Discover medieval Carcassonne, Cathar castles and historic Narbonne on a luxurious five-star break including a private lunch and wine-tasting at a historic château

Your luxurious French holiday begins by meeting the Tour Manager at London St Pancras, ready to board the Eurostar to Paris. Travelling in Plus class, we enjoy a light meal at our seats on the way to the French capital. Continuing in First Class by high-speed rail, our route takes us south through the heart of the picturesque French countryside to Toulouse. The Occitan capital is known as 'La Ville Rose' due to the proliferation of pink-hued buildings in its historic centre.

On arrival at Toulouse Matabiau station this evening, we board a coach for an efficient transfer to our destination, Carcassonne. Our hotel for the next six nights is the elegant Hotel du Roi & Spa by Sowell, on the banks of the River Aude.

Our accommodation is in deluxe rooms with private terraces, offering outstanding views of the medieval walled city. Besides its stunning location, the hotel has excellent facilities including a spa and swimming pool. This evening is free to unwind in our new surroundings.

After breakfast at our hotel, we explore the walled city of Carcassonne on a guided tour. Unsurprisingly - with its beautifully restored slate roofs, pointed towers and fortified walls - this citadel is listed as a World Heritage site and regarded as one of Europe's best preserved medieval centres. Crossing the ancient bridge over the former moat feels like stepping back in time. Our tour includes entrance to Château Comtal, the hilltop castle within the walls, which houses a fascinating museum.

Our tour concludes at lunchtime, and the rest of your day is free. You could continue exploring the citadel, visit the Gothic Saint-Nazaire Basilica with its exquisite stained-glass windows or walk along the ramparts for views of the surrounding countryside. There are also restaurants set in a shady square within the citadel walls.

Just across the Pont Vieux is the newer part of town where our hotel is based. Here, you'll find attractive squares, an arts museum, cafés and restaurants. A stroll along the Canal du Midi is another lovely way to soak up the atmosphere of this spellbinding city.

Please Note - For departure 30th April Days 2 and 4 have been swapped around.

For the 13th August and 17th September departures, Days 2 & 3 are swapped.

Once an important Roman port, we travel by coach to ancient Narbonne after breakfast. On a tour of this charming city, we discover a main square overlooked by a spectacular but unfinished Gothic cathedral before we enter Les Halles. This historic indoor food market is a feast for the senses as stalls abound with fine produce, including locally grown olives, tapenade, cured meats and cheeses.

We move on to view the Robine Canal, lined with pretty promenades, and an exposed section of the Via Domitia Roman Road, then see the grand courtyards of the Archbishop's Palace. After our tour, you are free to explore independently - one option is to visit the cathedral or relax in its peaceful and shaded cloister.

Back in Carcassonne this evening, we enjoy dinner together at the hotel.

The spectacular Châteaux de Lastours is our destination after breakfast. The Cathars were a religious sect who flourished in the areas around Carcassonne between the 12th and 14th centuries. Challenging the authority of the Catholic Church, their beliefs blended Christianity and eastern religions. Our first stop is Belvedere viewpoint where we admire stunning panoramas of four Cathar fortresses, set among an evocative landscape of rocky hills and valleys.

These historic castles were a place of refuge for the Cathars during the religious persecutions of the 13th century. From here, you can either follow one of the marked routes up to the ruined castles or, as the terrain along the path is uneven, enjoy a slide show in English on the history of the Cathar castles. There is also a café nearby, an ideal place to appreciate this special viewing spot of the castles.

After free time, we visit a traditional auberge in the scenic Minervois wine region to enjoy a delicious four-course lunch accompanied by local wine. The evening is free in Carcassonne for you to dine independently.

A journey into the Pyrenean foothills awaits after breakfast as a coach takes us to historic Mirepoix for the town's celebrated weekly market. With the impressive cathedral in its centre, the wonderfully preserved market square is lined by colourful half-timbered medieval houses. It is here we encounter the captivating aromas, the sound of lively trading and local performers evoking a sense of medieval times.

