la Rhune. This classic rack-and-pinion railway takes us through the dramatic Atlantic Pyrenees in lovingly restored wooden carriages. The route takes us through steep-sided rocky valleys, with a fabulous panorama over the rolling meadows and foothills of the Basque region. The summit of La Rhune marks the border between France and Spain and, at 3,000 feet above sea level, offers a magnificent panorama over the Bay of Biscay.

After time to admire the views, we descend the mountain and continue to the lively fishing port of St Jean-de-Luz. Here you have some time to explore, and may like to walk along the promenade to see the fishing boats bring in their catch. Otherwise, you could wander around the medieval centre of the Old Town. Afterwards, we enjoy a three-course lunch with cider in a local restaurant, accompanied by a short film about cider production. We then return to Biarritz where the rest of your day is at leisure.

A free morning gives us the chance to continue sightseeing or relaxing in Biarritz before making our way by First Class rail to Bordeaux. One of the world's oldest and most renowned wine regions, this is a city brimming with 18th-century grandeur and 21st century energy. On arrival in Bordeaux we are transferred to our floating hotel for six nights, the MS Cyrano de Bergerac.

After time to settle in to our cabins, we are greeted with a welcome cocktail before tonight's three-course dinner is served, accompanied by free-flowing wine and followed by an evening of entertainment on board.

Please note, due to navigational considerations and tidal influence, the order of today's itinerary may change.

Following a relaxed morning on our ship, with breakfast and lunch onboard and admiring the views of the Garonne river, this afternoon we explore the UNESCO-listed city of Bordeaux on a walking tour with a local guide. The city brims with 18th-century grandeur and 21st-century energy and our tour guide gives us an insight into Bordeaux's rich history. However, you may choose to explore the sites of the city independently.

As the world's largest urban World Heritage site due to its outstanding architecture and importance as a wine trading centre, Bordeaux features magnificent classical and neoclassical buildings, welcoming boulevards and an Old Town with cobbled squares. One of the city's most beautiful areas is the Quais des Chartrons, which has exquisite buildings, stylish boutiques, coffee bars and pastry shops. The city also has some excellent museums.

Back on board this early evening, we enjoy a wine-tasting before dinner, which includes drinks and entertainment.

This morning our cruise starts as we set sail to Libourne, a port along the Dordogne river. After lunch onboard our ship, we travel to St Émilion for a guided coach tour of another stunning UNESCO-listed city.

According to legend, a Benedictine monk named Émilion sought refuge in one of the natural caves in the area to escape the celebrity status bestowed on him for performing a miracle. On our tour, we see this very cave as well as the largest monolithic church in Europe. Built in the 11th century, the Saint-Émilion church is carved entirely out of a limestone cliff. One of Europe's largest underground churches, it is known for its fascinating catacombs.

After getting to know the city we visit a family-run vineyard and indulge in a tasting of some popular local wines before returning to our ship. We continue cruising to the small town of Cussac during dinner. On arrival, we moor here overnight.

This morning we awake in Cussac, a sleepy village on the banks of the Gironde river. Setting out after an early breakfast, today's excursion takes us through the celebrated Médoc wine route where we are treated to a tasting of the region's esteemed wines at a classic vineyard along the picturesque Route des Châteaux. The combination of Mediterranean climate and a gravel-based soil are factors believed to enhance Médoc wines. The region is known for its red wines, particularly the following varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carménère.

Returning to our ship for lunch onboard, we then sail from Cussac to Royan where we moor for the night. This afternoon you may enjoy relaxing on deck, watching the passing scenery before tonight's three-course dinner with drinks and onboard entertainment.

After breakfast, we disembark in Royan and board our coach to Rochefort, an ancient maritime city on the banks of the Charente River. During a morning tour, which takes us back into the city's intriguing past, we visit the Corderie Royale, a historic rope-making factory which supplied the French navy for centuries.

We continue to one of the most historically important seaports on the European Atlantic coast, La Rochelle. After lunch at a local restaurant, we tour this stunning sandstone city, seeing its striking harbour, three defensive towers and the beautiful medieval buildings of the Old Quarter behind the historic harbour. There is time at leisure in La Rochelle to explore independently, and you may like to visit one of the city's many museums.

Returning to our ship, there's time to unwind before dinner with drinks, during which time we begin cruising back towards the city of Bordeaux where we moor tonight.

Early this morning our ship moors in the fortified 13th-century town of Cadillac, on the banks of la Garonne where you have a choice of two morning excursions. You could decide to tour the medieval Roquetaillade Château, named after the troglodyte caves that are underneath. Built in 1306 as the last English castle in France, this castle is still privately owned by the Roquetaillade family, who have been resident here since it was constructed. First opened to the public in 1956, there's a working farm with Bazadais cattle as well as a vineyard which produces the famous white wine, Chateaufort de Roquetaillade.

Alternatively, you could join a guided walking tour of Cadillac to uncover the attractions of this medieval town. With sun-baked streets of limestone buildings, Cadillac's focal point is its stately 15th-century Ducal Château. We return to our ship for lunch on board and set sail back to Bordeaux. This evening, we enjoy the captain's gala dinner, the perfect end to our indulgent cruise holiday.

This scenic tour and cruise holiday has taken us to picturesque locations, from the Belle Époque city of Biarritz on France's Basque coast to the beautiful wine region of Bordeaux. We took a heritage rail trip to the summit of La Rhune in the western Pyrenees, before exploring one of Europe's loveliest wine regions by river. Sailing through the Garonne and the Dordogne, we have indulged in wine tastings and toured the acclaimed Médoc wine route, uncovered medieval cities, explored the maritime seaports of Rochefort and La Rochelle.

After a final breakfast onboard our ship, it's time to head to the station by coach. We board the train to Paris, travelling in First Class, where we join the Eurostar Plus service back to London St Pancras with a light meal served at our seats. Our holiday draws to a close here and you can make your way home.

Step aboard the high-speed international rail service, linking London St Pancras to Paris and Lille in France, Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Eurostar's Standard Class coaches feature two seats on either side of the central aisle, most of which are arranged in an 'airline' seating configuration with drop-down tray tables. There are two tables for four per carriage. Passengers travelling in Eurostar Standard Class coaches can take advantage of the Bar-Buffet which sells a range of snacks, meals, and hot and cold drinks - including Champagne!

The highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers is Plus class. In your dedicated Plus carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service, you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

For the class of travel used on your chosen tour, please refer to the 'What's Included' section of the tour page.

In the Basque Country of France, we travel up the beautiful La Rhune Mountain on the La Rhune Mountain Railway - 'Petit Train de La Rhune'. Enjoy the breathtaking sights of the surrounding French countryside, as you ascend 905 meters to the summit of La Rhune Mountain on this vintage rack railway train that has been transporting passengers in the same meticulously maintained carriages up the mountain since 1924. The mountain itself sits on the boarder of France and Spain, and on a clear day it is possible to see all the way to the town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. At certain times of the year, you may also see the small horses - or 'Pottok' - that graze on the mountain.

We enjoy this river cruise aboard the MS Cyrano de Bergerac which offers great cuisine, an exciting package of included shore excursions and modern amenities on every deck - all combining to make for a wonderfully enjoyable cruise.

MS Cyrano de Bergerac offers great cuisine, comfortable cabins and modern amenities on every deck. These include a lounge and bar area with a dance floor, an elegant restaurant, a sun deck with loungers and a terrace area. Wi-Fi and air-conditioning are featured throughout and there's also a 24-hour reception - all combining to make for a wonderfully enjoyable cruise.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.