You're free to explore the market at your own pace and to sample fresh, regional produce or purchase homemade crafts and local wine. While you're exploring the town, you may like to visit the Gothic-style Cathedral of Saint Maurice, the former Bishop's Palace, and the Porte d'Aval - the only remaining part of Mirepoix's original 14th-century fortifications.

During our return journey to Carcassonne, we take the scenic route into picturesque French countryside, travelling through charming villages and passing ruined castles set in verdant woodland. Back at our hotel this evening, we enjoy dinner, with one option being a traditional cassoulet. This cherished local speciality is a hearty stew of pork and duck cooked with haricot beans.

After breakfast at our hotel, we are taken by coach to the noble Château de Pennautier, 15 minutes' drive away. Built in the 17th century, this golden-hued stately home is set within beautiful French-style gardens, and its trailing vines have been cultivated by ten generations of the Lorgeril family.

On arrival, we are given a guided tour of the castle, the King's chamber and grounds, before we enjoy a highlight of the holiday. Stepping into the château's wine cellar, we are taken on a guided tour of the production room and savour a tasting of the château's wines. This is followed by a delicious three-course lunch served in a rustic restaurant converted from a former sheepfold. Our meal is accompanied by pairings produced in the château's vineyards.

We return to our hotel mid-afternoon and the rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the sights of Carcassonne's walled city as dusk descends or perhaps to revisit a favourite restaurant.

Our luxurious base close to the magical fortress of Carcassonne has allowed us to view breathtaking castles shrouded in mystery, enjoy tours of Narbonne and Mirepoix's celebrated market, savour lunch and a wine tasting at a château and visit some of this beautiful area's most attractive towns and villages.

Leaving our Carcassonne hotel after breakfast, we transfer to Toulouse by coach and continue by First Class train to Paris. In the French capital, we join the Eurostar service to London, travelling in Plus class with a light meal served at our seats. Arriving back at St Pancras, your fantastic French holiday comes to a conclusion.

Our Classic range is what we're known for. Enjoy curated moments with plenty of inclusions. Centrally located hotels, premium travel options and engaging group tours with a seasoned expert are included. You'll be in groups with an average of 20-25 travellers and a maximum of 30*. *Scandinavian and Worldwide tours are on average 30-35 and a maximum of 40.

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.

Introduced in 1981, France's TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) was the original European high-speed train. Linking Paris with Lyon, the new service revolutionised train travel and meant that travelling by air over medium and short distances was no longer seen as the best option, even for business travel.

The network has expanded rapidly and today these sleek, stylish trains offer links to over 60 destinations throughout France. Operated by SNCF, the French national rail operator, TGV trains travel over specially constructed high-speed lines. The trains can achieve speeds of up to 186mph (300km/h) on most long-distance routes and 200mph (320km/h) on the new TGV Est line, which links Paris with Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Basel. With the exception of shorter journeys, TGVs almost always have an on-board buffet car, serving a selection of drinks and light refreshments.

The 5-Star Hotel Du Roi & Spa by Sowell has an excellent location, beside the Aude River in Carcassonne, with fantastic views of the walled medieval city and just a five-minute walk from the city centre and its attractions. Luxurious amenities include an indoor pool, Turkish baths, a sauna and fitness centre. There's also a medieval style restaurant and a bar with a terrace overlooking Carcassonne's ancient citadel. The chic and stylish deluxe guest rooms are equipped with flat-screen televisions, coffee makers, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi and a private balcony.

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.

Enjoy hassle-free travel with our return door-to-door luggage transfer service from only £199 per bag.

The service includes one 20kg bag per person which will be collected from your home before you depart and will be ready and waiting for you at your first destination hotel. Your bag will also be delivered back to your home address on your return.

If your tour involves an overnight stay enroute, you'll need to travel with an overnight bag as your luggage will be delivered direct to your first destination hotel. The luggage service is not available where you are flying to or from your destination and you will need to take your own luggage with you on the flight.